Eastern Fox Squirrel
Sciurus niger
They can descend trees head-first because their hind ankles can rotate a full 180 degrees, allowing them to cling securely to the bark.
- Scientific name
- Sciurus niger
- Taxonomy
- Animalia › Chordata › Mammalia › Rodentia › Sciuridae › Sciurus
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- stable
- Biome
- forest
- Habitat
- Open oak and hickory forests, pine-oak woodlands, suburban parks, and agricultural edges.
- Diet
- Acorns, hickory nuts, walnuts, beech mast, tree buds, berries, insects, and occasionally bird eggs.
- Range
- Eastern United States, Central United States, Southern Canada, Northeastern Mexico
- Size
- 45 to 70 cm (17.7 to 27.6 in) in length, weighing 500 to 1000 grams
- Lifespan
- 8 to 12 years in the wild
- Active
- diurnal
- Threats
- Habitat fragmentation, loss of mature mast-producing trees, and vehicle collisions in suburban areas.
- Safe to approach?
- Harmless but defensive if cornered. Maintain a respectful distance of 5-10 feet; do not attempt to hand-feed, as they may bite if startled. If bitten or scratched, wash the wound thoroughly with warm water and soap, and seek medical advice to prevent infection.
The fox squirrel ( Sciurus niger ), also known as the eastern fox squirrel or Bryant's fox squirrel , is the largest species of tree squirrel native to North America. Despite the differences in size and coloration, they are sometimes mistaken for American red squirrels or eastern gray squirrels in areas where the species co-exist.
Photo: Judy Gallagher, CC-BY, via iNaturalist
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