Gray Squirrel

Description:

Large tail gives name to genus 'Sciurus', meaning "shadow tail". Squirrels make large, messy looking nests in trees comprised mostly of leaves and sticks.

Habitat:

Forests, and also in urban areas where they can easily scavenge grain with fear only of automobiles and overfed domestic cats.

Notes:

Please do not throw your trash on the ground. This squirrel was found retrieving a sandwich from a sandwich bag. The photo shows the squirrel with its prize. This is likely not a healthy meal for a squirrel, and it could have choked on chewed pieces of the bag. Popular decorative nut trees like oaks and walnuts mast regularly and are more than enough food for these critters.