Minnesota Seasons - Eastern Gray Squirrel

Conservation • Description • Habitat • Ecology • Distribution • Taxonomy

Conservation Status

Photo by Luciearl

IUCN Red List

LC - Least Concern

NatureServe

N5 - Secure

SNR - Unranked

Minnesota

not listed

Description

Eastern gray squirrel is a medium-sized tree squirrel, 8″ to 10″ in length not including the tail. The underside and backs of the ears are white or pale gray. The guard hairs are tipped whitish. This is especially evident on the tail, which appears gray and white.

Black squirrel, the melanistic color phase of this species, can be found in southeastern Minnesota. White (albino) squirrels are sometimes found in urban and suburban areas.

Size

Head and body: 8″ to 10″

Tail: 7¾″ to 10″

Sign

Similar Species

Habitat

Mature deciduous or mixed forests with a dense understory, parks, yards.

Ecology

Behavior

Lifespan

12½ years

Life Cycle

Food

Distribution
		Sources 7, 24, 29, 30. Biodiversity occurrence data published by: Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas (accessed through the Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas Portal, bellatlas.umn.edu, 11/4/2025).
11/4/2025

Occurrence
Common and abundant

Taxonomy

Class

Mammalia (mammals)

Subclass

Theria

Infraclass

Placentalia (placental mammals)

Magnorder

Boreoeutheria

Superorder

Euarchontoglires (primates, rodents, and allies)

Order

Rodentiia (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

Neosciurus

Subordinate Taxa

Carolina gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis carolinensis)

Florida gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis extimus)

Louisiana gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis fuliginosus)

Merriam’s gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis hypophaeus)

northern gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis pennsylvanicus)

Synonyms

Common Names

eastern gray squirrel

Visitor Photos

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Luciearl

gray squirrel		… frequently stares at me through the kitchen as I'm doing dishes.

Linda Griggs

Blond Squirrel

This squirrel has been coming around for 4 years!

Alfredo Colon
An albino squirrel from Woodbury, MN

Wayne Rasmussen

Dan W. Andree
Curious Gray Squirrel. I encountered this curious character in the woods near a woodland pool and it stood up and looked at me as if to almost want to be photographed. So I did. Really enjoyed this Close Encounter of the Squirrel Kind.

MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos





Hypomelanistic (albino) squirrel

Camera

Slideshows

Sciurus carolinensis (Eastern Gray Squirrel)
Allen Chartier

EASTERN GRAY SQUIRREL (SCIURUS CAROLINENSIS), OXFORDSHIRE.
Gary Mann

Eastern Gray Squirrel
Dan Dzurisin

About

slideshow

Visitor Videos

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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.

Luciearl
11/4/2025

Location: Lake Shore, MN

Linda Griggs
7/14/2023

Location: Yucatan Township, MN

This squirrel has been coming around for 4 years!

Luciearl
12/1/2019

Location: Cass County

Alfredo Colon
8/2/2019

Location: Woodbury, MN

An albino squirrel from Woodbury, MN

Alfredo Colon
6/6/2018

Location: Woodbury, MN

Luciearl
1/3/2018

… frequently stares at me through the kitchen as I'm doing dishes.

Dan W. Andree
2017

Location: Norman County, MN

Curious Gray Squirrel. I encountered this curious character in the woods near a woodland pool and it stood up and looked at me as if to almost want to be photographed. So I did. Really enjoyed this Close Encounter of the Squirrel Kind.

Wayne Rasmussen
9/15/2015