8 Types of Squirrels in New York: Complete Species Identification Guide (2025)

Eastern gray squirrels were actually eradicated from New York City before the 1840s yet today they dominate the state’s parks and backyards.

This remarkable comeback story represents just one chapter in New York’s diverse squirrel ecosystem, which hosts eight distinct species ranging from the ubiquitous Eastern Gray to the secretive Northern Flying Squirrel.

Whether you’re a wildlife enthusiast trying to identify that unusual squirrel in your backyard or a nature lover exploring New York’s forests, this comprehensive guide reveals every species you might encounter across the Empire State.

From the common types of squirrels in New York that raid bird feeders to the rare species that few people ever glimpse, you’ll discover their unique characteristics, habitats, and behaviors.

Eastern Gray Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis)

The Eastern Gray Squirrel reigns as New York’s most recognizable rodent, found in virtually every park, suburban neighborhood, and wooded area across the state. Despite their name, they display a remarkable variety of colors including gray, brown, black, and cinnamon fur, with their bushy tails growing nearly as long as their bodies.

Key Identification Features:

• Body length: 9-12 inches
• Weight: Up to 2 pounds at maturity
• Color variations: Gray, brown, black, cinnamon, or mixed combinations
• Distinctive bushy tail with white-tipped hairs
• Active during daylight hours

Habitat and Behavior: These adaptable squirrels play a major role in New York’s urban ecosystem, helping to nourish trees while greeting park visitors. They excel at urban living, building nests in tree cavities or constructing leafy dreys in branch forks. Their diet consists primarily of nuts, seeds, fruits, and occasional bird eggs.

Wildlife Tip: The black squirrels commonly seen in NYC parks are actually Eastern Gray Squirrels with melanism, a genetic condition causing increased dark pigmentation.

Geographic Distribution: Eastern Gray Squirrels inhabit all regions of New York State, from Manhattan’s Central Park to the Adirondack Mountains. They thrive in deciduous and mixed forests but have adapted exceptionally well to urban environments.

Eastern Fox Squirrel (Sciurus niger)

The Eastern Fox Squirrel represents New York’s largest tree squirrel species, though their presence remains limited to specific regions within the state. These impressive rodents can weigh up to three pounds and display distinctive rusty-orange coloration mixed with gray and brown tones.

Distinguishing Characteristics:

• Largest tree squirrel in New York (up to 3 pounds)
• Rusty-orange to reddish-brown coloration
• Body length: 10-15 inches
• Prominent ear tufts during winter months
• More solitary behavior than Eastern Grays

Habitat Preferences: Fox Squirrels favor open woodlands, parks with scattered large trees, and agricultural areas with tree lines. They prefer oak-hickory forests and areas with abundant nut-producing trees. In New York, they’re most commonly found in the western and central regions of the state.

Behavioral Notes: These squirrels spend more time on the ground than their Eastern Gray cousins, often burying nuts individually rather than caching them in central locations. Their larger size allows them to access food sources that smaller squirrels cannot reach.

American Red Squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus)

The American Red Squirrel brings vibrant energy to New York’s coniferous forests with their distinctive rusty-red coat and territorial behavior. These smaller, more aggressive squirrels defend their territories vigorously, especially around their winter food caches called middens.

Physical Characteristics:

• Body length: 7-9 inches
• Weight: 7-9 ounces
• Bright rusty-red to reddish-brown fur
• White belly with distinct color separation
• Proportionally smaller than gray squirrels
• Prominent ear tufts in winter

Habitat and Range: Red Squirrels prefer coniferous and mixed forests throughout New York’s mountainous regions, particularly the Adirondacks and Catskills. They require territories with abundant cone-producing trees like spruce, fir, and pine.

Unique Behaviors:

• Create large middens (cone storage piles) beneath favorite feeding trees
• Highly territorial and vocal, chattering loudly at intruders
• Active year-round, even in harsh winter conditions
• Harvest green cones before they open, storing them for winter use

Southern Flying Squirrel (Glaucomys volans)

The Southern Flying Squirrel lives a secret nocturnal life in New York’s forests, gliding silently between trees under cover of darkness. While most squirrels strongly prefer daylight activity, flying squirrels favor the darkness of night, making them one of the state’s most mysterious mammals.

Distinctive Features:

• Body length: 8-10 inches including tail
• Silky gray-brown fur with white undersides
• Large dark eyes adapted for night vision
• Patagium (gliding membrane) extending from wrists to ankles
• Flattened tail serves as steering rudder

Gliding Capabilities: Flying squirrels possess a unique patagium membrane stretching from their forearms to hind legs, allowing them to glide substantial distances over open terrain. They can glide up to 150 feet between trees, landing with remarkable precision on target trunks.

