7 Types of Squirrels in Ohio: Complete Identification Guide for Backyard Wildlife Enthusiasts

Did you know that Ohio is home to seven distinct types of squirrels, yet most people can only identify one or two?

While you’re probably familiar with the gray squirrels raiding your bird feeder, you’re sharing your backyard with an entire family of fascinating rodents, including nocturnal gliders and underground architects that most Ohioans never realize exist.

This comprehensive guide will transform you from a casual observer into a confident squirrel identifier.

You’ll discover the surprising variety of types of squirrels in Ohio, learn their unique behaviors, and understand why each species plays a vital role in the state’s ecosystem.

Whether you’re a nature enthusiast, curious homeowner, or simply tired of calling every bushy-tailed visitor a “squirrel,” this guide provides the knowledge you need to appreciate Ohio’s remarkable squirrel diversity.

Eastern Gray Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis)

The Eastern Gray Squirrel serves as Ohio’s most recognizable squirrel ambassador, though their name can be misleading. These adaptable creatures display remarkable color variations, from the classic gray coat to rich brown, black, and even rare white individuals. You’ll typically spot them measuring 16-20 inches long with an equally impressive 6-10 inch bushy tail that serves as both balance beam and communication device.

Key Identification Features:

• Size: Medium-large (16-20 inches body length)
• Color: Predominantly gray with white underside, but color morphs exist
• Habitat: Urban parks, suburban yards, deciduous and mixed forests
• Behavior: Diurnal (active during day), highly acrobatic, notorious bird feeder raiders

These common squirrels in Ohio demonstrate remarkable intelligence and adaptability. They create elaborate mental maps of their territory, remembering thousands of cache locations where they’ve buried nuts and seeds. During autumn, you’ll observe their frantic activity as they prepare for winter, though they don’t truly hibernate. Instead, they remain active throughout Ohio’s cold months, relying on their cached food supplies and increased caloric intake.

Eastern Gray Squirrels construct leafy nests called dreys in tree forks, typically 20-30 feet above ground. These basketball-sized structures provide year-round shelter and serve as nurseries for their two annual litters. Their social structure includes complex vocalizations, tail signals, and scent marking that creates a sophisticated communication network throughout your neighborhood.

Wildlife Watching Tip: Watch for their “deceptive caching” behavior – they’ll pretend to bury nuts while actually keeping them in their mouths, then move to a different location to make the real cache.

Fox Squirrel (Sciurus niger)

Fox Squirrels claim the title as Ohio’s largest tree squirrel, often surprising observers with their impressive size and distinctive rusty-orange coloration. These substantial rodents can weigh up to three pounds – nearly twice the size of their gray cousins – and display remarkable color variation across different regions of Ohio.

Distinctive Characteristics:

• Size: Large (18-27 inches body length, up to 3 pounds)
• Color: Rusty-orange to brown with lighter undersides, regional variations common
• Ears: Prominent orange or rust-colored ear tufts
• Tail: Long, bushy, often with orange highlights

Fox squirrels in Ohio prefer more open habitats than Eastern Grays, favoring oak-hickory forests, farmland edges, and suburban areas with mature trees and open understory. They’re particularly fond of oak trees, which provide their preferred acorns, and you’ll often spot them in areas where agriculture meets woodland.

Their behavior differs markedly from other types of tree squirrels in Ohio. Fox Squirrels spend more time on the ground than their gray relatives, moving with a distinctive bounding gait that makes them easy to identify from a distance. They’re less social than Eastern Grays, typically maintaining larger territories and showing more aggressive behavior when defending resources.

These impressive squirrels demonstrate remarkable longevity, with some individuals living up to 12 years in the wild. Their size advantage allows them to handle larger nuts and seeds that smaller squirrels might struggle with, making them important dispersers of hardwood seeds across Ohio’s landscape.

Red Squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus)

Red Squirrels bring explosive energy and attitude to Ohio’s forests, earning their reputation as the “chatterboxes” of the squirrel world. These compact dynamos pack tremendous personality into their small frames, defending their territories with fierce determination and creating impressive stockpiles that rival much larger animals.

