You’re enjoying your morning coffee when movement catches your eye—a bushy-tailed visitor scurries across your fence. But which squirrel species just crossed your path? Dallas hosts five distinct squirrel species, each with unique characteristics that make identification easier than you might think.
Whether you’re curious about the acrobatic climber in your oak tree or the occasional nighttime visitor, understanding these local wildlife neighbors helps you appreciate the diverse urban ecosystem thriving right in your backyard.
Eastern Gray Squirrel
The Eastern gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) reigns as Dallas’s most common squirrel species, thriving in neighborhoods with mature trees throughout the metro area.
You’ll recognize these medium-sized tree squirrels by their predominantly gray fur with white undersides and that signature bushy tail that seems almost as large as their body.
Pro Tip: Eastern gray squirrels sometimes display brown or reddish tones in their fur, especially during summer months. Don’t let color variations fool you—look for the white belly and gray-dominant coloring to confirm the species.
These adaptable rodents have mastered urban living, building leaf nests called dreys high in tree branches or occupying cavities in older trees.
Their diet consists primarily of acorns, pecans, and other nuts native to North Texas, though they’ve learned to exploit bird feeders with remarkable ingenuity. Eastern grays remain active year-round, and you’ll often spot them during daylight hours as they forage, chase rivals, or bury food caches for winter.
Gray squirrels communicate through a combination of tail flicks, chattering sounds, and alarm calls that warn other squirrels of potential threats.
During mating season in late winter and mid-summer, you might witness dramatic chases through the treetops as males pursue females. Female Eastern grays typically raise two litters per year, with each litter containing 2-4 young that remain dependent on their mother for about 10-12 weeks.
Key Insight: Eastern gray squirrels have excellent spatial memory, allowing them to relocate up to 80% of their buried nut caches months after hiding them—a trait that accidentally supports forest regeneration as forgotten nuts sprout into trees.
Fox Squirrel
Fox squirrels (Sciurus niger) claim the title of Dallas’s largest tree squirrel species, weighing nearly twice as much as their gray cousins and sporting a more robust build. You’ll find these impressive squirrels throughout Dallas parks and residential areas with established trees, particularly where oak and pecan trees provide abundant food sources.
The fox squirrel’s appearance varies more than any other Dallas squirrel, with color phases ranging from rusty orange to gray-brown with distinctive orange-tinged undersides and facial markings.
Their larger size becomes immediately apparent when you compare them side-by-side with Eastern grays—fox squirrels can measure up to 29 inches from nose to tail tip. These squirrels prefer spending more time on the ground than Eastern grays, moving with a distinctive loping gait as they search for food.
Identification Features:
- Significantly larger body size (1.5-3 pounds)
- Orange, rust, or buff-colored belly and face markings
- Longer, more prominent ears with noticeable tufts
- Slower, more deliberate movements compared to gray squirrels
Fox squirrels demonstrate a preference for open woodlands and parks with scattered trees rather than dense forests. Their foraging behavior includes extensive ground time where they dig for buried nuts, consume mushrooms, and occasionally feed on bird eggs or insects to supplement their primarily vegetarian diet. These squirrels build larger nests than gray squirrels and often select prime locations in tree forks 25-50 feet above ground.
Common Mistake: Many Dallas residents misidentify fox squirrels as “red squirrels.” True red squirrels don’t inhabit Texas—what you’re seeing is the fox squirrel’s naturally orange-toned coloring.
Social dynamics among fox squirrels differ from Eastern grays, as foxes maintain larger territories and display less tolerance for crowding. You’ll typically see fox squirrels alone or in pairs rather than the loose groups gray squirrels sometimes form.
Their slower, more cautious nature makes them seem less bold around humans, though they adapt well to urban environments when provided adequate space and food resources.
Southern Flying Squirrel
The Southern flying squirrel (Glaucomys volans) brings a touch of nighttime magic to Dallas neighborhoods, though most residents never realize these remarkable gliders share their space.
These small, nocturnal squirrels possess a unique adaptation—a furry membrane called a patagium that stretches between their front and back legs, enabling them to glide up to 150 feet between trees.
Unlike their daytime cousins, flying squirrels emerge after sunset to forage, making them the only nocturnal squirrel species in Dallas. Their huge, dark eyes adapted for low-light vision give them an almost cartoon-like appearance.
Silky gray-brown fur covers their back while their underside shows creamy white coloring. At just 2-3 ounces, these petite squirrels measure only 8-10 inches including their flattened tail, which serves as a rudder during glides.
Where to Find Them:
- Mature oak-hickory woodlands with older trees containing natural cavities
- Wooded residential areas near Bachman Lake, White Rock Lake, or Cedar Ridge Preserve
- Parks with dead trees (snags) that provide nesting cavities
- Areas with dense canopy cover allowing tree-to-tree gliding
You might detect flying squirrels through indirect signs even if you never see them. Listen for soft chirping sounds, high-pitched trills, or rustling in attic spaces where they sometimes nest.
Bird enthusiasts occasionally spot them at feeders after dark, where they consume sunflower seeds and suet. These social creatures often nest communally during winter, with groups of 4-8 individuals sharing a single cavity for warmth.
Flying squirrels’ diet expands beyond typical squirrel fare to include insects, bird eggs, fungi, and tree sap. They play a crucial ecological role by dispersing fungal spores throughout the forest—many of these fungi form beneficial relationships with tree roots. Despite their aerial abilities, flying squirrels don’t truly fly but rather control their descent through precise body positioning and tail movements.
