Eastern Gray Squirrel

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The Eastern Gray Squirrel, or Grey Squirrel, is a tree squirrel native mostly to the eastern and Midwestern United States and portions of eastern provinces of Canada. They are predominantly gray however some may have a reddish color in their fur. They have a white underside and a large bushy tail. In urban settings, where the risk of predation is reduced, white and black colored squirrels are often found. The melanistic form, which is mostly black, is predominant in certain geographic areas, such as large parts of southeastern Canada. There are also variations within these, including squirrels with black tails and black colored squirrels with white tails. The body length is from 23 to 30 cm, the tail from 19 to 25 cm and an adult gray squirrel weight may vary between 400 and 600 grams.

The Eastern Gray Squirrel is a scatter-hoarder; meaning it will hoard its food in numerous small caches for later recovery. Some caches are temporary if made near the site of a sudden abundance of food which can be retrieved within hours or days. There are others which are more permanent and are not retrieved until months later. It’s estimated that each squirrel can make several thousand caches each season. Squirrels have very accurate spatial memory for the locations of these caches, and may use nearby and distant landmarks to retrieve them. Once the squirrel is within a few centimeters of the cache it will use smell.

Eastern Gray Squirrels build a type of nest, also called a drey, in the forks of trees. The drey will consist of dry leaves and twigs. They are also known to build a nest in the attic or in the exterior walls of a house. In addition, the squirrels may also inhabit a permanent tree den. These squirrels are more active during daytime hours, and tend to avoid the heat in the middle of summer. They also do not hibernate.

Eastern Gray Squirrels consume a variety of foods such as inner tree bark, various seeds and acorns, walnuts, and other nuts which can be found in the forest.

From December to February and May to June, the Eastern Gray Squirrel will breed. Though sometimes breeding is slightly delayed in more northern latitudes. There are normally 2 to 4 young in each litter, but the number can reach as high as 8. The gestation period lasts about 44 days. The young squirrels are weaned at 7 weeks and will leave the nest after 10 weeks. Eastern Gray Squirrels can start to breed as early as 5 ½ months, but usually don’t breed for the first time until they reach 1 year old. They can live to be 20 years old in captivity, however in the wild it is typically only around 12 years.

Just like most mammals, communication among the Eastern Gray Squirrels involves both vocalizations and posturing, they have a varied repertoire of vocalizations, including a squeak which is similar to a mouse, a low pitched noise, chatter, and a raspy “mehr” sound. Another method of communication includes tail-flicking.

Tall trees, shrubs, rain spouts and power lines are invitations for squirrels to gain access to your rooftop. Squirrels are known for nesting in chimneys and exhaust vents. Most of the time they will gnaw through fascia and soffit boards or any other vulnerable areas they can find to enter into your attic and build nest to rear their young. This can pose a very dangerous situation as squirrels like to gnaw on electrical wires causing power outages and sometimes fires.

Mid-Atlantic Wildlife Control uses a combination of humane techniques to evict, exclude and deter squirrels from your home or building. Our technicians will locate entry/exit points, trap and remove the invaders, inspect your attic for chewed up electrical wires and repair any damage.

• Electrical repair
• Roof repair
• Animal proof chimney caps
• Animal proof vent covers
• Tree and shrub trimming
• Attic clean out and replacement of soiled insulation
• Live trapping
• Deterrents
• Disinfect and deodorize
• Chimney clean out

An electrical romex wire that has been chewed which is a serious fire hazard!	A squirrel nest in an attic

Mid-Atlantic Wildlife Control is a full-service wildlife company specializing in the removal of unwanted animals in or around your home. We serve the areas of Baltimore, Harford, Howard and Anne Arundel Counties, MD. We are state licensed and handle a variety of wildlife such as squirrels, birds, bats, raccoons and many more. We will live trap and relocate the animals in a humane and professional manner. For Maryland pest control and removal, call us at 443-417-3137 to discuss your wildlife problem today.