Fox Squirrel: a busy little hoarder

by Rose Collison

The fox squirrel, 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. The squirrels body length measures 17.7 to 27.6 inches, tail length is 7.9-13.0 inches, and they range in weight from 1.1-2.2 lbs. In most areas the animals upper body is brown-grey to brown-yellow with typically brownish orange underside. Fox squirrels have excellent vision and well-developed senses of hearing and smell. Fox  squirrels have two types of shelters; leaf nests and tree dens. Tree dens are preferred over leaf nests during the winter and raising young. In general. fox squirrels foods include mast, tree buds, insects, tubers, bulbs, roots, bird eggs, seeds of pines and spring-fruiting trees, and fungi. They normally produce two litters a year, however, yearling females may only produce one, most births occur in mid March and July. The average litter size is  three.

Eating a peanut on the ground.

Gathering leaves in its mouth

Taking them to the nest

Found a nice spot in this tree for a nest