Squirrels climb trees and wooden bird feeder poles because their claws easily grip these porous surfaces. ... Since squirrels jump up to 5 feet, a standard-size 4-by-4, ...

Fleshy pads on the feet cushion the shock of impact, and sharp claws clasp the bark. By climbing onto a higher perch, a flying squirrel can glide to a different tree. A single glide usually covers ...

The sharp claws also let them find a secure mooring on small irregularities on a tree trunk’s bark or even on a seemingly smooth telephone pole. This gives squirrels a firm jumping-off place ...