Eastern Fox Squirrel
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Rodentia Family: Sciuridae Genus: Sciurus
Species: Sciurus niger
Often seen scampering about the trees on the Regents Campus, the Eastern Fox Squirrel is the most commonly seen mammal on the Regents Campus. It uses its long, bushy tail to communicate with other squirrels to warn them of danger, threaten them, and much more. For instance, if an Eastern Fox Squirrel stands with its tail over its back and then flicks the tail, it is threatening another squirrel. It also uses a series of chatterings and barks to communicate. It eats a variety of food such as nuts, insects, and even bird eggs and dead fish. During the winter when insects are scarce, it feeds primarily off of nuts which it keeps in scattered stores. Because it sometimes forgets where it has buried its nuts, it ends up helping the environment by spreading and planting seeds.
Conservation status: Least concern
Description: Brown-grey to brown-yellow above and light below; long, bushy tail
Size: Ranges from 18 to 27 inches in length
Diet: Primarily acorns and pecans
Habitat: Mixed forests and wooded areas
Credit source: Animal Diversity Web
