TN10056 GRAY SQUIRREL SCIURUS CAROLINENSIS
Physical description: This is a large squirrel with a bushy tail, moderate ears without tufts. It lacks cheek pockets, and has 5 nearly equal toes on the hindfeet. It is grayish to yellowish brown on the upper parts (though no hair is all gray, some tipped with white), white under and on the chin, abdomen, and ventral legs. The fur is longer in the winter. Melanistic and albino forms are not uncommon. The sexes are colored alike and overlap sizes. They are distinguished from red squirrel by their larger size, gray color, white-bord-ered tail, and from the fox squirrel by their smaller size and white-edged tail. The dental formula is 1/1, 0/0, 2/1, 3/3. The length is 12-21 inches, including a 7-10 inch tail. The weight is from 400-710 grams with an average of approximately 16-18 ounces. The average of 10 adults total length is 439 mm, the tail is 201 mm, and the hindfood is 60.5 mm. It is smaller and paler than S. c. pennsylvanicus *152,141,355,357,156*. Reproduction: Sexual maturity is reached by the male in 10-11 months, and for the spring female in 6-8 months. The summer females may mature in approximately 3 months. There are 2 mating periods per year: December or January to February and May to July. The females have 1 or 2 litters per year. The gestation period is 44-45 days. A mild winter may cause an earlier winter breeding season, and environmental factors probably regulate the reproductive cycle sequence. There is little or no mating when both light and temperature are decreaseing. Mating is prefaced by a 'chase' of the female by 1-25 males. The males may fight each other. Pregnant females are reculsive and shy, and there are litters of 1-6, with an average of 2-3, born in a den, or leaf nest if necessary. They are born in Virginia in February-March and July-August (especially in the Piedmont and Coastal Plain regions). possibly March-April and August-September and slightly smaller litter size in Mountain region (probably sub-species pennsylvanicus). There is some evidence of pregnancy or lactation in Virginia in all months except possibly November and December. The female be- gins lactation shortly before parturition. The young are born blind, naked, and helpless, approximately 0.5 ounces. The average litter sizes in a 3 year study (1969-1971) Piedmont and Coastal Plain regions were 2.81, 2.67 and 2.42 respectively. 1965 data: Tidewater September 1-4, 27% of 82 adult females lactating, W. Piedmont September 15-16, 58% (no number given), Tidewater October 1-15, 58% of 12. The reproductive activity record for the female is at least 7.96 years, possibly 12.52 years in the wild, with 6.34 years maximum record in captivity. The male is at least 6.61, possibly 8.99 years in the wild, 8.16 maximum record in captivity *141,353,355,354,357, 352,2222,358,361,362*. Behavior: The lactation period is 5-10 weeks. The young are haired by 3 weeks, and venture from the nest in 6-7 weeks. At 8 weeks they are half-grown. The eyes open the 4th-5th week. The majority of summer young are not weaned until the 2nd week in October. Only the female cares for the young--develops and defends against all ages, sexes, a territory of 15-30 yards diameter around the den tree during late pregnancy and post-parturition. She moves the young if the den is disturbed (may kill young if captive). She cares for the young 6-10 weeks but a family relationship may remain up to 4.5 months. The young respond to the female's low-pitched calls. Tree cavities are almost always used to rear winter litters, and the survival of summer born juveniles is much reduced when the seed crop falls below 145.7 kg sound seed/ha (130 lbs/a). They are diurnal, with 2 activity periods, early a.m. and late afternoon (3 hours post-sunrise, 3 hours pre-sunset). The daily movement is mostly within about 200 yards. There is no hibernation but cold, rain, snowstorm and especially high winds cause this species to remain in the den up to several days. The mean home range data varies: 0.49 ha (1.2 a), 0.95 ha. The male has a larger home range than the female's and may overlap other male's. One den per 0.8 ha (2 acres) is necessary to provide enough winter shelter. And 5/0.4 ha (2-5 acre) is optimum. Mast production of more than 168 kb/ha (150 lbs/a) is required to sustain 'reasonably high' densities. This species is not very territorial, and 3-30 (especially family group) may use the same den during the nights, and bad weather. There is some social organization. The sense of touch is important in the den/nest, and hearing, smell and vision are more important outside the nest. They have many calls and signals used to communicate. The males may have a stronger nest-building tendency. Mass migration due to overpopulation is only occasional but they may move from areas of mast failure, especially in the fall, and evidence of seasonal movement from valleys to mountain ridgetops has been found. Overall, there is not much movement from the den area, and the average individual may spend its life within 25 acres. Dens are found from 4-70 feet above the ground *141,353,355,354,357,352,359, 2222,156,358*. Origin: This species is native *152,357,358*. Population parameters: