Sexual maturity is reached at 10 mo for males and females. The young are altricial and, though they are weaned in 8-9 wk, are not self-sufficient until 12 wk of age. Litter size from several studies averaged 3, with 2 litters per yr (Flyger and Gates 1982). Births begin in January, with most births in mid-March and July. Mating begins in December over a wide range of latitudes elsewhere (Moore 1957) and continues to February, followed by a second mating period in June. Reproduction: May breed in any month in California. A dominance hierarchy controls mating, access to food sources, and access to den sites (Flyger and Gates 1982). Females defend the nest area from other squirrels. At low densities, individuals scattered and home ranges may overlap. Territory: At high densities, may be territorial. Wolf and Roest (1971) found an average of 0.77 per 100 m (0.85 per 300 ft) in windrow eucalyptus.

Densities fluctuate irregularly, varying from 0.5-3.5 per ha (0.2-1.4 per ac) (Flyger and Gates 1982). Home ranges may shift to include good food sources. Males have larger home ranges than females. Individuals in poor habitat, or in areas of low food abundance or low population density, tend to have larger home ranges. Home Range: Home ranges vary from 0.4-16.4 ha (1- 41 ac) (Flyger and Gates 1982). Seasonal Movements / Migration: None reported in California, though large-scale movements occasionally have been reported elsewhere (Flyger and Gates 1982). Species Life HistoryĪctivity Patterns: Yearlong diurnal activity. Populations dependent upon abundant mast crops. In Santa Clara Co., preferred trees with larger basal diameters than gray squirrels neither species used large eucalyptus (Gilroy 1980). In Ventura Co., uses eucalyptus groves in winter, and moves to orchards and native habitats in spring and summer (Wolf and Roest 1971). Pattern: Prefers open forests, forest edges, orchard-vineyard, riparian, and urban habitats. Drought may cause high mortality (Flyger and Gates 1982). Reproduction: Uses tree cavity hollow spheres of leaves also constructed on tree limbs or in the crotches of trees, 8-20 m (26-66 ft) above the ground. Often remains motionless in order to avoid detection (Flyger and Gates 1982). In Ventura Co., eats wild and domestic agricultural nuts and fruits in summer, eucalyptus seeds in winter (Wolf and Roest 1971, Flyger and Gates 1982).Ĭover: Uses trees for cover, keeping the tree between squirrel and predator or disturbance. Range Mapįeeding: The eastern fox squirrel eats acorns and a wide variety of other nuts, fruits, and seeds. Individuals are moving into the edges of valley foothill riparian, redwood, and valley foothill hardwood habitats in Santa Cruz Co. The eastern fox squirrel is common in urban and orchard-vineyard habitats, and in eucalyptus groves. south to San Benito and Fresno cos., west of the Sierra Nevada foothills. Also believed to occur in Shasta and Los Angeles cos., and from Lake Co. (Ingles 1965, Wolf and Roest 1971), and Santa Clara and Santa Cruz cos. Reported from San Mateo, Merced, and Ventura cos. The eastern fox squirrel is an introduced species with many localized populations in urban areas and nearby rural settings.

Fox squirrel