RE: Fox Squirrel
Description The largest tree squirrel. 3 color phases: in northeastern part of range, gray above, yellowish below; in western part, bright rust/red below; in South, black, often with white blaze on face and white tail tip (in South Carolina, can be black with white ears and nose). Large, bushy tail with yellow-tipped hairs. L 17 7/8–28" (454–698 mm); T 7 7/8–13" (200–330 mm); HF 2–3 1/4" (51–82 mm); Wt 17 3/4–37 1/2 oz (504–1,062 g).
Similar Species Eastern Gray Squirrel is smaller and has silvery-tipped tail hairs.
Breeding Litter of 2–4 young born late February–early March, sometimes June–July, occasionally August–early September. 2-year-old females may have 2 litters per year. Gestation about 45 days.
Habitat Woods, particularly oak-hickory; in the South, live oak and mixed forests, cypress and mangrove swamps, piney areas. 1 or 2 tree holes per acre (.4 ha) are needed for good habitat.
Range Eastern U.S. (except New England, most of New Jersey, extreme w New York, and n and e Pennsylvania); east to Dakotas, ne Colorado, and e Texas. This species has also been introduced to various places outside of its native range, now occuring in many locations along the west coast.