There is a reported sex ratio of 51.7:48.3% females: males. The suggested average annual dispersal rate is 14.5%. The adult female has a slightly higher survival rate (0.59 female, 0.44 male) probably due to the greater dispersal tendency of males. The mean life expectancy in one study is as follows: at birth approximatrely 1 year, 1.82 years 1-2 year cohort, high of 2.41 years 2-3 year cohort, down to 0.5 years 7-8 year cohort. There is a higher survival rate of early spring young due to a smaller litter size, and with greater use of dens/nest boxes, there may be fewer natural enemies, especially climbing snakes and lower parasite populations. The potential longevity in captivity is at least 20 years, although they rarely live over 6 years in the wild. The maximum (ecological) longevity is up to at least 12.52 years *352,360*. Aquatic/terrestrial associations: There is little conflict with other species. There is competition from cattle, hogs, deer, etc. none (10) light (8) moderate (5) heavy (1) multiplier=(1). They may coexist with fox squirrel but concen- trates in slightly different habitats (large, dense hardwood stands with dense understory for grays). Predators include domestic cats and dogs, red and gray foxes, bobcats, racoons, owls (barred, horned, others), hawks (red-shouldered, Cooper's, sharp-shinned, marsh, red-tailed), mink, some snakes, and maybe opossum *141,355,357,359,2222,358,361*. Physical description: This is a large squirrel with a long bushy tail, and moderate ears without tufts. It lacks cheek pouches and has 5 nearly equal toes on the hind feet. They are grayish to yellowish brown on the upper parts (though no hair is all gray, some is tipped with white), white under the throat, chin, abdomen and ventral legs. The fur is longer in the winter. Melanistic and albino forms are not uncommon, especially melanos in northern part of their range. The sexes are colored alike and overlap in sizes. They are distinguished from the red squirrel by their larger size, gray color, and white-bordered tail. They can be distinguished from the fox squirrel by their smaller size and white-edged tail. The dental formula is 1/1, 0/0, 2/1, 3/3, and the length is 14-21 inches including a 7-10 inch tail. The weight is from 400-710 grams with an average of approximately 16-18 ounces. An average of 12 adults from Montgomery Coonty is as follows: total length 474.6 mm, tail 204.4 mm and hind foot 65.2 mm. They have larger, brighter, and longer hind feet than S. c. carolinensis *152,141,355,357,156,338*. Reproduction: Sexual maturity is reached by the male in 10-11 months, and spring females are mature in 6-8 months. Summer females may mature in approximately 3 months. There are 2 mating periods/year in December or January to February, and May to July. The females have 1-2 litters per year. The gestation period lasts 44-45 days. A mild winter may cause an earlier winter breeding season, although a poor mast crop may delay it and vice versa. Envi- ronmental factors probably regulate the reproduction cycle sequence. There is little or no mating when both light and temperature are decreasing. Mating is prefaced by 1-25 males chasing a female. The males may fight each other, and the dominant males are found to have the majority of sexual contacts with the females. Pregnant females are reclusive and shy. They have litters of 1-6, (average 2-3), born in a den or leaf nest, if necessary. In Virginia they are born from February-March and July-August (especially Piedmont and Coastal Plain regions), possibly March-April and August-September. There is a slightly smaller average litter size in the Mountain Region, but there is some evidence of pregnancy or lactation in Virginia in all months except possibly November and December. The female begins lactation shortly before parturition. The young are born blind, naked and helpless, weighing approximately 1/2 ounce. The average litter sizes in a 3 year study (1969-71) in the Piedmont and Coastal Plain regions were 2.81, 2.67 and 2.42 respectively. 1965 data from the western Piedmont, from September 15-16, showed 58% of the (number not given) adult females lactating. In a southwestern mountain area (Montgomery County) from September 15-30, 35% of 17 females were lactating *141,353,355, 354,357,352,2222,358,336,338,335,84,362,365*. Behavior: The lactation period is 5-10 weeks, and the young are haired by 3 weeks, venture from nest 6-7 weeks, half-grown 8 weeks, and the eyes open at 4-5 weeks. The majority of summer young are not weaned until the 2nd week of October. Only the female cares for the young, and defends against all ages and sexes, a territory of 15-30 yards diameter around the den tree during late pregnancy and post-parturition. The female moves the young if the den is dis- turbed (may kill the young if captive), and cares for the young for 6-10 weeks, A family relationship may remain up to 4.5 months, and the young respond to the female's low-pitched calls. Tree cavities are almost always used to rear winter litters, and the survival of summer born juveniles is much reduced when the seed crop falls below 145.7 kg of ground seed/ha (130 lb/acre). They are diurnal, with 2 activity periods: early a.m. and late afternoon (3 hours post- sunrise, and 3 hours pre-sunset). The daily movement is mostly within about 200 yards. There is no hibernation but cold, rain, snowstorms and especially high winds cause the squirrels to remain in the den up to several days. The mean home range data varies. It is long and narrow in shape about 0.49 ha (1.2 acres) to 0.95 ha. The male has a larger home range than the female (1 study: 0.53 ha to female 0.40 ha) which may overlap with other males. One study had 7.2 and 6.2 squirrels/acre in 2 areas. One den per 0.8 ha (2 acres) is necessary to provide enough winter shelter, with 2-5/0.4 ha (2-5/acre) the optimum. Mast production of more than 168 kg/ha (150 lbs/acre) is required to sustain reasonably high densities. They are not very territorial. 