Scent-marking is another form of intra-specific communication used by fox squirrels. Squirrels threaten one another by an upright stance with their tail over their back, followed by a quick flick of the tail.

Males have larger home ranges than females. Generally, fox squirrels are not gregarious, although they come together during the breeding season when females are in estrus. Under natural conditions the average lifespan is 8 to 18 years old, though most squirrels die before they reach adulthood. Male fox squirrels disperse farther and may die more as a result.įox squirrels have been known to live to 18 years old in captivity. Young fox squirrels disperse away from their mothers range in the fall of their first year. When the mother leaves her young in the nest she covers them with nesting material. Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (male)įemale fox squirrels care for their young in the nest for 6 weeks.Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (male) 1 years.Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female).Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female) 1 years.Breeding season Breeding occurs from December to February and May to June.gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate).Females can produce 2 litters in a year, although 1 is the norm. Sexual maturity is attained at 8 months for females, 10-11 months for males. Eyes open at week 5, and young are weaned at week 8. Young are born naked, weighing between 13-18 g. Average litter size is 2-3, but litters range between 1 and 7. Copulation lasts less than thirty seconds, and females can mate with several males. Dominance hierarchies form among the males to determine mating privilege. Males aggregate in the home range of a female when she begins estrus. Males follow females prior to estrus, smelling the perineal region. Range length 454.0 to 698.0 mm 17.87 to 27.48 inįemales can mate with several males, but the males will compete with each other to determine who gets to mate first.įox squirrels can mate any time of year this behavior peaks in December and June.Ear tufts often develop in winter.Īdaptations for climbing include sharp recurved claws, well developed extensors of digits and flexors of forearms, and abdominal musculature. Some varieties in the southeastern United States are black. The dorsal pelage is buff to orange and the venter is rufous. Areas with a good variety of tree species are preferred due to variability in mast production.įox squirrels are a medium-sized tree squirrel with no sexual dimorphism. They can readily escape predators on the ground and large birds of prey if they can seek refuge in the trees.įox squirrels are found in a diverse array of deciduous and mixed forest. They have been introduced into urban areas in western North America as well.įox squirrels, like other tree squirrels, use trees for escaping from predators. Fox squirrels are found throughout the eastern and central United States, south into northern Mexico, and north into Canada.