Eastern Gray Squirrel
Sciurus carolinensis
They practice 'scatter-hoarding,' burying thousands of nuts per season; their occasional forgetfulness is a primary driver of oak and hickory forest regeneration.
- Scientific name
- Sciurus carolinensis
- Taxonomy
- Animalia › Chordata › Mammalia › Rodentia › Sciuridae › Sciurus
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- increasing
- Biome
- forest
- Habitat
- Deciduous and mixed-leaf forests, as well as highly adaptable to urban parks and gardens.
- Diet
- Omnivorous; primarily mast (acorns, hickory nuts), seeds, buds, and fungi, but occasionally consumes insects or bird eggs.
- Range
- Eastern North America, United Kingdom, Ireland, Italy, South Africa
- Size
- Total length 38-52 cm; weight 400-600 grams.
- Lifespan
- 6 to 12 years in the wild, though many do not survive past their first year.
- Active
- diurnal
- Threats
- Predation by raptors and foxes, vehicle strikes in urban areas, and competition with invasive species in non-native ranges.
- Safe to approach?
- Harmless but wild; they are defensive if cornered. Maintain a respectful distance and avoid hand-feeding to prevent accidental bites. If bitten or scratched, wash the area thoroughly with soap and water and consult a medical professional.
Sciurus carolinensis , common name eastern gray squirrel or grey squirrel depending on region, is a tree squirrel in the genus Sciurus . It is native to eastern North America, where it is the most prodigious and ecologically essential natural forest regenerator. The eastern grey squirrel in Europe is regarded as an invasive species.
Photo: Diliff, CC-BY-SA, via iNaturalist
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