Sciurus niger

Statistics
Length: head and body 10-15"; tail 9-14"
Weight: 1.2-3 lbs.
Number of teeth: 20
Young: 2 litters of 2-4 young born in January-February and July-August.

Habitat
Lives on the edge of forests and other open woodlands.

Food
Vegetation: fruits, buds, seeds, flowers, leaves, fungi.
Animals: insects.

Period of Activity
Daytime (diurnal).

Distribution
Illinois: Statewide
USA: See distribution map.

Fox Squirrel Trivia
Fox squirrels become inactive in winter and curl up in a ball inside a tree cavity or leaf nest. Leaf nests are constructed in large trees and often used in habitats where tree cavities are absent. The home range of a fox squirrel is between 10 and 40 acres.