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Arizona Gray Squirrel - Sciurus arizonensis

 

Classification

 Kingdom: Animalia
 Phylum: Chordata
 Class: Mammalia
 Order: Rodentia 
 Family: Sciuridae  
 Genus:  Sciurus 
ICUN Redlist - World Status: Least Concern Data Deficient

Description

Arizona Gray SquirrelThe Arizona gray squirrel has gray fur on its uppersides and a white to cream belly. It has a long ears with no tufts and a fluffy tail edged in white. It is about 16-20 inches in length.

Range

mapThe Arizona gray squirrel lives in canyon bottoms of central Arizona and the in the mountain ranges of southeastern Arizona.

 

Habitat

The Arizona gray squirrel lives in deciduous forests with walnut, sycamore, oak, cottonwood, and pine trees. It is usually found in areas with elevations of 5,000-6,000 feet above sea level. In New Mexico, it is found in canyons with a water source and lots of black walnuts and acorns!

Diet

Arizona Gray SquirrelA large part of the Arizona gray squirrel's diet is made up of walnuts. It also eats fungi, pine cones, juniper berries, nuts, acorns, berries, and seeds. When it cuts pine cones to feed on, it carries the whole cone to the trunk of the tree before removing the seeds.

Life Cycle

Breeding season runs from April to May. Several males will chase a single female. Gestation lasts about two months. A leaf nest is made in a tree. The female has two to four babies.

Behavior

The Arizona gray squirrel is just as likely to flee from a threat by running on the ground as it is to climb a tree. It also will remain completely still when it wants to avoid detection.