Are There Squirrels in New York?
Yes, squirrels are extremely common throughout New York City and the surrounding metropolitan area. Eastern gray squirrels dominate urban parks, neighborhoods, and street trees across Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx. Central Park alone hosts thousands of squirrels. You'll spot them year-round in city parks, rooftops, and residential areas throughout the five boroughs.
By Tim, founder of Easy Street Markets. I maintain the wildlife database and verify every animal and source myself. Updated July 23, 2026.
Southern Flying Squirrel · Hila Taylor CC BY
Eastern Gray Squirrel · Andrew Garn CC BY
Eastern Gray Squirrel · eml23 CC BY
- 7
- species recorded
- 39,843
- GBIF records
- April, May, September
- peak months
Yes, squirrels are in New York. Next you'll want:
Verified species, source iNaturalist
7 types of squirrels recorded in New York
7 squirrel species have a verified observation record in New York across the squirrel family (Sciuridae), each with at least 10 confirmed sightings. The full list, ranked by how often each is recorded, is below.
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Counts from verified iNaturalist observations. Photos by iNaturalist observers, reused under the licence each observer chose.
Real sighting data, source iNaturalist
42,378 verified observations on iNaturalist of squirrel have been recorded in New York, most often in April, May, September.
When squirrel are recorded in New York
Yes, squirrels are extremely common throughout New York City and the surrounding metropolitan area. Eastern gray squirrels dominate urban parks, neighborhoods, and street trees across Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx. Central Park alone hosts thousands of squirrels. You'll spot them year-round in city parks, rooftops, and residential areas throughout the five boroughs.
Where Squirrels Live in and Around New York
Eastern gray squirrels inhabit virtually every neighborhood and park in New York City. Central Park, the iconic 843-acre urban forest, is perhaps the most famous squirrel habitat in the city with dense populations throughout its meadows, woodlands, and open areas. Prospect Park in Brooklyn provides similar habitat and hosts strong squirrel areas. Washington Square Park in Greenwich Village sees constant squirrel activity. Madison Square Park offers concentrated populations accessible to midtown visitors. Tompkins Square Park and Union Square in the East Village support established squirrel populations. Battery Park at Manhattan's southern tip provides habitat along the waterfront. The Hudson River Greenway extends squirrel habitat for miles along the Manhattan shoreline. East River Park offers tree-lined paths where squirrels navigate both park areas and adjacent neighborhoods. Riverside Park and Morningside Park on the Upper West Side contain populations among mature trees. The Bronx hosts larger populations in Van Cortlandt Park and Pelham Bay Park. Astoria Park in Queens provides substantial habitat. Residential neighborhoods throughout all five boroughs support squirrels adapted to street trees, building escapes, and private yards. Explore /wildlife/{state_slug} guides to understand regional wildlife diversity. For more on squirrel in New York, see ourNew York squirrel guide.
Seasonal Activity and Timing Patterns
New York squirrels remain active year-round but follow distinct seasonal patterns. Winter is their challenging season, yet they persist through snow and cold using cached food reserves stored during fall months. Spring, beginning in March, brings increased activity as squirrels emerge hungry and males enter breeding season with visible territorial chasing. April through May shows peak breeding activity with males pursuing females through trees and across open park areas. Late spring and early summer provide abundant food as trees produce nuts and seeds, and insects become available. Summer sees continued high activity early in the morning and again in late afternoon as squirrels avoid midday heat. Fall, September through November, becomes frantic as squirrels gather and bury thousands of acorns and nuts for winter survival. This caching behavior intensifies when oak trees drop acorns abundantly. Late fall through early winter shows declining activity but regular movement as squirrels access buried food. Mild winters see more activity than harsh ones, but snow doesn't stop them. You can observe seasonal changes dramatically in Central Park and other major parks. The /wildlife/new-york resource provides information about how all New York wildlife responds to seasonal changes. You can also browseNew York wildlife.
