Eastern Gray Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) — identification, habitat & look-alikes

The eastern gray squirrel is the familiar tree squirrel of backyards, parks, and woodlands across the eastern half of North America. It buries thousands of nuts each fall, and the ones it never finds sprout into new oaks and hickories. Where it has been introduced, such as Britain, it has pushed out the native red squirrel.

Appearance

Appearance: The head and body are about 9–12 in (23–30 cm) long, plus a tail of 7½–10 in (19–25 cm), and adults weigh about 14–21 oz (400–600 g). Gray back and sides, sometimes washed with brown, a white belly, and a bushy tail edged in white.
Voice: Chatters, squeaks, and gives a harsh 'kuk' or 'quaa' alarm call, often while flicking its tail.

Look-alikes

Fox squirrelSciurus niger

Fox squirrels are bigger and heavier (19–29 in, 1–3 lb) with rusty orange-yellow sides, belly, and tail fringe. Gray squirrels have a white belly and a white tail fringe.

Why they get mixed upBoth share parks and woodlots in much of the East, and both can be all black, so size is the best clue for black ones.

Western gray squirrelSciurus griseus

Western grays are about 20% larger, darker and more evenly gray with pure white underparts, larger ears, and a tail about as long as the body. Eastern grays often show a brownish wash.

Why they get mixed upIntroduced eastern grays now live alongside western grays in parts of Washington, Oregon, and California.

Where it lives

Typical habitats: Hardwood forests
City parks
Backyards
River bottomlands
Range: Native from southern Canada (New Brunswick to Manitoba) south through the eastern and midwestern U.S. to East Texas and Florida. Introduced populations live in Washington, Oregon, the San Francisco Bay Area, and British Columbia, as well as in Britain, Ireland, Italy, and South Africa.
Preferred conditions: Prefers mature woods with nut trees like oaks and hickories and a fairly closed canopy; also thrives in towns with big trees.
Seasons: In Missouri
Breeding May–Jul, Dec–Jan

Behavior

Diet: Mostly nuts, acorns, seeds, fruit, and buds, especially from hickory, pecan, walnut, elm, and mulberry; also fungi, insects, bird eggs, and bird-feeder seed.
Activity: Active by day and does not hibernate. In midsummer it rests through the heat and forages early and late. It can run down tree trunks headfirst.
Social life: food in thousands of separate caches and relocates them by memory and smell. It will even fake-bury food when it is being watched.

Life cycle

Breeding season: Mates twice a year: late December–January and again in late May–early July (a bit later farther north); litters arrive in February–March and July–August
Nest: Leafy nests () high in big trees, or tree cavities, which are favored for raising young and riding out winter.
Gestation: About 44–45 days
Litter size: Usually 2–3 young (1–8)
Lifespan: Adults commonly live about 6 years; up to 12 in the wild

Name and classification

About the name: The species name carolinensis refers to the Carolinas, where it was first recorded. Several regional subspecies are recognized, including the northern gray squirrel (S. c. pennsylvanicus) and the Florida gray squirrel (S. c. extimus).
Varieties and forms: Black (melanistic) squirrels are common in some populations, such as parts of southeastern Canada; their dark coat helps them hold heat. White squirrels also occur.

Conservation

IUCN Red List: LCLeast ConcernLow risk of extinction
Status: In Washington it is an introduced species that competes with the state-listed western gray squirrel. In Europe it is listed as an invasive species of Union concern.

Culture and stories

Culture and stories: It is a popular small-game animal across most of its range in eastern North America, where hunters value the meat.
The genus name Sciurus comes from Greek words for 'shadow' and 'tail'—a squirrel sitting in the shade of its own tail.