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.
Except for two notable exceptions, gray squirrels live up to their name with gray body hair, a white belly and a gray tail that has white-frosted tips.
Gray squirrels are considerably smaller in size than fox squirrels, growing to between nine and 12 inches long with a 10- to 12-inch tail. Gray squirrels weigh between one and two pounds.
There are a few exceptions to these guidelines. There are fox squirrels with a patterned dark-brown body, a black face and white nose. There is also a beautiful all-black mutation of gray squirrels that inhabit some areas of the Midwest and Northeast. Albinism also occurs in both species. However, albinos are not just an all-white variation, but a gene mutation that results in a total lack of pigmentation.
Reference: https://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/field-guide/eastern-gray-squirrel-eastern-fox-squirrel
Differences in Habitat
The fox and eastern-gray squirrels have overlapping native ranges across the eastern portion of North America. Both species spend much of their lives in trees, but forage for food on the ground. Both species also prefer dense hardwood forests, but gray squirrels can be found in lowlands and brushy bottomlands along rivers and fox squirrels prefer forests on higher ridges.
Fox Squirrels are also found in prairie-type environments.
Both species have adapted to urban areas, particularly in places where large oak and hickory trees are plentiful. However, even where their ranges overlap, fox and gray squirrels do not typically share the same habitat.
Differences in Behavior
Fox squirrels have a more reserved personality that gray squirrels and fox squirrels have been know to tease and play “chicken” with dogs and cats.
Gray squirrels are mostly crepuscular, being active in the early morning and evening. Fox Squirrels are most typically diurnal, being active throughout the day. Both species sleep through the night.
FAQs
Here are some of the most common questions when doing a side-by-side comparison of the gray squirrel vs. fox squirrel:
Is a Fox Squirrel the Same as a Red Squirrel?
Because some subspecies have a rust-colored tint to their fur, fox squirrels are sometimes confused with the American red squirrel. However, the American red squirrel can be easily identified by their size alone. Red squirrels are significantly smaller then fox and gray squirrels with an average weight of just eight ounces.
Because they rely on the seeds of pine cones for food, the American red squirrel is referred to as a “pine squirrel” west of the Mississippi River.
Resource: https://animalia.bio/american-red-squirrel
Do Fox and Gray Squirrels Interbreed?
Fox and gray squirrels do breed where the species ranges overlap.
While there has been some controversy over this issue in the past, a new study explains this is what produces the black-phase squirrel. According to a study published in the journal “BMC Evolutionary Biology,” black squirrels are actually gray squirrels with a mutated gene variant that is passed to gray squirrels during mating with fox squirrels. The study reports the same gene that is responsible for the black squirrels’ coloring is the same gene that gives some fox squirrels their predominantly reddish-brown fur.
Resource: https://bmcecolevol.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12862-019-1471-7
Are Fox Squirrels Aggressive?
While fox squirrels are playful, active and can be bold in places where they have become acclimated to humans, fox squirrels are not aggressive towards people or animals. This is true of gray squirrels as well. The only exceptions are if the animal is rabid or feel their young are being threatened.
How Rare are Fox Squirrels?
As a federally listed endangered species, fox squirrels were protected for several decades. However, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, after a five-year long review, ruled fox squirrels were safe from extinction and removed from the Threatened and Endangered species lists in 2016.
Thanks to their being protected for over 30 years, fox squirrels have nearly tripled their range in many areas. The Eastern fox squirrel is now abundant, but no overall population estimate is available. The species is currently classified as “Least Concern” and its numbers remain stable.
