Possibly the most familiar mammal of eastern North American backyards. Critical for forest regeneration — they cache thousands of acorns each fall, forgetting many to germinate as new oaks.
§ Quick facts
§ Encyclopedia
The eastern gray squirrel, spelled as grey squirrel outside of the United States, is a species of tree squirrel in the genus Sciurus. It is native to eastern North America, where it is the most prodigious and ecologically essential natural forest regenerator. Widely introduced to certain places around the world, the eastern gray squirrel in Europe, in particular, is regarded as an invasive species.
Source: Wikipedia — Eastern gray squirrel Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
§ Identification
Field marks. Medium-sized gray squirrel with white belly and bushy gray tail.
Similar species. Fox Squirrel (larger, more rusty). Red Squirrel (much smaller).
Voice. Sharp territorial chitters.
§ Diet & behavior
Diet. Acorns and nuts (primary), seeds, fruit, fungi.
Behavior. Active by day year-round. Builds spherical leaf nests.
§ Range
Eastern US and southern Canada; introduced to UK, Europe, Pacific Northwest
§ Habitat
Mature deciduous and mixed forests, urban parks
§ Threats
Vehicle strikes, electrocution on power lines, displacement by introduced fox squirrels in some areas.
§ Conservation status
According to the IUCN Red List, the eastern gray squirrel is currently classified as Least Concern.
§ What helps
Plant oak trees. Maintain insulated power-line covers. Don't feed exclusively peanuts (low-calcium causes metabolic bone disease).
§ Further reading
- Wikipedia — Eastern gray squirrel
- www.nwf.org — authoritative profile of Sciurus carolinensis
- IUCN Red List · taxon 42462
- iNaturalist · taxon 46017
- GBIF occurrence records
- Encyclopedia of Life — Sciurus carolinensis
§ Sources cited
- NWF Wildlife Guide
- National Park Service
- IUCN Red List 2016
