Eastern Gray Squirrel     

Introduction

The Eastern Gray Squirrel has a bushy tail and gray fur. It is 16-20 inches long and weighs 1-1.5 lbs. It lives in hardwood forests with nut-producing trees and in residential areas where it eats twigs, buds, seeds, and nuts. It is active during the day from sunrise to sunset. Each squirrel has a fixed range of several wooded acres which may overlap with other squirrels. In general, older squirrels are dominant over younger squirrels. Cover is important for bedding, nesting and protection from predators. Tree cavities are used as dens for litter raising and winter shelter. Squirrels use leaf nests consisting of leaves and twigs. Life expectancy of gray squirrels is short, averaging only 1-2 years

Food Habits

Squirrels eat twigs and buds, fruit, seeds and nuts, which are often stored by burial for winter. Other supplemental food items include insects, bird eggs, frogs and lizards.

Family Life

Mating takes place over two distinct breeding periods. The winter-spring period peaks in January, with young produced in February and early March. By the end of May, the young leave the nest. The spring-summer mating period peaks in June, with young produced in July. Sexual maturity and litter production generally occur between 10 months to 1 year of age. Only the mother raises the young. Gestation takes about 44 days, with the young generally remaining with the female for as long as 12 weeks.

Winter Habits

Squirrels hibernate in winter. They bury food in underground pits and rely on smell to locate them on warmer days.

Threats

The natural mortality of gray squirrels is particularly high within the first year, and those young born in summer appear to have a higher mortality than those born in spring. Parasites such as fleas, botflies, and ticks are likely contributors to mortality. Major predators such as bobcats, raccoons, owls, hawks, and snakes probably do not limit populations. Occasionally, they are hunted.

Benefits

Problems and Solutions