Nature Article
Squirrels in the Parks
01/01/2010
Kyle Spinks, Natural Resources Technician
Did you know we have six species of squirrel and one chipmunk in the Portland Metro area?
Western Gray Squirrel (Sciurus griseus): The largest of our native species, the body of this beautiful squirrel averages 11 inches long, is all gray on the back and bushy tail, and it has a whitish belly. It is commonly found in hardwood forests dominated by Oregon white oaks. It dines on acorns, hazelnuts, and is very fond of underground fungi.
Eastern Gray Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis): This introduced squirrel grows to about 9 inches long (not counting the tail). The coat is mostly gray with brown highlights on the side, and the belly is white. It can be distinguished from our native western gray squirrel by its brownish head. This is a very common squirrel that prefers habitats with lots of bigleaf and vine maples.
Eastern Fox Squirrel (Sciurus niger): This introduced squirrel is mostly brownish-red with a light orange belly, the ears are shorter than the western or eastern gray squirrels, and the body averages 10 inches long.
Douglas Squirrel (Tamiasciurus douglasii): This is the squirrel you'll likely hear chattering in the Douglas-fir forests in our region, often as a rapid-fire descending call echoing through the trees. Its body averages about 8 inches long and its tail is less bushy than the previous three squirrels. It has a dark brownish coat and an orange belly.
Northern Flying Squirrel (Glaucomys sabrinus): This is the smallest of our squirrels, reaching only about 6 inches in total body length. It's also the squirrel that is least likely to be seen since it is mostly nocturnal. This squirrel has large flaps of skin between the front and rear legs that spread out when it leaps between trees, allowing it to glide through the air. The coat is gray with hints of brown, the belly is buffy-brown to the exact edge of the skin flaps between the legs, and the tail is brownish. The majority of its diet is fungus.
California ground squirrel (Spermophilus beecheyi): This ground squirrel prefers open fields where it can burrow into well-drained slopes. The body averages 10 inches long and the tail about 7 inches. The coat and is mostly gray, speckled with white, and there is a dark 'V'-shaped patch between the shoulders.
Townsend's chipmunk (Tamias townsendii): This is a cute little chipmunk with whitish racing strips that streak from its nose, around its eyes, and down its back. The coat is cinnamon brown with five light stripes and four darker stripes on the back. It averages about 5 inches long and has a tail that is black-tipped with hairs on the side that are white-tipped.
