Fox squirrel
(Sciurus niger)
Conservation • Description • Habitat • Ecology • Distribution • Taxonomy
Conservation Status |
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| IUCN Red List | LC - Least Concern |
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| NatureServe | N5 - Secure SNR - Unranked |
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| Minnesota | not listed |
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Description
Eastern fox squirrel is a large tree squirrel,
Size
Head and body:
Tail:
Sign
Similar Species
Eastern gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) is smaller, no more than 10″ in length head to tail. The underside and backs of the ears are white or pale gray. The guard hairs are tipped whitish. The tail appears gray and white.
Habitat
Open woodlands with widely spaced trees and an open understory, hedgerows, city parks.
Ecology
Behavior
Lifespan
Adults live 8 to 18 years, but most young die before 1 year
Life Cycle
Food
Distribution |
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Sources Biodiversity occurrence data published by: Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas (accessed through the Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas Portal, bellatlas.umn.edu, 12/13/2025). Timm, R. M. 1975. Distribution, natural history, and parasites of mammals of Cook County, Minnesota. Occasional Papers, Bell Museum of Natural History, University of Minnesota 14:1–56. Hazard, Evan B. 1982. The Mammals of Minnesota. University of Minnesota Press, Minneapolis, Minnesota. 280 pp. The counties in light green lack modern records but have historic county or township specimens or records. |
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| 12/13/2025 | ||
Occurrence |
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Common |
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Taxonomy
Class
Subclass
Theria
Infraclass
Placentalia (Placental Mammals)
Magnorder
Boreoeutheria
Superorder
Euarchontoglires (Primates, Rodents, and Allies)
Order
Rodentia (Rodents)
Suborder
Sciuromorpha (Squirrels, Dormice, and Mountain Beavers)
Family
Sciuridae (Squirrels)
Subfamily
Sciurinae (Typical and Flying Squirrels)
Tribe
Sciurini (Typical Squirrels)
Genus
Sciurus (Tree Squirrels)
Subgenus
Parasciurus (Fox Squirrels and Allies)
Subordinate Taxa
Bachman fox squirrel (Sciurus niger texianus)
big cypress fox squirrel (Sciurus niger avicennia)
Bryant’s fox squirrel (Sciurus niger bryanti)
Delmarva Peninsula fox squirrel (Sciurus niger cinereus)
Delta fox squirrel (Sciurus niger subauratus)
Louisiana fox squirrel (Sciurus niger ludovicianus)
northern fox squirrel (Sciurus niger vulpinus)
Sherman’s fox squirrel (Sciurus niger shermani)
southeastern fox squirrel (Sciurus niger niger)
Texas fox squirrel (Sciurus niger limitis)
upland fox squirrel (Sciurus niger bachmani)
western fox squirrel (Sciurus niger rufiventer) 
Synonyms
Common Names
eastern fox squirrel
fox squirrel
Glossary
Guard hair
A long, straight, coarse hair that projects beyond and lays over ground hairs; the two hair types, sometimes also with awn hairs, comprise the pelage in fur-bearing animals.
Visitor Photos
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Luciearl |
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… I named (her) Elsa. She had 3 baby squirrels that I could watch come out of a hollow in the a tree every morning. Her decendents are still in the neighborhood … |
Lynn Rubey |
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A Fox Squirrel along a service road in The Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge. The Fox Squirrel is the largest tree squirrel native to North America. |
MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos
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Slideshows
Sciurus niger (Eastern Fox Squirrel)
Allen Chartier
Fox Squirrel
Dan Dzurisin
Fox Squirrel Sciurus niger
HutsonScience
Visitor Videos
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Other Videos
Fox Squirrel (Sciurus, niger)
Kevin Cavallin
Eastern Fox Squirrel (Sciuridae: Sciurus niger) Vocalizing
Carl Barrentine
mammals usa... fox squirrel
groenelantaarn
Visitor Sightings
Report a sighting of this mammal.
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Simply email us at info@MinnesotaSeasons.com.
Be sure to include a location.
Lynn Rubey
6/19/2019
Location: Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge
A Fox Squirrel alng a service road in The Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge. The Fox Squirrel is the largest tree squirrel native to North America.
Luciearl
3/3/2018
Location: Lake Shore, MN
… I named (her) Elsa. She had 3 baby squirrels that I could watch come out of a hollow in the a tree every morning. Her decendents are still in the neighborhood …
MinnesotaSeasons.com Sightings
