Eastern Gray Squirrels
Order:
Rodentia
Family: Sciuridae
Species: Sciurus carolinensis
One of the most commonly
encountered squirrels east of the Mississippi River is the Eastern gray
squirrel, which inhabits forests and other protected areas.
Also called tree squirrels, gray squirrels often annoy property
owners with their noisy movements when building nests or caching (storing)
food, or when inhabiting areas within buildings such as garages, attics,
wall voids and chimneys. Moreover,
they can severely damage structures by gnawing.
They have even started electrical fires by chewing through wires. Ectoparasites, such as fleas, ticks and mange mites, may also
accompany a squirrel infestation.
Biology and Habits
Gray squirrels’ peak times for activity are early morning and late afternoon. They forage for a variety of food, including insects, bulbs, nuts, seeds, buds, bark, leaves and fruit. Food may be cached both indoors and outdoors in protective areas.
Tree squirrels usually mate twice a year, having one litter in the early spring (February to March) and another in summer (June to August). A typical litter ranges from three to five young. They remain in the nest for six to 12 weeks. Gray squirrels normally rest in tree cavities, man-made squirrel boxes, and nests composed of twigs and leaves. Leaf nests may also be found in attics.
Contrary to its common
name, several color variations may occur within the gray squirrel populations.
Some have a distinct reddish cast to their gray coat, whereas others
may be completely black in color.
These squirrels measure 16 to 20 inches (41 to 51 cm) in length
as adults and weigh about 1.25 to 1.75 pounds.
Control
Squirrel infestations are detected by the presence of nests, droppings, gnawing damage to woody pants and structures, and sightings of squirrels at bird feeders. Lately, feeding squirrels with corncobs had become a fad among urbanites.
Removing squirrels from structures demands trapping expertise and an understanding of their behavior. PCOs must be able to adapt to unique situations. Box and cage traps are effective live-traps for catching squirrels. A misfired trap can delay removal, so use several traps for expediency. Multiple traps also ensure that larger-than-anticipated squirrel populations are caught quickly.
Place traps in commonly traveled routes. Remember that squirrels have excellent climbing abilities and can scurry along telephone wires, vines and textured walls. Preferable baits include peanut butter, apples, oranges, nuts, seeds and corn. If young squirrels are present, delay trapping until they are old enough to leave the nest, or be sure to remove the nest and young. Check traps daily to avoid inhumane suffering from heat exposure. Contact local wildlife management authorities for regulations regarding captured squirrels.
After removing the squirrels, nests and dropping, protect all possible entry points with hardware cloth or sheet metal.
Chemical repellents may
temporarily discourage squirrel activity.
Under no circumstances should rodenticides be used to control gray
squirrels.
(Courtesy of the National Pest Control Association.)