When you step outside in Nebraska, chances are you’ll spot at least one of the seven squirrel species that call the Cornhusker State home.
From the familiar eastern gray squirrel chattering in your backyard oak tree to the elusive southern flying squirrel gliding through the night, Nebraska’s diverse landscapes support an impressive variety of these acrobatic rodents.
Whether you’re a nature enthusiast, wildlife photographer, or simply curious about the bushy-tailed neighbors in your area, learning to identify these species will transform your outdoor experiences and deepen your appreciation for Nebraska’s rich wildlife heritage.
1. Eastern Gray Squirrel
The eastern gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) stands as Nebraska’s most recognizable and widespread squirrel species. You’ll find these adaptable creatures throughout the state’s wooded areas, urban parks, and suburban neighborhoods, where they’ve mastered the art of coexisting with human development.
These medium-sized squirrels typically measure 9-12 inches in body length, with their signature bushy tails adding another 7-10 inches. Despite their name, eastern gray squirrels display remarkable color variation.
While most sport the classic salt-and-pepper gray coat with white undersides, you might encounter individuals ranging from silvery-gray to brownish-gray, and occasionally even melanistic (black) or leucistic (white) variants.
Pro Tip: Look for the eastern gray squirrel’s distinctive white-bordered tail and prominent ear tufts during winter months when their fur becomes thicker and more pronounced.
Eastern gray squirrels prefer mature hardwood forests with abundant oak, hickory, and maple trees, though they’ve adapted remarkably well to urban environments.
Their diet consists primarily of nuts, seeds, and tree buds, supplemented by fungi, insects, and occasionally bird eggs. You’ll often observe them caching food for winter, demonstrating their impressive spatial memory by relocating buried nuts months later.
These squirrels are most active during early morning and late afternoon hours. They’re excellent climbers and jumpers, capable of leaping horizontally up to 10 feet between trees.
Their vocalizations include chattering, barking, and clicking sounds, particularly when they feel threatened or are communicating with other squirrels. Similar behavioral patterns can be observed in other regional squirrel populations throughout the Midwest.
2. Fox Squirrel
The fox squirrel (Sciurus niger) claims the title of Nebraska’s largest tree squirrel, making identification relatively straightforward once you know what to look for.
These impressive rodents can reach 10-15 inches in body length, with tails spanning an additional 8-13 inches, giving them a notably robust appearance compared to their gray cousins.
Fox squirrels exhibit the most dramatic color variation among Nebraska’s tree squirrels. The classic eastern fox squirrel displays a rusty-orange to reddish-brown coat with a lighter orange or yellowish belly.
However, Nebraska’s fox squirrels often show regional color phases, including gray-phase individuals that can be confused with eastern gray squirrels, and black-phase variants found primarily in eastern Nebraska.
Feature | Eastern Gray Squirrel | Fox Squirrel |
|---|---|---|
Size | 9-12 inches | 10-15 inches |
Tail Border | White-tipped hairs | Orange/brown-tipped hairs |
Ear Tufts | Prominent in winter | Less pronounced |
Habitat Preference | Dense forests | Open woodlands |
Fox squirrels prefer open woodlands, forest edges, and parks with scattered mature trees rather than dense forests.
They’re particularly fond of oak-hickory woodlands and agricultural areas with tree rows. These adaptable mammals have expanded their range westward across Nebraska as tree plantings have increased.
Their diet mirrors that of eastern gray squirrels but includes more ground-foraging behavior. Fox squirrels spend considerable time on the ground searching for fallen nuts, seeds, and occasionally corn from agricultural fields.
They’re also known to eat tree bark, buds, and flowers, particularly during spring when other food sources are scarce.
Key Insight: Fox squirrels are generally less wary of humans than eastern gray squirrels and may allow closer observation, making them excellent subjects for wildlife photography.
3. Red Squirrel
The red squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus) brings a feisty personality to Nebraska’s coniferous forests, despite being the smallest of the state’s tree squirrels. These energetic creatures measure just 7-9 inches in body length with 4-6 inch tails, but their bold behavior and territorial nature make them impossible to miss.
True to their name, red squirrels sport a distinctive rusty-red to reddish-brown coat on their backs and sides, contrasting sharply with bright white undersides. During winter, they develop a darker, more brownish coat with prominent ear tufts. A dark lateral line often separates the red upper coat from the white belly, creating a striking visual boundary.
