Squirrels of Washington State

There are thirteen different species of squirrel and twenty different members of the family Sciuridae in Washington state alone. Here are some of the most common squirrels one might see beyond the UW campus...


Eastern Gray Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis)


Class:Mammalia
Order:Rodentia
Family:Sciuridae
Genus:Sciurus
Species:carolinensis

Medium
The Eastern Grays are the most common species on the UW campus. They were introduced to this area from the east coast, so they are most certainly not native, but they are a species one will find in other parts of the state. For extensive information on these guys, see the rest of the website!


Western Gray Squirrel (Sciurus griseus)

Class:Mammalia
Order:Rodentia
Family:Sciuridae
Genus:Sciurus
Species:griseus


source: www.friendsofgriffithpark.org

This species is extremely similar looking to its cousin, the Eastern Gray squirrel. Unlike the Eastern Grays, Western Grays are native to the west coast, are present in much smaller numbers, and their distribution is much less widespread. At a glance, it is extremely difficult to tell the Western Grays apart from the Eastern Grays. If one has the chance to look carefully, however, one will find that the Western Gray will often have much more silver gray in the fur of its body and tail while the Eastern Gray usually has quite a bit of brown along its back and in its tail. Western Grays are usually much larger than Eastern Grays and their calls are very different. There are only three noteworthy populations of Western Grays in the state: one in central Washington, one in southern Washington, and one at Fort Lewis. Their numbers are currently dropping thanks to the Eastern Gray squirrels living with them and other factors, though studies are being done and efforts are being made to solve this problem and boost their population. They will build nests, called dreys, in tree holes where they will raise their young. They mate during a period ranging from late December to early June and the babies are born after 44 days.



Douglas' Squirrel (Tamiasciurus douglasii)

Class:Mammalia
Order:Rodentia
Family:Sciuridae
Genus:Tamiasciurus
Species:douglasii


Douglas' Squirrel | Tamiasciurus douglasii photo
Photograph by Michael Scheltgen
The Douglas' squirrel is not a species that is likely to be spotted on the UW campus. They live all over western Washington, but they do not stay in cities like the Eastern Grays do, preferring instead dense, coniferous forests. In the summer, Douglas' squirrels have extremely dark brown coats with bright orange bellies and brown, bushy tails slimmer than those of Western and Eastern Grays. In the winter, their coats are more gray and there is less orange on their bellies. Adults will have a black stripe along the length of their bodies. This species is much smaller than their cousins, with a body size of only about eight inches compared to the general eleven inches of all the others on this page. They eat a wide variety of foods such as fruit, fungi, and even birds' eggs or young birds. Like most squirrels, this species builds nests in trees, tree holes, or underground. Mating season for the Douglas' squirrel is between late February and early April and the female will give birth a month later. The babies will stay with their mother for the first year.


Red Squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus)

Class:Mammalia
Order:Rodentia
Family:Sciuridae
Genus:Tamiasciurus
Species:hudsonicus


Red Squirrel | Tamiasciurus hudsonicus photo
Photograph by Gilles Gonthier.
These squirrels look rather similar to Douglas' squirrels at a glance, but their fur is usually a much lighter red-brown and their bellies are white instead of orange. Their tails are very slim compared to those of the Western and Eastern Grays. These squirrels only get their black stripe separating the white from the brown in the summer. Red squirrels can be found in eastern Washington and will live in deciduous and coniferous forests. They will even live in suburban areas with plenty of trees, making them similar to the Eastern Grays in preference. They will eat seeds, fruit, fungi, and, like most squirrels, bird eggs and young birds. Red squirrels build nests underground or in tree hollows. Mating season for this species is in late winter and the babies will be born a month later. The babies will go on to live with their mother until they are 18 weeks old.


Northern Flying Squirrel (Glaucomys sabrinus)

Class:Mammalia
Order:Rodentia
Family:Sciuridae
Genus:Glaucomys
Species:sabrinus

NORTHERN FLYING SQUIRREL IN FLYING
Source: www.nature.ca
Northern flying squirrels are widely distributed throughout Washington state, living only in heavily forested areas. They are certainly not something one would encounter on the UW campus. They are much smaller than other tree squirrels in the state, making them very easy to distinguish. Their heads are very small and narrow, their tails have very dense hair, and their bodies are cinnamon to gray with white bellies. These animals are nocturnal and sleep in tree cavities during the day, so they are very difficult to find. Flying squirrels glide between trees using two wide, furred flaps of skin that extend from their wrists to their ankles. They are ready to reproduce one year after they are born and will do so the first summer after reaching that age. Northern flying squirrels are one of only two flying squirrel species in the world, the other being the southern flying squirrel. 