How to Identify Squirrels in New York
Eastern gray squirrels are the squirrel species in New York City, though occasional fox squirrels appear in outer borough neighborhoods. Eastern grays measure 9 to 12 inches in body length with equally impressive bushy tails that can be 8 to 10 inches long. Their thick fur appears gray on the upper body and sides, with white or pale gray on the belly and underside. The tail displays darker gray coloring with white-tipped hairs creating a frosted appearance. Ears are prominent, tufted in winter, and lack tufts in summer. Their eyes are large and dark, and their nose is small and pink. Visible chisel-shaped front teeth indicate their rodent classification. Younger squirrels appear generally smaller but share the same coloring as adults. Some individuals display darker or reddish coloration, though pure black eastern grays rarely occur in New York. Their acrobatic movement and fluid running style distinguish them from slower-moving rodents. Listen for their distinctive raspy chatter and alarm calls that sound like rapid barking. Vocal communication includes softer twittering when they're calm. The tail moves expressively, twitching rapidly when they're alerting others to danger. Understanding these characteristics helps you appreciate the squirrels you observe in /wildlife scenes throughout the city. See all of ourwildlife guides.
Where Squirrel Sightings Concentrate in New York
Central Park stands as the premier observation location for New York squirrels, with year-round populations numbering in the thousands. The park's diverse habitat, from mature hardwood forests to open meadows, supports stable squirrel areas. Specific areas like the ramble offer excellent viewing opportunities among dense trees. Bethesda Terrace and the surrounding areas see consistent squirrel activity. Prospect Park in Brooklyn rivals Central Park for squirrel populations and offers similar viewing opportunities. Washington Square Park in lower Manhattan provides urban squirrel watching within the Greenwich Village neighborhood. Madison Square Park, smaller but concentrated, offers easy observation at lunchtime. Union Square hosts frequent squirrel activity, particularly on the eastern side near mature trees. Tompkins Square Park on the Lower East Side provides reliable sightings. Battery Park at the southern tip of Manhattan offers waterfront observations. Riverside Park along the Hudson features squirrel activity in tree-lined sections from the upper west side north. Morningside Park contains healthy populations among its steep terrain and mature trees. In the Bronx, Van Cortlandt Park and Pelham Bay Park host substantial populations. Astoria Park in Queens offers viewing opportunities along the East River waterfront. Tree-lined residential streets throughout Brooklyn, particularly in Park Slope and Williamsburg, support active squirrel areas. The /wildlife guide helps you locate and enjoy wildlife observation sites throughout the metropolitan area. OurNew York wildlife guidecovers more species you may run into.
Typical Squirrel Behavior and Daily Routines
New York squirrels display behavior adapted to dense urban environments and demanding seasons. They're diurnal and most active at dawn and dusk when they forage for food and engage in territorial displays. Their diet varies seasonally: spring offers tender tree buds and leaves, summer brings seeds and insects, fall focuses intensely on acorn and nut collection, and winter relies almost entirely on cached foods. Urban squirrels have learned to exploit human food sources, though wild diet remains their preference. They're territorial, defending core ranges particularly during breeding season, creating the dramatic chases observed in parks. Males become highly vocal and visible during spring breeding, pursuing females relentlessly. Mating occurs twice yearly, spring and summer, though fall breeding is occasionally observed. Females raise two litters annually, with young departing the nest around eight weeks. Squirrels communicate through vocalizations including chirps, barks, and chatters that serve different purposes like alarm calls or territorial warnings. Their tails move expressively to communicate mood and alert nearby squirrels to danger. They're excellent jumpers, capable of spanning 8 to 10 feet between branches and buildings. Hibernation doesn't occur, but they reduce activity dramatically during harsh winter weather. Behavioral observation reveals the complex social structures and communication systems of urban squirrel populations. Read more aboutsquirrel in New York.