Red squirrels are primarily associated with coniferous forests, particularly those dominated by pine, spruce, and fir trees. In Nebraska, you’ll find them in the Pine Ridge region of the Panhandle and in planted conifer groves throughout the state. They’re highly territorial and will aggressively defend their territory from intruders, including other squirrels and even larger animals.
These squirrels are cone specialists, with their diet consisting primarily of conifer seeds extracted from pinecones. They create distinctive middens – large piles of discarded cone scales and cores – that can accumulate for years and serve as both food storage areas and territorial markers. Red squirrels also consume fungi, bird eggs, nestlings, and tree sap, particularly from maple trees.
Their vocalizations are among the most varied and persistent of any squirrel species. Red squirrels produce chatters, trills, barks, and squeaks, often maintaining vocal exchanges for extended periods. They’re active year-round and don’t hibernate, making them visible even during Nebraska’s harsh winters. For comparison with other active winter species, explore information about Wisconsin’s squirrel populations.
4. Southern Flying Squirrel
The southern flying squirrel (Glaucomys volans) represents Nebraska’s most secretive and specialized squirrel species. These nocturnal gliders inhabit mature hardwood forests throughout the eastern two-thirds of the state, though their elusive nature means most Nebraskans never realize they share their neighborhoods with these remarkable creatures.
Despite their name, southern flying squirrels don’t actually fly – they glide using a furry membrane called a patagium that stretches between their front and rear legs. Adults measure 8-10 inches including their flattened, feather-like tails, with large, dark eyes adapted for night vision. Their soft, dense fur ranges from grayish-brown to cinnamon-brown above with creamy white undersides.
Common Mistake: Many people confuse flying squirrels with bats when glimpsed at night. Remember that flying squirrels have furry, flattened tails and glide in straight lines, while bats have leathery wings and erratic flight patterns.
Flying squirrels prefer mature forests with abundant cavity trees for nesting and roosting. They’re highly social and often share nest sites with multiple individuals, particularly during winter months. Their diet consists of nuts, seeds, fungi, lichens, tree sap, and occasionally insects and bird eggs.
These squirrels can glide distances of 20-30 feet, using their tail as a rudder and their patagium for lift and control. They land with a characteristic upward swoop to slow their descent. Flying squirrels are most active 1-3 hours after sunset and again before dawn.
Evidence of flying squirrel presence includes small, round entrance holes in tree cavities, accumulations of nut shells in hollow trees, and occasionally glimpsing their distinctive gliding silhouette against the night sky. They produce soft chirping and clicking sounds, quite different from the harsh calls of other squirrel species.
5. Thirteen-lined Ground Squirrel
The thirteen-lined ground squirrel (Ictidomys tridecemlineatus) brings a distinctive prairie character to Nebraska’s grasslands and agricultural areas. This species earned its name from the alternating light and dark stripes running along its back, though counting exactly thirteen lines can be challenging due to individual variation.
These ground-dwelling squirrels measure 7-10 inches in body length with 3-5 inch tails that are notably less bushy than their tree-dwelling relatives. Their tawny to brown base coat features 13 alternating light and dark stripes, with the light stripes often containing rows of white or pale spots. Their undersides are typically buff or whitish.
Thirteen-lined ground squirrels thrive in short-grass prairies, pastures, golf courses, cemeteries, and agricultural areas. They prefer areas with sparse vegetation that allows them to spot predators while foraging. These squirrels are true hibernators, entering deep sleep from October through March in underground burrows.
Their diet consists primarily of seeds, green vegetation, insects, and occasionally small vertebrates like mice or bird eggs. They’re particularly fond of grasshoppers and other insects during summer months, making them beneficial for agricultural pest control.
Ground Squirrel Behavior | Thirteen-lined | Franklin’s |
|---|---|---|
Hibernation Period | October – March | September – April |
Colony Size | Solitary to small groups | Large colonies |
Alarm Call | Sharp whistle | Chattering trill |
Burrow Depth | 2-4 feet | 3-6 feet |
These squirrels create extensive burrow systems with multiple entrances, escape tunnels, and specialized chambers for nesting and food storage. They’re most active during morning and late afternoon hours, often seen standing upright on their hind legs to survey their surroundings for predators.
Important Note: Thirteen-lined ground squirrels are excellent swimmers and climbers despite their ground-dwelling lifestyle, occasionally climbing fence posts and low shrubs when necessary.
