Gray squirrels and fox squirrels look very similar, but they are actually two different species. Gray squirrels are the most common in North America. Fox squirrels are less common but can be found in many regions of the United States, particularly in southern areas.
This article will discuss what sets these two species apart from each other along with their defining features.
Differences in Appearance
Even though the species look very similar, there are some very telling visual differences between fox and gray squirrels. While there are some notable variations and exceptions, the coloring of both gray and fox squirrels is more or less the same throughout most of their range across North America.
Fox squirrels are predominantly gray with a slight brown, yellow or red-orange tint with a rust-colored belly and a black outline on its tail.
The fox squirrel is the largest native tree squirrel in North America reaching lengths of 18– to 29-inches plus a tail of eight to 13 inches in length. Fox squirrels weigh in at between one and three pounds.