Species › Mammals › Western Gray Squirrel

Western Gray Squirrel

Sciurus griseus

UncommonMammal
Illustration of Western Gray Squirrel (Sciurus griseus)

The Western Gray Squirrel is a large, silver-gray tree squirrel of Pacific Coast oak woodlands, larger and more elegant than its eastern cousin. It depends heavily on acorn crops and uses scatter-hoarding to cache thousands of individual acorns across its home range each autumn. Populations in Washington are listed as state-threatened due to habitat loss, competition, and disease.

Habitat
Oak woodlands, pine-oak forests, and mixed conifer forests
Diet
Acorns, pine nuts, fungi, and berries
How common
Uncommon

Best time to see a Western Gray Squirrel

The best time to see a Western Gray Squirrel is January–July, when about 61% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 18,502 research-grade iNaturalist observations.

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

Not certain it is a Western Gray Squirrel? What animal is this? walks through what to check first and the lookalikes that catch people out.

Recent Western Gray Squirrel sightings near you

Live, research-grade observations from iNaturalist. Allow location to center the map on you.

Spotted a Western Gray Squirrel?

Point Huck at any plant, bird, or animal and know for sure - plus a live map of where it is being spotted near you.

Get Huck - free
5,300+species
63national parks
50states

More mammals

Western Grey Kangaroo
Western Grey Kangaroo
Macropus fuliginosus
Western Harvest Mouse
Western Harvest Mouse
Reithrodontomys megalotis
Western Heather Vole
Western Heather Vole
Phenacomys intermedius
Western Jumping Mouse
Western Jumping Mouse
Zapus princeps
Western Mastiff Bat
Western Mastiff Bat
Eumops perotis
Western Meadow Vole
Western Meadow Vole
Microtus drummondii
Western Red Bat
Western Red Bat
Lasiurus blossevillii
Western Red-backed Vole
Western Red-backed Vole
Myodes californicus