Identification Features:

• Size: Small (11-14 inches body length)
• Color: Bright rusty-red above, white below, with distinct lateral line separating colors
• Tail: Less bushy than tree squirrels, often held erect
• Behavior: Highly vocal, aggressive, extremely territorial

Red squirrels Ohio populations thrive in coniferous and mixed forests throughout the state, particularly in areas with abundant evergreen trees. Unlike other native squirrels in Ohio, Red Squirrels don’t scatter-hoard their food. Instead, they create massive communal storage sites called middens, which can contain thousands of pinecones and persist for decades.

These remarkable little creatures demonstrate one of nature’s most impressive food preservation systems. They cut green pinecones from trees and cache them in cool, moist areas where the cones remain closed, preserving the seeds inside for months. A single Red Squirrel’s midden can contain 10,000-15,000 pinecones, representing a investment that may serve multiple generations.

Their territorial behavior rivals that of much larger animals. Red Squirrels will aggressively chase away intruders, including other squirrels, chipmunks, and even birds. Their alarm calls can be heard from impressive distances, serving as an early warning system for forest wildlife about potential predators.

Behavioral Note: Red Squirrels are one of the few squirrel species that remain active throughout winter, making them excellent subjects for cold-weather wildlife observation.

Southern Flying Squirrel (Glaucomys volans)

The Southern Flying Squirrel holds the distinction as Ohio’s most abundant squirrel species, yet remains virtually unknown to most residents due to their strictly nocturnal lifestyle. These remarkable gliders challenge everything you thought you knew about squirrel species in Ohio, bringing capabilities that seem more suited to fantasy than backyard wildlife.

Amazing Adaptations:

• Size: Small (8-10 inches body length)
• Gliding Membrane: Patagium stretches from wrist to ankle
• Eyes: Large, dark eyes adapted for night vision
• Tail: Flattened and used as rudder during glides
• Gliding Distance: Up to 150 feet in a single glide

Flying squirrels Ohio populations remain stable throughout the state, inhabiting mature hardwood and mixed forests where they nest in tree cavities, old woodpecker holes, and nest boxes. Despite their name, they don’t actually fly but glide using their stretched skin membrane, achieving remarkable precision in their aerial navigation.

These nocturnal acrobats live in complex social groups, often sharing nest sites with 10-20 individuals during winter months. Their diet consists primarily of nuts, seeds, fungi, and occasionally bird eggs, making them important dispersers of forest fungi spores throughout Ohio’s woodlands.

Southern Flying Squirrels demonstrate remarkable communication abilities, using ultrasonic vocalizations that fall outside human hearing range. They also employ scent marking and tactile communication within their social groups, creating sophisticated networks that coordinate group activities and territory management.

Observation Opportunities:

• Install nest boxes designed for flying squirrels
• Look for small entry holes in mature trees
• Listen for soft chirping sounds on calm nights
• Watch for gliding silhouettes against lighter sky

Northern Flying Squirrel (Glaucomys sabrinus)

Northern Flying Squirrels represent Ohio’s rarest squirrel species, found only in the most pristine northern and eastern regions of the state. These specialized gliders require specific habitat conditions that make them valuable indicators of forest health and environmental quality.

Distinguishing Features:

• Size: Slightly larger than Southern Flying Squirrels (10-12 inches)
• Fur: Dense, silky, grayish-brown with darker guard hairs
• Belly: Cream or light gray (vs. pure white in Southern Flying Squirrels)
• Habitat Requirements: Mature coniferous and mixed forests

Northern Flying Squirrels show strong preferences for old-growth forests with abundant fungi, which comprise up to 80% of their diet. This dietary specialization makes them crucial partners in forest ecosystem maintenance, as they disperse fungal spores that form essential partnerships with tree roots.

These elusive gliders face significant conservation challenges in Ohio due to habitat fragmentation and forest management practices that favor younger tree stands. Their preference for lichens, fungi, and specific tree species makes them particularly vulnerable to environmental changes.

Climate change poses additional challenges for Northern Flying Squirrels, as they’re adapted to cooler temperatures and may struggle with Ohio’s warming trends. Conservation efforts focus on preserving large tracts of mature forest and creating corridors that connect suitable habitat patches.

