Gray Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis)

Both the gray squirrel and the fox squirrel are present throughout the state, but the gray is by far the most abundant. Both species frequently occupy the same forest land. In such cases, the fox squirrel is usually found in the uplands, especially those on which the stand of trees is thin. The gray squirrel is usually found at lower elevations, especially on lower areas with dense stands of mature hardwoods. For the most part, the information herein primarily concerns the gray squirrel, but some of the statements apply to the fox squirrel as well.

Life History

Adults may mate with more than one member of the opposite sex. There are two well-defined breeding periods in Alabama. The first is December to March, with a peak in February. The second is June to August, with a peak in July. The gestation period is about six weeks. Therefore, the two peaks of birth are March and August. Adult females may bear two litters each year. Litter size varies from one to six; the average is between two and three. Maternal care covers a period of about twelve weeks, after which the young are able to take care of themselves. Some semblance of a family relationship may exist for some time thereafter.

The potential life span of a wild gray squirrel is six or seven years, but few reach that age. A gray squirrel in captivity may live up to twelve years or more. About 60 percent (six out of every 10) of a wild fall population are usually young that were born earlier in the same calendar year.

Place in Planning

Suitable habitat can be retained, created, or maintained on cropland, hay land, forest land, wildlife land, and sometimes on pasture land. Lands that are managed for gray squirrels should be protected from erosion and made to produce high quality food and cover. In some instances, squirrels can provide supplementary income from the lease of hunting rights or the sale of daily permits to hunt.

Habitat Needs

The gray squirrel has three basic habitat needs: food, cover, and water.

Food. The gray squirrel depends primarily upon a variety of natural foods, especially hardwood trees and shrubs. Choice native foods for fall and winter are baldcypress, beechnuts, blackgum, chinkapin, flowering dogwood, hickory nuts, magnolia, oaks (acorns), pecan, pines (all species), and walnut. The Appendix contains information on the value of oaks to squirrels and other wildlife. Choice native foods for spring and summer are blackberry, cottonwood (cambium and buds), black cherry, elm (seed and buds), grape, huckleberry, maple (seed and buds), mulberry, mushrooms, pines, and yellow poplar (seeds and buds). Squirrels also eat a wide variety of less important foods such as herbs, insects, roots, and others.

Cover. The gray squirrel prefers big tracts of mature hardwoods with understories of smaller trees and shrubs. These mature hardwoods should be dense enough that squirrels can travel easily through their crowns. The gray squirrel is rarely found in pure stands of even-aged pines.

The gray squirrel has two distinct homes: long-term tree dens and temporary leaf nests. Tree dens are preferred because they afford more protection from weather, natural enemies, and hunters. Dens with openings three to five inches in diameter and twenty feet or more above the ground are best. Favored dens are six to seven inches wide and one to three feet deep.

Water. The gray squirrel can live without drinking water for several weeks with no apparent ill effects, but free water is an attractive feature of squirrel habitat. In fact, squirrels may leave an area if free water is not available. Squirrels should have to travel no farther than one-fourth of a mile to get water.

Habitat Management

Habitat management consists mostly of retaining, creating, and maintaining food, cover, and water. Lands on which habitat is managed must be protected from erosion, fire, and excessive grazing.

Retaining habitat

In most instances, it is easier and less expensive to retain the habitat that is already present than to create new habitat. Retain one acre or more of mature hardwoods, primarily oaks and hickories. Retain on hardwood sites if possible. Trees should be dense enough that squirrels can easily travel through their crowns. Retain several different species of oak and hickories. Oaks should be from both the red oak and the white oak groups. Then, if one species fails to produce mast, others will likely succeed. Retain understory species such as dogwood, huckleberry, and others. Retain three or more suitable den trees per acre. If possible, select den trees that also provide food.

Creating Habitat

Plant one-fourth of an acre or more in corn or chufa. Larger plantings (2 acres or more) are recommended on areas with high populations of deer, raccoon, and wild turkey. Plant near suitable squirrel cover. One plot (one-fourth of an acre or more) for every ten acres of forest land is usually sufficient for squirrels. Apply lime and fertilizer according to soil test recommendations.

Five to ten percent hardwood trees planted with pines will eventually produce enough food to maintain at least some squirrels. These hardwoods are especially valuable where large tracts are clearcut and planted in pines. Species to plant are hickories, mulberries, oaks, pecan, and walnut. All except runner oak should be planted in groups rather than scattered throughout the pines. Runner oaks should be planted on the edge of pine plantations.

A few rows of corn, left either unharvested or shocked near forest land, attracts squirrels from long distances. Chufas and peanuts are good for that purpose, also.

Erect nest boxes if tree dens are scarce. Typical nest boxes are about 2 feet deep and 8 inches square, with entrance holes near the top and 3 inches in diameter. When building nest boxes, make provision for removing either the top or bottom for periodic cleaning. Place nest boxes 20 to 30 feet above the ground, preferably in trees that are at least 10 inches in diameter. Entrance holes in nest boxes should be near the trunk for easy entrance. Worn automobile tires make satisfactory nest structures, also, but they may detract somewhat from the appearance of the area.

Create well-distributed water holes (about one-fourth of a mile apart) if free water is scarce or absent.

Maintaining Habitat

Protect from fire at all times. Fire damages habitat for the gray squirrel, but prescribed burning of older pines in late winter is usually recommended for the fox squirrel. Protect squirrel habitat from grazing by hogs and other livestock.

Manage forest land to favor bald cypress, beech, blackgum, chinkapin, flowering dogwood, hickories, magnolia, oaks, pecan, walnut, cottonwood, black cherry, elm, grapes, huckleberry, mulberry, yellow poplar, and other natural squirrel foods. Forest land treatment may include brush control, release cutting, thinning, and other forestry practices, except prescribed burning.

Protect food plots from grazing and replant as needed.

Carrying Capacity

Gray squirrel populations fluctuate a great deal from year to year, depending primarily on food supply. The mast crop of one year, especially on oaks and hickories, determines to a great extent the squirrel population of the following year. During years of gray squirrel abundance, ideal habitat may support one squirrel per acre during winter, the least favorable season. Fall populations may be somewhat higher.

Harvesting

Except in small, isolated wood lots (5 to 75 acres), it is difficult, if not impossible, to over-harvest gray squirrels by sport hunting during Alabama's legal hunting season. Therefore, harvest as many gray squirrels every year as possible. Six out of every ten (60 percent) in a fall population die before the next fall whether they are hunted or not. The Appendix contains more information on harvesting gray squirrels and other wildlife.

More Information

More information is available in Gray Squirrel Management in Alabama a publication of the Alabama Game and Fish Division, 64 North Union Street, Montgomery, Alabama 36130.