Coexistence, Safety, and Legal Protections
Squirrels in New York City pose minimal threat to human safety and rarely cause serious problems. They naturally fear and avoid people, fleeing at approach. While street trees and park squirrels may appear bold or accustomed to human presence, they maintain wariness and won't approach unless food is offered. Never attempt to hand-feed squirrels in parks or elsewhere. This creates dependency, encourages aggressive behavior over food, and can result in minor bites or scratches. Squirrels in parks should be observed without manipulation or feeding. All wild squirrels are protected under New York State law. Harming, trapping, or illegally removing squirrels violates state wildlife regulations. If squirrels access your building or attic, contact licensed wildlife professionals rather than attempting removal yourself. Secure garbage containers and avoid leaving pet food outdoors to prevent attracting squirrels to human structures where they might cause damage. Most damage complaints arise from squirrels accessing attics or gnawing on siding. Professional exclusion using appropriate materials solves these issues humanely. The New York Department of Environmental Conservation provides guidance on wildlife coexistence. Tree squirrels in the city's parks are protected inhabitants with full legal rights as native wildlife. Learning to coexist peacefully enriches your urban wildlife experience. Visit /wildlife/new-york for comprehensive information about responsible wildlife observation and safety. Browsewildlife in New Yorkfor related pages.
Species You Might Confuse with Squirrels
While eastern gray squirrels are distinctive and unmistakable to most observers, several other animals inhabit New York and might be mistaken for squirrels or vice versa. Rats, particularly roof rats and Norway rats common in buildings and streets, are much smaller, lack bushy tails, and have thin scaly rat tails entirely unlike squirrel tails. Opossums, surprisingly common in urban areas throughout the city, are larger than squirrels, grayish-white, move slowly, and have pointed snouts and hairless tails. Raccoons, substantial animals, are much larger, display distinctive black facial masks, and have ringed tails. Muskrats, found in waterfront areas and parks with water features, are smaller than squirrels, lack bushy tails, and are semi-aquatic. Groundhogs or woodchucks, burrowing rodents found in outer areas and parks, are significantly larger and don't climb trees as readily. Chipmunks, which some people expect in New York parks, are absent from the city proper though occasional populations exist in outlying areas. Eastern flying squirrels are nocturnal and extremely rare in city parks, preferring forest habitats in surrounding regions. Distinguishing these species improves wildlife identification skills. Your understanding enhances park observations and neighborhood wildlife appreciation. For detailed species information, explore /wildlife resources available throughout New York State.
Frequently Asked Questions About New York Squirrels
Why are squirrels so bold in parks like Central Park? Generations of exposure to people without negative consequences has created unafraid squirrels. While they retain natural wariness, park squirrels don't flee at human approach the way rural squirrels do. This isn't taming or friendliness but habituation to the urban environment. Should I feed squirrels in Central Park or other parks? No, feeding wild squirrels harms their health and creates behavioral problems. Concentrated populations of fed squirrels develop aggression and disease spread accelerates in crowded conditions. Natural foraging remains healthier for squirrel populations. Can squirrels survive winter in New York City? Yes, eastern gray squirrels are adapted to New York winters. They grow thicker fur, reduce activity during severe cold, and rely on cached food reserves buried throughout fall. Their survival requires abundant autumn nut crops, which most years provide. Do squirrels in the city have different behaviors than suburban squirrels? Urban squirrels display greater boldness but maintain same fundamental behaviors. They navigate vertical urban structures instead of forest canopies but forage similarly. Population density is higher in cities but individual territorial behavior remains constant. The /wildlife/new-york guide provides comprehensive information about urban wildlife adaptation and behavior.
Gear and field guides
Plan your trip
Best time to see squirrel in New York: April, May, September
See the month-by-month sighting calendar.
Plan your squirrel sighting in New York
39,843 verified squirrel records have been logged in New York, most recently in 2026. See the GBIF records.
Where to look in New York
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