The Eastern Gray Squirrel

The Eastern Gray Squirrel (Sciurus Carolinensis), is a member of the rodent family. Despite its name, the gray squirrel is not always gray. There are also beige, black and rust colored gray squirrels. The gray squirrel molts twice a year which also changes its coloring slightly. In the summer it often has a reddish tinge, while in the winter it is normally a more silver gray. They normally have a white belly and a large bushy tail. As with all squirrels the tail serves the squirrel in many ways. It helps to keep them cool by shading them in the hot summer, helps to keep them warm and shelter them from snow in the winter, they use it as a form of communication, and of course it helps to guide them when they are jumping or climbing.  The squirrel’s body is 8 to 10 inches long; its tail is 7 to 10 inches long. They weigh between 12 and 24 ounces.They are diurnal rodents and are active year round. They have good eyesight, an excellent sense of smell and are skilled climbers and jumpers. They have long hind legs and short front legs which aids them in their jumping abilities. Their back legs are double jointed which helps them run up or down surfaces easily. Squirrels are very acrobatic, they easily navigate trees, vines, telephone wires, and brick walls. They can jump a distance of 10 feet from tree to tree; they can jump straight up in the air to about 5 feet.

The diet of the Eastern Gray Squirrel consists mainly of nuts, berries and fungi.  On rare occasions if food is scare they will eat bird eggs and insects. They are opportunistic feeders and will eat a variety of human foods as well such as pizza crust, crackers and bread.  They are hoarders, hiding food in various places. Before the squirrel hides the nut, it will clean it, rubbing it on its face or licking it to transfer it’s scent to the nut. This action helps the squirrel to find the nut at a later time. Even with their excellent sense of smell, squirrels never recover all of their hidden food, which is a benefit to us. Squirrels are responsible for planting many of the trees we now enjoy.