Where’s Wildlife · Mammal Field Guide
Sciurus carolinensis
Pronounced (approx.): SKY-ur-us kair-oh-lin-EN-sis
A tree-climbing food gatherer whose buried nuts can become tomorrow’s trees.
Eastern Gray Squirrel. Select the image to browse all 6 photographs.
NATIVE TO NORTH AMERICA
Gray back with brown tones
Usually pale underparts
Full, bushy tail
Compare views, markings and body shapes in the photographs below.
Most Eastern Gray Squirrels have a gray back, pale underparts and a large, bushy tail. Brown tones often show on the face and sides. Coat color varies, and some individuals are dark brown or black rather than gray.
The Fox Squirrel is generally larger and, in much of the Midwest, often has orange or rusty underparts. These features vary geographically, so compare size, color and proportions together. Black coat color alone cannot settle the identification.
Hardwood trees provide both food and shelter. Gray squirrels eat nuts, seeds, fruits and fungi, along with other foods when available. They bury food in scattered locations and later recover many of these caches.
Gray squirrels are active during the day and remain active through winter. They shelter in tree cavities or leafy nests called dreys. Females rear their young in a protected nest until the youngsters can begin climbing and foraging.
Gray squirrels do not hibernate.
They use both tree cavities and leafy dreys.
Some unrecovered nuts can germinate.
The species is native to eastern North America and has been introduced elsewhere. Mature woodland, parks and tree-filled neighborhoods can all support populations. The map for the species also includes its black color form.
Explore reported sightings on iNaturalist. Observation records are not a complete range map.
Explore a related illustrated nature poster from the Where’s Wildlife store.
