Delmarva Fox Squirrel

By: Sara Buckley

Delmarva Fox Squirrel

• Sciurus niger cinereus

• Steely grey with white belly

• Black edges on tail• Up to 30in long• Up to 3lbs

Habitat

• Mature forests• Hardwood and pine

mixtures• Closed canopy• Open understory• Decidious swamps

close to pine woodlands

Diet

• Nuts and seeds • Farm fields• Buds and flowers• Fungi• Insects• Fruit• Mature green pine

cones

Behaviour

• Quieter than Grey Squirrel

• Prefers open spaces• Traverses forest floor• Avoids confrontation• Active year round

Distribution

• Small isolated populations on Delmarva Penisula

• Average home range of 40 acres

Reproduction

• 44-45 day gestation• 1-7 kits per litter• Mating season- late

winter, early spring• Up to two litters a

year• Reaches sexual

maturity at one year• Likes to nest in hollow

trees

History

• Historically found from southern New Jersey to southeast Pennsylvania

• By early 1900s, only found in 4 counties in east Maryland

• Listed as endangered in 1967

• Given protection under Endangered Species Act

Status

• Federal- Endangered• Delaware-

Endangered• Sussex County, DE-

Experimental Population, Non-Essential

Cause for listing

• Deforestation• Agricultural

development• Timber industry• Forced to compete

with grey squirrels

Predators

• Humans• Red foxes• Minks• Weasels• Raptors• Dogs• Cats• Racoons• Opossums• Rat Snakes• Cars

Conservation

• Habitat protection began in 1945

• Hunting banned in 1971• Closely monitored

populations• Breed and release (11 of

16 successful)• Educate the public• Farmers leave uncut

crops for squirrels• Artificial den boxes

Impact if eliminated

• Loss of food source• Loss of seed

spreading

References

• http://www.raywilsonbirdphotography.co.uk/Galleries/Mammals/Delmarva%20Fox%20Squirrel.html

• http://www.wildlifeadvocacy.org/programs/fox_squirrel.html

• http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/animals/mammal/scni/all.html#21

• http://www.fws.gov/endangered/esa-library/pdf/squirrel.pdf

• http://ecos.fws.gov/roar/pub/planImplementationStatus.action?documentId=600097&entityId=10

• http://ecos.fws.gov/speciesProfile/profile/speciesProfile.action?spcode=A00B#lifeHistory

• http://www.chesapeakebay.net/fieldguide/critter/delmarva_fox_squirrel