Northern Arizona’s diverse landscapes shelter an incredible variety of squirrel species that you’ve probably seen scampering through ponderosa pines or darting across rocky outcrops.
From the iconic tassel-eared Abert’s squirrel to the tiny Hopi chipmunk, each species has adapted uniquely to the region’s elevation changes and habitat types.
Whether you’re hiking the San Francisco Peaks, exploring canyon country, or simply watching your backyard, this guide will help you identify all 10 squirrel species that call northern Arizona home and understand their fascinating behaviors in the high desert ecosystem.
1. Abert’s Squirrel
The Abert’s squirrel (Sciurus aberti) stands out as northern Arizona’s most recognizable tree squirrel, thanks to its distinctive tufted ears that resemble tiny tassels. You’ll spot these medium-sized squirrels primarily in ponderosa pine forests, where they’ve formed an remarkable relationship with their favorite tree species.
Pro Tip: Look for Abert’s squirrels during early morning hours when they’re most active in the pine canopy, especially around Flagstaff’s surrounding forests.
These squirrels display gray coloration with pale underparts and a rufous patch on their lower back, making them relatively easy to identify once you know what to look for. Their bushy tails and those characteristic ear tufts set them apart from other Arizona squirrel species.
What makes Abert’s squirrels truly fascinating is their extraordinary dependence on ponderosa pines for survival. During warm months, a single squirrel can consume seeds from up to 75 pine cones daily.
When winter arrives, they switch to eating the inner bark and twigs of ponderosa pines, averaging about 45 twigs per day. This consistent year-round food source means Abert’s squirrels rarely need to store food for winter, which is unusual behavior among squirrel species.
You’ll find these squirrels throughout northern Arizona’s ponderosa pine belt, particularly in areas with mature, all-aged pine stands. They build large, messy twig nests that resemble oversized bird nests on pine branches.
Their breeding season occurs once yearly, typically correlating with the production of ponderosa pine flowers in late April through early June.
2. Arizona Gray Squirrel
The Arizona gray squirrel (Sciurus arizonensis) represents one of the region’s more elusive tree squirrel species, inhabiting riparian corridors and deciduous forests at mid-elevations. These squirrels live primarily in eastern Arizona’s canyons and valleys, where broadleaf trees provide their preferred habitat.
You can distinguish Arizona gray squirrels from their relatives by their consistent gray coloring with orangish-brown patches on the face and back, white belly, and notably smaller ears without tufts.
They also feature a distinctive red or black stripe on the underside of their tail. Despite their name and appearance, they’re actually more closely related to fox squirrels than to eastern gray squirrels.
Important Note: Arizona gray squirrels face population decline due to habitat loss and competition from introduced Abert’s squirrels in some areas, making sightings increasingly special.
These squirrels favor riparian habitats along rivers and streams where sycamores, walnuts, and oaks grow. Their diet consists mainly of pine cones, acorns, and other nuts, supplemented by seeds and berries.
Interestingly, their breeding activity correlates with flower blooming periods, as flowers provide the high-energy nutrition needed for the energetically expensive mating season.
Look for Arizona gray squirrels holding their tails up like banners as they move through the treetops. They’re shy by nature and don’t typically approach human areas, making encounters in their natural habitat particularly rewarding for wildlife observers.
3. Rock Squirrel
The rock squirrel (Otospermophilus variegatus) earns its title as the largest ground squirrel in the region, growing nearly a foot in length with an equally long bushy tail. Despite being classified as a ground squirrel, these adaptable rodents are surprisingly skilled climbers.
These squirrels display speckled grayish-brown fur that looks almost marbled, helping them blend into rocky environments. Their coloring features flecks of white, black, and brown throughout their coat, with hindquarters that can show golden tones depending on the season. This mottled pattern distinguishes them from tree squirrels at first glance.
Rock squirrels inhabit rocky outcrops, boulder piles, and canyon walls throughout northern Arizona, even at high elevations in the mountains.
They’ve proven remarkably adaptable, making homes in suburban lots, under tree roots, and various other locations. You’ll find them most commonly in areas with rocky features, though they avoid the driest southwestern desert regions.
What makes rock squirrels particularly interesting is their omnivorous diet and defensive behavior. They’re true opportunists, feeding on seeds, mesquite beans, insects, eggs, birds, carrion, and cactus fruit. Some even hunt and kill small reptiles and birds.
When encountering snakes, rock squirrels display fascinating mobbing behavior—stamping their feet, waving their tail side to side, and attempting to flick sand in the snake’s face. Research shows they can distinguish between venomous and non-venomous snakes, adjusting their defense tactics accordingly.
