Eastern Gray Squirrel - Species Profile
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 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 |
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Sources Biodiversity occurrence data published by: Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas (accessed through the Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas Portal, bellatlas.umn.edu, 11/4/2025). 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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| 12/11/2025 | ||
Occurrence |
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Common and abundant |
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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
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
