Kaibab Squirrel
A white flag of a tail and tufted ears identify this squirrel found naturally only in the Kaibab Plateau’s ponderosa forest.
Artwork inspired by Mary-Russell Ferrell Colton
This Abert’s squirrel subspecies is unmistakable when seen well: charcoal body, prominent ear tufts, and a long white tail. It depends strongly on ponderosa pine for food, cover, and nest sites.
Walk quietly in North Rim forests and listen for clipped barks or falling cone scales. Activity drops in wind and midday heat; scanning trunks is often more productive than watching the ground. Do not feed squirrels at overlooks or campgrounds. Food conditioning changes movement, spreads disease, and draws animals toward roads.
- Primary state
- Arizona
- Status
- Endemic subspecies restricted to northern Arizona
- Range
- United States
Quick guide
- Opening clue
- Tasseled ears
- Confirm separately
- dark body; context: Ponderosa pine forest on the Kaibab Plateau north of Grand Canyon
A close field reading of Kaibab Squirrel
- Identify
- Tasseled ears, dark body, white tail
- Habitat
- Ponderosa pine forest on the Kaibab Plateau north of Grand Canyon
- Timing
- Active by day; best in calm morning forest
- Protect
- Do not feed squirrels at overlooks or campgrounds. Food conditioning changes movement, spreads disease, and draws animals toward roads.
Good to know
A close image of Kaibab Squirrel is not automatically decisive: habitat, timing, full structure, and the alternative species considered should remain part of the record.
Notice these
- Tasseled ears
- dark body
- white tail