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Sciurus griseus |
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Front Track Size | Hind Track Size | ||
1.25 - 1 7/8 in. L x .75 - 1.75 in. W | 1.25 - 2 1/16 in. L x 1 - 1.75 in. W | ||
Gray Squirrel Tracks |
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Gray squirrel on the side of a Douglas fir tree. The hind feet can turn backward, allowing the animal to descend a tree head-first. |
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Gray
squirrels are common in many regions. They have large
bushy tails and gray fur. Since they love to eat
acorns, they are found commonly in areas where oaks
grow. They also eat nuts, berries, fungi, larvae,
vegetation, and insects. The call is a hoarse bark.
They make their bulky nests high up in trees from
leaves, sticks, and bark. In winter, they find shelter
in tree hollows. Gray squirrels do not hibernate. They
are active year-round. Usually, four to six young are
born per litter. Their tracks show four toes on the
front foot and five on the hind foot. Clear tracks may
sometimes be found along river edges, where the
animals come down to drink. Gray squirrels are not as
common in campgrounds as Douglas' squirrels and
chipmunks.
The best time if year to see them is in the fall, when they are busy gathering and storing acorns for winter. Gray squirrels will scold intruders into their territory. They sit high on branches and make a chirring sound that is easily recognizable. |
The gray squirrel on the right was trying to keep cool on a hot day. It was over 100 degrees out and the squirrel found a shady place on the dirt road to stretch out and cool off. As I drove down the road, I thought the squirrel had been hit by a car. But it was actually just laying there to get cool. It moved off as I approached. |
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Perfect gray squirrel tracks found in mud. These are the front tracks. | |
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Left front track of a gray squirrel | |
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Right front track of a gray squirrel | |
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Right front gray squirrel track | |
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Gray squirrel in an tree. It had been foraging on the ground and ran up the tree at my approach. |
This squirrel was foraging for acorns on the ground. |
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The gray squirrel above paused to check out my trail camera. I had placed the camera above a spring that the animals used frequently in the summer. This squirrel and others stopped by daily. | |
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This western gray squirrel was climbing a Douglas fir tree |
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Front track of a gray squirrel. The green material is algae. This track was found in a small puddle on a dirt road. |
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Nicely detailed front track of a gray squirrel. The green material is algae. This track was found in a drying puddle on a dirt road. |
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Another front track from a gray squirrel from the same puddle. | |
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A beautiful gray squirrel track in soft dust. This track shows drag marks made by the squirrel's tail as it was dragged over the track. This is a front track. |
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Gray squirrel track set. All four feet are shown in this pattern. The outer two tracks are the hind paw prints. The inner two are the front paws. Direction of travel is toward the top of the photo. |
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This gray squirrel trail shows a nice tail drag mark. The long tail is sometimes dragged behind the squirrel, or just hits the ground occasionally. The tail is normally held off the ground. They will also roll on the ground to scent mark. They rub their bellies along the ground and leave scent. Many animals use scent to communicate with others of their species. |
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Gray squirrel scats found on a wood pile underneath a perch in a tree. |
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A pair of front tracks from a gray squirrel. Front tracks have four toes. | |
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A very good five-toed hind track from a gray squirrel. This is the left hind paw. | |
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A clear pair of left tracks in mud from a gray squirrel. The five-toed hind track is above. The four-toed front track is below. |
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The front track of a gray squirrel in mud, showing the four toes and claw marks. | |
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Another nice gray squirrel front track in mud. The heel pad and metacarpal pads show here. |
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Feeding sign left by a gray squirrel. These are the outer hulls of California bay nuts. the squirrels open them and eat the nuts inside, then drop the hulls. |
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A gray squirrel chattering at me from the side of a Douglas fir tree. The hind feet can rotate 180 degrees, allowing the squirrel to descend a tree head first. |
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Gray squirrel front
track in sand. |
Gray squirrel hind
track in sand. |
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Gray squirrel trail pattern. Hind feet land ahead of front feet. Tracks will be in groups of four. | |
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Hind track in dust. |
Right front track in dust. |
This track pattern is typical of rodents. |
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Western gray
squirrel feeding sign on bigleaf maple seeds |
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Squirrel nest.
This nest fell or was knocked out of a tree. The
material is probably a combination of shredded redwood bark, and other tree barks that the squirrel gathered to make it. |
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squirrel nest
showing hollow in middle where the squirrel stayed |
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squirrel nest |
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Squirrel track pattern in
snow. Photo courtesy of Laurie Lee. |
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Squirrel track pattern in
snow. Photo courtesy of Laurie Lee. Thanks for the use of the photos, Laurie! |
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Gray squirrel hind track from a plaster cast. This mold shows details not normally found in casts made in the field. Note the toe pads. |
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I like watching squirrels run. They seem to hold the tail level as they run so the body bobs up and down and the tail just trails along at the same level over the ground. Gray squirrels like to hide acorns and nuts for later use. I've watched them dig holes to bury acorns only to have ground squirrels follow right behind them and dig up the prize! |
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Find gray squirrel and other mammal posters, greeting cards, postage stamps and more in my new store.
Visit Beartracker's Nature Store
online store at: www.dirt-time.com
Happy tracking!!
What else can you find in the nature store? Beartracker's T-shirts, sweatshirts, journals, book bags, toddler and infant apparel, mouse pads, posters, postcards, coffee mugs, travel mugs, clocks, Frisbees, bumper stickers, hats, stickers, and many more items. All with tracks or paw prints, or nature scenes. Custom products are available. If you don't see the track you want on the product you want, email me and I can probably create it. Proceeds from all sales go to pay the monthly fees for this web site. You can help support this site as well as get great tracking products! Thank you! |
Find other tracking products: www.zazzle.com/tracker8459* |
Also
visit these fine stores for more products of
interest:
NDN Pride shop - For Indian Pride items for all tribes. Custom items available on request. ASL Signs of Love - For anyone who uses or is learning ASL, American Sign Language. Custom name items and more are available here. Get Every Child Outdoors (Get E.C.O.) - My shop dedicated to nature and getting kids interested in nature and the outdoors. Sales from all stores give commissions to Beartracker's Animal Tracks Den, which helps keep this site online as a free service. We are celebrating ten years online this year! |
If you wish to help keep this site
online, donations are accepted through PayPal. |
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Got a squirrel story? E-mail me and tell me about it. You
are visitor number: All counters reset in October 2000 Copyright © 1997, 2018. Text and photos by Kim A. Cabrera |
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Page updated: June 13, 2018
Copyright © 1997, 2018. Text, drawings, and photos by Kim A. Cabrera - Desert Moon Design