Mammal Monday: Foxy

One gets to be a little myopic living in a place. For instance, I was not even aware there was an Eastern Fox Squirrel/Sciurus niger out there. They’re found in most of the eastern half of the country, excepting New England and New York/New Jersey, the places I’m most familiar with.

I spotted these in Grand Rapids, MI. They tend to be a little larger than the Eastern Gray/Sciurius carolinensis, but the most notable thing about them is the “fox,” their red fur. (The “Red Squirrel” is the smaller Tamiasciurus hudsonicus, which doesn’t make it to Long Island.)

Confusingly, as with the Eastern Grey, they can come in different color morphs.

Otherwise, they’re definitely all squirrel…