Eastern Fox Squirrels

Join me in the landscape to watch the local squirrels drinking at the water dishes and carrying out their daily routines. According to Wild Oakland, the main squirrel found in the East Bay is the Eastern fox squirrel (Sciurus niger). The fox squirrel's natural range extends through much of the eastern United States, north into the southern prairie provinces of Canada, and west to the Dakotas, Colorado, and Texas. They have been introduced to northern and southern California, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Washington, and New Mexico, plus Ontario and British Columbia in Canada.

The fox squirrel’s coloring differs by geographical area, but in most areas the animal's upper body is brown-grey to brown-yellow with a typically brownish-orange underside. In our yard, they gather and stash acorns from the oak tree for food (sometimes planting a tree in the process). Last year I saw one eating a mushroom that had poked through the wood chips after winter rains. I had never seen that before, and was curious if they were especially delicious mushrooms or if the ongoing drought had impacted the acorn supply. Fox squirrels use leaf nests or tree cavities about 30 feet up for shelter and litter rearing. So far I have never noticed a leaf nest, but they may be hidden in plain sight!

Neighborhood fox squirrel drinking at one of the water dishes

The fox squirrels approach the water dishes boldly, and take long drinks (but watch warily the whole time). The are industrious and spend a lot of time burying acorns; and frequently rebury them if they catch you watching. The squirrels are fast moving - dashing nimbly across the ground, and springing from branch to branch overhead. We enjoy watching them at work and play from the patio, however I find them difficult to film (you'll notice a lot of blurry shots). Sometimes I have to just put down the camera and watch them in real time!

Learn More:

• Oakland Wiki - Learn about the four squirrel types that are found in the San Francisco Bay Area, including the Eastern Fox Squirrel that is the typical type in the East Bay.

• Wikipedia, Fox Squirrels - Learn all about the Eastern Fox Squirrel.