Game animals · Side by side
Eastern Gray Squirrel vs Fox Squirrel
How to tell them apart
Quick answer
Check the belly and the tail fringe. A gray squirrel has a white or pale belly and a white-edged tail; a fox squirrel has a rusty orange to buff belly and orange in the tail, and it is noticeably bigger, at 1 to 3 pounds against a gray's ¾ to 1½.
Gray and fox squirrels share woods, parks and farm country across much of the eastern and central United States, and squirrel hunters often take both on the same morning. Their colors overlap more than most people expect, since both come in black and in shades in between, but a couple of quick checks will settle almost any squirrel.
Key differences
| Trait | Eastern Gray Squirrel | Fox Squirrel |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | ¾–1½ lb | 1–3 lb |
| Total length | 14–21 in | 19–29 in |
| Belly | White or pale gray | Rusty orange to buff |
| Tail fringe | White-tipped hairs, a frosted look | Orange or cinnamon |
| Favorite cover | Larger, denser forest and river bottoms | Open woodlots, field edges, ridges, savannas |
| Range | Eastern U.S. and southern Canada, including New England | Eastern and central U.S. to the Plains; absent from New England |
| Breeding | Midwinter and early summer | Same seasons, starting 10 days to 2 weeks earlier |
Where each lives
Both squirrels live across the eastern half of the United States, but they split the landscape. Gray squirrels are the forest specialists, most common in big, continuous hardwood stands, river bottoms and shady towns, and they range north through New England into southern Canada. Fox squirrels prefer it open: small woodlots surrounded by fields, timbered fencerows, ridgetops and, in the Southeast, open pine forests. They reach farther west, onto the Great Plains, but are missing from New England and most of New York. In Missouri, grays are most abundant in the Ozarks and the Bootheel lowlands, fox squirrels on the northern and western plains.
When color fools you
Back color is the least reliable clue. Gray squirrels often carry a brown or cinnamon wash, and fox squirrels can be grizzled gray on the back. Both species produce black squirrels: black grays are common in the northern part of their range, while black and dark fox squirrels turn up in the South and East, often with white on the face. When the coat is confusing, turn to the belly, the tail edge and the size. A white belly, a frosted tail and a slim build mean gray; an orange belly, an orange-edged tail and a heavy build mean fox.
Hunting them
Gray squirrels reward early starts in big timber: sit near a feeding tree at first light, listen for cuttings and use a partner to turn squirrels that circle the trunk. Fox squirrels are often easier to spot and harder to approach in open woods, so glass field edges and big lone trees, then stalk using cover, and favor a scoped .22 for the longer shots. Both make fine table fare, and a big fox squirrel yields noticeably more meat.
By the numbers
The traits the daily hunt game compares for each.
| Clue | Eastern Gray Squirrel | Fox Squirrel |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Small game | Small game |
| Habitat | Forest | Forest |
| Headgear | None | None |
| Region | Nationwide | Southern woods |
| Typical weight | 1 lb | 2 lb |
| Diet | Omnivore | Omnivore |
FAQ
Which is bigger, a fox squirrel or a gray squirrel?
The fox squirrel. It weighs 1 to 3 pounds and can top two feet long, while a gray squirrel weighs ¾ to 1½ pounds. The fox squirrel is the largest tree squirrel in North America.
Are black squirrels gray squirrels or fox squirrels?
They can be either. Most black squirrels in the North are dark gray squirrels, while black fox squirrels occur mainly in the South and East and are bigger, often with white on the face.
Do fox squirrels and gray squirrels live in the same woods?
Often, especially in the Midwest and South. Where they overlap, grays usually hold the denser timber and river bottoms, and fox squirrels the ridges, edges and open woodlots.
Do fox squirrels and gray squirrels taste different?
Not much. Both have mild, slightly nutty dark meat. Fox squirrels yield more meat per animal, and squirrels of either species that have fed on corn and nuts are often the best eating.
Could you tell them apart from a few clues? Test yourself in today's puzzle.
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