Fox Squirrel (Sciurus niger)

Class:Mammalia
Order:Rodentia
Family:Sciuridae
Genus:Sciurus
Species:niger


Source: http://wdfw.wa.gov/conservation/gray_squirrel/
The fox squirrel can often be very similar looking to the Douglas' squirrel, but there are a few defining features that can be used to identify a fox squirrel. Fox squirrels have reddish-brown to light gray backs and red to yellow-orange to white bellies. They will have black and orange faces and will occasionally have black on the tail. They are easily identified by their extremely long, broad tails which are often bright orange. Fox squirrels were introduced into the state from the southeastern United States and can be found in both rural and urban habitats. There are three main populations of these squirrels in central and southeastern Washington. Fox squirrels will mate in late winter and midsummer and babies are born in early spring and late summer. Their diet is similar to most other squirrels (they prefer plant seeds, of course).


California Ground Squirrel (Spermophilus beecheyi)


Class:Mammalia
Order:Rodentia
Family:Sciuridae
Genus:Spermophilus
Species:beecheyi


California Ground Squirrel | Spermophilus beecheyi photo
Photograph by Tom Woodward
Ground squirrels like this one spend their time, as their name suggests, on the ground. The rest of the squirrels on this site are all tree squirrels and spend their time in trees. The California ground squirrel lives primarily in the southwestern part of Washington, where they maintain a very large population. They are about the same size as many of the above tree squirrels and have slim, speckled tails and dark to light brown fur with small white speckles on their backs and light bellies. These squirrels prefer to live in grasslands, clearings in woodlands, urban areas, farmland, and other places that offer them loose soil in which to burrow. They build their nests in burrows underground where they raise their young. Mating season is in early spring after they come out of hibernation (in colder areas with snow) and babies are born a month later. The babies leave their mother after only eight weeks.


This is just a general guide to a few of the squirrels found within the state and their behavior. For more information and for some of the other species one can find in the state, please see any of the wonderful websites dedicated to squirrels in the "Learn More" tab!


Written by Tessa

21 comments:

  1. Great article! Thanks for the info. I have a Douglas squirrel frequenting my yard in North Bend, WA, and I wasn't sure what type he was until I read this. His color is striking, and he's faster than lightning for such a small critter - much like a chipmunk.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Is it legal to own a squirrel? I heard some where you need a license?

    ReplyDelete
  3. Is it legal to own a squirrel? I heard some where you need a license?

    ReplyDelete
  4. Is it legal to own a squirrel? I heard some where you need a license?

    ReplyDelete
  5. What, if any ongoing studies that is the U of W doing may use silver colored metallic tag in left ear of Eastern gray squirrels? Tag is about .125 wide x .25 long. Unable to see any markings. Spotted one with this tag. On or about 20 - 29 October 201. Location; Zip code 98043.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Thanks for the info. We have grey and Red Squirrels living in the foreste d land behind our house. The red squirrel jumps on the bird feeder attached to the fence with a king pole and is oblivious to the feeder twirling and spinning wildly. Very adaptable, it seems.

    ReplyDelete
  7. My webcam, in Kenmore, caught a squirrel visiting a bird feeder shortly after midnight this morning. It came down from the tree above and was small enough to fit inside the squirrel guards on the tube feeder and the suet feeder. Since the animal was very small and apparently nocturnal, does this mean it was a flying squirrel? I have the video in case anyone could verify.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The flaps of skin on a flying squirrel are pronounced. We had one once that was trapped in our fireplace in Gig Harbor so we could observe him/her well behind the glass. From a side profile, the flaps appear as a banded stripe. When standing it looks like they're wearing a glide suit. Very different face than our other resident squirrels.

      Delete
    2. So, did you "untrap" it? Your observation statement sounds very creepy.

      Delete
  8. Just FYI, there are many more than two species of flying squirrel in the world. You meant to say in North American, and even that is not true anymore with the discovery of the cryptic species Humbolt's Flying Squirrel in the Pacific NW

    ReplyDelete
  9. I will be interested in more similar topics. i see you got really very useful topics , i will be always checking your blog thanks buy fake driver license

    ReplyDelete
  10. I love the squirrels and have several kinds on my property

    ReplyDelete
  11. Seeing more and more Black Squirrels in the Bremerton area, Look the same as the Gray Squirrel just a very dark color coat. Is this a seasonal color for Gray squirrel or new to area?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I saw a black squirrel in Bremerton today. It really surprised me as I never knew of such a thing.

      Delete
  12. Best way to discern fox squirrel from red squirrel? Frequently see small one out on patio. Drives our indoor female
    cat bonkers!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Saw lotsa black squirrels in Detroit area. Joked they came across Ambassador Bridge from Windsor,Canada

    ReplyDelete
  14. Just say an eastern (Washinton) gray squirrel with large tumors on it? Not sure if I should notify anyone.

    ReplyDelete
  15. I also saw something really small but all black crawling up a tree fast. It looked as it was a flying squirrel but not sure. It was definitely all black and dark outside.(early morning).

    ReplyDelete
  16. That dark black mysterious flying squirrel I thought I saw was in Woodinville Washington. I forgot to add that in my comment. Thanks.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Saw red squrriel cowlitz county Washington. Riverside park I'll send pic.

    ReplyDelete