Eastern Gray Squirrel
Sciurus carolinensis

The eastern gray squirrel is a grayish-brown, bushy-tailed rodent that lives in forests, parks and backyards throughout the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

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An eastern gray squirrel feasts on red maple seeds at Truxtun Park in Annapolis on Wednesday, April 15, 2020. In spring, squirrels will also feed on the buds of several species of tree. (Photo by Will Parson/Chesapeake Bay Program) USAGE REQUEST INFORMATION The Chesapeake Bay Program's photographic archive is available for media and non-commercial use at no charge. To request permission, send an email briefly describing the proposed use to requests@chesapeakebay.net. Please do not attach jpegs. Instead, reference the corresponding Flickr URL of the image. A photo credit mentioning the Chesapeake Bay Program is mandatory. The photograph may not be manipulated in any way or used in any way that suggests approval or endorsement of the Chesapeake Bay Program. Requestors should also respect the publicity rights of individuals photographed, and seek their consent if necessary.

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Appearance

The eastern gray squirrel has a grayish body with some black, white or brown fur and a whitish belly. Some gray squirrels are completely black; this is called melanism. These squirrels have bushy tails that vary in color from pale gray to brownish. Eastern gray squirrels can grow to 20 inches long and weigh 1.5 pounds.

Feeding

Eastern gray squirrels feed mostly on nuts and acorns from oak, beech, walnut and hickory trees, as well as seeds, fruits, bulbs and flowers from other plants and trees. They will also eat frogs, insects, bird eggs and farm crops such as corn and wheat. They store nuts and seeds at the end of summer to eat throughout the winter.

Predators

Minks, weasels, bobcats, raptors, red foxes and other predatory animals prey on eastern gray squirrels. The squirrels will emit a warning call to let other squirrels know predators are near. They are hard to capture because they can climb and jump among trees quickly and easily.

Voice

Eastern gray squirrels become particularly noisy when alarmed or angry. Chattering, rasping and barking are all examples from the gray squirrel's vocabulary

Reproduction and life cycle

Mating occurs twice per year, in December to February and again in May to June. Females nest alone while pregnant. After 44 days, the female gives birth to 2 to 3 blind, naked young. The female cares for her young until they are weaned at about 10 weeks old. Males reach sexual maturity at 11 months old, while females mature at about 15 old. Eastern gray squirrles can live up to 12 years in the wild.

Did you know?

  • The gray squirrel creates a permanent den within tree cavities or in nests of leaves and twigs on a tree crotch.
  • In September, some young gray squirrels will leave their current area to find a new place to live and establish their own home range.
  • The gray squirrel’s bushy tail has a number of uses, including balance, warmth and protection from the weather, and communicating with other squirrels.

Sources and additional information

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