3-4 up to 30 (especially family groups) may use same den nights, and in bad weather. There is some social organization, and the male is more dominant than the female. The social rank is higher with age. Their sense of touch is important in den/nest, while hearing, smell and vision are more important outside the nest. Many calls and signals are used to communicate. The males may have the stronger nest-building tendency. A mass migration due to overpopulation is only occasional but they may move from an area of mast failure, especially in the fall, and there is evidence of seasonal movement from valleys to mountain ridgetops. There is overall not much movement from the den area, and the average squirrel may spend it's life within 25 acres. There are 2 color changes per year. The winter coat is lighter gray, and changes between late September to the first of November. Dens are found from 4-7 feet above the ground *141,353,355,354,357,352,359,2222,156,358,332,336,338,335,362*. Origin: The origin of this species is native *90,152,357,358*. Population parameters: The reported sex ratios are: 51.7:48.3% female:male, 55.8:44.2 male:female. They have approximately even birth sex ratios (106:100 males to females). The females may have a higher mortality rate the 2nd year of life *352,336,338*. Aquatic/terrestrial associations: There is little conflict with other species. There is some competition from cattle, hogs and deer. They may may coexist with fox squirrel but concentrates in slightly different habitats (large, dense hardwood stands with dense understory for grays). Predators include domestic cats and dogs, red and gray foxes, bobcats, racoons, owls (barred, horned, others), hawks (red-tailed, red-shouldered, Cooper's, sharp-shinned, marsh), mink, some snakes and perhaps opossum. There is competition for food with nut- gathering humans, white-footed deer mouse, pig, cow, wild turkey, white-tailed deer, black bear, ruffed grouse, fox squirrel, wood duck, raccoon (latter 3 may also compete for dens), chipmunk, flying squirrel and red squirrel, though com- petition not of much of a consequence except in years of mast failure *141,355, 357,359,2222,358,338*. Physical description: This is a large squirrel with a long bushy tail, and moderate ears without tufts. It lacks cheek pouches and has 5 nearly equal toes on the hind feet. They are grayish to yellowish brown on the upper parts (though no hair is all gray, some is tipped with white), white under the throat, chin, abdomen and ventral legs. The fur is longer in the winter. Melanistic and albino forms are not uncommon, especially melanos in northern part of their range. The sexes are colored alike and overlap in sizes. They are distinguished from the red squirrel by their larger size, gray color, and white-bordered tail. They can be distinguished from the fox squirrel by their smaller size and white-edged tail. The dental formula is 1/1, 0/0, 2/1, 3/3, and the length is 14-21 inches including a 7-10 inch tail. The weight is from 400-710 grams with an average of approximately 16-18 ounces. An average of 12 adults from Montgomery Coonty is as follows: total length 474.6 mm, tail 204.4 mm and hind foot 65.2 mm. They have larger, brighter, and longer hind feet than S. c. carolinensis *152,141,355,357,156,338*. Reproduction: Sexual maturity is reached by the male in 10-11 months, and spring females are mature in 6-8 months. Summer females may mature in approximately 3 months. There are 2 mating periods/year in December or January to February, and May to July. The females have 1-2 litters per year. The gestation period lasts 44-45 days. A mild winter may cause an earlier winter breeding season, although a poor mast crop may delay it and vice versa. Envi- ronmental factors probably regulate the reproduction cycle sequence. There is little or no mating when both light and temperature are decreasing. Mating is prefaced by 1-25 males chasing a female. The males may fight each other, and the dominant males are found to have the majority of sexual contacts with the females. Pregnant females are reclusive and shy. They have litters of 1-6, (average 2-3), born in a den or leaf nest, if necessary. In Virginia they are born from February-March and July-August (especially Piedmont and Coastal Plain regions), possibly March-April and August-September. There is a slightly smaller average litter size in the Mountain Region, but there is some evidence of pregnancy or lactation in Virginia in all months except possibly November and December. The female begins lactation shortly before parturition. The young are born blind, naked and helpless, weighing approximately 1/2 ounce. The average litter sizes in a 3 year study (1969-71) in the Piedmont and Coastal Plain regions were 2.81, 2.67 and 2.42 respectively. 