Fox Squirrel
Sciurus niger
Description:
Squirrels are part of the rodent family. Of three subspecies found in Florida, two are listed as protected species.
One of these, the Big Cypress fox squirrel, occurs only in an area south of the Caloosahatchee River in southwest
Florida. The other, Sherman’s fox squirrel, is found from southeastern Florida to Georgia and west to about the
Choctawhatchee River. Fox squirrels in the western panhandle belong to a less vulnerable, more widespread
subspecies. Fox squirrels are much less common then gray squirrels, which makes a sighting a special occasion.
They have a heftier body, a longer tail, and fur that ranges in color from tawny to gray to dark brown to completely
black. A white nose and ears give the fox squirrel’s face a mask-like appearance. The fox squirrel is named after
the fox because of its large size, color and fox-like way of running along the ground.
Size:
The fox squirrel weighs an average of 2 pounds and is approximately 23-40 inches long including its 12 inch bushy
tail.
Habitat:
The fox squirrel can be found throughout Florida in open woods, pine and cypress stands, and mangrove swamps,
sandhills, and rangeland. Fox squirrels prefer to nest in hollows in trees, but will also construct nests of twigs and
leaves in treetops.
Food:
The diet of the fox squirrel consists primarily of plant material such as nuts, seeds, fungi, fruit and buds. They have
also been known to occasionally eat animal material such as insects and bird eggs. Fox squirrels depend mostly on
pine seeds for food in the summer and on acorns during the remainder of the year.
Offspring:
Mating occurs in late winter and midsummer. Females breed when they are about a year old and usually produce
one litter a year. Gestation is approximately 44 days with an average of 3 young per litter. Young are weaned at
two to three months. Squirrels live between 4-7 years in the wild.
Fun Facts:
• The fox squirrel sweats through its paws. During hot weather, it will actually leave damp tracks on a dry
surface.
• All squirrels like nuts such as walnuts, acorns and pecans. When nuts are available, squirrels will busily
harvest as many as they can and hide them by burying them in the ground. They will later locate the nuts
with their sense of smell. Many of the nuts are not found and this is a very significant source of new trees.
• Squirrels make a limited range of sounds. The most common is the raspy barking they make when
alarmed. Often this will happen when they are surprised by a person coming into their territory. This is
accompanied with a lot of tail-swishing and quick sprints up, down and around whatever tree they happen
to be in.