Newspaper Page Text
Page 8A
October 26, 2022
iEeporter
MONROE OUTDOORS by Terry W. Johnson
Check out the
F or most Monroe
Countians, when
ever the subject of
squirrels finds its
way into a conversation,
gray squirrels immediately
come to mind. This is un
derstandable
since it is the
squirrel most
commonly
seen through
out the county.
This is the
squirrel that
regularly raids
our bird feed
ers, attacks
our tomatoes
and harvests
its share of
TERRY W. JOHNSON
pecans.
However, Monroe
County is also home to
the largest tree squirrel in
North America. Of course,
I am referring to the fox
squirrel.
It is easy to tell the two
squirrels apart. The fox
squirrel is 20 percent larger
than the gray squirrel. It can
weigh in at as much as three
pounds or more, measure
up to 27.5 inches long (body
length) and sport a bushy
tail that can be as much 13
inches in length.
This super-sized squirrel
comes in three color phases
that have so many variations
that folks often say no two
look alike. Through Colo
rado, east Texas, and the
Dakotas most fox squirrels
sport gray backs and bright
rust-colored hair on their
undersides. In the North
east, the majority of them
are gray with yellow bellies.
Here in Georgia as well as
throughout the rest of the
Southeast, we see more pre
dominantly black squirrels
with white-tipped tails, and
white blazes on their faces
than anywhere else in the
country.
We call this mammal
the fox squirrel because its
coat resembles the red and
gray coat of our native gray
fox. In some sections of the
country, it goes
by the name of
the raccoon or
monkey-faced
squirrel.
One thing that
separates the fox
squirrel form
the gray squirrel
is that its teeth,
bones and flesh
shine pink when
viewed under
ultraviolet light.
This trait is so
extremely rare in
mammals that researchers
use it to identify the remains
of fox squirrels in archaeo
logical sites in Florida.
One of the main reasons
we see far more gray squir
rels locally than fox squir
rels is because our forested
lands are better suited to
gray squirrels than they are
for the larger fox squirrel.
Gray squirrels are at home
in urban and suburban
landscapes as well as mature
upland and bottomland for
ests. They are also at home
in mixed pine/hardwoods
forests.
In comparison, fox squir
rels prefer mature pine
and mixed pine/hardwood
forests with open understo
ries and ground cover. Such
areas are becoming increas
ing hard to find in Monroe
County.
A key component of their
preferred habitat is the
presence of tall trees that
harbor cavities. These dens
(called dreys) are used to
raise young as a well provide
shelter against the elements.
When cavities are unavail
er-sized fox squirrel
The body length of a fox squirrel can be up to 27.5 inches,
its bushy tail can be 1 3 inches long, and it can weigh as
much as 3 lbs.
able, they will build leaf
nests.
The fox squirrel has a
varied diet. It dines on a va
riety of foods ranging from
an occasional bird egg to
frogs, insects and dead fish.
It also includes, but is not
limited to, acorns, hickory
nuts, beech seeds, tree buds,
fruits, the flowers on trees
and the inner bark of trees,
mulberries, hawthorn seeds,
and green pine cones.
Like gray squirrels, they
will cache food. By so doing,
the fox squirrel inadvertently
helps plant trees and other
forest plants.
The fox squirrel spends a
lot of time on the ground
within a home range, which
can vary from 10 to 50 acres
in size. The female fox squir
rel inhabits smaller home
ranges than the male.
Interestingly, since the fox
squirrel sweats through the
bottom of its feet, during hot
weather it will sometimes
leave wet tracks on rocks
and other smooth surfaces.
When a fox squirrel senses
a predator poses a threat, it
will stand up, rapidly shake
its tail and let out a scream.
Whenever I encounter
fox squirrels, I am left with
the impression that they are
not very athletic. Instead of
rapidly scampering off like
a gray squirrel, fox squirrels
often retreat at a far more
leisurely pace. However,
when pressed it can rim at a
speed of up to 20 mph and
leap as high as eight feet.
It is also capable of leaping
from a tall tree and free
falling at least 20 feet and
landing on a nearby tree.
In addition, one observer
watched a fox squirrel fall
out of a tree some 100 feet
up, hit the ground, and
scamper off without any ap
parent injury.
When you stop and think
about it, the fox squirrel
is indeed an impressive
animal. I guess because most
Monroe Countians rarely
see one we don’t really get
a chance to see how special
this animal is. This realiza
tion was brought home to
me some 25 years ago by the
comments made by an Eng
lish woman that was visiting
the United States with her
husband. By chance, they
stopped by the Nongame
Office located on the Rum
Creek Wildlife Management
to get directions to The Fried
Green Tomato Restaurant.
Before they found their way
to Monroe County, they had
visited the everglades to see
alligators and wading birds.
They had explored the Oke-
fenokee Swamp and visited
a number of historic spots
along the way.
To make a long story short,
while talking with them I
learned they enjoyed wildlife
watching. This prompted
me to ask if they would
like me to take them on a
brief tour of the Rum Creek
Wildlife Management Area.
They accepted my invita
tion and off we went. As we
drove along I pointed out
various birds and a white
tailed deer leaped across the
road in front of us. As luck
would have it, we happened
across a fox squirrel stand
ing upright on the grassy
shoulder of the road. After
watching the squirrel for
several minutes, the woman
said seeing the fox squirrel
was the highlight of their
trip.
I cannot help but recall
her statement whenever
I spot a fox squirrel. Her
comment has caused me to
give each fox squirrel more
than a passing glance. Now
some 100 seasons later, I am
convinced more than ever
before that the fox squirrel is
truly an impressive animal.
Terry Johnson is retired Pro
gram Manager of the Georgia
Nongame-Endangered Wildlife
Program. He has written the
informative column Monroe
Outdoors for the Reporter for
many years. His book, “A Jour
ney to Discovery,” is available
at The Reporter. Email him
at tjwoodduck@bellsouth.net.
16 East Johnson St.
Forsyth, GA 31029
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