Florida is home to the eastern gray squirrel and the fox squirrel. They are a particularly annoying pest to humans because of their tendency to chew on anything, and their persistence in gaining access to areas not meant for their habitation. By constantly gnawing, squirrels keep their teeth sharp and, because squirrels' teeth grow continuously, it also prevents excessive growth of their teeth. In addition to noise, smells, and spreading disease, squirrels have been known to gnaw on and chew through live power cables, causing electrical shorts and even house fires.

Eastern grey squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis)

The eastern gray squirrel can be identified by its greyish-brown fur with the underside a lighter color, and silvery hairs at the tip of its tail. Eastern gray squirrels measure 17-20 inches in length. They can be found in rural and urban environments, and are most often found near oak, elm, or beach trees. While they live mostly in trees, they forage for food on the ground, usually during the daytime. Their diet includes acorns, berries, tree back, and seeds, which they store away to be retrieved later. They can locate food stored in hundreds of locations, which involves digging up the earth and any plants nearby to get to its food storage. 

Females can carry up to 2 litters per year, bearing 1-4 young, which they raise in tree branches or just as easily in attic spaces. They build a nest called a drey out of twigs and leaves gather for this purpose. 

Fox squirrel (Sciurus niger)

Growing up to 28 inches in length, the fox squirrel is the largest squirrel in Florida, and is sometimes also called the eastern fox squirrel or Bryant's squirrel. Their fur can range from a pale yellow-brown to grey or even black, with lighter colored fur on their underside. Their tails are long and bushy and their hind legs are very strong, which enables them to jump with ease to get where they want to go. Fox squirrels inhabit large, open wooded areas, mangroves, and pine and cedar trees. While some subspecies of fox squirrel are considered protected species, in the western part of the Florida panhandle a subspecies called Sherman's fox squirrel abounds. They consume nuts, buds, seeds, and fungi, and occasionally insects or eggs. 

Breeding takes place twice during the year, in the middle of summer and at the end of winter, however a female will typically only breed during one or the other. Female fox squirrels carry a litter of 1-5 young for 44 days, then wean the young for 2-3 months. Unlike eastern grey squirrels, fox squirrels spend nearly all of their time on the ground. Even when confronted with a threat, a fox squirrel is more likely to run along the ground than seek shelter in trees, which they use mostly just to access areas that might otherwise be inaccessible. 

Call us to speak directly with a trained Wildlife Specialist about squirrel removal.