A quick question which you can use to stump your friends at the bar next time: how many types of squirrels exist in the world? The answer is over 200. The Tar Heel state is home to five of those: gray, red, fox, southern flying, and northern flying squirrels. When we think of squirrels in the common parlance, of course referring to that homely critter from National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, we are talking about a gray squirrel. Let’s discuss the five varieties and how to spot the differences.

Gray squirrel

The most common type of squirrel found in North Carolina, this creature is active year round and can be seen during the day. They have gray/brown fur and a white belly with a characteristic bushy tail. 

Red squirrel

If you see a squirrel with a hint of red in its fur, most likely it’s a Red Squirrel. They will appear with a ring around their eyes that makes the eye seem completely black. They grow to be 12 inches long and feed on seeds that they gather.

Fox squirrel

Medium sized in the squirrel world with a bushy tail, this sort of squirrel is the largest by weight in the United States. Fox squirrels have a rusted looking belly and a black outline to their talls. Gray squirrels have that white belly and tail. Gray squirrels are also smaller than Fox squirrels. The fox kind is known to not be dangerous to anyone except maybe your crops.

Southern flying squirrel

Similar to its brethren listed below, this variation is distinguishable from the others because it is nocturnal. They are also brown and have large eyes, and the flaps appear when they spread their arms to allow them to glide.

Northern flying squirrel

Although you are extremely unlikely to run into one of these squirrels, because they’re also active at night, it’s nonetheless helpful to know about them. This little fella typically grows to be ten inches and has a distinguishable flat tail, which aids in flight. They are social and share nests so if you do catch a glimpse of one, it’s likely that you will see multiple.

If you are having squirrel trouble on your property keep Critter Control in mind. Contact us today.