Species Name: Eastern Fox Squirrel or Fox Squirrel (Sciurus niger).

Length: 17 7/8" to 27 1/2".

Height: 7 7/8" to 13".

Weight: 17 5/8 oz to 37 1/8 oz.

Description:Largest tree squirrel.

• Similar to Gray Squirrel without silvery tipped tail hair.
• Often with White tip on tail and white blaze on face.

Habitat: Found in oak and hickory woods, live oak, cypress and mangrove swamps as well as piney woods areas.

Range: Eastern United States, new England, portions of New York and Pennsylvania, west to the Dakotas and Eastern Texas.

Diet: Acorns, hickory nuts, seeds, fruits, insects.

Courtship: Males begin the winter courtship with chases showing the males are ready to begin breeding before the females. The female usually has 2-4 young around the beginning of March or as late as August. As the females become older, about two years of age they may produce two litters each year. The young are kept in the nest for 7-8 weeks, with eyes opening during the second week. They won't be found on the ground until about 3 months of age.

Nest Type: Nests are rather large and found in trees. In the summer months it can be difficult to locate the nests but as the leaves fall they become quite obvious for those looking.

Cool Facts:

• Fox squirrels are most active in morning and late evening.
• They bury nuts for winter which they can search out even in snow by using their sense of smell.
• They love to sunbathe on limbs.
• Provide hours of entertainment or aggravation at bird feeders depending on a person's perspective.

Related Species: Nayarit Squirrel found only in the Chiricahua Mountains in Southwestern Arizona.

References:

• National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Mammals

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