How to Identify Squirrels

Look for grey squirrels. Grey squirrels are a type of tree squirrel. To identify them, look for a salt and pepper colored body, tan specks on their tail and a white belly. During the summer months their body color turns yellowish-brown. They have a large bushy tail and small ears. When a grey squirrel sits upright, its tail curves from behind to shade it from the sun.

Look for red squirrels. They are the most common tree squirrel species. They are small, have a reddish-gray color and have a white or cream colored belly. They also have a black stripe on their side during the summer. Being slightly smaller than the grey squirrel, they measure about 12 Inches from tail to nose. Red squirrels have shorter and less bushy tails compared to other species of squirrel and they are solitary by nature. They make their homes on treetops and inside the cavities of trees.

Look for ground squirrels. They make burrows in the ground and live in them. Unlike tree squirrels, which run up trees when startled, ground squirrels run into their burrows when frightened. A ground squirrel does not leave mounds of dirt around the entrance of its burrow because it takes the dirt created during burrowing and pats it down tightly with its head and feet. They have an average body length of seven to eight Inches. The adult females usually have litters of seven to eight offspring immediately following their hibernation.