The Eastern Gray Squirrel:

The Forest’s Master Acrobat

The Gray Squirrel is one of the most famous animals in North America. They are known for their big, bushy tails and their amazing ability to jump from tree to tree. These squirrels are very smart and spend most of their time gathering food and playing in the branches.

RANGE

The Eastern Gray Squirrel is found across the eastern half of the United States and parts of southern Canada. They have also been moved to the western United States and Europe, where they have learned to live in many different types of forests and parks.

HABITAT

Gray Squirrels love forests with large trees like oaks, hickories, and walnuts because these trees provide plenty of food. They live in two types of homes:

Dreys: These are large nests made of twigs and leaves high in the branches.
Dens: During the cold winter, they prefer to sleep inside hollow tree trunks to stay warm and dry.

DIET

Gray Squirrels are mostly herbivores, and they are famous for "hoarding" or saving their food.

The Nut Harvest: They love acorns, hickory nuts, and walnuts.
Burying Food: Instead of keeping all their food in one big pile like the Red Squirrel, Gray Squirrels bury each nut in a different secret spot.
Other Foods: They also eat tree bark, berries, and occasionally insects or bird eggs.

SIZE & WEIGHT

The Gray Squirrel is much larger than the Red Squirrel. They are usually between 17 and 20 inches long. They are very athletic and weigh about 1 to 1.5 pounds, which is about the same as a loaf of bread.

LIFE CYCLE

Mother squirrels usually have babies twice a year, once in the late winter and again in the summer.

A litter usually has 2 to 4 babies.
Baby squirrels are born without hair and cannot see for several weeks.
They stay safe in the nest for about two months before they are strong enough to climb and find their own nuts.

PREDATORS

Life in the trees can be dangerous. Hawks and owls hunt them from above, while foxes, coyotes, and snakes look for them on the ground. When a Gray Squirrel is scared, it will run in a "zigzag" pattern or flatten itself against a tree trunk so it is hard to see.

Amazing Adaptations

The Gray Squirrel has a body designed for a life high off the ground.

The Big Tail: Their bushy tail has many uses. It helps them balance, acts as a warm blanket, and can even be used as an umbrella to keep the rain off their backs!
A Great Memory: Since they bury thousands of nuts each year, they have a very good memory and a great sense of smell to help them find their snacks later.
Swivel Ankles: Gray Squirrels can turn their back feet completely around! This allows them to climb down a tree trunk head-first.

Animal Talk

How Do Eastern Gray Squirrels Communicate?

Eastern gray squirrels are very expressive neighbors! They use a combination of calls, tail movements, and body language to warn other squirrels and react to what's happening around them.

Kuks & Quaas: When something seems dangerous, a gray squirrel may give a series of short, bark-like “kuks,” sometimes followed by longer “quaa” calls. These alarm calls can alert other squirrels that trouble may be nearby.
Tail Flagging: A squirrel's bushy tail can work like a signal flag. When alarmed, a squirrel may rapidly flick, wave, or whip its tail. Other squirrels can see these movements even when it's difficult to hear a call.
Moans & Other Calls: Gray squirrels have more than just one alarm sound. They can produce moans and other vocalizations, and they may combine different sounds and tail movements depending on the situation.

Fun Animal Talk Fact: Gray squirrels can send a warning without making any sound at all! Researchers have found that other squirrels pay attention to tail movements, making visual signals especially useful when danger is nearby.

Respecting Wildlife

Gray Squirrels are the acrobats of our neighborhoods, and they play a huge role in keeping our local parks and yards full of trees.

Master Gymnasts: These squirrels are incredibly agile and can jump up to eight feet! If you have a bird feeder that you want to keep just for the birds, placing it away from jumping-off points like fences or low branches is a great way to let the squirrels and birds each have their own space.
Winter Nests: In the winter, you might see large balls of leaves high up in the trees. These are called "dreys." By leaving these nests alone, you help a squirrel family stay warm and dry during the coldest months of the year.
Feeding with Care: If you enjoy watching squirrels and want to offer them a snack, it is best to provide natural treats like unsalted sunflower seeds or walnuts. Keeping these snacks away from the house helps the squirrels remember that their home is in the trees, while yours is inside the house!