# 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.

- **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.

## About

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.

## Sources

- Plate: https://gaia-dex.com/species/fda3bb8b-7612-4453-b334-ed0cd4b937d0
- iNaturalist: https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/46017
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sciurus carolinensis
- Conservation status: IUCN Red List category, as recorded by Gaia-Dex
- Photo: https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/22144449/medium.jpg (Diliff, CC-BY-SA, via iNaturalist)

Habitat, diet, size and similar notes are AI-written summaries; check them against the linked sources before relying on them.