Conservation Status: While not officially endangered in Ohio, Northern Flying Squirrel populations warrant careful monitoring due to their specialized habitat requirements and limited distribution.

Eastern Chipmunk (Tamias striatus)

Eastern Chipmunks bring ground-level energy to Ohio’s squirrel family, serving as industrious landscape architects whose extensive tunnel systems rival those of much larger mammals. These charismatic striped rodents demonstrate that size doesn’t determine impact when it comes to ecosystem influence.

Identification Markers:

• Size: Small (5-6 inches body length, 3-4 inch tail)
• Markings: Five dark stripes alternating with light stripes from head to tail
• Cheek Pouches: Expandable storage compartments for food transport
• Habitat: Forest edges, rocky areas, suburban gardens with cover

Eastern Chipmunks create elaborate underground cities that can extend 30 feet in length and include multiple chambers for different purposes: sleeping quarters, food storage, waste disposal, and emergency escape routes. These tunnel systems demonstrate remarkable engineering, with proper drainage, ventilation, and structural integrity that can last for years.

Their food caching behavior surpasses even the most organized humans. A single chipmunk can collect and store 165 acorns in a single day, ultimately accumulating enough food to survive Ohio’s entire winter hibernation period. Unlike true hibernators, chipmunks enter torpor – a lighter sleep state that allows them to wake and feed from their caches during warm winter days.

These busy creatures play crucial roles as backyard wildlife Ohio residents, dispersing seeds, aerating soil through their digging activities, and serving as prey for various predators. Their populations can fluctuate dramatically based on mast crop success, with boom years following abundant acorn and nut production.

Behavioral Patterns:

• Spring: Territory establishment and mating
• Summer: Intensive food collection and storage
• Fall: Final preparation and tunnel sealing
• Winter: Semi-hibernation with periodic activity

Woodchuck/Groundhog (Marmota monax)

Woodchucks, commonly known as Groundhogs, represent the heavyweight champions of Ohio’s squirrel family, bringing impressive size and remarkable engineering skills to the state’s rodent community. These substantial mammals demonstrate that squirrel family diversity extends far beyond the typical tree-dwelling species most people recognize.

Impressive Specifications:

• Size: Large (16-27 inches body length, 4-9 inch tail)
• Weight: 5-14 pounds (up to 30 pounds before hibernation)
• Build: Stocky, powerful limbs adapted for digging
• Lifespan: 4-6 years in wild, up to 14 years in captivity

Woodchucks excel as Ohio’s premier excavators, creating burrow systems that can extend 45 feet in length and reach depths of 5 feet underground. These sophisticated underground homes include multiple entrances, living chambers, and even separate toilet areas, demonstrating remarkable behavioral complexity for a rodent species.

Their hibernation abilities surpass those of most North American mammals. Woodchucks enter true hibernation from October through early March, with their body temperature dropping from 98°F to as low as 38°F, and their heart rate slowing from 100 beats per minute to just 4 beats per minute. This remarkable physiological adaptation allows them to survive Ohio’s harsh winters without feeding.

These powerful diggers significantly impact their ecosystems through their excavation activities. Their abandoned burrows provide shelter for foxes, skunks, opossums, and various other wildlife species. The soil they move during digging helps aerate earth and can amount to 700 pounds of earth per burrow system.

Ecological Impact: Woodchuck burrows provide critical habitat for numerous Ohio wildlife species, with abandoned dens serving as nurseries, winter shelters, and escape routes for animals ranging from rabbits to foxes.

Thirteen-lined Ground Squirrel (Ictidomys tridecemlineatus)

The Thirteen-lined Ground Squirrel represents Ohio’s most specialized squirrel species, adapted for life in open grasslands and prairies. These distinctive rodents showcase remarkable survival strategies that allow them to thrive in habitats where other types of squirrels in Ohio cannot survive.

