Houston’s mild climate and abundant green spaces create the perfect home for several squirrel species. Whether you’re watching them dart across power lines in the Heights or spotting them in Memorial Park, these energetic rodents are constant companions in our city.
You’ll encounter five distinct species throughout the Houston area, each with unique characteristics and behaviors that make them fascinating to observe.
Understanding which squirrels share your neighborhood helps you appreciate the surprising diversity of wildlife thriving right outside your door.
Squirrels in Houston
Eastern Gray Squirrel
The eastern gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) reigns as Houston’s most common squirrel species. You’ll recognize these medium-sized acrobats by their sleek gray fur and distinctive white underbellies that flash as they leap between branches. Their bushy tails, which can measure up to nine inches long, serve as excellent balance tools during their impressive aerial maneuvers.
These daytime-active squirrels stay busy throughout Houston’s parks, residential areas, and wooded neighborhoods. They’re most visible during daylight hours when they forage for food and build nests.
Eastern gray squirrels demonstrate remarkable adaptability to urban environments, making themselves at home in both Memorial Park’s forest canopy and your backyard oak trees.
Pro Tip: Eastern gray squirrels can jump up to 8 feet horizontally, so don’t underestimate their ability to reach bird feeders you thought were safely positioned.
You’ll find their spherical leaf nests, called dreys, high in tree branches during winter months. These squirrels breed twice yearly, typically from January through April and again from August through October, with litters averaging two to three babies.
Their constant gnawing behavior helps control their continuously growing front teeth, though this habit can become problematic when they target your home’s wood trim or electrical wiring.
Watch for these squirrels gathering and burying nuts throughout fall and winter. Their forgetful nature actually benefits Houston’s urban forest, as many buried acorns and pecans sprout into new trees when the squirrels forget their hiding spots.
Fox Squirrel
The fox squirrel (Sciurus niger) stands out as North America’s largest tree squirrel species, with some individuals reaching over 15 inches in body length. Their distinctive reddish-brown and gray fur combination earned them their fox-inspired name, making them easy to distinguish from their gray cousins.
These larger squirrels prefer early morning and late afternoon activity periods, so your best viewing opportunities come during your morning coffee or evening walks.
Fox squirrels move more deliberately than eastern gray squirrels, spending considerable time on the ground foraging for acorns, pecans, and other nuts that Houston’s trees provide abundantly.
Their habitat preferences lean toward open woodlands and neighborhoods with mature trees. You’ll frequently spot fox squirrels in areas like Rice University’s campus, Hermann Park, and established residential neighborhoods throughout Houston.
They demonstrate less skittishness around humans than some other species, occasionally allowing closer observation before retreating to safety.
Key Insight: Fox squirrels rely heavily on Houston’s native pecan and oak trees for survival, making neighborhoods with mature hardwoods their preferred territories.
During fall, both fox squirrels and eastern gray squirrels increase their activity levels as they fatten up and stockpile food for winter months.
While Houston’s mild winters don’t require true hibernation, these squirrels still prepare by gathering thousands of nuts annually. Watch for their distinctive reddish tails moving through your yard’s leaf litter as they search for buried treasure or fresh food sources.
Southern Flying Squirrel
The southern flying squirrel (Glaucomys volans) brings nocturnal mystery to Houston’s wildlife scene. Unlike Houston’s other squirrel species, flying squirrels are strictly nocturnal, with most activity occurring after midnight.
This means you’re unlikely to spot them during daytime hours, though you might hear their nighttime activities if they’ve moved into your attic.
These remarkable creatures don’t actually fly but glide through the air using a specialized membrane called a patagium that stretches between their wrists and ankles.
Flying squirrels can glide distances of 150 to 500 feet, controlling their direction by adjusting their limbs and using their flat tails as brakes. Their acrobatic abilities include making 180-degree turns mid-air to avoid predators like owls and hawks.
| Feature | Eastern Gray Squirrel | Fox Squirrel | Southern Flying Squirrel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size | 9-12 inches | 10-15 inches | 8-10 inches |
| Color | Gray with white belly | Reddish-brown and gray | Gray-brown with cream belly |
| Activity | Daytime | Early morning/late afternoon | Nighttime |
| Special Trait | Most common | Largest species | Can glide 150-500 feet |
Flying squirrels favor neighborhoods with very tall trees, appearing most frequently in areas like Tomball, Kingwood, and Oak Forest.
They’re attracted to properties with bird feeders and bird baths, which provide easy food and water sources. Their tree-cutting-resistant gliding ability means keeping branches trimmed back from your roof won’t necessarily prevent their access.
Important Note: Flying squirrels can carry Leptospirosis, a disease transmissible to humans through contact with their urine. If you suspect flying squirrels in your attic, contact professional wildlife removal services rather than attempting to handle them yourself.
If flying squirrels move into your home, you’ll likely notice scratching or rattling sounds after midnight as they enter and exit through loose soffits or attic vents. Their lifespan in the wild averages about six years, similar to other Houston squirrel species.
Thirteen-Lined Ground Squirrel
The thirteen-lined ground squirrel (Ictidomys tridecemlineatus) represents a dramatic departure from Houston’s tree-dwelling species. These terrestrial squirrels live in underground burrow systems rather than tree nests, preferring open grasslands, prairies, and maintained areas like golf courses, parks, and large lawn spaces.
You’ll identify thirteen-lined ground squirrels by their distinctive striped pattern featuring alternating light and dark stripes running lengthwise down their backs.
