25-3-2018 TABLE MOUNTAIN AVIARY, CAPE TOWN - EASTERN GRAY SQUIRREL (Sciurus carolinensis)

The eastern gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis), also known, outside of the United States, as the grey squirrel, is a species of tree squirrel in the genus Sciurus. It is native to eastern North America, where it is the most prodigious and ecologically essential natural forest regenerator. Widely introduced to certain places around the world, the eastern gray squirrel in Europe, in particular, is regarded as an invasive species.

In Europe, Sciurus carolinensis is included (since 2016) in the list of Invasive Alien Species of Union concern (the Union list). This implies that this species cannot be imported, bred, transported, commercialized, or intentionally released into the environment in the whole of the European Union.

Sciurus carolinensis is native to the eastern and midwestern United States, and to the southerly portions of the central provinces of Canada. In the mid-1800s the population in the midwestern United States was described as being "truly astonishing," but human predation and habitat destruction through deforestation resulted in drastic population reductions, to the point that the animal was almost absent from Illinois by 1900.

The native range of the eastern gray squirrel overlaps with that of the fox squirrel (Sciurus niger), with which it is sometimes confused, although the core of the fox squirrel's range is slightly more to the west. The eastern gray squirrel is found from New Brunswick, through southwestern Quebec and throughout southern Ontario plus in southern Manitoba, south to East Texas and Florida. Breeding eastern gray squirrels are found in Nova Scotia, but whether this population was introduced or came from natural range expansion is not known.

A prolific and adaptable species, the eastern gray squirrel has also been introduced to, and thrives in, several regions of the western United States and in 1966, this squirrel was introduced onto Vancouver Island in Western Canada in the area of Metchosin, and has spread widely from there. They are considered highly invasive and a threat to both the local ecosystem and the native squirrel, the American red squirrel.

Overseas, eastern gray squirrels in Europe are a concern because they have displaced some of the native squirrels there. They have been introduced into Ireland, Britain, Italy, South Africa, and Australia (where it was extirpated by 1973).

In Ireland, the native squirrel – also colored red – the Eurasian red squirrel S. vulgaris – has been displaced in several eastern counties, though it still remains common in the south and west of the country. The gray squirrel is also an invasive species in Britain; it has spread across the country and has largely displaced the red squirrel. That such a displacement might happen in Italy is of concern, as gray squirrels might spread to other parts of mainland Europe.

31-3-2017 MIAMI, FLORIDA - EASTERN GRAY SQUIRREL (Sciurus carolinensis)

The Eastern gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) is a tree squirrel native to eastern North America; there it is the most prodigious and ecologically essential natural forest regenerator. Widely introduced to certain places around the world, the Eastern gray squirrel in Europe, in particular, is regarded as an invasive species.

The Eastern gray squirrel is a squirrel of medium size, and both males and females are of the same size and color. Its fur is mainly black or gray, the gray color being grizzled and often banded with gray and black guard hairs, tinged white, with the underside being white. Its tail is quite bushy and sometimes reddish in color and is used for maintaining balance while it leaps between branches. The overall fur color may change with different seasons, with the grayish fur being tawnier during summer, and the tail whiter.

Eastern gray squirrels are native to the eastern and mid-western parts of America, and to the south of the eastern parts of Canada. They range from Manitoba to New Brunswick, and south to Florida and East Texas. They inhabit large areas of mature, dense woodland ecosystems. These forests usually contain large mast-producing trees such as oaks and hickories, providing ample food sources. Close to human settlements, Eastern gray squirrels are found in parks and backyards of houses within urban environments and in the farmlands of rural environments.

18-11-2017 HANNINGFIELD RESERVOIR, ESSEX - EASTERN GRAY SQUIRREL (Sciurus carolinensis)

The Eastern gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) is a tree squirrel native to eastern North America; there it is the most prodigious and ecologically essential natural forest regenerator. Widely introduced to certain places around the world, the Eastern gray squirrel in Europe, in particular, is regarded as an invasive species.

The Eastern gray squirrel is a squirrel of medium size, and both males and females are of the same size and color. Its fur is mainly black or gray, the gray color being grizzled and often banded with gray and black guard hairs, tinged white, with the underside being white. Its tail is quite bushy and sometimes reddish in color and is used for maintaining balance while it leaps between branches. The overall fur color may change with different seasons, with the grayish fur being tawnier during summer, and the tail whiter.

