Color: White to gray, yellow, red and brown with a pale, dark belly
Legs: 4
Shape: Long body covered with short, thick fur, bushy tail
Size: Head and body is 6-15” and tail is 4-14”
Region: Found throughout the Unites States
Tree squirrels get their common name as they’re found only in areas with trees. There are three main species: fox squirrels, gray squirrels, and pine squirrels.
Fox squirrels are most active in the morning and late afternoon, often burying nuts for winter use. They feed mainly on hickory nuts and acorns, but also eat the fruit of tulip poplar, maple tree seeds, corn bordering woods, berries, bird eggs, and fungi.
Gray Squirrels are active all year round, but are most productive on dry days in the mornings and evenings. Gray squirrels feed mainly on nuts, especially hickory nuts, acorns, beechnuts, and walnuts. Plus, they occasionally feed on maple or tulip tree seeds, fruit, corn, and opening buds.
Pine Squirrels are active all year round, sometimes after dark, but especially in the mornings and evenings. They feed on a great variety of seeds, nuts, berries, bird eggs, and fungi.
Fox, gray and pine squirrels are considered premises pests as they frequently enter attics and roof voids in the winter; however, they rarely pose a health threat to owners.
Outdoors, these squirrels can cause considerable damage to electrical and telephone cables.
Fox squirrels favor oak-hickory forests, but they also live in pine forests and cypress and mangrove swamps in the south. During the summer months, fox squirrels make leaf nests in trees and they often survive the winter in tree holes.
Gray squirrels are found in hardwood or mixed forests with nut trees, especially oak-hickory forests and river bottoms. In summer, gray squirrels nest in tree cavities or build nests made of leaves in branches. In winter, they can invade structures and homes looking for a place to survive the winter.
Pine squirrels are abundant in forests and are often found around buildings. Pine squirrels usually nest in tree cavities or nests made of leaves, twigs and bark.
To prevent a tree squirrel infestation inside your premises:
Squirrels bark to warn other squirrels of potential threats like humans or predators. This warning bark helps them communicate danger and protect their territory.
Squirrels feed and are most active during the early mornings and late afternoons. They forage during the day, store food for winter and eat when they find nuts, seeds, and fruits.
Squirrels usually build nests in late summer and fall to prepare for winter. In the late winter or early spring, they build nests for the breeding season. They build these nests, called dreys, in tree branches or use tree holes to shelter and raise their young. In commercial settings, they often target facility eaves or HVAC voids, creating both structural risks and entry points for secondary pests.