Nocturnal Lifestyle: These remarkable creatures emerge after sunset to forage for nuts, seeds, fungi, and insects. Southern Flying Squirrels often visit bird feeders at night, feeding on sunflower seeds and peanuts, though most homeowners never realize their nighttime visitors’ identity.

Nesting Habits:

• Prefer tree cavities in mature hardwood forests
• Build spherical nests lined with soft materials
• May share winter nests with multiple individuals for warmth
• Active throughout winter, though less frequently during severe cold

Northern Flying Squirrel (Glaucomys sabrinus)

The Northern Flying Squirrel represents New York’s most elusive mammal, inhabiting the state’s highest elevation forests where few people venture. These slightly larger cousins of the Southern Flying Squirrel require old-growth forest conditions and specific fungal food sources.

Physical Distinctions: Northern Flying Squirrels display reddish-brown upper body coloration with white belly hairs showing gray bases when parted, distinguishing them from their southern relatives. They measure 10-12 inches in body length and possess proportionally larger gliding membranes.

Specialized Habitat Requirements:

• Old-growth coniferous and mixed forests above 2,000 feet elevation
• Require areas with abundant hypogeous (underground) fungi
• Prefer forests dominated by spruce, fir, and hemlock
• Need standing dead trees (snags) for nesting sites

Ecological Importance: Northern Flying Squirrels serve as crucial dispersers of mycorrhizal fungi spores, helping maintain forest health. Their specialized diet of truffles and other fungi creates a unique ecological niche that supports forest ecosystem balance.

Conservation Status: This species faces habitat pressure from logging and development of high-elevation forests. They’re considered a species of special concern in New York, requiring mature forest conditions that take decades to develop.

Eastern Chipmunk (Tamias striatus)

Eastern Chipmunks bring animated charm to New York’s woodlands with their distinctive striped patterns and cheek-stuffing antics. Though technically ground squirrels rather than tree squirrels, they’re often grouped with their arboreal cousins due to their similar appearance and behaviors.

Identifying Features:

• Body length: 5-6 inches plus 3-4 inch tail
• Five dark stripes alternating with four light stripes down the back
• Reddish-brown sides with grayish-brown back
• White undersides and prominent cheek pouches
• Semi-hibernation behavior during winter months

Habitat Preferences: Chipmunks prefer deciduous and mixed forests with dense understory vegetation, rocky areas, and abundant ground cover. They excavate complex burrow systems up to 30 feet long with multiple chambers for sleeping, food storage, and waste.

Behavioral Characteristics:

• Excellent climbers despite ground-dwelling lifestyle
• Create elaborate underground tunnel systems
• Store vast quantities of nuts and seeds for winter
• Enter torpor during coldest winter months
• Highly vocal with distinctive “chip” calls

Identification Tip: Unlike tree squirrels, chipmunks carry food in their expandable cheek pouches rather than in their mouths, creating a distinctive bulging appearance when foraging.

Groundhog/Woodchuck (Marmota monax)

The Groundhog, also known as the Woodchuck, represents New York’s largest ground squirrel relative and most famous weather predictor. These robust rodents play important ecological roles while occasionally frustrating gardeners with their plant preferences.

Physical Characteristics:

• Body length: 16-20 inches
• Weight: 5-10 pounds (up to 14 pounds before hibernation)
• Grizzled brown fur with lighter undersides
• Short, powerful legs built for digging
• Small ears and eyes relative to body size
• Flattened, furry tail

Ecosystem Role: Groundhogs serve as ecosystem engineers, creating extensive burrow networks that provide shelter for numerous other species. Their digging aerates soil and their grazing helps maintain meadow habitats. They also serve as important prey species for larger predators.

Seasonal Behavior Patterns:

• Spring: Emerge from hibernation, begin mating
• Summer: Peak activity, intensive feeding and territory establishment
• Fall: Hyperphagia (excessive eating) to build fat reserves
• Winter: True hibernation with dramatically reduced body temperature

Notable Adaptations: Groundhogs represent one of few mammals in New York that undergo true hibernation, with body temperatures dropping to near-ambient levels and heart rates slowing dramatically. Their internal biological clock helps them predict seasonal changes with remarkable accuracy.

Thirteen-lined Ground Squirrel (Ictidomys tridecemlineatus)

The Thirteen-lined Ground Squirrel holds the distinction as New York’s rarest squirrel species, with only occasional sightings reported in the state’s western grassland regions. These prairie specialists represent the eastern edge of their natural range.

