Squirrels in Illinois in June

Yes, June is a good month to see squirrels in Illinois. It is the 6th busiest month of the year, with 2,094 of the 24,549 sightings logged across the year (8.5%), based on verified iNaturalist records.

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By Tim, founder of Easy Street Markets. I maintain the wildlife database and verify every animal and source myself. Updated June 28, 2026.

Eastern Chipmunk photographed in IllinoisEastern Gray Squirrel photographed in IllinoisEastern Gray Squirrel photographed in Illinois
Photos by iNaturalist observers, used under Creative Commons.

Good month for squirrels in Illinois

8.5%

of yearly sightings

2,094

records in June

#6

busiest month of 12

24,549

verified records a year

May 12.8%, June 8.5%, July 5.2%. Busiest month is April at 14.8%.

Best months: April, May, September

24,549 verified observations of squirrels in Illinois, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.

When squirrels are recorded in Illinois

Peak month

April

3,644 records (14.8% of the year)

Quietest month

July

1,284 records

MonthObservationsShare
January1,2995.3%
February1,3095.3%
March2,2909.3%
Aprilpeak3,64414.8%
Maypeak3,13612.8%
June2,0948.5%
July1,2845.2%
August1,5346.2%
Septemberpeak2,50110.2%
October2,4169.8%
November1,7507.1%
December1,2925.3%

Squirrels you are most likely to see

SpeciesVerified observations
Eastern Gray Squirrel13,881
Eastern Chipmunk4,523
Eastern Fox Squirrel3,453
Groundhog1,523
Thirteen-lined Ground Squirrel510
Southern Flying Squirrel177
American Red Squirrel81
Franklin's Ground Squirrel5

In Illinois, June carries 8.5% of the year's squirrels sightings, about 0.2 points above an even month-to-month split. That makes it the 6th busiest of the twelve months, out of 12 months with recorded activity.

Activity is easing off from May (12.8%) into June, and it heads toward July (5.2%) after. The busiest month is April (14.8%), so if timing is flexible, that window is the safer bet.

The squirrels most often recorded in Illinois are Eastern Gray Squirrel, Eastern Chipmunk and Eastern Fox Squirrel. Those counts are annual totals rather than a June split, so treat them as which species you are likely to encounter, while the month figures above show how many sightings fall in June itself.

Which squirrels you are most likely to see

  • Eastern Gray Squirrel13,881 records
  • Eastern Chipmunk4,523 records
  • Eastern Fox Squirrel3,453 records
  • Groundhog1,523 records
  • Thirteen-lined Ground Squirrel510 records
  • Southern Flying Squirrel177 records
Plan your tripLewis & Clark National Historic Trail

Plan your squirrel trip in Illinois

Start with live tours near Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail, then compare a nearby stay and a broader wildlife backup before you lock in the trip.

Gear to see them

Frequently asked questions

Can you see squirrels in Illinois in June?+

Yes. June accounts for 2,094 of the 24,549 verified squirrels sightings logged in Illinois across the year, which is 8.5% of the annual total.

Is June a good time to see squirrels in Illinois?+

June is the 6th busiest month. It is workable, though April and May is the stronger window for a reliable sighting.

What month is best for squirrels in Illinois?+

April is the single busiest month, with the broader peak running through April, May and September, based on 24,549 verified observations.

Which squirrels are you most likely to see in Illinois?+

The most-recorded species in Illinois are Eastern Gray Squirrel, Eastern Chipmunk and Eastern Fox Squirrel, based on all-time iNaturalist counts.