Animal-World > Small Animal Pets > Pet Squirrels > Eastern Gray Squirrel

Gray SquirrelEastern Gray Squirrel

Family: Sciuridae

• Puzzles
• Postcards

"Rocky"Sciurus carolinensisPhoto © Animal-World: Courtesy Jerry Donaldson

     The Gray Squirrel is perhaps the most familiar of all squirrels!

     Gray Squirrels are primarily forest dwellers, but have adapted to the encroachment of humans by becoming part of large city parks. You can often see them scurrying about, foraging for seeds, buds, and nuts.

For more information about the care of Gray Squirrel see:
Guide to a Happy, Healthy Squirrel

Scientific name: Sciurus carolinensis

Background:
     Gray Squirrels are native to North America, found mostly in the Eastern United States. They were also introduced to other areas of the world, such as Ireland, South Africa, and Great Britain.
     Their homes are in tree cavities or in bulky water-proof twig and leaf nests built in tree branches. They also dig burrows in the ground, but these are for food storage.
     They are generally a quiet little creature, but if alarmed will emit a harsh guttural "bark", flipping its tail with each squawk.
     Gray Squirrels eat acorns and hickory nuts throughout the year, though they may eat buds, tender twigs, seeds, and insects when the weather permits. Unlike their very active smaller cousin the American Red Squirrel, which needs large amounts of seeds and nuts to see it through the winter, the Gray Squirrel can subsist on a rather small quantity of buds and nuts, and will often sleep soundly through periods of stormy weather.
     They are not quite as fearless as the American Red Squirrel in the presence of humans, but will soon overcome their caution and come out to visit if you sit quietly.

Description:      Eastern Gray Squirrels are 17"-20" long, and 8 1/2" - 9 1/2" of this length is their bushy tail! There are marked color variations in this squirrel, so at one time they were described as four different species, but today they are all contained in one valid species.

Interesting Facts:      - Gray squirrels are so plentiful that they often have to regulate their
           populations by shooting them for sport, or poisoning and trapping them.
     - They are not nocturnal, and are most active at dawn and at dusk gathering
           food. They will generally spend the late morning and noon hours in the nest,
           coming out in mid afternoon, and then retiring for the rest of the night an
           hour or so before sunset.