Distinctive Markings:

• Thirteen alternating light and dark stripes running from head to tail
• Light stripes contain rows of light-colored spots
• Body length: 4-6 inches plus equally long tail
• Golden-brown to light brown base coloration
• Sleek, streamlined appearance adapted for prairie life

Habitat Requirements: These specialized squirrels require short-grass prairie and meadow habitats, which are extremely limited in New York. They prefer areas with:

• Native grasslands with minimal tree cover
• Well-drained soils suitable for burrow excavation
• Abundant seed-producing plants
• Low vegetation allowing predator detection

Behavioral Adaptations:

• Excellent burrowing abilities creating deep underground networks
• True hibernation lasting 6-8 months annually
• Primarily seed-eating with occasional insect consumption
• Highly alert surface behavior with frequent upright scanning

Conservation Considerations: The extreme rarity of suitable grassland habitat in New York makes this species exceptionally uncommon. Climate change and continued habitat conversion pose significant challenges for any potential population establishment.

Squirrel Identification Quick Reference

Most Common Signs by Species:

Daytime Activity Indicators:

• Eastern Gray: Visible in parks, backyards, and urban areas during daylight • Eastern Fox: Ground foraging near large oak and hickory trees
• Red Squirrel: Loud chattering and cone debris piles beneath conifers • Chipmunk: Striped appearance with cheek bulges near ground level

Nighttime Activity Clues:

• Flying Squirrels: Bird feeder raids after dark, gliding sounds between trees • Missing evidence: Nuts mysteriously disappearing from feeders overnight

Seasonal Identification Opportunities:

• Spring: Groundhogs emerging from burrows, increased squirrel activity • Summer: Peak activity for all species, easiest identification period • Fall: Intensive nut gathering, most visible feeding behaviors • Winter: Red squirrels remain active, others show reduced activity

Helpful Identification Resources:

For expert species confirmation and additional wildlife information, consult these authoritative sources:

• New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Wildlife Guide
• Cornell Lab of Ornithology All About Birds Squirrel Section
• National Geographic Animal Encyclopedia
• NYC Parks Wildlife Management Program
• Central Park Conservancy Wildlife Resources
• Adirondack Ecological Center Mammal Database
• Bird Watching HQ Regional Wildlife Guides
• Wildlife Help Organization Species Profiles

Understanding Squirrel Behavior Across New York

The diverse types of squirrels in New York exhibit fascinating behavioral adaptations that reflect their specific ecological niches. Tree squirrels like Eastern Grays and Fox Squirrels demonstrate remarkable problem-solving abilities, often outsmarting elaborate bird feeder defenses through trial-and-error learning.

Feeding Behavior Variations: Different squirrel species have evolved distinct feeding strategies that minimize competition. Eastern Gray Squirrels scatter-hoard their food caches throughout their territory, while Red Squirrels create centralized larder hoards called middens. Flying squirrels focus on fungi and lichens unavailable to day-active species.

Social Structure Differences: Eastern Gray Squirrels maintain loose social hierarchies with shared feeding areas, while Red Squirrels defend territories aggressively. Chipmunks live solitary lives except during breeding season, and Groundhogs emerge from winter hibernation with established territorial boundaries.

Adaptation Success Stories: Eastern Gray Squirrels have become the species that people battle with most at backyard bird feeders, demonstrating their remarkable ability to exploit human-modified environments. This adaptability has allowed them to thrive in urban areas where other species struggle.

Conservation and Coexistence

New York’s squirrel species face varying conservation challenges, from habitat loss affecting rare species like the Northern Flying Squirrel to management issues with abundant populations of Eastern Grays in urban areas. Understanding these species helps promote better coexistence strategies.

Habitat Protection Priorities:

• Preserving mature forests for flying squirrel species
• Maintaining grassland remnants for ground squirrel species
• Creating wildlife corridors connecting fragmented habitats
• Supporting native nut and seed-producing tree species

Responsible Wildlife Interaction: When encountering any of New York’s squirrel species, observe from a respectful distance and avoid feeding wild animals. Providing natural habitat through native plant landscaping supports wildlife much more effectively than direct feeding programs.

The eight types of squirrels in New York represent millions of years of evolutionary adaptation, each filling unique ecological roles that contribute to the state’s biodiversity. From the familiar Eastern Gray Squirrel brightening urban parks to the mysterious Northern Flying Squirrel gliding through mountain forests, these remarkable rodents deserve our appreciation and protection.

Whether you’re identifying squirrels in NY parks or exploring remote wilderness areas, this guide provides the foundation for recognizing and understanding the diverse squirrel species that call New York home. Each sighting offers an opportunity to connect with the natural world and appreciate the complex ecosystems thriving throughout the Empire State.