Point Pelee Classification Guide
By: Madison Trozzi
Grey Squirrel
(Sciurus carolinensis)
(AKA Eastern Grey Squirrel)
GREY SQUIRRELS
The Grey Squirrel or Eastern Grey Squirrel is a tree squirrel in the family Sciuridae.
The sciuridae family has a few unique characteristics:
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Small or medium sized.
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Have well-developed claws on five functional toes.
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Have diverse diets.
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Extremely opportunistic (an example being consuming animal matter when there is availability).
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Voice complicated vocalizations.
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Have incisor teeth that continue to grow throughout life.
What To Look For:
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Has predominantly grey fur, which can possibly be tinted brown.
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The grey squirrel has a large, bushy tail.
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Squirrels are quite small. Adult weight ranges from 400 to 600 grams.
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Tracks of the eastern grey squirrel can be extremely hard to distinguish from the fox squirrel and Abert’s squirrel. But, it is noticed that the hind foot-pad is usually not visible in the print.
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Like all squirrels, the grey has four fingers on its front feet and five on its hind feet.
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Ears are pointed and positioned on the sides of the upper head.
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Eastern grey squirrels hoard food in small caches for later recovery.