6. Franklin’s Ground Squirrel
Franklin’s ground squirrel (Poliocitellus franklinii) represents one of Nebraska’s most social and colony-oriented squirrel species. These robust ground squirrels inhabit the tall-grass prairie regions of eastern and central Nebraska, where they create complex underground communities.
Franklin’s ground squirrels are notably larger than their thirteen-lined cousins, measuring 9-11 inches in body length with 5-6 inch moderately bushy tails. Their coat appears uniformly grayish-brown to brownish-gray with subtle darker and lighter flecking, lacking the distinct striping pattern of thirteen-lined ground squirrels. Individual hairs are banded with different colors, creating a grizzled appearance.
These squirrels prefer tall-grass prairies, prairie edges, brushy areas, and agricultural lands with nearby cover. They’re highly social animals that live in colonies with complex burrow systems connecting individual territories. Franklin’s ground squirrels are among the longest hibernators in Nebraska, entering dormancy as early as August in some cases and not emerging until April.
Their diet is more omnivorous than other ground squirrels, including seeds, green vegetation, roots, insects, bird eggs, nestlings, and occasionally small mammals. They’re known to climb trees and shrubs more frequently than thirteen-lined ground squirrels, particularly when foraging for bird eggs or escaping predators.
Franklin’s ground squirrels produce a variety of vocalizations including chattering trills, barks, and alarm calls that alert colony members to danger. They’re excellent diggers, creating burrow systems that can extend 20-30 feet horizontally and reach depths of 6 feet or more. These extensive tunnel networks often include multiple entrance holes, escape routes, and specialized chambers. Understanding ground squirrel behavior can help distinguish between species in the field.
7. Black-tailed Prairie Dog
The black-tailed prairie dog (Cynomys ludovicianus) stands as Nebraska’s largest and most social squirrel species, though many people don’t realize these charismatic rodents belong to the squirrel family. These highly social animals create some of the most complex animal societies in North America within Nebraska’s western grasslands.
Black-tailed prairie dogs are robust, stocky rodents measuring 11-13 inches in body length with 3-4 inch black-tipped tails. Their coat ranges from yellowish-brown to reddish-brown on the back and sides, with lighter buff or whitish undersides. The distinctive black tail tip becomes most prominent during their characteristic tail-flicking displays.
These prairie dwellers inhabit short-grass prairies and mixed-grass prairies in western Nebraska, particularly in areas with well-drained soils suitable for extensive burrow construction. Prairie dog towns can cover hundreds of acres and house thousands of individuals organized into family groups called coteries.
Pro Tip: Prairie dogs are most easily observed during early morning hours when they emerge to forage and engage in social behaviors before the day becomes too hot.
Prairie dogs are primarily herbivorous, feeding on grasses, forbs, and occasionally insects. They’re selective feeders that can significantly impact plant community composition in their territories. Their grazing creates distinctive vegetation patterns that benefit other grassland species.
These highly vocal animals have developed one of the most sophisticated communication systems among rodents. They produce different calls for different types of predators, with research showing they can even communicate specific details about predator size, color, and speed of approach.
Prairie dog burrows are engineering marvels that can extend 10-15 feet deep and 30-100 feet horizontally. These tunnel systems include multiple entrances, nursery chambers, sleeping quarters, and even toilet areas. The burrows provide shelter for numerous other species, making prairie dogs a keystone species in their ecosystem. For insights into other Nebraska wildlife, check out information about hawks and snakes that share these habitats.
Conservation and Habitat Management
Nebraska’s squirrel populations face various conservation challenges that reflect broader environmental changes across the Great Plains.
Understanding these challenges helps explain current distribution patterns and population trends among the state’s seven squirrel species.
Tree squirrels like eastern gray and fox squirrels have generally benefited from urban development and tree planting initiatives throughout Nebraska.
However, red squirrels face habitat limitations due to the scarcity of mature coniferous forests outside the Pine Ridge region.
Climate change and drought conditions can impact cone production, affecting red squirrel populations significantly.
Ground squirrels and prairie dogs confront different challenges. Agricultural conversion has eliminated much of Nebraska’s native grassland habitat, forcing thirteen-lined and Franklin’s ground squirrels to adapt to modified landscapes.
Prairie dogs have experienced the most dramatic population declines, with their range reduced by over 90% from historical levels due to habitat loss, disease, and control programs.
- Habitat fragmentation affects gene flow between squirrel populations
- Urban development creates both opportunities and challenges for different species
- Climate change impacts food availability and hibernation patterns
- Disease outbreaks, particularly plague in prairie dogs, can devastate local populations
- Human-wildlife conflicts arise when squirrels damage crops or property
Flying squirrels face unique conservation challenges due to their specific habitat requirements and nocturnal lifestyle.
