Nature Season 11 Episode 17 The Bandit and the Builder

In the Nature season 11 episode 17, titled "The Bandit and the Builder," viewers are taken on a journey through the forests of western North America to witness the complex relationship between two of its residents: the Northern flying squirrel and the red squirrel.

The Northern flying squirrel is a nocturnal creature that is primarily arboreal, spending most of its time high up in the trees. On the other hand, the red squirrel is a diurnal animal that lives primarily on the ground. Both of these squirrels are masters of their respective environments, and they have developed unique attributes that enable them to thrive in vastly different habitats.

However, despite these differences, the Northern flying squirrel and the red squirrel have something in common: they both rely on the same food source. The cones of the white pine tree are an essential part of their diet, and both squirrels have developed different techniques to harvest them.

The Northern flying squirrel has no problem navigating the canopy of the forest. Its long fingers and flattened tail allow it to glide through the trees, covering impressive distances between branches. The red squirrel, on the other hand, has developed an entirely different strategy. It uses its sharp claws to climb up the tree trunk and then hangs from a branch to reach the cones.

But there's a twist: even though the Northern flying squirrel is better suited to the treetops and the red squirrel is better suited to the ground, they often find themselves in each other's environments. These encounters are typically not friendly, however, as the red squirrel can be very territorial and aggressive towards its Northern flying counterpart.

Despite their initial hostility towards one another, the two squirrels have learned to coexist in this unique environment, adapting their behaviors around each other to share this valuable food source.

This dynamic ecosystem is not only fascinating to observe, but it is also important to understand. The health of the white pine forests in western North America is vital for both the Northern flying squirrel and the red squirrel, as well as countless other species that depend on this habitat.

"The Bandit and the Builder" gives viewers a glimpse into the complex and interconnected world of these two squirrels. It's a world that is full of challenges, but also full of beauty and wonder, and one that begs to be explored and cherished for generations to come.