Best Time to See Squirrels in the US
April, May and June is the best time to see squirrels in the United States. This is a national picture built from 885,831 verified iNaturalist observations across 49 states, showing when and where squirrels are most active.
By Tim, founder of Easy Street Markets. I maintain the wildlife database and verify every animal and source myself.
885,831 verified observations of squirrels in the US, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.
When squirrels are recorded in the US
Peak month
April
120,590 records (13.6% of the year)
| Month | Observations | Share |
|---|---|---|
| January | 42,368 | 4.8% |
| February | 48,921 | 5.5% |
| March | 71,157 | 8% |
| Aprilpeak | 120,590 | 13.6% |
| Maypeak | 110,930 | 12.5% |
| Junepeak | 99,191 | 11.2% |
| July | 79,204 | 8.9% |
| August | 68,885 | 7.8% |
| September | 82,193 | 9.3% |
| October | 74,560 | 8.4% |
| November | 48,769 | 5.5% |
| December | 39,063 | 4.4% |
Squirrels you are most likely to see
| Species | Verified observations |
|---|---|
| Eastern Gray Squirrel | 279,648 |
| Eastern Fox Squirrel | 156,787 |
| Eastern Chipmunk | 70,477 |
| California Ground Squirrel | 59,202 |
| Groundhog | 43,176 |
| American Red Squirrel | 38,298 |
| Common Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel | 19,984 |
| Western Gray Squirrel | 19,760 |
Across the country, squirrels sightings peak in April, when 120,590 of the 885,831 annual observations are logged, about 13.6% of the national total. Nationwide activity stays high through April, May and June.
The best states to see squirrels by recorded sightings are California (172,073), Texas (77,538), New York (42,378), Colorado (39,058) and Florida (36,860). Each state page below breaks the year down month by month for that state.
The squirrels you are most likely to encounter nationwide are Eastern Gray Squirrel, Eastern Fox Squirrel and Eastern Chipmunk, the most-recorded species across all states combined.
Best states to see squirrels
- squirrels in California172,073 sightings, peak April
- squirrels in Texas77,538 sightings, peak April
- squirrels in New York42,378 sightings, peak April
- squirrels in Colorado39,058 sightings, peak July
- squirrels in Florida36,860 sightings, peak October
- squirrels in Massachusetts31,157 sightings, peak April
- squirrels in Washington27,888 sightings, peak August
- squirrels in Pennsylvania27,430 sightings, peak May
- squirrels in Ohio26,286 sightings, peak May
- squirrels in North Carolina24,942 sightings, peak April
- squirrels in Oregon24,557 sightings, peak May
- squirrels in Illinois24,549 sightings, peak April
- squirrels in Arizona24,540 sightings, peak May
- squirrels in Virginia23,584 sightings, peak April
- squirrels in Michigan22,559 sightings, peak May
Most-recorded squirrels species nationwide
- Eastern Gray Squirrel279,648 records
- Eastern Fox Squirrel156,787 records
- Eastern Chipmunk70,477 records
- California Ground Squirrel59,202 records
- Groundhog43,176 records
- American Red Squirrel38,298 records
Plan your squirrel trip in California
Start with live tours near California, then compare a nearby stay and a broader wildlife backup before you lock in the trip.
GetYourGuide
Live tours nearbySee live tours near California
Use the live GetYourGuide widget to compare local departures and activity styles close to the main squirrel viewing area.
Booking.com
Stay nearbyStay near California
Compare hotels, cabins and lodges close to the best squirrel viewing area in California.
Viator
Broader backupBook a squirrel tour in California
Compare guided wildlife tours, boat trips and nature experiences if you want a second travel network beyond the live widget.
Gear to see them
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to see squirrels in the US?+
April is the single best month nationwide, with the broader peak running through April, May and June, based on 885,831 verified observations across 49 states.
Which states are best for seeing squirrels?+
By recorded sightings, the top states are California, Texas and New York. California leads with 172,073 verified observations.
How many squirrels sightings are recorded in the US each year?+
About 885,831 verified squirrels observations are logged on iNaturalist across 49 states with enough data to chart a seasonal pattern.
What kinds of squirrels live in the US?+
The most-recorded species nationwide are Eastern Gray Squirrel, Eastern Fox Squirrel and Eastern Chipmunk, based on all-time iNaturalist counts.