Eastern gray squirrels are aggressive, alert, and inquisitive rodents, very fast when moving and jumping amongst the treetops. These squirrels are scatter-hoarder; they hoard huge quantities of food for the future and can make several thousand caches per season. They are more active in the daytime than at night, particularly at dawn and during the afternoon. Males and females may share the same nest during the breeding season, which they build in the forks of trees, and during cold winters, squirrels may also share these dreys to stay warm. The dens are usually lined with moss plants, thistledown, dried grass, and feathers. Females nest alone during pregnancy, and lactating females are particularly aggressive and left alone by other squirrels. These squirrels do not hibernate. To communicate with each other they use both vocalizations and posturing. They have a quite varied repertoire of vocalizations, including a squeak similar to that of a mouse, a low-pitched noise, a chatter, and a raspy "mehr mehr mehr". Other methods of communication include tail-flicking and other gestures, including facial expressions. Squirrels also make an affectionate coo-purring sound that biologists call the "muk-muk" sound. This is used as a contact sound between a mother and her kits and in adulthood, by the male when he courts the female during mating season.

Eastern gray squirrels are native to the eastern and mid-western parts of America, and to the south of the eastern parts of Canada. They range from Manitoba to New Brunswick, and south to Florida and East Texas. They inhabit large areas of mature, dense woodland ecosystems. These forests usually contain large mast-producing trees such as oaks and hickories, providing ample food sources. Close to human settlements, Eastern gray squirrels are found in parks and backyards of houses within urban environments and in the farmlands of rural environments.

Eastern gray squirrels eat mostly the nuts, buds, and flowers of at least 24 types of oak trees, 10 species of hickory, beech, walnut tree species, pecans, and truffles. Corn, wheat, and other crops are eaten, particularly in the winter. In the summer insects are eaten and are probably particularly important for young squirrels.

Eastern gray squirrels have a polygynndrous (promiscuous) mating system. Males compete among themselves for the ability to mate with female eastern grey squirrels. Females may mate with more than one male as well. Breeding occurs in December-February and May-June and is slightly delayed in more northern latitudes. After a gestation period of 40-44 days, the female bears her litter of 1 to 9 (average 2 or 3) in a den or leafy nest. They are cared for in the nest by their mother until they reach independence. The young are weaned around 10 weeks, though some may wean up to 6 weeks later in the wild. They begin to leave the nest after 12 weeks, with autumn-born young often wintering with their mother. Most females begin their reproductive life at 1.25 years but can bear young as early as 5.5 months. Males usually are able to breed at 11 months.

19-3-2017 MIAMI, FLORIDA - EASTERN GRAY SQUIRREL (Sciurus carolinensis)

The Eastern gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) is a tree squirrel native to eastern North America; there it is the most prodigious and ecologically essential natural forest regenerator. Widely introduced to certain places around the world, the Eastern gray squirrel in Europe, in particular, is regarded as an invasive species.

The Eastern gray squirrel is a squirrel of medium size, and both males and females are of the same size and color. Its fur is mainly black or gray, the gray color being grizzled and often banded with gray and black guard hairs, tinged white, with the underside being white. Its tail is quite bushy and sometimes reddish in color and is used for maintaining balance while it leaps between branches. The overall fur color may change with different seasons, with the grayish fur being tawnier during summer, and the tail whiter.

Eastern gray squirrels are native to the eastern and mid-western parts of America, and to the south of the eastern parts of Canada. They range from Manitoba to New Brunswick, and south to Florida and East Texas. They inhabit large areas of mature, dense woodland ecosystems. These forests usually contain large mast-producing trees such as oaks and hickories, providing ample food sources. Close to human settlements, Eastern gray squirrels are found in parks and backyards of houses within urban environments and in the farmlands of rural environments.

Eastern gray squirrels are aggressive, alert, and inquisitive rodents, very fast when moving and jumping amongst the treetops. These squirrels are scatter-hoarder; they hoard huge quantities of food for the future and can make several thousand caches per season. They are more active in the daytime than at night, particularly at dawn and during the afternoon. Males and females may share the same nest during the breeding season, which they build in the forks of trees, and during cold winters, squirrels may also share these dreys to stay warm. The dens are usually lined with moss plants, thistledown, dried grass, and feathers. Females nest alone during pregnancy, and lactating females are particularly aggressive and left alone by other squirrels. These squirrels do not hibernate. To communicate with each other they use both vocalizations and posturing. They have a quite varied repertoire of vocalizations, including a squeak similar to that of a mouse, a low-pitched noise, a chatter, and a raspy "mehr mehr mehr". Other methods of communication include tail-flicking and other gestures, including facial expressions. Squirrels also make an affectionate coo-purring sound that biologists call the "muk-muk" sound. This is used as a contact sound between a mother and her kits and in adulthood, by the male when he courts the female during mating season.