Add your comment here!
Click to see All the comments!
Click to see all of the coolest comments!
Latest Comments
I have a pet squirrel named Rocky for 14 months. Rocky was abandoned one day at my Doctor's house. He hopped on my shoe and would not leave. My Dr. told he that Rocky had been there since the day before. He was fully furred and the cutest. That night he almost passed. We fed him Gatorade, bought a cage, heating pad and followed some sound advice. He was too weak to stand by the next day. We fed him a scalded milk formula with an eye dropper and slowly he gained strength. He is now a great friend. He is to friendly to survive outside in the wild. He has no skills to exist. And he would miss me, as I am his best friend. We play for an hour to an hour and a half every night. I have him squirrel-sat by my mother-in-law when I am forced away from him. Rocky plays for about a half hour and the other hour or so we cuddle. My wife joins us during play time now and again. Rocky rests in my hands and I pat him and cuddle him. He loves it. Rocky gets a bath once a week (just warm water). His large pen is cleaned every day. I feed him healthy fruits, a few nuts, and a nut ball every day. I have a small parrot and two dogs that keep him company when I am gone. They inspect his pen to see what all the racket is, often. The chihuahua seams to really get him going. But they do not play together due to his razor sharp nails. WE ALL LOVE ROCKY Bill McLean 2009-10-26
I also have a pet Grey Squirrel. I took him away from my cat when he was very little and fed him goat milk and now he's the most spoiled pet I have. He rides almost everywhere with me on my shoulder when I'm at home and loved jumping on my dog and going for a ride when we go on walks. His name is Bitter and he is def. the best indoor pet I've had. Lara 2009-10-07
How very, very sad that people would keep a wild animal such as a squirrel for a pet when there are so many dogs, and cats that need homes. These animals get put down everyday. lise 2009-09-30
Please be aware that although grey squirrels are quite a common sight to see, and in many cases becomming the perfect family pet there is alot to learn about them, and in many cases we find that what we thought would be easy becomes very difficult and frustrating and can be very costly as once you have your grey squirrel you can not return it to the wild as i found out you can be liable to a £5,000 fine. you can contact me for further info should you have any questions about your squirrel, i will do my best to give you the advice you require. Wayne Ford 2009-03-09
On March 2008 we found a grey squirrel baby fallen out of a tree nearby. I gave him a mix of ideal milk, water and yellow of an egg. Later she start eating seads, nuts, fruit and vegies. She was like a real pet, playing and running around in the house. After winter about October we decided it's time for her to go home in the wild. We took her to a place with lots of oak trees. Putting her cage in one of the trees and feeding her every second day. She adores all the trees and was very happy. After 2 months she came done from the trees and still plays around with me. Jumping, climbing and curling around me. Also sitting still allowing me to scratched her body. Now I think she is going to have babies. Can't wait to see them. I am from South Africa. Elsa 2008-12-14
Some of the coolest comments:
"Pet" squirrels MUST have Full Spectrum Lighting, and a healthy diet, which includes green, leafy, high calcium veggies...endive, kale, escarole, dandelions, and LITTLE fruit. Too much natural sugars in them. Also 70-80% of your squirrels daily diet should be Rodent Block. We have a specially made formula of rodent Block just for squirrels, that has been approved by Dr. Christopher Calvert, of the Animal Science Department at the University of California, Davis, and coauthor of the "Nutrient Requirements of Laboratory Animals, Fourth Revised Edition, 1995", and several of his colleagues as well, who are in the field of zoo diets. If you want EXPERT advice from MANY rehabbers, and very knowledgeable people with pet squirrels, please come to www.thesquirrelboard.com. Thank You! Elaine 2008-12-11
In Sept. 2007 I was having quiet time on the porch when I heard a plop and a screech. My cat investigated and was as bewildered as I was over the screeching naked "thing" that dropped out of a tree. The night before I told my girlfriend that there is nothing so satisfying as connecting with nature. I was thinking of a baby fawn. After my husband identified this naked "thing" as a squirrel, I rushed to the drug store and purchased an eye-dropper and fed the baby soy milk mixed with rice crispies. After six weeks, we left the cage open by the tree it fell out of and it returned to it's home nest. Husband said it was male. I disagreed but didn't argue. Every morning and around dusk he comes to the porch for his nuts or popcorn. We keep a water bottle secured to his oak tree. Since we live in a very rural area, we hope to have him around for a good while. Today, to my husband's embarrassment, he discovered our "Rocky-boy" is Mrs. Rockette and is feeding her young. We are hoping she will introduce us to her babies soon. This has been so much fun having Rockette come when we call, scampering up and down our trouser legs to perch on our shoulders. The cat knows she is part of the family and we don't have too many confrontations. Our visitors and grandchildren just love to brag about this crazy old couple that can call the squirrels down from the tree! Susan and David Greensboro, Georgia Susan E. 2008-04-29
Comments Dr Jungle REALLY Likes to Hear!
I found my squirrel in May. He was in my driveway and couldn't move either hind leg or his tail. He was not a baby, but not full grown either. He was scared and needless to say not very friendly toward people. I caught him and after a month or two he became more and more trusting. He has since regained use of one leg and his tail but still drags one leg around. He runs all over the house while I'm home, watches TV with me, listens to music, and naps with me. He really has become the most awesome companion! He is not particularly friendly to anyone else (though he is not aggressive) but he has become a great pet and friend to me. I can't believe that such an affectionate, intelligent and clean animal has been around all my life and I never took particular notice...never heard of anyone who had a pet squirrel until now. I am always worrying that I am not educated enough about him and his needs so I am always surfing trying to learn more...thanks for your website! Leah 2009-10-06
That page is so great because it has info about what you need to know, like interesting info about squirrels. lilshann 2009-03-22
Today I saved a baby gray squirrel from a cat. When I showed him to my kids we decided to keep him as a pet. I wasn't sure until reading all the wonderful things people have said about them on this website. We have named him Mr. Snuggles and look forward to making many fond memeroies with him. Rob Brown 2005-11-13

Back to Pet Squirrels