While you probably know what a squirrel looks like, there are about 65 different species of squirrels living in the United States. The most common types of squirrels include gray squirrels, fox squirrels, reddish squirrels, flying squirrels, and ground squirrels. Each one has different physical characteristics and preferred habitats.
Have you been putting out bird feeders only to find that squirrels are eating the seeds before the birds even have a chance? Maybe you are dealing with squirrels eating fruits and vegetables out of your garden. If so, you are dealing with a squirrel infestation.
At Nuisance Wildlife Rangers, we can help you trap, remove, and relocate squirrels away from your home. Because we use a humane and ethical approach to wildlife removal, you never have to worry about us harming the squirrels.
Being able to identify the different types of squirrels in your yard can help the wildlife control company that comes out to remove them.
What Types of Squirrels Are There?
There are tons of squirrel species living in North America. While they all share similar features, some characteristics can help you tell them apart. Being able to identify the type of squirrel you are seeing can let you know what behaviors they’ll exhibit, their habitat needs, and how to remove them from your property properly.
The most common types of squirrels include:
Gray Squirrels
Gray squirrels (Sciurus Carolinensis) have bushy tails, gray backs, and light undersides. While you might notice brown features on their faces, feet, and tails, most of their body is gray.
There are Eastern, Western, and Arizona gray squirrels. The main difference between them is their location in the United States. For example, Eastern gray squirrels are found in the Eastern United States, from Maine to Florida. They are also found in parts of Canada.
These squirrels are acrobatic and can be found anywhere from the tree tops to the forest floor. You might see them running along power or phone lines in urban areas.
Fox Squirrels
Fox squirrels are one of the largest tree squirrels in North America, often weighing up to 2 pounds. While the color of their coat can vary between regions, they tend to have an orange trim around their sides and tails, similar to the color of a fox.
There are Eastern and Mexican fox squirrels. Eastern fox squirrels are found in the United States, while Mexican fox squirrels are found in Mexico and parts of Arizona.
Because they are less agile than gray squirrels, fox squirrels tend to be found on the ground looking for fallen acorns.
Reddish Squirrels
Reddish squirrels are one of the smaller types of squirrels found in the United States. They tend to be the noisiest and have the brightest colors. Most reddish squirrels have reddish-brown fur, which is how they got their name.
There are Red and Douglas reddish squirrels. The main difference is that the red squirrel tends to stay red year-round, while Douglas reddish squirrels change to a gray color during the winter months.
You can find reddish squirrels in coniferous trees because they like eating the seeds that the cones leave.
Flying Squirrels
Flying squirrels have extra skin on their sides that allows them to glide in the air from treetop to treetop. They have large, adorable eyes that allow them to see in the dark.
There are Southern and Northern flying squirrels. Southern flying squirrels are found from Maine to Florida and Minnesota to Texas, while Northern flying squirrels live in the Northeast, West Coast, and Northern states like Montana and Idaho.
Flying squirrels are only active at night, so you might not see them often. During the day, they tend to sleep in hollow parts of trees.
Ground Squirrels
Ground squirrels come in a variety of colors depending on the specific species. They can be gray, light brown, beige, and even striped. This type of squirrel tends to be chunkier than the squirrels found in trees and have shorter tails.
There are three types of ground squirrels: California, Wyoming, and Belding’s ground squirrels. They might live in grasslands, meadows, rocky outcrops, and even urban parks depending on what state they are in.
Ground squirrels live in small colonies underground and are active during the day. If they feel threatened, they will run to their burrows and hide. They eat seeds, insects, fruits, vegetables, and other food items they can scavenge.
What to Do if Squirrels are Damaging Your Property
Squirrels can damage your home, yard, garden, and attic. If squirrels begin nesting inside your attic, they can chew through insulation and electrical wires. They could also cause water damage by chewing through gutters, downspouts, and roofs.
While it can be fun and interesting to watch squirrels scurry around your yard and trees, sometimes the damage is too much to put up with. If you are dealing with a squirrel problem, you should:
- Remove food sources by picking up fallen nuts, fruits, and vegetables and avoiding using bird feeders.
- Plant squirrel-repellant flowers like daffodils, allium, or hyacinth.
- Use motion-activated sprinkler systems around your property to scare them off.
- Install a squirrel vent in your attic that allows them to exit and prevents re-entry.
- Contact a professional wildlife removal company.
At Nuisance Wildlife Rangers, we can help you remove squirrels from your backyard or inside your home. We use live traps to coax the squirrels into a cage that automatically shuts when they come inside. It is important to note that our trapping and removal methods are humane, which means we will never hurt the squirrels in the process.
Find Help for Squirrel Removal
If you are looking for professional squirrel removal, you’ve come to the right place. The animal experts at Nuisance Wildlife Rangers have years of experience in wildlife removal, making us highly qualified to remove any type of animal from your property.
Contact us today for more information on our squirrel removal services.
