Mammal · GBIF taxon 5219683
Eastern Fox Squirrel
Sciurus nigerAlso known as Fox Squirrel, Bryant's Fox Squirrel, Stump-Eared Squirrel
Eastern fox squirrels are the largest native tree squirrels in North America, easily recognized by their rich rusty-orange bellies and impressive leafy nests high in the canopy. They spend significantly more time foraging on the forest floor than their grey relatives, burying thousands of acorns and nuts each autumn that help regenerate hardwood forests. Their chittering and sharp barking calls alert the surrounding woodland to approaching predators like hawks and coyotes.
DiurnalMammalForest Dweller
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Acorns
- Hickory Nuts
- Fungi
Predators
- Red-tailed Hawk
- Coyote
- Bobcat
ThreatsHabitat fragmentation, vehicle collisions, hunting
HabitatsOpen hardwood forests, oak-hickory stands, forest edges, suburban parks
Life span6–12 years in the wild
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderRodentia
- FamilySciuridae
- GenusSciurus
- SpeciesSciurus niger
Native
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- May bite if cornered, trapped, or hand-fed; observe peacefully from a safe distance.
Responsible observation
- Observe ground activity: Watch for their distinctive slow, bounding gait while they forage for fallen nuts.
- Avoid hand-feeding: Feeding by hand encourages aggressive habituation and risks sharp defensive bites.
- Look for leaf dreys: Scan high tree forks in autumn to spot their bulky, spherical nests made of twigs and leaves.
Competitor (c) DaPuglet, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
Co-Occurring Cousin "Southern Flying Squirrel - Glaucomys volans, Long Branch Nature Center, Arlington, Virginia, December 22, 2020" by Judy Gallagher is licensed under CC BY 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/. · cc-by
Close Relative (c) Diliff, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
Keep collecting in Fauna
Found in Collections
Species set
Urban Dwellers
Eastern Fox Squirrel is found in this collection. Identify it in Fauna to fill this slot and continue your progress.
—/7
Help improve the field guideSomething wrong?
Checking your Fauna account…Report a name, category, or profile issue for review.