Fox Squirrel
A hefty tree squirrel of farms, parks, and open oak country, often warmer-colored and more deliberate than the eastern gray.
Artwork inspired by Walter Inglis Anderson
Fox squirrels favor open mature woods, savannas, farm groves, and city parks where large seed-producing trees are separated by usable ground. They eat mast, seeds, buds, fruit, fungi, and cultivated crops.
Color varies geographically, so size, habitat, and overall pattern work better than one feature. Compare both squirrel species in the same park. Year-round; most visible during cool daylight hours and autumn mast season.
- Build
- Largest Missouri tree squirrel
- Habitat
- Open mature woodland
- Food
- Nuts, seeds, fungi
Quick guide
- Compare
- Larger + warmer than gray squirrel
- Search
- Farm groves and park oaks
Separate Fox Squirrel from look-alikes
- First clue
- Read large body when identifying Fox Squirrel.
- Confirm with sign
- Compare rusty belly together with farm groves and park oaks before accepting the identification.
- Where it belongs
- Use Open mature woodland in Open woodlands of central and eastern North America as habitat context and check Year-round; most visible during cool daylight hours and autumn mast season.
- Observe without pursuit
- Protect the subject: Compare both squirrel species in the same park.
Good to know
Fox squirrels spend more time on the ground than many people expect, crossing open spaces between widely separated trees.
Notice these
- Large body
- Rusty belly
- Warm-edged tail
- Open-woods habitat