Mammal · GBIF taxon 5219669
Chiricahua Fox Squirrel
Sciurus nayaritensisAlso known as Mexican Fox Squirrel, Nayarit Fox Squirrel, Chiricahua Squirrel
Chiricahua fox squirrels are secretive tree squirrels endemic to the oak-pine woodlands of the Madrean Sky Islands and Sierra Madre Occidental. Moving quietly through the canopy, these montane rodents spend their days foraging for pine seeds, acorns, walnuts, and subterranean fungi. Their grizzled grey coat, warm cinnamon-rufous underparts, and plumey tail blend seamlessly against lichen-covered bark.
DiurnalMammalArboreal
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Pine seeds
- Acorns
- Fungi
Predators
- Northern Goshawk
- Bobcat
- Grey Fox
ThreatsSevere wildfires, habitat fragmentation, drought
HabitatsOak-pine forests, Madrean sky island woodlands, riparian canyons
Life span6–10 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilySciuridae
- SpeciesSciurus nayaritensis
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- May bite or scratch if cornered; observe from a respectful distance.
- What to notice
- Recognizable by its large size, dark grey back, bright orange-cinnamon belly, and bushy tail.
- Support conservation
- Stay on marked canyon trails and never disturb dreys or tree hollow nest sites.
Responsible observation
- Viewing Canyons: Scan high branches in forested riparian bottoms during early morning hours.
- Listening for Signs: Listen for the soft sound of gnawed pine cone scales dropping to the forest floor.
- Keeping Distance: Maintain a quiet presence and avoid approaching nest trees or feeding spots.
Competitor NPS / Public domain · cc0
Host Plant 
Close Relative (c) Wendy McCrady, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Close Relative "Fox Squirrel, San Jose CA" by Franco Folini is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/. · cc-by-sa
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