Tree Squirrels
Colorado has three species of tree squirrels: the fox squirrel, the pine squirrel, and the Abert's squirrel.
About This Species
Colorado is home to three kinds of tree squirrels: The rusty red fox squirrel; the smaller but noisier pine squirrel, or chickaree; and Abert’s squirrel, which has a striking black or salt-and-pepper gray coat and magnificent ear-tufts.
Abert’s and fox squirrels are about the same size, although Abert’s has longer fur and therefore looks larger; the pine squirrel is much smaller.
While squirrels are considered nuisances by some, they are important species as they help distribute seeds and spores and are a crucial member of the food chain.
More Information:
Physical Characteristics
Fox Squirrel
20 inches long, two to three pounds. Deep rust to gray with a rusty underside.
Pine Squirrel
14 inches long, nine ounces. Similar in color to fox squirrels, pine squirrels are distinguished by the white circle around their eyes.
Abert's Squirrel
20 inches long, two pounds. Salt-and-pepper gray to completely black with distinct ear tufts.
Range
Fox Squirrel
Common in urban and suburban areas, including streamside and urban woodlands, statewide.
Pine Squirrel
High timber forests.
Abert's Squirrel
Ponderosa pine forests.
Habitat
Abert's squirrels are a specialized species that live exclusively in Ponderosa pine forests. Fox and pine squirrels are not specialists and can be found in a variety of trees.
Diet
Fox Squirrel
Fruit, nuts and buds, and bury nuts for winter (and because they are forgetful, they plant a lot of trees).
Pine Squirrel
Harvest and store vast quantities of cones (spruce, fir, Douglas fir, and lodgepole pine), often beneath a feeding area. Pine squirrels do not hibernate, but use food they cached throughout the rest of the year to sustain them through the winter.
Abert’s Squirrel
Doe not hoard food, but eats whatever part of its host tree, ponderosa pine, is available in season, including cones and inner bark of twigs.
Reproduction
Tree squirrels can have two litters of two to five young, one litter in spring, the other in early summer. Gestation is five weeks for chickarees and up to seven weeks for their larger cousins.
Threats to Species
Predators of the tree squirrels vary with habits and habitat. Fox squirrels spend some time on the ground and are killed by coyotes and foxes. Magpies, hawks and snakes eat nestlings. Martens are a major predator on pine squirrels. The forest-dwelling goshawk eats Abert’s squirrels.
Additional Information
Addressing conflicts with squirrels in your home and yard
If a squirrel is loose in your house, block off the room it is in and provide one way out by opening a window or a door, and watch until you see the squirrel leave. If the squirrel has trouble finding its way out, you can create a visual pathway by placing chairs or boxes on the floor to encourage the squirrel to run in only one direction towards the doorway.
Other Tips: Prevent squirrels from climbing trees by placing 18-inch metal cylinders on tree trunks. Screen attic vents on the inside with hardware cloth to keep squirrels out. Seal or lock pet doors that allow wildlife to enter your home. Trim branches hanging over buildings.