-- Tree squirrels include arboreal mammals in the family Sciuridae

                            arboreal means inhabiting or frequenting trees

    General Description:
 

-tree squirrels are all mammals, usually with long tails

-total body lengths range from 200 mm to longer than 700 mm

-tail lengths range from 80 mm to more than 330 mm

-squirrels are omnivores that eat nuts, flowers and buds of plants, as well as bones, bird eggs and frogs (Halloran 1999)

-squirrels often forage on the ground and sleep in nests or dens in trees

    Three squirrel species are discussed here as examples:

Eastern Gray Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis)

photo courtesy of Ken Fox

photo courtesy of Mark Cassino

Fox Squirrel (Sciurus niger)

Southern Flying Squirrel (Glaucomys volans)

photo courtesy of Tom Stevenson