These squirrels dig complex burrow systems with entrances typically hidden beneath rocks, often greater than three inches wide.
In northern Arizona, they hibernate during colder months, though southern populations may remain active year-round. They’re most active during early mornings and late afternoons when temperatures are moderate.
4. Red Squirrel
The red squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus), also known locally as the chicaree or piney squirrel, inhabits northern Arizona’s highest elevation forests. You’ll find these small, energetic squirrels in spruce and fir forests above 8,500 feet elevation, where they’re perfectly adapted to cooler mountain conditions.
| Feature | Red Squirrel | Abert’s Squirrel |
|---|---|---|
| Size | Much smaller | Medium-large |
| Coloring | Reddish with white belly | Gray with rufous patch |
| Ear tufts | None | Prominent tassels |
| Habitat | High elevation spruce/fir | Ponderosa pine forests |
| Elevation | Above 8,500 feet | Mid to high elevations |
Despite their name, Arizona’s red squirrels appear more olive or gray than the vibrant red of their northern relatives, though they still maintain the characteristic reddish tones and white belly that make identification straightforward. They’re considerably smaller than both gray and fox squirrels but noticeably larger than chipmunks.
These squirrels primarily consume seeds from evergreen trees in their coniferous forest homes. However, they’re adaptable feeders, adjusting their diet to include berries, bird eggs, acorns, hazelnuts, mushrooms, and even mice when available. Red squirrels have a notable sweet tooth, sometimes tapping maple trees to access the sugary sap.
Common Mistake: Don’t confuse red squirrels with chipmunks—red squirrels are larger, lack facial stripes, and have much bushier tails.
Red squirrels face significant first-year mortality, with only about 20% of babies surviving. For those that make it past their first year, average lifespan remains around 2.3 years, though some individuals can live up to 8 years. Predators include bobcats, coyotes, hawks, owls, foxes, and American martens.
5. Round-tailed Ground Squirrel
The round-tailed ground squirrel (Xerospermophilus tereticaudus) resembles a miniature prairie dog in appearance and social behavior, making it easy to spot once you know what to look for. These small, social rodents weigh only 6 to 7 ounces and display light beige to gray coloring with a long, black-tipped tail.
You’ll encounter round-tailed ground squirrels in open areas such as grasslands, shrublands, and alluvial fans throughout northern Arizona’s lower elevations. They prefer habitats with a mix of grasses and shrubs, minimal trees, and deeper soils where they can excavate their impressive three-foot-deep burrow systems.
These champion diggers create extensive tunnel networks with multiple entrances, displaying remarkable engineering skills for such small animals.
The burrows provide protection from predators, temperature regulation, and safe spaces for raising young. You’ll often see them standing upright near burrow entrances, surveying their surroundings for threats.
Key Insight: Unlike most ground squirrels, round-tailed ground squirrels don’t hibernate but may enter torpor during winter’s coldest periods, remaining active during mild weather.
Their diet consists primarily of green vegetation chosen for high water content, including new spring wildflowers, cactus flowers and fruit, mesquite leaves, and grasses. Insects make up roughly 5% of their diet. This focus on succulent plants helps them survive in water-scarce desert environments.
Round-tailed ground squirrels are semi-social animals living in small colonies with a matrilineal social structure. They breed in early spring, with pups typically born in March or April.
Young squirrels usually emerge with their mother by May. When threatened by snakes, they display distinctive tail-wagging behavior to deter predators, demonstrating their anti-snake defense strategies.
6. Harris’s Antelope Squirrel
Harris’s antelope squirrel (Ammospermophilus harrisii) often gets mistaken for a chipmunk due to its small size and striped appearance, but several key features set it apart.
This desert-adapted ground squirrel sports a single white stripe along each side of its body, while chipmunks display facial stripes that Harris’s antelope squirrels lack.
These small squirrels have white underbellies and bushy black tails that they often carry arched over their backs. The tail serves multiple purposes, including providing shade during hot days when the squirrel uses it like a parasol. This behavioral adaptation helps them remain active even when temperatures soar.
Harris’s antelope squirrels prefer the rockier habitats found throughout northern Arizona’s desert regions. You’ll spot them scampering across boulder-strewn hillsides, rocky outcrops, and canyon areas where they can access both shelter and food sources. They dig burrows approximately three feet deep where soil conditions allow.
Unlike many ground squirrels, Harris’s antelope squirrels remain active year-round, never entering hibernation. This continuous activity pattern makes them reliable subjects for wildlife observation throughout all seasons. They’re most active during daylight hours, helping them avoid nocturnal predators.
