They don’t get much respect, but they don’t give much either. They can be shooed away, but they’ll come right back.

They’ll act cute and eat out of your hand, then they’ll eat out of your plate when you’re not looking.

They’ll pose for a picture, then steal away to their splendid new apartment –
which bears an odd resemblance to your attic.

Let’s face it. They’re adorable, pesky and just plain nutty.

There are four native tree squirrels in Oregon. The western gray, Douglas,
American red and northern flying squirrels all call our Mountain environment
home.

While they are members of the rodent family, they enjoy a much more
attractive outward appearance.

They have hefty incisors that remain sharp by their continuous gnawing.
They are somewhat active throughout the seasons, they are particularly busy
this time of year as they forage on the ground gathering and storing food.

The squirrel’s food gathering plays an important role in forest regeneration by
spreading fungi mychcorhizae – microbes essential for soil health and
composition.

Besides their teeth and nimble front paws, the squirrels greatest asset is their
bushy tails. They provide balance, enabling them to maneuver quickly without
falling. If they should make a misstep, the tail spreads like a parachute
cushioning the fall. The tail also acts as a winter coat in cold weather, and can
be used to communicate with other squirrels.

Tree squirrels can carry disease and host parasites that carry pathogens that
can potentially be harmful to humans. However, there are precious few
reports of disease transmission to humans.

Tree squirrels may also be susceptible to rabies, but none have tested positive
in Oregon.

Squirrel bites are the most common wildlife bite reported to ODFW, and nearly
every one can be traced to feeding of the offending squirrel.

The western gray is classified as a game mammal and the only native tree
squirrel that may be legally hunted. (See Oregon Big Game Hunting
Regulations on ODFW’s website for season and restrictions.)

Western Gray Squirrel
This is the largest native tree squirrel in Oregon and can reach 2 feet in
length, including the tail. It is easily spotted, sporting a creamy white belly
and silvery gray fur.

They prefer larger patches of forested habitat, usually away from human
contact. However, the green forests of the Mountain community bring them in
closer contact than many other regions.

They eat a variety of foods including fungi, acorns, fruit, berries, insects and
conifer seeds and cones.

When disturbed, it will issue a hoarse barking call.

Douglas Squirrel
Sometimes called a chickaree or pine squirrel, the Douglas has grizzled brown
and gray fur with an orange underside. It’s about a foot long including a dark
reddish-brown tail.

Its distinctive loud, chattering cry can be heard throughout our Mountain
forests.

Their numbers have been declining in recent times, suffering pressure from

invasive squirrels and the decline of its preferred habitat – mature mixed-
conifer forests.

The Douglas is prevalent in our area and can be found as far east as The
Dalles, John Day, Burns and Lakeview.

The Douglas’ preferred diet consists of fir, pine, spruce, berries, mushrooms,
and hemlock cones and seeds.

American Red Squirrel
They are found most often in our higher elevations in semi-open forests. They

are about a foot long with fur that ranges from dark red to grey with a cream-
colored underside.

The American red is best known for being extremely loud and raucous.
They prefer conifer seeds in the winter, but during the spring and summer
they add flowers, berries, eggs, nestling birds and insects to their diet.

Northern Flying Squirrel
This is our most distinctive of all Oregon squirrels, but because of its nocturnal
nature, it is seldom seen. They have dark brown fur and can reach up to a
foot in length.

Contrary to its name, this species doesn’t actually fly – unless you consider its
unique skin folds that extend from foreleg to hind leg that allows it to glide
from tree to tree as actual flight. This ability requires it to live in heavily
forested areas, such as our own.

The bulk of their diet consists of fungi and lichens, but they will also eat
seeds, nuts, insects, bird eggs and nestlings, and conifer cones.

Eastern Gray and Eastern Fox Squirrels (nonnative, invasive species)
The effects of these two squirrels on Oregon’s ecosystems are not fully
understood. However, there is enough evidence to consider them a threat to
native squirrel populations.

They aggressively compete for food and nesting habitat and require far less
territory to persist – and they can spread disease to native squirrels.

Unfortunately, they have a high reproductive potential, diverse food habits
and a high tolerance of human activity which allows them to expand their
range.