6 Types of Squirrels in Maryland

1. What types of squirrels are found in Maryland?

Maryland is home to five squirrel species. Three are common tree squirrels: the eastern gray squirrel (*Sciurus carolinensis*), the fox squirrel (*Sciurus niger*), and the red squirrel (*Tamiasciurus hudsonicus*). The fourth is the southern flying squirrel (*Glaucomys volans*), which is native and fairly widespread but nocturnal, so most people never see one. The fifth is the eastern chipmunk (*Tamias striatus*), a small ground squirrel that is technically part of the squirrel family.

The eastern gray is by far the most widespread, common in both rural and urban areas. Fox squirrels are larger and prefer open woodlands, with a special note for the Eastern Shore, where the federally protected Delmarva fox squirrel lives. Red squirrels are smaller, noisier, and mostly found in coniferous or mixed forests in western Maryland.

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2. How can you tell the eastern gray squirrel from other squirrels?

The eastern gray squirrel has a grayish-brown body with a white or pale belly and a bushy tail edged in white-tipped hairs. Its tail often flicks in a distinct S-shape when it moves, and it is quick and agile in the canopy. In contrast, the fox squirrel is noticeably larger (up to about 28 inches including the tail) and has a rusty orange belly and a heavier build. The red squirrel is only about half the size of a gray, reddish-brown above, and has a white eye ring. The eastern chipmunk is far smaller still and wears bold black and white stripes down its back.

A quick rule of thumb: if it is gray with a white-fringed tail and lives in your neighborhood, it is almost certainly an eastern gray. Tail shape and color, body size, and belly color are your fastest field marks.

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3. Where in Maryland do people most often see squirrels?

Squirrels are common statewide, but you'll have the best luck in areas with large nut-bearing trees. Try Patapsco Valley State Park, Rock Creek Regional Park, or the Catoctin Mountains for gray squirrels. Fox squirrels are most reliable on the Eastern Shore, especially near Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge, which is also the stronghold of the protected Delmarva subspecies. Red squirrels are easiest to spot in the western counties like Garrett and Allegany, around Deep Creek Lake.

Suburban backyards with bird feeders are excellent spots for gray squirrels and chipmunks, and a feeder left out after dark in a wooded yard can occasionally reveal a southern flying squirrel gliding in. For a state animal overview, see ourMaryland squirrels guidefor the next step.

4. When is the best time of year to spot different squirrel species?

Squirrels are active year-round, but fall is prime for sightings because they spend more time gathering acorns and nuts before winter. Early morning around sunrise and late afternoon are the best times of day. In spring, you may see juveniles exploring near nest trees.

Red squirrels are especially busy in late summer and early fall when they cut and cache conifer cones. Fox squirrels are less active in midday heat, so early morning works best for them. Chipmunks are most visible from spring through early fall and go quiet underground during the coldest stretches of winter. Southern flying squirrels are active only at night, all year. Winter tracking in fresh snow can reveal squirrel and chipmunk activity even when the animals themselves stay hidden.

5. What are the key field marks for identifying a fox squirrel?

The fox squirrel is Maryland's largest tree squirrel, reaching up to about 2.5 feet from nose to tail tip. Look for a rusty orange belly and, in some populations, a black face patch. Its tail is very bushy and often held flat behind the body. Unlike the gray squirrel, the fox squirrel tends to spend more time on the ground and moves in a slower, more deliberate way. Its ears are small and rounded, and it lacks the white tail fringe of the gray squirrel.

On the Eastern Shore, a large pale silvery-gray squirrel with a frosted look is likely the Delmarva fox squirrel, a distinct and protected subspecies covered in the section below. Elsewhere in Maryland, the more typical reddish fox squirrel is the one to expect, though it is much less common than the gray.

6. How do red squirrels differ from gray squirrels in Maryland?

Red squirrels are noticeably smaller than grays and far more vocal. They have a reddish-brown coat with a whitish belly and a distinct white eye ring. Their tail is less bushy than a gray's and often shows a reddish or black-edged tip. Behaviorally, red squirrels are bold and territorial, with rapid chattering and scolding calls that carry through the woods.

Habitat is a strong clue. Red squirrels favor coniferous and mixed forests and are concentrated in western Maryland, while gray squirrels are habitat generalists found across the whole state. If you see a small, energetic squirrel about half the size of a gray, scolding loudly and chasing larger squirrels away, it is almost certainly a red squirrel.

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8. What is the Delmarva fox squirrel and where can you see it?

