A medium-sized North American tree squirrel, notable for its reddish-brown coat and red belly. It also occurs in open woodlands and urban areas.
It is a medium-sized tree squirrel, primarily reddish brown with a red belly.
Researchers surveyed eastern fox squirrels across a 580-hectare university campus in Texas. They recorded where squirrels were seen, tree genera, surrounding tree density and observation time. Oaks and elms were among the trees frequently used, while tree density and time of day also related to occurrence records.
Urban squirrel distribution is not explained simply by whether trees are present. Recording which tree types grow together and when squirrels are observed gives a more detailed picture of how they use green space. The study describes one campus; surveys elsewhere can use the same measures to compare local vegetation and squirrel use.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.
Campus records linked squirrel occurrence with tree density, tree genera and observation time. Urban habitat management can benefit from documenting not only tree numbers but also composition and arrangement, alongside repeated observations of local wildlife use.