Eastern Gray Squirrel

The eastern gray squirrel is found in southeastern Canada, the eastern United States, down to Florida and as far west as eastern Texas and it has been introduced to the western United States, western Canada and overseas to England, Ireland and South Africa. It mostly has gray fur, but it can be mixed with brown, has white undersides and a large bushy tail. 

I have previously blogged on the western gray squirrel, one of our local Southern California squirrels, but which has a significantly smaller range. In fact, out west, the eastern gray squirrel which is much more aggressive than the western gray squirrel, is threatening the western gray squirrel. The western gray squirrel is larger than the eastern gray squirrel (18 to 24 inches long, compared to 16 to 22 inches) and has salt and pepper to steel gray coloring, except for the underside which is white. The tail is long and bushy, white-edged, and the western has prominent ears and large feet. The western is shy and spends more time in trees. When disturbed it will give a hoarse chirping calll. The eastern gray squirrel has more of a pale gray coat with reddish-brown on the face, back and tail. 

Its tail is narrower and its ears are shorter than the western gray squirrel. 

It is also much more aggressive.  I saw this eastern gray squirrel in a park in St. Augustine, Florida.

In October 2013 we visited the capital in Charleston, West Virginia and saw the eastern gray squirrel, below, on the grounds. 

In January 2014 we visited Mobile, Alabama and a park that had more squirrels than I have ever seen, literally hundreds. Here are a few pictures of these eastern gray squirrels.

Eastern gray squirrel walking down the trunk of a tree in Mobile, Alabama.

In April 2016 we visited New York City and took a walk through the length of Central Park. Eastern gray squirrels were everywhere. Below are a few pictures.

This one has a brownish patch on his back above his rear end as well as a brownish patch in the center of his tail.

In a tree, near the North Woods, apparently eating nuts.