The Fox Squirrel Is Alabama’s “Big Backyard Squirrel” and It Is Not Just a Fat Gray One

If you grew up calling every squirrel a “gray squirrel,” the fox squirrel is the one that makes you stop and stare.

It is bigger, it carries itself differently, and in the right light it almost looks like it is wearing a different outfit.

What is a fox squirrel
Alabama’s wildlife agency lists the fox squirrel as Sciurus niger and describes it as a common rodent species in the state.

It is also one of Alabama’s three squirrel species that people most commonly notice, alongside gray squirrels and flying squirrels.

How to tell a fox squirrel from a gray squirrel
1) Size and presence

Fox squirrels are the big ones. They are generally larger and chunkier than gray squirrels, especially when you see them on the ground or stretched out on a trunk.

2) Color patterns that look “custom”

Fox squirrels can show more variation in coat color than many people expect. Some are rusty, some are mixed and some have dramatic contrast. Outdoor Alabama notes they are one of the state’s squirrel species and their descriptions highlight that they stand out from gray squirrels.

3) Behavior and timing

Outdoor Alabama points out fox squirrels are not early risers and tend to become active later in the morning, then again later in the day.

That tracks with what people notice in neighborhoods, you see them when the day is already moving.

Where fox squirrels like to live
Outdoor Alabama describes fox squirrels as preferring upland forests with open stands of oak and hickory plus mixed pine and hardwoods. 

The U.S. Forest Service notes that in Alabama, eastern fox squirrels 

occur in a range of habitats including upland pine stands and areas along watercourses and swamps.

Translation... they can show up in a lot of North Alabama spaces, especially where there are mature trees and room to forage.

Why people in our area notice them
Fox squirrels spend more time on the ground than people expect and they are less “zippy” in the treetops compared to gray squirrels. Outdoor Alabama suggests they prefer open woods partly because they are less agile climbers and prefer to stay on the ground.

So when one crosses a yard, it looks like a small animal with confidence.

The practical “leave them alone” note
Most of the time, fox squirrels are just part of the neighborhood wildlife. If you are curious and want to observe them, the best move is simple... enjoy the sighting, keep pets from chasing and do not try to feed them up close.

Alabama’s published squirrel season runs September 13 through March 1 with 8 per day and 8 in possession and it notes fox squirrel is closed on the Bankhead National Forest.

Some WMAs also have special closures, so it is always worth checking the area specific rules before going.

Have you seen a fox squirrel in Madison or around North Alabama lately?

Source

https://www.outdooralabama.com/wildlife-articles/alabamas-three-species-squirrels