Important Note: If you hear scratching sounds in your attic at night, it’s more likely flying squirrels than rats. Their lightweight build and soft movements create gentler sounds than their rodent cousins.
Thirteen-Lined Ground Squirrel
The thirteen-lined ground squirrel (Ictidomys tridecemlineatus) breaks the mold of typical Dallas squirrels by living on the ground rather than in trees.
These distinctive prairie dwellers earn their name from the striking pattern of thirteen alternating stripes—seven dark and six light—running along their back and sides, with the dark stripes decorated by light spots.
You’ll find these ground squirrels in open, grassy areas throughout the Dallas region, particularly in prairies, fields, golf courses, and large parks with maintained lawns.
Unlike tree squirrels, they dig extensive burrow systems with multiple entrances, where they spend nights and escape from predators. These burrows can extend 15-20 feet underground and include separate chambers for nesting, food storage, and waste.
Behavioral Patterns:
- Most active during midday hours when temperatures warm the ground
- Stand upright on hind legs to survey surroundings for threats
- Hibernate from October through March in underground burrows
- Produce high-pitched whistles as alarm calls
- Rarely venture far from burrow entrances (usually within 100 yards)
Thirteen-lined ground squirrels demonstrate a dietary flexibility that helps them thrive in Dallas’s variable climate. During spring and summer, they consume primarily insects including grasshoppers, beetles, and caterpillars, supplemented with seeds, grains, and occasionally bird eggs. This insect-heavy diet makes them beneficial for controlling pest populations in open grasslands and agricultural areas.
Their survival strategy differs dramatically from tree squirrels—rather than remaining active year-round, thirteen-lined ground squirrels enter true hibernation when temperatures drop.
They spend up to six months underground in a state of reduced metabolism, living off fat reserves accumulated during warmer months. Juveniles born in late spring must rapidly gain weight before their first winter or risk not surviving hibernation.
Pro Tip: Look for small mounds of excavated soil near burrow entrances, typically 2-3 inches in diameter. Fresh digging indicates active burrows, while unused entrances become overgrown with grass and vegetation.
Spotted Ground Squirrel
The spotted ground squirrel (Xerospermophilus spilosoma) represents Dallas’s most elusive squirrel species, preferring sparse, sandy environments that exist primarily in western portions of the metroplex.
These small, terrestrial squirrels display a subtle beauty with grayish-brown fur covered in small white spots arranged in rows, creating a speckled appearance quite different from the thirteen-lined ground squirrel’s bold stripes.
Measuring just 7-10 inches including their relatively short tail, spotted ground squirrels inhabit areas with loose, sandy soil that facilitates burrow construction. You’re most likely to encounter them in undeveloped areas, vacant lots with sandy soil, or the western edges of Dallas County where urban development transitions to rural landscapes.
Their preference for arid conditions and minimal vegetation makes them less common in established neighborhoods compared to other Dallas squirrel species.
| Comparison | Spotted Ground Squirrel | Thirteen-Lined Ground Squirrel |
|---|---|---|
| Size | 7-10 inches, 3-5 ounces | 9-12 inches, 5-9 ounces |
| Pattern | Small white spots on brown-gray fur | Alternating stripes with spots |
| Habitat | Sandy, arid areas with sparse vegetation | Open grasslands, prairies, manicured lawns |
| Activity | Active during cooler morning/evening hours | Most active during midday |
| Hibernation | Light hibernation or dormancy periods | True hibernation 5-6 months |
Spotted ground squirrels have adapted to Dallas’s heat through behavioral modifications—they’re most active during early morning and late afternoon hours, retreating to their burrows during the hottest parts of summer days.
When temperatures become extreme, they may enter short periods of dormancy called estivation, reducing their metabolic rate to conserve energy and water.
Their diet consists primarily of seeds, mesquite beans, prickly pear fruits, and various grasses adapted to dry conditions. Unlike the thirteen-lined ground squirrel’s insect-heavy diet, spotted ground squirrels consume relatively few insects, preferring vegetation that thrives in their preferred habitat.
They’ve developed efficient kidneys that concentrate urine, allowing them to survive with minimal water intake—a crucial adaptation for their drought-prone environment.
Key Insight: Spotted ground squirrels produce quieter vocalizations than most squirrel species, relying more on visual signals and rapid escape to burrows rather than alarm calls to avoid predators.
Social behavior remains relatively solitary, with individual squirrels maintaining separate burrow systems except during the brief breeding season in early spring. Females typically produce one litter annually, containing 4-7 young that mature quickly to maximize their survival chances before the challenging summer heat arrives.
These squirrels face declining populations in urban areas as development eliminates their preferred sandy, sparse habitats in favor of landscaped environments that support tree and ground squirrels adapted to more structured settings.
Living Alongside Dallas Squirrels
Understanding the five squirrel species sharing your Dallas neighborhood enriches your connection to local wildlife and helps you appreciate the ecological diversity thriving in North Texas.
Each species plays a distinct role in the urban ecosystem—tree squirrels plant future forests through forgotten seed caches, flying squirrels distribute beneficial fungi, and ground squirrels aerate soil while controlling insect populations.
When you spot a squirrel in your yard, take a moment to observe its size, coloring, habitat preference, and behavior. Is it foraging in trees or on the ground? Does it show the classic gray coloring with white belly, or perhaps orange-tinted markings of a fox squirrel? These identification details transform a casual sighting into an opportunity to recognize the remarkable biodiversity existing right in your backyard.
