Species of the Week - Eastern Gray Squirrel

Our first species of the week is the Eastern Gray Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis):

Also known as a “gray squirrel”, it is native to Eastern North America and is a tree squirrel. There is no sexual dimorphism in the species - males and females look alike! They have long bushy tails with gray, brown, and white hairs. Their bodies can have light to dark gray or brown fur, as well as tones of red. They can grow up to 20 inches long and weigh up to 1.5 pounds.

The squirrels can mainly be found in their dens, made of leaves, moss, and grasses, high up in deciduous trees. Females bear a litter of 2 to 3 offspring, which are born hairless and blind after a gestation period of 40-44 days.

Eastern gray squirrels have diverse diets. You’ll find them consuming acorns, nuts, flowers, or berries, so be sure to look for them by the trees on campus. They hide their food using a technique called scatter hoarding, so they have a strong sense of smell. They are also very vocal creatures! They can produce chatter and a raspy "mehr mehr mehr" sound, as well as other noises to convey affection or ward off predators. Listen to examples of other calls HERE: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/33905804.

Posted on February 28, 2020 04:38 PM by linzynature