Types of Squirrels

Common Types of Squirrels

If you live near the woods, or maybe just a tree, you live by squirrels. Squirrels can be found in most parts of the world. There are many different types of squirrels, and each has its own unique habits and characteristics. These days, squirrels are all grouped together into a single taxonomic family called Sciuridae. This family is within the order Rodentia, so basically all squirrels are rodents.

However, the Sciuridae family includes everything from tree squirrels (which is what most of us think of when we think of squirrels) to ground squirrels, flying squirrels, marmots, and chipmunks.

Types of Squirrel in North America

The most common types of squirrels in North America are the eastern & western gray squirrel, the black squirrel, the fox squirrel, and the red squirrel. Each type of squirrel has a different color, size, and habitat. They also live in different places- the eastern gray squirrel lives in forests and urban areas, the fox squirrel lives in wooded areas and urban areas, and the red squirrel lives in forests and residential areas.

There are many different species of squirrels, and they are found in a variety of environments all over the world. According to estimates, there are around 285 species of squirrels in the world. Some of the most common species include the gray squirrel, red squirrel, and fox squirrel, which are found in North America, and the Eurasian red squirrel, which is found in Europe and Asia. In addition to these, there are many other species of squirrels found in a variety of habitats, including tropical rainforests, deciduous forests, and even desserts. Each species of squirrel has its own unique characteristics and adaptations that allow it to thrive in its particular environment.

The Eastern Gray

The eastern gray squirrel is the most common type of squirrel in North America. They are usually gray or brown in color, and they have a bushy tail. Eastern gray squirrels live in forests and urban areas. Eastern gray squirrels are easy to identify because they are the largest type of North American squirrel. The tree squirrel is native to North America and is easily identified from its gray fur. The squirrel has a body length of 23-30cm and a tail length of 19-25cm. The eastern gray squirrel can descend a tree head-first by rotating its hind ankle at an angle of 180 degrees. The eastern gray species has been cited as a threat to the fox, and red squirrels exist harmoniously with the black squirrel. The squirrel prefers areas of large forest cover with dense vegetation undergrowth.

How to Identify

To identify an eastern gray squirrel, look for these characteristics:

• Gray or brown fur

• Bushy tail

• Lives in forests and urban areas

Fox Squirrel

The fox squirrel is also common in North America. They are reddish-brown in color, and they have a long tail. Fox squirrels live in wooded areas, but they can also be found in urban areas. The fox squirrel (Sciurus niger) is a large tree squirrel with a body length of 17.7-27.6 inches and a weight of 500-1000 g. Fox squirrels have brown-grey, brown-yellow, or brown-orange fur on their upper body depending on their geographical location. The North American native occupies areas such as Canada, the Dakotas, Texas, and Colorado preferring mainly open areas with some trees especially oak, walnut, hickory, and pine

How to Identify

To identify a fox squirrel, look for these characteristics:

• Reddish-brown fur

• Long tail

• Lives in wooded areas and urban areas

Red Squirrel

The red squirrel is the smallest type of North American squirrel. They are reddish-brown or gray in color, and they have a bushy tail. Red squirrels live in forests, but they can also be found in residential areas. The American red squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus) is a tree squirrel found in areas with coniferous trees. Their main diet consists of conifer cone seeds. As it name would suggest, the American red squirrel is distinguished by its reddish fur. It has a relatively smaller size and weighs between 200 and 250 g. Since the squirrel has a large population in Canada, Alaska, British Columbia, and the Rocky Mountains, the species has been classified as a least concern species. However, the squirrel’s population is under threat of decline in Arizona.

How to Identify

To identify a red squirrel, look for these characteristics:

• Reddish-brown or gray fur

• Bushy tail

• Lives in forests and residential areas

Western Gray Squirrels

Gray squirrels are the most common type of squirrel. They are light brown or gray in color, and they have a long tail. Western gray squirrels live in deciduous forests, mixed forests, and plantations. They eat mostly nuts, seeds, and fruits. The western gray squirrel (Sciurus griseus) is an arboreal rodent found in the western areas of the US and is considered to be more shy than the eastern gray squirrel. They are the largest trees squirrels native to North America with a body-tail length of 50 cm and weight up to 1kg. The diurnal and arboreal squirrel prefers spending most of its time on trees only coming to the ground to forage. The species is threatened by habitat loss and degradation both due to human and non-human factors.