They depend on mature forests with abundant cavity trees, which are increasingly rare in Nebraska’s agricultural landscape.
Forest management practices that retain old trees and snags benefit not only flying squirrels but numerous other cavity-nesting species.
Key Insight: Creating wildlife corridors that connect fragmented habitats is crucial for maintaining genetic diversity and allowing squirrel populations to adapt to environmental changes.
Successful squirrel conservation in Nebraska requires balancing human needs with wildlife habitat requirements. This includes maintaining diverse forest age classes, preserving grassland remnants, and implementing wildlife-friendly agricultural practices.
Property owners can contribute by providing nest boxes for flying squirrels, maintaining native plant communities, and avoiding excessive use of rodenticides that can harm squirrel populations and their predators.
Seasonal Behavior and Best Viewing Times
Understanding seasonal behavior patterns dramatically improves your chances of observing and identifying Nebraska’s squirrel species. Each species exhibits distinct seasonal adaptations that reflect their evolutionary strategies for surviving the state’s variable climate.
Spring emergence marks a period of intense activity for most squirrel species. Tree squirrels become highly visible during mating season, typically occurring from January through March for eastern gray and fox squirrels.
Red squirrels may breed twice yearly, with peak activity in February-March and again in June-July. This is an excellent time for observation as squirrels are active throughout the day and engage in dramatic chasing behaviors.
Summer brings different opportunities for squirrel watching. Ground squirrels are most active during early morning and late afternoon hours to avoid midday heat.
Prairie dogs create the most spectacular viewing opportunities during summer mornings when entire colonies emerge to forage and socialize. Flying squirrels, while still nocturnal, may be glimpsed during late twilight hours as they begin their nightly activities.
Season | Best Viewing Species | Optimal Times | Key Behaviors |
|---|---|---|---|
Spring | Tree squirrels | All day | Mating chases, territory establishment |
Summer | Ground squirrels, prairie dogs | Early morning, late afternoon | Foraging, social interactions |
Fall | All tree squirrels | Morning, afternoon | Intensive food caching |
Winter | Tree squirrels only | Midday | Reduced activity, feeding |
Fall provides perhaps the best overall squirrel watching opportunities as tree squirrels engage in intensive food gathering and caching behaviors.
Eastern gray and fox squirrels become hyperactive, spending most daylight hours collecting and burying nuts for winter storage. Red squirrels work frantically to build up their cone caches before winter arrives.
Winter dramatically changes the squirrel landscape. Ground squirrels and prairie dogs disappear entirely into hibernation, leaving only tree squirrels active.
Flying squirrels become more detectable during winter months when their tracks in snow reveal their presence and gliding patterns become visible against bare tree branches.
For photographers and wildlife observers, understanding these patterns allows for strategic planning. Early morning visits to prairie dog towns during summer, late afternoon watches in oak groves during fall, and patient evening vigils near mature forests can yield remarkable encounters with Nebraska’s diverse squirrel community.
Additional wildlife viewing opportunities include observing hummingbirds and other Nebraska wildlife throughout the year.
Conclusion
Nebraska’s seven squirrel species represent a fascinating cross-section of mammalian adaptation and survival strategies.
From the acrobatic eastern gray squirrel navigating urban environments to the highly social prairie dogs creating complex underground cities, each species has carved out its unique ecological niche within the state’s diverse landscapes.
By learning to identify these remarkable rodents, you gain insight into Nebraska’s natural heritage and the intricate relationships between wildlife and habitat.
Whether you encounter the secretive southern flying squirrel gliding through moonlit forests or observe thirteen-lined ground squirrels standing sentinel in prairie grasslands, each sighting connects you to the broader story of wildlife conservation and environmental stewardship.
As Nebraska continues to evolve, understanding and protecting these squirrel populations ensures that future generations will enjoy the same opportunities to witness these captivating creatures in their natural habitats.
The next time you step outside, take a moment to observe the squirrels around you with fresh eyes. Notice their behaviors, habitats, and physical characteristics.
You might discover that your backyard hosts multiple species or that a nearby park provides habitat for Nebraska’s more elusive squirrel residents.
These observations contribute to citizen science efforts and help build a more complete picture of wildlife distribution across the Cornhusker State, supporting conservation efforts for these remarkable rodent species and their diverse ecosystems.
