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Facts and Types
Interesting Facts About Squirrels
Eating Habits: The average adult squirrel must eat about a pound of food a week to remain healthy.
They are omnivores, so they will eat things such as: birdseed, spring bulbs, tree buds, frogs, small birds,
eggs, insects, insect larva, fruits, conifer cones, small children that throw sticks at them, and nuts.
Their food is stored in multiple hiding places, otherwise known as caches. It has been
suggested that each squirrel has thousands of caches each season, and the good memory to find them again too.
Territorial Behavior: Squirrels are very territorial. If there is something that kills more than anything else –
it is other squirrels. Females that are currently building a nest, (called a “drey”) are the worst. Do not
approach squirrels – they have sharp teeth and cannot differentiate fingers from food!
Types of Squirrels, Species Differences, Breeding and Baby Facts
Fox Squirrel (Sciurus niger), Western Gray Squirrel (Sciurus griseus), Douglas Squirrel
(Tamiasciurus douglasii), American Red Squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus), Flying Squirrels,
and the Eastern Gray Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis), can be troublesome and persistent animals.
There are many other squirrel species, but these are the most common. They do not belong in your house.
There are many other squirrel species, but these are the most common. They do not belong in your house.
Because breeding and gestation periods can vary because of many factors, it is very important that we
thoroughly inspect your attic after the squirrels have been excluded from your home. A nest of baby
squirrels will not only die, but quickly put your family in a hotel because of the smell of dead squirrels.
Typically, a squirrel gestation period is 30 - 44 days.
The Fox and Eastern Grey squirrels typically have two litters a year. Although their
breeding and gestation periods vary because of many factors, the young are usually born
between February and April, and then again in August and September. Young are born without hair,
and cannot easily crawl around on their own for approximately eight weeks.
The Western Gray only has one breeding season and their young are born between February
and June. Young are born without hair, and cannot easily crawl around on their own for approximately eight weeks.
The Eastern Gray squirrel’s body is approximately 18 inches long, including its bushy tail. The grays can
vary in color, ranging from a light silver gray to an almost pure white, and sometimes even all black.
The white belly and reddish tinge can confuse folks as to its proper species.
Other differences, the western gray squirrel is longer and heavier than his eastern cousin measuring in at 20
inches long, and the fox squirrel is the biggest of all—up to 24 inches long - weighing up to three pounds.
Flying Squirrels are nocturnal, and present an entirely different problem. Telltale signs include insulation
formed into "peaks", scratching / dragging movement at around 2 - 4 AM, and feces that looks like molasses.
Other types of squirrels and squirrel species include the Antelope, Prairie Dog, Marmot, Woodchuck, Chipmunk,
Spotted, Grey, American Red, Northern Flying, Southern, Arizona Gray, Idaho, Arctic Ground,
Franklin, Richardson, Douglas, Albert's, Fox, Mountain Tree, Rock, Pygmy, White, Albino and Black.
