Foxy Redhead

Meet Sciurus niger - the Eastern Fox Squirrel - the largest species of tree squirrel native to North America. 

click on image for a closer look

At first blush you might guess this to be a Red Squirrel.  Fox squirrels are the larger of the two and have rusty brown fur with a pale yellow to orange belly.  Lacking in this photo is the Red Squirrel's distinctive bright white belly and more pronounced white rings around the eyes.  The rusty coloring and large bushy tail are reminiscent of a fox - implying this is a Fox Squirrel.  From time to time this species produces black squirrels with a white belly, nose and white-tipped ears.  The translation of the Latin - Sciurus niger - is black squirrel.   

The bright orange pelt of this animal and it's loud, scolding call make it an easier visual and audible identification.  Unlike the Eastern Gray Squirrel this species has a wider home range and spends more time on the ground foraging.  They return with their food to a preferred dining location.  If you happen-upon a debris midden of corn cobs and split nutshells you will have found ‘that spot’.  This species buries nuts for retrieval at a future date - which probably accounts for all the tiny oak trees popping-up around the joint.