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Eastern Gray Squirrel

Mammals

The eastern gray squirrel is a tree squirrel native to eastern North America, common in forests, parks and urban areas, recognized by its grayish fur, often with brownish tones, and its long bushy tail used for balance and communication. It is a highly adaptable omnivore that feeds heavily on acorns and other nuts, which it caches in numerous scattered locations for the winter, a behavior that also makes it an important disperser of tree seeds and a contributor to forest regeneration. Eastern gray squirrels are active during the day and build nests, called dreys, in tree branches or hollows, and their adaptability to human-altered landscapes has made the species common not only across its native range but also as a successful introduced species in parts of Europe.

Facts
Classification
Diet
Omnivore 2
System (Realm)
Terrestrial 2
Threats
Invasive and Other Problematic Species, Genes and Diseases 2
Relationship to People
Invasive or Introduced Species 2
Living or Extinct
Yes 3
Identification
Distinguishing Appearance
The head and body length is from 23 to 30 cm (9.1 to 11.8 in), the tail from 19 to 25 cm (7.5 to 9.8 in), and the adult weight varies between 400 and 600 g (14 and 21 oz). 1
Scientific Name
Sciurus carolinensis 1
Conservation Status
Least Concern 2
Connections

Child Taxon Of

Rodentia, Taxa
Source Catalogue of Life

In Biome

Temperate Forest, Biomes
Source Eastern Gray Squirrel (Wikipedia)
In the Other Atlases
  • Also in Geography Atlas: Africa, found in there.
  • Also in Geography Atlas: Australia, found in there.
  • Also in Geography Atlas: Belgium, found in there.
  • Also in Geography Atlas: Botswana, found in there.
  • Also in Geography Atlas: Eswatini, found in there.
  • Also in Geography Atlas: France, found in there.
  • Also in Geography Atlas: Indonesia, found in there.
  • Also in Geography Atlas: Ireland, found in there.
  • Also in Geography Atlas: Italy, found in there.
  • Also in Geography Atlas: Mexico, found in there.
  • Also in Geography Atlas: Mozambique, found in there.
  • Also in Geography Atlas: Netherlands, found in there.
  • Also in Geography Atlas: North America, found in there.
  • Also in Geography Atlas: Norway, found in there.
  • Also in Geography Atlas: Portugal, found in there.
  • Also in Geography Atlas: South Africa, found in there.
  • Also in Geography Atlas: United Kingdom, found in there.
  • Also in Geography Atlas: United States, found in there.
  • Also in Geography Atlas: Zimbabwe, found in there.
Sources
1. Eastern Gray Squirrel (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia Foundation
  • Lead sentence, scientific name in parentheses
    The eastern gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis), spelled as grey squirrel outside of the United States, is a species of tree squirrel in the genus Sciurus.
  • Description section, physical appearance sentences
    The head and body length is from 23 to 30 cm (9.1 to 11.8 in), the tail from 19 to 25 cm (7.5 to 9.8 in), and the adult weight varies between 400 and 600 g (14 and 21 oz).
  • In Biome: Temperate Forest, Wikipedia 'Eastern gray squirrel': native to eastern North America, a natural forest regenerator
View the Source
2. Wikipedia: Eastern gray squirrel
  • threat (MediaWiki batch-API article extract states it plainly)
    Widely introduced to certain places around the world, the eastern gray squirrel in Europe, in particular, is regarded as an invasive species.
  • human-interaction (MediaWiki batch-API article extract states it plainly)
    Widely introduced to certain places around the world, the eastern gray squirrel in Europe, in particular, is regarded as an invasive species.
  • system (MediaWiki batch-API article extract states it plainly)
    It is native to eastern North America, where it is the most prodigious and ecologically essential natural forest regenerator.
  • system (entity description states it plainly, diet)
    It is a highly adaptable omnivore that feeds heavily on acorns and other nuts, which it caches in numerous scattered locations for the winter, a behavior that also makes it an important disperser of tree seeds and a contributor to forest regeneration.
  • Speciesbox infobox, conservation status parameter
    status = LC
View the Source
3. Eastern Gray Squirrel (Wikidata)
WikidataStatements section, conservation status (P141)
Quote, Statements section, conservation status (P141)
IUCN Red List conservation status (Wikidata property P141): least concern.
View the Source
Wikidata: Eastern Gray Squirrel
Wikidata Q468500, class allow-list match (w-wdresolver-0926)View the Source
Catalogue of Life
Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of LifeChild Taxon Of: RodentiaView the Source
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