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Sciurus carolinensis

(eastern gray squirrel)

Overview

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Mammal. Imported as a pet from North America to UK, Italy, and South Africa. In UK and Italy its introduction led to the local extinction of the native red squirrel. A further expansion from the Alps to a large portion of Eurasia is predicted.

Interesting Facts

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Common Names

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Click on the language to view common names.

Common Names in English:

eastern gray squirrel, Eastern Grey Squirrel, gray squirrel, Grey Squirrel

Common Names in French:

écureuil gris, écureuil gris

Common Names in German:

Grauhoernchen

Common Names in Italian:

Scoiattolo grigio

Description

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Physical Description

Species Sciurus carolinensis

Grey above, with buff underfur; under-parts paler grey. L. 430-500 mm, tail 210-240 mm, weight 400-710 g.

Habitat

Typically found at an altitude of 0 to 2,911 meters (0 to 9,551 feet).[1]

Ecology: It is found in large blocks of hardwood or mixed forests , as well as in urban and suburban areas. Prefers mature deciduous and mixed forests with abundant supplies of mast (e.g. , acorns , hickory nuts). A diversity of nut trees is needed to support high densities. Also uses city parks and floodplains . Seldom far from permanent open water . In southern Alabama, narrow bands of hardwoods along ephemeral streams were an important component of the habitat in even-aged pine and mixed pine-hardwood stands. Rests in tree cavity or leaf nest ; leaf nests apparently are made primarily by dispersing juveniles 18-19 weeks old. Nests in tree cavities or in leaf nests, usually 25 feet or more above the ground . Most winter-spring litters are born in tree cavities, most spring-summer litters in leaf nests (Teaford 1986). Cavities suitable for nesting are dry, 15-25 cm in diametre, 40-50 cm deep, with an entrance hole about eight cm in diameter (Teaford 1986). Females may move young from tree cavity nest to leaf nest, possibly to escape fleas.

In Illinois, most breeding occurs in December-February and May-June; slightly later in more northern latitudes (see Koprowski 1994). One or two litters per year. First litter is produced mostly in February-March, sometimes as early as January in some areas; second litter, July or August. Gestation lasts 44 days. Litter size most often is 2-3. Young are tended by female. Weaning is completed at about 10-12 weeks (in spring and/or late summer-early fall ). Most breed as yearlings , sometimes sooner (as early as five months) or later. Reproductive output, including the percentage of adults that produce young and the number of litters per year, is positively correlated with mast abundance . Maximum reproductive longevity is about a decade.

Home range averages 0.5-10 ha, with older males tending to have the largest ranges (Teaford 1986); usually home range is less than five hectares (see Koprowski 1994). Not territorial , home range overlap is extensive; social system is characterized by a linear dominance hierarchy. Disperses up to a few kilometres from natal area upon approaching sexual maturity. Large-scale one-way emigrations have been observed, generally coinciding with high population density and mast crop failure.

Taken by many predators , but predation does not appear to limit populations (Teaford 1986). Mean annual mortality reported for adults is 42-57% (Koprowski 1994). Diet consists of seeds, fruits, nuts, fungi, occasional insects and small vertebrates (e.g., bird eggs ). Scatterhoarder; buries nuts and acorn in fall for later consumption (winter-spring). Active during the day, particularly in the morning and late afternoon, though unimodal activity may occur in winter. May be inactive for a day or two during extremely cold, snowy weather.[2].

List of Habitats:

Biology

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Diet

The Gray Squirrel prefers hardwood forests of the Piedmont Region, mountains, and river and stream floodplains where an abundant supply of nuts, acorns , fruits, and flowers can be found. It will also eat insects and occasionally bird eggs .

Reproduction

Placental , sexual. 2-3 young per litter , 1-2 litters per year

Behavior

The Gray Squirrel constructs two types of nests . One is in a tree cavity , and is used for rearing young and for winter shelter . The other type of nest, which looks like a ball of dry leaves and twigs lined with plant fibers, is lodged in the upper branches of a tree. It is used as temporary shelter in both summer and winter. Main predators of the Gray Squirrel include hawks, owls, the Coyote, foxes, the Bobcat, and occasionally weasels, raccoons, and snakes . Wild individuals have an average life expectancy of 5 years.

Taxonomy

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Notes

Name Status: Accepted Name .

Last scrutiny: 08-Jun-2004

Similar Species

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The Gray Squirrel is readily distinguished from the Fox Squirrel by its smaller size, uniform gray color, and white belly.

Members of the genus Sciurus

ZipcodeZoo has pages for 41 species and subspecies in this genus:

S. aberti (Tassle-Eared Squirrel) · S. aberti kaibabensis (Kaibab Squirrel) · S. aberti mimus (Abert's Squirrel) · S. aberti subsp. aberti (Abert's Squirrel) · S. aestuans (Guianan Squirrel) · S. alleni (Allen's Squirrel) · S. anomalus (Caucasian Squirrel) · S. arizonensis (Arizona Gray Squirrel) · S. arizonensis arizonensis (Arizona Gray Squirrel) · S. aureogaster (Bushy-Tailed Olingo) · S. aureogaster aureogaster (Mexican Gray Squirrel) · S. carolinensis (Eastern Grey Squirrel) · S. colliaei (Collie's Squirrel) · S. deppei (Deppe's Squirrel) · S. flammifer (Venezuelan Squirrel) · S. gilvigularis (Yellow-Throated Squirrel) · S. granatensis (Red-Tailed Squirrel) · S. griseus (Western Gray Squirrel) · S. griseus griseus (Western Gray Squirrel) · S. ignitus (Bolivian Squirrel) · S. igniventris (Northern Amazon Red Squirrel) · S. lis (Japanese Squirrel) · S. nayaritensis (Mexican Fox Squirrel) · S. nayaritensis chiricahuae (Chiricahua Squirrel) · S. niger (Bryant's Fox Squirrel) · S. niger avicennia (Big Cypress Fox Squirrel) · S. niger cinereus (Bryant's Fox Squirrel) · S. niger niger (Fox Squirrel) · S. niger shermani (Sherman's Fox Squirrel) · S. niger vulpinus (Eastern Fox Squirrel) · S. oculatus (Peters's Squirrel) · S. pucheranii (Colombian Squirrel) · S. pyrrhinus (Jun?n Red Squirrel) · S. richmondi (Richmond's Squirrel) · S. sanborni (Sanborn's Squirrel) · S. spadiceus (Southern Amazon Red Squirrel) · S. stramineus (Guayaquil Squirrel) · S. variegatoides (Variegated Squirrel) · S. vulgaris (Eurasian Red Squirrel) · S. vulgaris russus (Eurasian Red Squirrel) · S. yucatanensis (Yucatan Squirrel)

More Info

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Further Reading

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Notes

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Contributors

Data Sources

Accessed through GBIF Data Portal March 11, 2008:

Identifiers

Footnotes

  1. Mean = 28.570 meters (93.734 feet), Standard Deviation = 43.850 based on 114,222 observations. Altitude information for each observation from British Oceanographic Data Centre. [back]
  2. Linzey, A.V., Koprowski, J. & Hammerson, G. 2008. Sciurus carolinensis. In: IUCN 2011. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 04 February 2012. [back]
Last Revised: 2012-07-14