I am in West Texas, Pretty sure they came in on wood trucks,, Just wondering what kind of squirrel this is, I have tried for about 10 years to get the population to build with no luck. 
Squirrel Question,
- Thread starter airgunmike56
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That’s a red squirrel. There bigger than the grays. There not spooked as easy by humans as the grays. The reds
are more plentiful in East Texas & Okla. As long as you have oak trees that bear Acorns they will be fine.
Fly
are more plentiful in East Texas & Okla. As long as you have oak trees that bear Acorns they will be fine.
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I have fed them for the last 10 years , I have feed blocks out, I also buy 50 lbs chicken scratch every few weeks for the birds and squirrels, Ten years ago I thought hell I will get these to multiply and I can shoot them,, Well I have only had two or three at the most in my yard, I am sure someone with there walmart BB/Pellet gun is shooting them,, I used to hand feed one and my wife would name them.. I am sure taming them down was there death ticket.. Sad.
Mike
Mike
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Perhaps a regional thing, but we consider them the most aggressive, nuisance squirrel. Seems they like doing property damage and are more inclined to challenge human structures to make shelters or food storage areas. Pretty territorial against other squirrel varieties. Love to chew wiring. While I can understand the pesting aspect, I would not cultivate them.
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Looks like a common Eastern grey squirrel to me... here's a pic off the web.
Red squirrel a quite a bit more 'red' and have a different look altogether...and are generally smaller than other tree squirrels in North America. Note the white around the eyes on the red squirrel vs grey.
Red squirrel a quite a bit more 'red' and have a different look altogether...and are generally smaller than other tree squirrels in North America. Note the white around the eyes on the red squirrel vs grey.
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@airgunmike56 Deep East Texas checking in. That appears to be a young fox squirrel to me. I see them on occasion. Expect them to get larger than gray squirrels. They are not as game as cat squirrels (gray squirrels) in my experience. They sit in plain sight most times I've seen trying to blend in instead of taking off running like cat squirrels.Here's a little info https://www.depts.ttu.edu/nsrl/mammals-of-texas-online-edition/Accounts_Rodentia/Sciurus_niger.php
General info on Texas squirrels from TPWD https://tpwd.texas.gov/publications/nonpwdpubs/introducing_mammals/squirrels/
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Ezana may have hit that one squarely on the head. I'd not considered a fox squirrel, but it does indeed look like a young one.
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you could build a small platform with edges to hold shelled peanuts . An observation feeding spot / attractor. That will draw squirrels in , maybe you have more than you think .
just a small handfull a day they will clear it every day
just a small handfull a day they will clear it every day
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ThomasT
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Hello @airgunmike56
You need to come out here to Deep East Texas where I live right in the middle of a National Forest. These little dudes and the Grays are like fleas on a dogs back. I live on Sam Rayburn Lake in a small community and we are surrounded by the National Forest and "tree rats" are a serious pest problem for us. I have shot 5 this week and I have shot as many as eight in one day. Be careful what you wish for
ThomasT
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I have looked at your area , very nice scenic area , but i suspect it might get a bit warm at times in the summer .Hello @airgunmike56
You need to come out here to Deep East Texas where I live right in the middle of a National Forest. These little dudes and the Grays are like fleas on a dogs back. I live on Sam Rayburn Lake in a small community and we are surrounded by the National Forest and "tree rats" are a serious pest problem for us. I have shot 5 this week and I have shot as many as eight in one day. Be careful what you wish for
ThomasT
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in my neck of the swamp, this is a Fox Squirrel.......
some folks call them a monkey squirrel
some folks call them a monkey squirrel
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Terms may be regional but a "red squirrel" to me is a small one with different coloring than the first picture. The angle of the picture does not show the belly well. Eastern grey squirrels have white bellies and fox squirrels have brown bellies. Grey squirrels top out at a little over 1 lb. Fox squirrels can reach 2 lbs. So size and belly color are key characteristics but a young fox squirrel could be under a pound too. But it won't have a white belly.
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OK, Thanks guys, I agree its a fox squirrel, I am sure they came in on someones cords of fire wood,
Make good pets if only they would stay in the yard, Ya, I have always had strange pets, Raven for 20 years, Bull snakes, Box turtles, Pet rat once very smart pet.
Mike
Make good pets if only they would stay in the yard, Ya, I have always had strange pets, Raven for 20 years, Bull snakes, Box turtles, Pet rat once very smart pet.
Mike
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Without knowing the age and size, it's hard to guess on the specific subspecies. Like all squirrels, it's a rodent with incisors that grow perpetually, so they have to chew. If you can keep them away from things you don't want chewed, then maybe you can enjoy them. But don't underestimate their capacity for damage.
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I'd call this a fox squirrel. I have grays and just recently started seeing these fox variants in the area. About an hour north of me, we get the bushy looking red squirrels.
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Looks like a Fox squirrel to me..look at the orange in the tail, greys have grey/white tails.
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