1965 data from the western Piedmont, from September 15-16, showed 58% of the (number not given) adult females lactating. In a southwestern mountain area (Montgomery County) from September 15-30, 35% of 17 females were lactating *141,353,355, 354,357,352,2222,358,336,338,335,84,362,365*. Behavior: The lactation period is 5-10 weeks, and the young are haired by 3 weeks, venture from nest 6-7 weeks, half-grown 8 weeks, and the eyes open at 4-5 weeks. The majority of summer young are not weaned until the 2nd week of October. Only the female cares for the young, and defends against all ages and sexes, a territory of 15-30 yards diameter around the den tree during late pregnancy and post-parturition. The female moves the young if the den is dis- turbed (may kill the young if captive), and cares for the young for 6-10 weeks, A family relationship may remain up to 4.5 months, and the young respond to the female's low-pitched calls. Tree cavities are almost always used to rear winter litters, and the survival of summer born juveniles is much reduced when the seed crop falls below 145.7 kg of ground seed/ha (130 lb/acre). They are diurnal, with 2 activity periods: early a.m. and late afternoon (3 hours post- sunrise, and 3 hours pre-sunset). The daily movement is mostly within about 200 yards. There is no hibernation but cold, rain, snowstorms and especially high winds cause the squirrels to remain in the den up to several days. The mean home range data varies. It is long and narrow in shape about 0.49 ha (1.2 acres) to 0.95 ha. The male has a larger home range than the female (1 study: 0.53 ha to female 0.40 ha) which may overlap with other males. One study had 7.2 and 6.2 squirrels/acre in 2 areas. One den per 0.8 ha (2 acres) is necessary to provide enough winter shelter, with 2-5/0.4 ha (2-5/acre) the optimum. Mast production of more than 168 kg/ha (150 lbs/acre) is required to sustain reasonably high densities. They are not very territorial. 3-4 up to 30 (especially family groups) may use same den nights, and in bad weather. There is some social organization, and the male is more dominant than the female. The social rank is higher with age. Their sense of touch is important in den/nest, while hearing, smell and vision are more important outside the nest. Many calls and signals are used to communicate. The males may have the stronger nest-building tendency. A mass migration due to overpopulation is only occasional but they may move from an area of mast failure, especially in the fall, and there is evidence of seasonal movement from valleys to mountain ridgetops. There is overall not much movement from the den area, and the average squirrel may spend it's life within 25 acres. There are 2 color changes per year. The winter coat is lighter gray, and changes between late September to the first of November. Dens are found from 4-7 feet above the ground *141,353,355,354,357,352,359,2222,156,358,332,336,338,335,362*. Origin: The origin of this species is native *90,152,357,358*. Population parameters: The reported sex ratios are: 51.7:48.3% female:male, 55.8:44.2 male:female. They have approximately even birth sex ratios (106:100 males to females). The females may have a higher mortality rate the 2nd year of life *352,336,338*. Aquatic/terrestrial associations: There is little conflict with other species. There is some competition from cattle, hogs and deer. They may may coexist with fox squirrel but concentrates in slightly different habitats (large, dense hardwood stands with dense understory for grays). Predators include domestic cats and dogs, red and gray foxes, bobcats, racoons, owls (barred, horned, others), hawks (red-tailed, red-shouldered, Cooper's, sharp-shinned, marsh), mink, some snakes and perhaps opossum. There is competition for food with nut- gathering humans, white-footed deer mouse, pig, cow, wild turkey, white-tailed deer, black bear, ruffed grouse, fox squirrel, wood duck, raccoon (latter 3 may also compete for dens), chipmunk, flying squirrel and red squirrel, though com- petition not of much of a consequence except in years of mast failure *141,355, 357,359,2222,358,338*.
| Life History |
References for Life History Codes
152, 141, 353, 355, 354, 357, 352, 359, 2222, 156, 358, 361, 362, 259, 90, 332, 336, 333, 335, 84, 365
Comments on Life History Codes
This species seeks sunny areas in the spring, and summer. It is adept at keeping the trunk or limb of a tree between itself and a disturbance *353*. They take poorly to captivity, and frequently dies *355*. They are most active during the first and last daylight hours *90*. The home range size varied from 2-35 acres in one study *197*. This species seeks sunny areas in the spring and summer, and is adept at keeping a trunk or limb between itself and a disturbance *353*. They take poorly to captivity, and frequently die *355*.