Their diet focuses on high-energy desert foods, including fruits from cholla, prickly pear, and barrel cacti, along with seeds, mesquite beans, and insects.
Remarkably, they’ll climb barrel cacti despite the formidable spines to reach the nutritious fruit. Occasionally, they prey on mice, showcasing their opportunistic feeding behavior.
You’ll often see Harris’s antelope squirrels running around desert areas, sniffing out buried seeds and digging them up. Many shallow divots in the dirt indicate their foraging activity. They feed less on green vegetation compared to other ground squirrels, instead targeting higher-calorie food sources that provide both nutrition and hydration.
7. White-tailed Antelope Squirrel
The white-tailed antelope squirrel (Ammospermophilus leucurus) thrives in northern Arizona’s semi-arid shrublands and desert grasslands, displaying remarkable adaptations for harsh environments. These small, diurnal ground squirrels maintain active lifestyles during daylight hours, which helps them avoid many nocturnal predators that would otherwise threaten them.
These squirrels feature similar body structures to Harris’s antelope squirrels but can be distinguished by subtle differences in their stripe patterns and tail markings. They inhabit slightly different ecological niches, preferring semi-arid shrublands over the rockier terrain favored by their Harris’s relatives.
Pro Tip: Look for white-tailed antelope squirrels in areas with mixed desert grasses and shrubs, where they forage actively during morning and evening hours.
White-tailed antelope squirrels are omnivores with diverse dietary preferences. They primarily consume seeds but readily supplement their diet with arthropods and small vertebrates such as lizards and rodents when opportunities arise. This dietary flexibility allows them to adapt to seasonal availability of different food sources, contributing to their stable populations throughout their range.
You’ll find these squirrels using burrows for safety and temperature regulation, retreating underground during the hottest parts of the day. Their daytime activity pattern and varied diet make them well-suited to northern Arizona’s desert grassland environments, where they play important roles in seed dispersal and soil aeration through their burrowing activities.
Their populations remain stable across their range, with no major conservation concerns currently identified. The species benefits from broad habitat adaptability and opportunistic feeding strategies that help them thrive even as environmental conditions fluctuate seasonally.
8. Gunnison’s Prairie Dog
Gunnison’s prairie dog (Cynomys gunnisoni) represents one of northern Arizona’s most social ground squirrels, living in complex colonial structures called towns. These chunky, robust rodents are larger than typical ground squirrels but smaller than their black-tailed prairie dog cousins.
You can identify Gunnison’s prairie dogs by their characteristic upright posture, short legs, and relatively short tails compared to tree squirrels. They display tan to brown coloring that helps them blend into grassland environments. Their most distinctive behavior is standing upright on their hind legs with paws curled across their chest, appearing as if they’re surveying their domain.
These prairie dogs inhabit open grasslands, prairies, and parks throughout northern Arizona’s higher elevation areas. You’ll often spot them in ball fields, golf courses, and open spaces where grass grows abundantly.
Some northern Arizona communities, including areas near Flagstaff, host established prairie dog colonies that provide excellent observation opportunities.
Prairie dogs are true omnivores with varied diets that include grasses, seeds, insects, eggs, and occasionally small mammals. They forage during daylight hours, always maintaining vigilance for predators. Their complex burrow systems feature multiple entrances, interconnected tunnels, and specialized chambers for sleeping, food storage, and waste.
Key Insight: Prairie dog colonies create valuable ecosystem benefits—their burrowing aerates soil, increases water infiltration, and provides homes for other wildlife species.
The social structure of prairie dog colonies is remarkably complex, with family groups called coteries sharing territories within larger towns. They communicate through various vocalizations, including their distinctive bark-like calls that warn others of approaching predators. Different calls indicate different types of threats, showing sophisticated communication abilities.
Gunnison’s prairie dogs typically breed once yearly in spring, with pups emerging from burrows by late spring or early summer. They’re active from spring through fall but hibernate during northern Arizona’s coldest winter months, relying on stored body fat to survive until warmer weather returns.
9. Hopi Chipmunk
The Hopi chipmunk (Neotamias rufus) brightens northern Arizona’s rocky landscapes with its distinctive coloring and energetic behavior. This small member of the squirrel family displays the classic chipmunk appearance—bold stripes, compact size, and perpetual motion.
Hopi chipmunks feature reddish-brown coloring with alternating light and dark stripes running down their backs and faces. The facial stripes help distinguish chipmunks from antelope squirrels, which only have body stripes.
