Fox squirrel
By George Armond
The Lowcountry is full of interesting people, places and animals too.
One of the most compelling animals is the fox squirrel. If you spot one in our area, you might do a double take.
Southern fox squirrels are closely related to gray squirrels and are the most variably colored tree squirrels in the world, according to the South Carolina Department of
Natural Resources.
The southern fox squirrel is the second most common squirrel species in the state, according to SCETV.
In South Carolina, fox squirrels are characterized as the gray, black or brown color phase based on their predominate body color. The gray color phase is the most common in South Carolina, SCDNR said.
Sightings of black fox squirrels account for 24% of all sightings, with only 2% of all sightings reported as brown.
A black facial “mask” and white patches on the nose, paws, and ear tips are common in the three color phases. The facial mask and larger body size of the fox squirrel distinguish the fox squirrel from the more common gray squirrel.
Squirrel Size
Fox squirrels are about twice the size of gray squirrels. They range in length from 20-26 inches (including tail) with an adult weight range from about 2 to 2 1/2 pounds.
Life Expectancy
Fox squirrels that survive to become adults live an average of 3 to 4 years. Individual animals have been known to live as long as 12 years, SCDNR said.
Where They Live
Fox squirrels are strongly associated with mature pine forests and mature pine-hardwood forests. They prefer woodland habitats with an open herbaceous understory and patchy shrub cover. Prescribed fire in pine woodlands benefits fox squirrels by creating and maintaining this condition. Parks and golf courses can support substantial numbers of fox squirrels in certain locations across the state. They are common in the Coastal Plain.
What They Eat
Fox squirrels are known to eat a variety of foods, including pine seed, acorns, hickory nuts, cultivated and native seeds, fleshy fruits, flower buds, tubers, roots, and fungi.
Peak Breeding Activity
The majority of breeding in fox squirrels likely takes place in December and January. Gestation period is about 44 days, with most young born during February and March. A normal litter in South Carolina consists of two or three young.
Where to Observe
The most common place for South Carolinians to find the southern fox squirrel is on Daufuskie Island, which has been their “main home for decades,” according to SCETV.
Fox squirrels are occasionally observed at bird feeders if those feeders are near areas of occupied fox squirrel habitats. Some of the better areas to observe fox squirrels in the Lowcountry include area golf courses, Victoria Bluff Heritage Preserve and the New River Trail.
