Eastern Gray Squirrel

Description:

The white tipped grey fur on the bushy tail as a indication that this is a Eastern Gray Squirrel, despite the excessive red on the belly. The back and head is covered in grey fur with patches of red/brown on the face, sides, feet and much of the underside, surrounding white fur (which wasn't visible while the squirrel was hunched over). The rear feet are red/brown ending in tufts of white-grey fur and white tipped claws. The ears struck me as somehow "different" (more compact? smaller perhaps?) than the other squirrels around.

Habitat:

Tree Squirrels live in wooded areas but unlike other types of squirrels the Eastern Grey will also live in urban and suburban areas. Where foraging is abundant. They build nests of leafs and twigs called dreys high in the trees. Hollowed out portions of trunk trunk may also be used as nests, or as food storage.

Notes:

These pictures were all taken through a window and, for once, I was glad there was a barrier between myself and the animal. His overall demeanor was somehow aggressive, (while none of his actions were). I got the distinct impression that if I stepped out onto the deck he'd attack me rather than scamper off.