These stripes are punctuated with light-colored spots, creating a unique appearance that’s unmistakable once you’ve seen it. Their smaller, more compact bodies suit their ground-dwelling lifestyle, measuring 7 to 12 inches in total length.
Unlike Houston’s tree squirrels that remain active year-round thanks to our mild climate, thirteen-lined ground squirrels exhibit true hibernation behavior during colder months. They spend considerable time in their underground burrows, emerging primarily during warm weather to forage for seeds, insects, and vegetation.
Common Mistake: Don’t confuse ground squirrels with prairie dogs. Ground squirrels are smaller, have proportionally longer tails, and their burrow entrances lack the distinctive mounds that prairie dogs create.
These squirrels prefer habitats with short grass and good visibility, allowing them to spot potential predators. You might encounter them in Houston’s:
- Golf courses and sports fields
- City parks with maintained grasslands
- Airport grounds and large commercial properties
- Rural areas on the city’s outskirts
- Cemetery grounds with open spaces
Their diet differs significantly from tree squirrels, incorporating more insects, green vegetation, and seeds found at ground level. Watch for their characteristic upright posture as they stand on their hind legs to survey their surroundings for threats.
Spotted Ground Squirrel
The spotted ground squirrel (Xerospermophilus spilosoma) rounds out Houston’s squirrel diversity as another terrestrial species. These small, pale-colored squirrels prefer the drier, more open habitats found in Houston’s western and northwestern areas, particularly where urban development meets rural landscapes.
Spotted ground squirrels earn their name from the small, faint spots scattered across their grayish-brown backs. They’re generally lighter in color than thirteen-lined ground squirrels, with less pronounced patterning. Their overall appearance helps them blend into the sandy, dry soils they prefer.
These squirrels demonstrate strong preferences for well-drained, sandy or rocky soils where they can easily excavate their burrow systems. You’ll most likely encounter spotted ground squirrels in:
- Undeveloped lots with sparse vegetation
- Railroad rights-of-way and utility corridors
- Pastureland and ranch properties near Houston’s edges
- Areas with short-grass prairies or desert-like conditions
- Disturbed ground around construction sites
Pro Tip: Spotted ground squirrels are most active during morning and late afternoon hours, avoiding Houston’s intense midday heat by retreating to their cooler underground burrows.
Their diet consists primarily of seeds, green vegetation, and occasional insects. During Houston’s hot summer months, spotted ground squirrels reduce their above-ground activity significantly, sometimes entering a summer dormancy state called estivation to conserve energy and water.
Unlike their tree-dwelling relatives that breed twice annually, spotted ground squirrels typically produce just one litter per year. Their breeding season aligns with spring, when food resources become most abundant and weather conditions favor raising young.
Living Alongside Houston’s Squirrels
Houston’s ongoing land development has displaced many native wildlife species, driving squirrels to adapt by seeking shelter in human structures like attics, vents, and chimneys. Understanding this context helps you appreciate both the challenges these animals face and the conflicts that can arise.
Squirrel-Proofing Your Property
- Trim tree branches to maintain at least 6-8 feet of clearance from your roofline
- Install metal mesh over attic vents and chimney openings
- Seal any gaps or holes in your home’s exterior that exceed 1.5 inches
- Secure garbage cans with tight-fitting lids
- Consider removing bird feeders if squirrels become problematic
- Repair damaged siding and roofing promptly to prevent entry points
Squirrels can cause significant property damage by chewing electrical wiring, creating serious fire hazards throughout Houston homes. If you hear scratching, scurrying, or thumping sounds in your attic, don’t ignore these warning signs.
When to Call Professionals
Contact licensed wildlife removal services if you notice:
- Persistent scratching or movement sounds in walls or attics
- Visible entry holes with fresh wood shavings
- Droppings in attic spaces or around your property’s exterior
- Damaged electrical wiring or insulation
- Multiple sightings of squirrels entering or exiting your home
Texas law requires that trapped squirrels be released within 10 miles of the capture site and only with the property owner’s permission. Professional wildlife removal services understand these regulations and employ humane practices that comply with state wildlife laws.
Appreciating Houston’s Squirrel Diversity
Each of Houston’s five squirrel species fills a unique ecological role in our urban ecosystem. Squirrels contribute to forest regeneration by burying thousands of nuts annually, many of which sprout into trees when forgotten.
They also serve as important prey species for hawks, owls, and other predators that help maintain ecological balance.
During fall and winter months, you’ll notice increased squirrel activity as these animals prepare for colder weather by reinforcing nests and stockpiling food. Even in Houston’s mild climate, these seasonal patterns persist, connecting our urban wildlife to ancient behavioral rhythms.
Your Role in Squirrel Conservation
Support healthy squirrel populations by:
- Maintaining native trees that provide natural food sources
- Avoiding pesticides that eliminate insects and seeds squirrels need
- Creating wildlife-friendly landscaping with diverse plant species
- Respecting squirrels’ space and observing from appropriate distances
- Contacting Houston-area wildlife rehabilitation centers if you encounter injured or orphaned squirrels
Houston’s squirrels have adapted remarkably well to life alongside humans, transforming our city into a living laboratory of urban wildlife success.
By learning to identify these five species, you’re taking the first step toward deeper appreciation of the complex wildlife community flourishing in your neighborhood.
Next time you spot a bushy tail disappearing around a tree trunk or notice a squirrel’s acrobatic leap between branches, you’ll know exactly which species you’re watching and what makes it special in Houston’s diverse squirrel family.
