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
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Acorns
- Hickory Nuts
- Walnuts
Predators
- Red-tailed Hawk
- Coyote
- Bobcat
ThreatsHabitat fragmentation, loss of mature mast-producing trees, and vehicle collisions
HabitatsOpen oak-hickory forests, pine woodlands, suburban parks, and agricultural edges
Life span8 to 18 years in the wild
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilySciuridae
- SpeciesSciurus niger
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Capable of a painful bite if cornered or handled; observe from a safe distance.
- Why it is dangerous
- Possesses strong incisors and sharp claws that can inflict deep puncture wounds if the animal is cornered, trapped, or handled.
- How to recognize a risky encounter
- Distinguished by its large size, rust-colored belly, and slow, undulating bounding gait on the ground.
- What to do
- Never attempt to touch, corner, or hand-feed wild squirrels; use a broom or call wildlife services if one enters a home.
Responsible observation
- 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.
Co-occurring Rodent (c) DaPuglet, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
Forest Companion "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
Predator Buteo_jamaicensis_1.jpg: Alan Vernon derivative work: Berichard (talk) / CC BY 2.0 · cc-by
Close Relative (c) Diliff, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
Help improve the field guideSomething wrong?
Checking your Fauna account…Report a name, category, or profile issue for review.