Unique Features:

• Size: Medium-small (6-12 inches body length)
• Pattern: Thirteen distinct alternating light and dark stripes
• Habitat: Native prairies, grasslands, golf courses, cemeteries
• Distribution: Western Ohio, primarily in former prairie regions

Thirteen-lined Ground Squirrels demonstrate the most extreme hibernation adaptation of any Ohio squirrel species. They remain underground in deep hibernation for up to eight months each year, emerging only during the brief warm season to mate, raise young, and accumulate fat reserves for the next hibernation period.

These prairie specialists face significant conservation challenges in Ohio due to habitat loss. As native grasslands disappeared through agricultural conversion, their populations became restricted to golf courses, cemeteries, airports, and other maintained open spaces that mimic their natural prairie habitat.

Their diet consists primarily of seeds, insects, and occasionally small vertebrates, making them important predators of agricultural pest insects. During their brief active season, they consume up to 50% insects, helping control grasshopper, beetle, and caterpillar populations in their territories.

Conservation Considerations:

• Habitat restoration projects focus on prairie reconstruction
• Golf course management practices can support populations
• Climate change may affect hibernation timing and success
• Urban development continues to reduce available habitat

How to Identify Squirrels in Ohio: Quick Reference Guide

Successfully identifying squirrel species in Ohio requires attention to size, habitat, behavior, and time of observation. This systematic approach will help you distinguish between species during your backyard wildlife watching sessions.

Size Categories:

• Large: Fox Squirrels (up to 3 lbs), Woodchucks (5-14 lbs)
• Medium: Eastern Gray Squirrels (1-1.5 lbs)
• Small: Red Squirrels, Flying Squirrels, Eastern Chipmunks, Ground Squirrels

Habitat Preferences:

• Tree Canopy: Eastern Gray, Fox, Red, Flying Squirrels
• Ground Level: Chipmunks, Ground Squirrels, Woodchucks
• Mixed Levels: All species use multiple habitat layers seasonally

Activity Patterns:

• Diurnal (Day Active): Gray, Fox, Red Squirrels, Chipmunks
• Nocturnal (Night Active): Flying Squirrels
• Seasonal Activity: Woodchucks, Ground Squirrels (hibernation periods)

Behavioral Clues:

• Aggressive Chatter: Red Squirrels defending territory
• Acrobatic Feeding: Eastern Gray Squirrels at bird feeders
• Ground Foraging: Fox Squirrels spending time on ground
• Gliding Between Trees: Flying Squirrels (if observed at night)

Expert Tip: Time of day and season dramatically affect which species you’ll observe. Early morning and late afternoon provide optimal viewing opportunities for most diurnal species.

Creating a Squirrel-Friendly Ohio Backyard

Attracting diverse native squirrels in Ohio to your property requires understanding each species’ specific needs and preferences. Strategic landscaping and habitat enhancement can transform your backyard into a wildlife sanctuary that supports multiple squirrel species throughout the year.

Essential Habitat Components:

Food Sources:

• Native Nut Trees: Oak, hickory, walnut, and butternut trees
• Seed Plants: Sunflowers, native grasses, wildflowers
• Supplemental Feeding: Species-appropriate nuts and seeds in proper feeders
• Natural Browse: Native shrubs producing berries and seeds

Shelter Options:

• Mature Trees: Different species prefer different tree types and ages
• Nest Boxes: Specific designs for flying squirrels and other cavity nesters
• Brush Piles: Ground cover for chipmunks and temporary shelter
• Rock Formations: Crevices and gaps for chipmunk dens

Water Features:

• Shallow Basins: Fresh water sources at multiple heights
• Dripping Water: Movement attracts wildlife attention
• Winter Access: Heated elements prevent freezing
• Natural Pools: Rain gardens and small ponds

Landscaping Strategies:

• Native Plant Focus: Species that evolved with local wildlife
• Vertical Diversity: Canopy, understory, and ground-level plants
• Seasonal Interest: Plants providing resources throughout the year
• Chemical-Free Management: Avoiding pesticides and herbicides that harm wildlife

Creating successful squirrel habitat requires patience and long-term planning. Newly planted trees may take several years to provide adequate food and shelter, but the resulting wildlife diversity will reward your investment with years of fascinating observation opportunities.