Summer-built leaf nests are usually of green twigs with green leaves attached and are often flimsily constructed. The squirrel hollows out a nest cavity in the center of the leaves. The leaf nest consists of a rough twig framework, from 12 to 20 inches across, and a bulky pile of leaves heaped layer upon layer. On average, they are about 40 feet above the ground, but they may be as low as 10 feet. While leaf nests are usually built in the tops of large trees, they occasionally are located in other places like a grapevine tangle or at the top of an Osage orange hedge fence. The leaves serve as good insulation from the winter's cold and as a warm lining for the young

Large cavities are commonly filled with leaves in the fall and again in the spring. Insects and woodpeckers may enlarge the cavity, and squirrels gnaw the openings larger and eventually maintain the opening at about 3 inches in diameter by gnawing at the tree's new growth.Ĭavities occupied by squirrels are about 6 inches wide, 14 to 16 inches deep, with an opening about 3 inches in diameter. When trees lose their lower limbs, if the scars don't heal over and instead begin to rot, a cavity can start to form. Cavity nests occur most often in older trees, particularly white oaks, sycamores, and soft maples. Both species also live in urban areas, especially where large oak and hickory trees are common.Ī squirrel's home is a leafy nest located in a cavity or fork of a tree. In the prairie regions of the state, fox squirrels are found along the few remaining Osage orange hedge fences, in farm woodlots, along timbered fence rows, and in timbered draws. Gray squirrels are more common in bottomlands and rivers with a bushy understory, and fox squirrels are more common along higher ridges. None of these are likely to be confused with the two tree squirrels described here. Similar species: Other members of the squirrel family (Sciuridae) that live in Missouri are the eastern chipmunk, woodchuck, thirteen-lined ground squirrel, Franklin's ground squirrel, and southern flying squirrel. In Missouri, black or albino individuals occur rarely. The eastern fox squirrel ( Sciurus niger) is heavy-bodied and larger than the gray squirrel the fringe of the tail and belly are reddish yellow the back and sides of the body are reddish yellow mixed with gray (rarely, the body may be all black) the total length (tip of nose to tip of tail) reaches 29 inches. Albino individuals occur occasionally in some instances where this characteristic is common in the heredity of a local population, small colonies of albinos may be formed. Sometimes black individuals occur in the same litter with gray ones these may be entirely glossy black or show various gradations between black and gray. The eastern gray squirrel ( Sciurus carolinensis) is slender and smaller than the fox squirrel the fringe of the tail and belly are white the back and sides of the body are gray (rarely reddish or all black) the total length (tip of nose to tip of tail) reaches 21 inches. The names aptly describe their general coat color: the first is usually gray, the other is usually reddish yellow. The eastern gray squirrel and eastern fox squirrel are the most common members of the squirrel family in Missouri.

Fox squirrel