Don't be bamboozled by these busy, bushy-tailed critters! Here's how to distinguish a fox squirrel vs gray squirrel.
Depending where you live in North America, you might think only one or two types of squirrels exist — the ones in your backyard. It might come as a surprise to learn about different squirrels you could see. When those busy critters resemble each other and their ranges overlap, telling them apart can be tricky. Two commonly confused types? Fox squirrels and gray squirrels. Here’s how to distinguish a fox squirrel vs gray squirrel.
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Gray Squirrel Identification
If you live in the northern United States, you’ll likely have a number of eastern gray squirrels in your yard. These ever-scavenging rodents scamper around feeders and through forests in search of nuts, seeds, and other forms of sustenance.
They prefer habitats where they can easily seek shelter, including forests with old hardwood trees, as well as suburban and urban areas. Their range covers the eastern half of the United States.
Adults do not form pair bonds, and females raise young in nests located in trees or on human-built structures. Gray squirrels don’t frequently live long — they have only a 25% chance of surviving their first year in the wild.
For those who have seen a gray squirrel, they’ll recognize its distinctive look. “Gray squirrels have mostly gray fur on their back and tail that’s sometimes tinged brown, and a bright white belly,” Sarah Tomke, a postdoctoral researcher with the Wildlife Futures Program at the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Veterinary Medicine, explains. “Their tail hairs are usually tipped with white, which gives them a ‘frosted’ look.”
Are white and black squirrel sightings rare?
Fox Squirrel Identification
On a basic level, fox squirrels share many commonalities with gray squirrels. They both feature gray coloring, call forests home, and live in the eastern half of the United States. Both do not form pair bonds, and females raise litters in nests.
Fox squirrels, however, are typically larger than gray squirrels — according to the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, they can be nearly twice the size of a gray squirrel. They usually live six to seven years in the wild, although some individuals in captivity can reach 20 years of age.
To spot a fox squirrel, look for a large, bushy-tailed critter with gray fur on its back and reddish or cream-colored fur on its belly. “Fox squirrels have gray fur on their back and tail, but their hair is accented with an orange or rusty color instead of white,” Sarah says, contrasting them against gray squirrels. Overall, Sarah says fox squirrels appear orange instead of gray.
Fox Squirrel vs Gray Squirrel
As Sarah points out, fox squirrels have an overall redder appearance than gray squirrels, although fox squirrels still have some gray fur. In addition, location can be a factor in telling them apart. “They are both forest species, but fox squirrels typically prefer forests with pine or pine-hardwood mix, while gray squirrels prefer forests with a lot of acorn-producing trees,” Sarah says. “Because of that, fox squirrels are more common in the southern U.S., and gray squirrels are more common in the north.”
Both fox and gray squirrels can pose a problem for gardeners and homeowners. To deter them, prune tree branches near homes, install baffles or try squirrel-proof bird feeders, and take steps to keep squirrels out of your flower pots.
About the Expert
Dr. Sarah Tomke is a postdoctoral researcher with the University of Pennsylvania’s Wildlife Futures Program. She is a geneticist and wildlife biologist who currently researches fox squirrels in Pennsylvania.
Sources
- North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, “Fox Squirrel“
- North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, “Eastern Gray Squirrel“
- Ohio Department of Natural Resources, “Eastern Fox Squirrel“