Their small size, typically measuring 7-9 inches including the tail, makes them significantly smaller than tree squirrels and most ground squirrels.
These chipmunks prefer rocky habitats at higher elevations in northern Arizona, particularly areas with pinyon-juniper woodlands, ponderosa pine forests, and exposed rock formations. You’ll find them scampering across boulders, darting into rock crevices, and climbing shrubs and small trees with remarkable agility.
| Behavior | Description |
|---|---|
| Foraging | Fills cheek pouches with seeds, nuts, and berries for transport to burrows |
| Communication | Uses sharp chip calls to signal alarm or maintain territory |
| Nesting | Creates underground burrow systems with multiple chambers |
| Activity | Most active during morning and late afternoon hours |
| Hibernation | Enters torpor during coldest months, waking periodically to eat stored food |
Hopi chipmunks are omnivorous, consuming seeds, nuts, berries, insects, and occasionally small amounts of vegetation. They’re famous for their cheek pouches, which they fill with food for transport back to their underground storage chambers. Watching a chipmunk stuff its cheeks provides entertaining wildlife viewing.
These chipmunks dig burrow systems beneath rocks and logs, creating cozy homes with separate chambers for sleeping, food storage, and waste. Unlike some ground squirrels that hibernate deeply, chipmunks enter lighter torpor states, waking periodically throughout winter to feed on stored provisions.
Common Mistake: Don’t assume all small striped rodents are chipmunks—Harris’s antelope squirrels lack facial stripes and inhabit lower, hotter desert areas where chipmunks don’t venture.
During breeding season in spring, you might observe chipmunks engaging in spirited chases through their rocky territories. Females typically produce one litter per year, with young chipmunks emerging from burrows in early summer to begin learning survival skills.
10. Cliff Chipmunk
The cliff chipmunk (Neotamias dorsalis) lives up to its name by favoring steep, rocky cliff faces and canyon walls throughout northern Arizona. This species represents another of the region’s charismatic small squirrels, bringing life and movement to seemingly barren rock faces.
Cliff chipmunks display gray to brownish-gray coloring with less distinct striping compared to other chipmunk species. Their stripes appear more subdued, with a prominent dark stripe running down the center of the back bordered by lighter stripes. This subtler pattern helps them blend into the shadowy rock crevices they call home.
You’ll encounter cliff chipmunks in canyon country, rocky cliffs, and boulder-strewn slopes where they navigate vertical terrain with impressive skill.
They’re particularly common around Grand Canyon’s South Rim, where they’ve become somewhat accustomed to human presence. These chipmunks can often be spotted near parking areas and overlooks in northern Arizona’s scenic areas.
Cliff chipmunks share similar dietary preferences with their Hopi relatives, consuming seeds, nuts, berries, pinyon pine nuts, juniper berries, and insects. They’re opportunistic feeders, adjusting their diet based on seasonal availability. Like all chipmunks, they use their expandable cheek pouches to transport food efficiently.
These chipmunks create homes in rock crevices and among boulder piles, taking advantage of natural shelter rather than digging extensive burrows.
The rocky habitat provides excellent protection from predators and temperature extremes. You’ll often see them sunning themselves on rocks during cooler morning hours before retreating to shade as temperatures rise.
Pro Tip: Visit Grand Canyon’s South Rim early morning or late afternoon for best cliff chipmunk viewing opportunities when they’re most active and temperatures are moderate.
Cliff chipmunks remain active from spring through fall, then enter hibernation or torpor during winter months. They’re less social than prairie dogs but more tolerant of other chipmunks than many ground squirrel species. Their sharp, high-pitched calls alert others to potential threats, though they’re generally less vocal than prairie dogs.
Their ability to thrive on vertical cliff faces showcases remarkable adaptations. Strong claws, excellent balance, and fearless climbing abilities allow them to access food sources and escape routes unavailable to larger predators, contributing to their success in northern Arizona’s rugged canyon environments.
Northern Arizona’s ten squirrel species each fill unique ecological niches across the region’s diverse elevations and habitats. From the Abert’s squirrel’s intimate relationship with ponderosa pines to the cliff chipmunk’s vertical lifestyle, these adaptable rodents demonstrate remarkable specialization.
Whether you’re exploring high-elevation spruce forests, ponderosa pine woodlands, riparian corridors, or rocky desert landscapes, you now have the knowledge to identify each species you encounter.
Take time to observe their behaviors, note their preferred habitats, and appreciate how each squirrel species contributes to northern Arizona’s rich wildlife tapestry. Your next hike offers the perfect opportunity to put this field guide to practical use.
