Viewing Tree Squirrel's

Tree squirrels have many fascinating behaviors, and—except for nocturnal flying squirrels—they are commonly seen. Tree squirrels don’t hibernate, but will remain in their nests in cold or stormy weather, venturing out to find food they stored nearby.

Squirrels are most active at dawn and dusk, but sharp eyes aided by a pair of binoculars can spot them moving among the treetops any hour of the day. On hot days, squirrels are less active and remain motionless on branches to enjoy whatever breeze is available.

Home ranges for tree squirrels are ½ acre to 10 acres. For the Eastern gray and Eastern fox squirrels living in city parks and suburban yards, home ranges average half an acre.

Flying squirrels can go at least three miles in four hours, soaring from tree to tree. Males are particularly prone to traveling, visiting different females in the spring. As proficient as they are in the air, flying squirrels are awkward on the ground. The large flaps of skin that make gliding possible obstruct walking.

Feeding Activity
In the fall, when Douglas squirrels and red squirrels are actively harvesting and storing food for winter, look for “cuttings” under oak, maple, walnut, hazelnut, and coniferous trees. Cuttings are made because seeds and nuts grow in clusters at the end of fragile, easily broken twigs, and squirrels have found that the easiest way to harvest them is to nip these twigs off the parent branch. The squirrels then climb to the ground, harvest the meal, or carry it off to a storage site.

A large pile of cone scales under a tree, called a “midden,” generally indicates Douglas or red squirrels. In winter, holes in the snow may indicate where squirrels retrieved stored food. Nest Sites
Winter is the time to spot the large, spherical nests built in deciduous trees. Nests are located 15 to 50 feet high, and situated close to the trunk or a main branch.

Tracks and Scratch Marks
In urban areas, squirrels travel via rooftops and power lines, lawns, and concrete, leaving no visible trail. Tracks are also seldom visible on the soft forest floor. However in soft snow, the track pattern of a scampering squirrel can be seen as it leads from tree to tree. If you find tracks starting from an open area in the snow, a flying squirrel may have landed and scampered off.

The hind legs of squirrels are double jointed to help them run up and down trees and other objects. Their front claws are extremely sharp and help in gripping while climbing and traversing. Scratches may be found where squirrels access buildings via downspouts and painted surfaces. Look closely for ¼- to ½-inch long scratches in the paint that appear to have been made by a pin.

Droppings
Tree squirrel droppings are rarely obvious. Areas under a feeder or a nest are good places to check. Droppings are segmented, roughly cylindrical, and ¼ to ½ inch long, with a smooth surface. Coloration is typically black, but can be brown to red.

Calls
The red squirrel and the Douglas squirrel will announce an intruder’s presence with much intensity. This territorial call sounds something like a rapid tsk tsik tsik, chrrrrrr—siw siew siw siew. The call of the Eastern gray squirrel— que, que, que—is usually accompanied by flicks of the tail. It makes other calls as well, including a loud, nasal cry.
The call of the relatively silent flying squirrel is a quiet, high-pitched, birdlike tick tick.

This information was provided by the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife, Russell Link, and Michael Holmquist

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