1-4-2017 MIAMI, FLORIDA - EASTERN GRAY SQUIRREL (Sciurus carolinensis)

The Eastern gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) is a tree squirrel native to eastern North America; there it is the most prodigious and ecologically essential natural forest regenerator. Widely introduced to certain places around the world, the Eastern gray squirrel in Europe, in particular, is regarded as an invasive species.

The Eastern gray squirrel is a squirrel of medium size, and both males and females are of the same size and color. Its fur is mainly black or gray, the gray color being grizzled and often banded with gray and black guard hairs, tinged white, with the underside being white. Its tail is quite bushy and sometimes reddish in color and is used for maintaining balance while it leaps between branches. The overall fur color may change with different seasons, with the grayish fur being tawnier during summer, and the tail whiter.

Eastern gray squirrels are native to the eastern and mid-western parts of America, and to the south of the eastern parts of Canada. They range from Manitoba to New Brunswick, and south to Florida and East Texas. They inhabit large areas of mature, dense woodland ecosystems. These forests usually contain large mast-producing trees such as oaks and hickories, providing ample food sources. Close to human settlements, Eastern gray squirrels are found in parks and backyards of houses within urban environments and in the farmlands of rural environments.

31-3-2017 MIAMI, FLORIDA - EASTERN GRAY SQUIRREL (Sciurus carolinensis)

The Eastern gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) is a tree squirrel native to eastern North America; there it is the most prodigious and ecologically essential natural forest regenerator. Widely introduced to certain places around the world, the Eastern gray squirrel in Europe, in particular, is regarded as an invasive species.

The Eastern gray squirrel is a squirrel of medium size, and both males and females are of the same size and color. Its fur is mainly black or gray, the gray color being grizzled and often banded with gray and black guard hairs, tinged white, with the underside being white. Its tail is quite bushy and sometimes reddish in color and is used for maintaining balance while it leaps between branches. The overall fur color may change with different seasons, with the grayish fur being tawnier during summer, and the tail whiter.

Eastern gray squirrels are native to the eastern and mid-western parts of America, and to the south of the eastern parts of Canada. They range from Manitoba to New Brunswick, and south to Florida and East Texas. They inhabit large areas of mature, dense woodland ecosystems. These forests usually contain large mast-producing trees such as oaks and hickories, providing ample food sources. Close to human settlements, Eastern gray squirrels are found in parks and backyards of houses within urban environments and in the farmlands of rural environments.

Eastern gray squirrels are aggressive, alert, and inquisitive rodents, very fast when moving and jumping amongst the treetops. These squirrels are scatter-hoarder; they hoard huge quantities of food for the future and can make several thousand caches per season. They are more active in the daytime than at night, particularly at dawn and during the afternoon. Males and females may share the same nest during the breeding season, which they build in the forks of trees, and during cold winters, squirrels may also share these dreys to stay warm. The dens are usually lined with moss plants, thistledown, dried grass, and feathers. Females nest alone during pregnancy, and lactating females are particularly aggressive and left alone by other squirrels. These squirrels do not hibernate. To communicate with each other they use both vocalizations and posturing. They have a quite varied repertoire of vocalizations, including a squeak similar to that of a mouse, a low-pitched noise, a chatter, and a raspy "mehr mehr mehr". Other methods of communication include tail-flicking and other gestures, including facial expressions. Squirrels also make an affectionate coo-purring sound that biologists call the "muk-muk" sound. This is used as a contact sound between a mother and her kits and in adulthood, by the male when he courts the female during mating season.

Eastern gray squirrels eat mostly the nuts, buds, and flowers of at least 24 types of oak trees, 10 species of hickory, beech, walnut tree species, pecans, and truffles. Corn, wheat, and other crops are eaten, particularly in the winter. In the summer insects are eaten and are probably particularly important for young squirrels.

Eastern gray squirrels have a polygynndrous (promiscuous) mating system. Males compete among themselves for the ability to mate with female eastern grey squirrels. Females may mate with more than one male as well. Breeding occurs in December-February and May-June and is slightly delayed in more northern latitudes. After a gestation period of 40-44 days, the female bears her litter of 1 to 9 (average 2 or 3) in a den or leafy nest. They are cared for in the nest by their mother until they reach independence. The young are weaned around 10 weeks, though some may wean up to 6 weeks later in the wild. They begin to leave the nest after 12 weeks, with autumn-born young often wintering with their mother. Most females begin their reproductive life at 1.25 years but can bear young as early as 5.5 months. Males usually are able to breed at 11 months.