Mammal · GBIF taxon 5219685
Sciurus niger cinereus
Sciurus niger cinereusAlso known as Delmarva Squirrel
Delmarva fox squirrels stand out as noticeably larger and chunkier than common grey squirrels, sporting a handsome silver-grey coat with pale white underparts. They spend considerably more time foraging quietly on the forest floor, relying on mature hardwood stands with open understories for easy movement and acorn gathering. Though once severely depleted by overhunting and habitat loss, focused conservation and forest management allowed populations across the Delmarva Peninsula to recover.
DiurnalMammalForest Dweller
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Acorns
- Hickory Nuts
- Pine Cone Seeds
Predators
- Red-tailed Hawk
- Bobcat
- Red Fox
ThreatsHabitat fragmentation, sea level rise, vehicle collisions, and timber harvest
HabitatsMature hardwood and mixed pine-oak forests with open understories
Life span6 to 10 years in the wild
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilySciuridae
- SpeciesSciurus niger cinereus
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Wild mammals may bite if cornered; observe quietly from a safe distance.
- What to notice
- Recognize them by their large size, silvery-grey fur, broad fluffy tail, and deliberate ground-level foraging.
- Support conservation
- Maintain a quiet distance along established trails and avoid disturbing mature tree hollows used for nesting.
Responsible observation
- Woodland Trails: Walk quietly along mature forest edges on the Delmarva Peninsula to spot them foraging on the ground.
- Distance Observation: Use binoculars to watch feeding behavior without causing them to retreat into tree hollows.
- Habitat Respect: Avoid disturbing fallen timber and leaf litter where these squirrels search for buried nuts.
Nominate Species "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
Competitor (c) Diliff, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
Food Source 
Predator Buteo_jamaicensis_1.jpg: Alan Vernon derivative work: Berichard (talk) / CC BY 2.0 · cc-by
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