Species · GBIF taxon 5219683
Fox Squirrel
Sciurus nigerAlso known as Eastern Fox Squirrel, Bryant's Fox Squirrel, Stump-eared Squirrel
Fox squirrels are the largest tree squirrels in North America, easily recognized by their impressive size, rust-colored underparts, and long, bushy tails edged in gold. These highly adaptable rodents spend much of their day foraging on the ground, burying acorns, hickory nuts, and walnuts individually to retrieve during the winter. They are solitary animals that construct large leaf nests, called dreys, high in the forks of mature trees.
DiurnalAdaptableForest Dweller
- diet
- Opportunistic herbivore including nuts, seeds, buds, fungi, and occasionally insects or bird eggs
- family
- Sciuridae
- threats
- Habitat fragmentation, loss of mature mast-producing trees, and vehicle collisions
- life Span
- 8 to 18 years in the wild
LC
Capable of a painful bite if cornered or handled; observe from a safe distance.
Possesses strong incisors and sharp claws that can inflict deep puncture wounds if the animal is cornered, trapped, or handled.
Never attempt to touch, corner, or hand-feed wild squirrels; use a broom or call wildlife services if one enters a home.- Binocular viewing: Watch them forage on the ground from a distance to observe their scatter-hoarding behavior.
- Listen for vocalizations: Listen for their distinct, low-pitched barking or clucking sounds when they detect a threat.
- Avoid feeding: Refrain from hand-feeding to prevent habituation and accidental bites.