The Delmarva fox squirrel (*Sciurus niger cinereus*) is a distinct subspecies of fox squirrel found on Maryland's Eastern Shore, and it is one of the state's most notable squirrels. It is large and heavy, with a full bushy tail and a pale silvery-gray coat that looks frosted, quite different from the rusty reddish fox squirrels found elsewhere. It moves slowly and spends a lot of time on the ground, often in mature stands of loblolly pine and hardwood near agricultural fields.

This subspecies was once federally listed as endangered. After decades of recovery work it was removed from the endangered species list in 2015, but it remains protected and its range is still limited mostly to the lower Eastern Shore counties. The best place to look is Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge in Dorchester County, where the population is well established. Nearby refuges and protected woodlands on the Delmarva Peninsula are also worth checking. If you spot a large, frosty gray squirrel on the Eastern Shore moving deliberately along the forest floor, you may well be looking at one. Observe it from a distance and do not disturb it.

9. Are there flying squirrels and chipmunks in Maryland?

Yes to both. The southern flying squirrel is native and reasonably common across much of Maryland, but it is strictly nocturnal, so most residents never see one despite living near them. It does not truly fly. It glides between trees using a furred membrane stretched between its front and back legs. Look for it after dark in mature forests with plenty of dead snags and cavity trees, and listen for soft high chirps. Backyard feeders in wooded areas sometimes attract them at night.

The eastern chipmunk is the state's only chipmunk and is part of the squirrel family. It is small, with reddish-brown fur and bold black and white stripes running down its back and across its face. Unlike the tree squirrels, it lives mostly on the ground and in burrows, often near stone walls, log piles, and woodland edges. You will see it darting across yards and trails with its tail held straight up. Chipmunks are most active in the warmer months and store seeds and nuts in cheek pouches for their underground caches.

10. Which squirrel is most common in Maryland backyards?

The eastern gray squirrel is the species you are most likely to see in a Maryland backyard, hands down. It thrives in suburbs and cities, raids bird feeders, builds leaf nests called dreys in shade trees, and is active during the day all year. If a squirrel is climbing your feeder pole at noon, it is almost always a gray.

The eastern chipmunk is the next most common backyard visitor, especially in yards with stone walls, brush piles, or wooded edges, though it stays on the ground rather than the feeder. Fox squirrels and red squirrels turn up in backyards only in the specific regions where they are common, the Eastern Shore and the western mountains. Southern flying squirrels may visit wooded yards but only after dark, so a daytime feeder squirrel is never a flying squirrel.

11. Are any Maryland squirrels protected or of conservation concern?

Yes. The Delmarva fox squirrel is the one to know. It was federally listed as endangered for many years and recovered enough to be removed from the list in 2015, but it is still a protected subspecies with a limited Eastern Shore range, and harassing or harming it is not allowed. Conservation of its mature pine and hardwood habitat remains important to keeping the population stable.

Maryland's other squirrels, the eastern gray, the more widespread reddish fox squirrels, the red squirrel, the southern flying squirrel, and the eastern chipmunk, are not endangered and are common where their habitats occur. They are still wildlife, so the sensible approach is to watch from a distance, avoid feeding them processed food, and never handle them. If you find an injured squirrel of any kind, contact a licensed Maryland wildlife rehabilitator rather than trying to care for it yourself.

12. Frequently asked questions about Maryland squirrels

**How many squirrel species live in Maryland?** Five: the eastern gray, the fox squirrel (including the protected Delmarva fox squirrel on the Eastern Shore), the red squirrel, the southern flying squirrel, and the eastern chipmunk. The gray is the most common by far.

**Are there flying squirrels in Maryland?** Yes, the southern flying squirrel is native but strictly nocturnal, so it is rarely seen. Look for it in mature forests with dead snags, and occasionally at night feeders in wooded yards.

**Is the Delmarva fox squirrel still endangered?** It was federally delisted in 2015 after a long recovery, but it remains a protected subspecies with a limited Eastern Shore range. Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge is the best place to see one.

**Do fox squirrels live in western Maryland?** Typical reddish fox squirrels are uncommon and patchy there, and gray squirrels dominate the west. The fox squirrel's Maryland stronghold is the coastal plain and Eastern Shore.

**What should I do if I find a baby squirrel?** If it is uninjured and fully furred, leave it alone, since the mother will usually retrieve it. If it is injured or clearly orphaned, contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator.

**Can I feed squirrels in my backyard?** It is legal, but avoid bread and processed foods. Offer unsalted nuts, seeds, and fresh water, and keep feeders clean.

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