Squirrels in North Carolina: Where to Look and What Signs to Watch For

Eastern gray squirrels are found in every corner of the state, adapting easily to both deep woods and urban settings. Fox squirrels are less common and prefer the open pine forests of the Piedmont and coastal plains. Start your search in state parks like William B. Umstead or any neighborhood with mature hardwood trees. For a wider look at where these animals thrive, check our North Carolina wildlife hub. Sightings usually improve when you slow down and match your first stop to where the animal is most likely to be found. Use the state wildlife hub and the route guide to narrow your search area before settling in.

Squirrels are most active just after sunrise and a few hours before sunset, a pattern known as crepuscular activity. In the heat of a North Carolina summer, they often take a midday rest in their nests or on shaded branches. For the best odds, plan your walk around 7 to 9 a.m. or 4 to 6 p.m. You will see them foraging for food, chasing one another, or carefully storing nuts for the winter. Learn more about their daily habits and survival strategies on the squirrel animal page.

Look for four toed front tracks and five toed hind tracks, which are often grouped together in a bounding pattern. Squirrel droppings are small, round pellets usually found near feeding sites. Chewed nutshells and stripped pine cones are clear indicators that a squirrel has been active in the area. Listen for the sound of rustling leaves or their distinctive barking calls which they use to warn of predators. These clues help you spot squirrels even when they stay hidden in the canopy. See our state animal guide for the next step.

While gray and fox squirrels are seen by day, the southern flying squirrel is North Carolina's secret nocturnal resident. These small, wide eyed squirrels possess a specialized membrane of skin that allows them to glide between trees. They are common across the state but are rarely seen because they only emerge after dark. To find them, visit an oak forest at night with a red filtered flashlight and listen for their soft, high pitched squeaks. They often nest in old woodpecker holes or birdhouses, making them a fascinating subject for patient night watchers.

As fall approaches, squirrels enter a phase of frantic activity called scatter hoarding. They spend hours gathering acorns and hickory nuts, burying each one in a different shallow hole. This strategy prevents a single competitor from finding their entire winter food supply. They also spend time reinforcing their nests, known as dreys, with extra leaves and twigs to provide insulation against the cold. In the North Carolina mountains, this preparation is critical for surviving the snowy winter months when food is scarce.