Mammal · GBIF taxon 5219685
Delmarva Fox Squirrel
Sciurus niger cinereusAlso known as Delmarva Peninsula Fox Squirrel, Silver-Gray Fox Squirrel
Delmarva fox squirrels are noticeably larger than eastern gray squirrels, possessing a light frosty silver-gray coat, a short broad face, and a unusually fluffy tail. Unlike many canopy-dwelling tree squirrels, they spend a great deal of time quietly walking along the forest floor foraging for nuts, seeds, and fungi in mature pine and oak stands. Decades of targeted forest conservation across the Delmarva Peninsula allowed this massive rodent to recover from severe habitat loss and successfully emerge from the Endangered Species List.
EndemicMammalForest Dweller
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Acorns
- Hickory nuts
- Loblolly pine seeds
Predators
- Red-tailed Hawk
- Red Fox
- Coyote
ThreatsHabitat fragmentation, sea level rise, vehicle strikes
HabitatsMature hardwood forests, mixed pine-oak woodlands, agricultural forest edges
Life span6–10 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
- Can deliver a sharp bite if cornered; observe quietly from a respectful distance.
- What to notice
- Recognizable by its bulky size, light frosty-gray fur, white belly, and heavy reliance on mature open woods.
- Support conservation
- Observe quietly from trails, avoid disturbing forest snags, and do not feed wild individuals.
Responsible observation
- Spotting: Look for large silver-gray squirrels walking slowly along the forest floor rather than leaping overhead.
- Identification: Distinguish them from eastern grays by their bulkier frame, lighter silver coat, and broader tail.
- Etiquette: Stay on established trail networks to prevent disturbing foraging adults or nesting tree cavities.
Competitor (c) Diliff, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
Co-occupant "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
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