Grey Squirrel

Appearance:

The eastern gray squirrel, Sciurus carolinensis, is a medium-sized tree squirrel that ranges from 16 to 20 inches in length and weighs 1 to 1.5 pounds. Both sexes appear to be gray in color. However, their hair is actually a mix of black, white, and brown banding on each individual strand. Their underside is white with some cinnamon color flanks on the face and sides just behind the front shoulder. Each of the tail hairs is tipped with white and often lighter gray than its body.

Habitat:

Trees.

Behavior:

Gray squirrels are most active for two hours after sunrise and for two to five hours before sunset. During this time, squirrels tend to move more along the ground using their sense of smell to find food. The gray squirrel feeding habits are seasonal. During the winter months, they prefer acorns, nuts, and other seeds of a variety of hardwood and pine species. In the spring and summer months, they may eat a variety of plant buds, insects, agricultural crops, or bone.