How to Identify

To identify a western gray squirrel, look for these characteristics:

• Gray or light brown fur

• Long tail

• Lives in forests and urban areas

Black Squirrels

Black squirrels are the most rare type of European squirrel. They are black or very dark brown in color, and they have a long tail. Black squirrels live in the same places as gray squirrels- in forests and urban areas. They eat mostly nuts, seeds, and fruits. The black squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) is named for its black fur which occurs due to a genetic mutation of white blood cells. The squirrel prefers dark poorly lit forest areas for camouflage. The black squirrel is found in most areas where there are gray squirrel populations and co-exist in peaceful relations but are hostile to other squirrels. Probably to its genetic mutation, the black squirrel is more adaptable to cold areas as its fur can retain more heat. Among humans, the black squirrel is admired due to its rarity and unique colouration and has been introduced in most areas of North America or reared in captivity in parks

How to Identify

To identify a black squirrel, look for these characteristics:

• Black or very dark brown fur

• Long tail

• Lives in forests and urban areas

What Do Ground Squirrels Look Like?
Ground squirrels are troublesome rodent pests for many home gardeners. The  ground squirrels, Otospermophilus beecheyi and Otospermophilus douglasii, are the most common species in and around homes and gardens. The two are usually not referred to as separate species, so in this publication they are referred to as ground squirrel.

It is easy to identify ground squirrels since they forage above ground near their burrows. Their body measures 14 to 20 inches, which includes their tail. Adult squirrels weigh between 21 and 30 ounces. The males are somewhat larger than the females.

Ground squirrels live in colonial burrow systems where they sleep, rest, rear young, store food, and avoid danger. Their burrows are about 4 inches in diameter, although older burrow entrances can occasionally be quite a bit larger. The length of burrow systems usually ranges between 5 and 30 feet. Most burrow systems are within 2 to 3 feet of the surface of the ground, but they may occasionally be up to 6 feet or more in depth. Burrows can be single tunnels or complex branching systems. They may be occupied by a single squirrel or occupied by many. The average litter has 5 to 8 young, but litters as small as 1 and as large as 15 have been observed. The young are born in the burrow and grow rapidly, emerging from the burrow when they are about 6 weeks old. At 6 months of age, they resemble adults.

Ground squirrels are primarily herbivorous, and their diet changes with the season. After emerging from hibernation, they feed almost exclusively on green grasses and herbaceous plants. When annual plants begin to dry and produce seed, squirrels switch to seeds, grains, and nuts, and begin to store food. Ground squirrels usually forage close to their burrows. Their home range typically is within a 75-yard radius of their burrow.

What Do Tree Squirrels Look Like? 

Fox squirrels are approximately 19-29” in length. Their color may vary by their surrounding habitat and regions in which they are established. In the northeastern part of the fox squirrel’s range, they tend to be gray on top with yellowish undersides. In the western part of the range, they are a bright rust color. In the southern part of the range, they tend to be black with white patches on their faces and tails. Gray squirrels have bodies that are 8 to 10 inches long and tails that are 7.5 to 10 inches long. Their fur is dark gray with intertwined sections of paler gray. Pine squirrels, which are also called red squirrels, have bodies that are 7 to 8 inches long and tails that are 4 to 6 inches long. Their fur is rust red or gray on top with white or grayish-white undersides and tails with black bands and white edges.

A tree squirrel is a type of squirrel that lives in trees and is adapted for climbing and jumping from branch to branch. There are many different types of tree squirrels found all over the world, including:

1. Eastern gray squirrel: This is a common tree squirrel found in North America, with a gray or brown coat and a bushy tail.

2. Western gray squirrel: This is a tree squirrel found in the western United States and Canada, with a gray or brown coat and a bushy tail.

3. Red squirrel: This is a small tree squirrel found in North America and Europe, with a reddish-brown coat and a small, round head.

4. Fox squirrel: This is a large tree squirrel found in North America, with a reddish-brown or gray coat and a long, bushy tail.

5. Douglas squirrel: This is a tree squirrel found in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States, with a reddish-brown coat and a bushy tail.

6. Pine squirrel: This is a small tree squirrel found in North America, with a reddish-brown or gray coat and a small, round head.

7. Abert's squirrel: This is a tree squirrel found in the western United States, with a gray or brown coat and a bushy tail.

8. Siberian flying squirrel: This is a tree squirrel found in Asia, with a brown or gray coat and a large, flattened tail that it uses to glide from tree to tree.

What Do Flying Squirrels Look Like? 

Flying squirrels might more appropriately be called “gliding squirrels” because they aren’t capable of true powered flight that a bird or a bat can do. Flying squirrels glide. They have a special membrane between their front and back legs that allows them to glide through the air between trees. When a flying squirrel wants to travel to another tree without touching the ground, it launches itself from a high branch and spreads out its limbs so the gliding membrane is exposed. It uses slight movements of the legs to steer, and the tail acts as a brake upon reaching its destination. Flying squirrels can cover more than 150 feet in a single glide.

Flying squirrels are omnivores. They eat a variety of foods, including seeds, nuts, fungi, fruit, and insects. Southern flying squirrels are considered one of the most carnivorous squirrels because they supplement their diet with eggs, birds, and carrion

The southern flying squirrel is found throughout the eastern United States, from Maine south to Florida and west from Minnesota south to Texas. The northern flying squirrel has a much patchier distribution, but is found primarily in the Northeast, along the West Coast, and into Idaho and Montana

Western Grey Squirrel
Eastern Grey Squirrel
Black Squirrel
Red Squirrel
Fox Squirrel
Ground Squirrel
Tree Squirrel
Flying Squirrel