7 Types of Squirrels in New York
New York is home to four main squirrel species: Eastern Gray, Fox, Red, and Southern Flying. Eastern Gray Squirrels dominate the state, especially in cities and suburbs, while the others occupy specific niches. This guide helps you tell them apart by size, tail shape, ear tufts, and habitat preferences. Start by checking your local park or backyard for the most obvious candidate, then use field marks to confirm what you are watching and narrow down your best viewing locations.
By Tim, founder of Easy Street Markets. I maintain the wildlife database and verify every animal and source myself. Updated June 27, 2026.
- 5
- species recorded
- April, May, September
- peak months
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
42,214 verified observations on iNaturalist of squirrel have been recorded in New York, most often in April, May, September.
New York is home to four main squirrel species: Eastern Gray, Fox, Red, and Southern Flying. Eastern Gray Squirrels dominate the state, especially in cities and suburbs, while the others occupy specific niches. This guide helps you tell them apart by size, tail shape, ear tufts, and habitat preferences. Start by checking your local park or backyard for the most obvious candidate, then use field marks to confirm what you are watching and narrow down your best viewing locations.
1. What are the four squirrel species in New York?
New York hosts four squirrel species. The Eastern Gray Squirrel (gray body, white belly, bushy tail, no ear tufts) is by far the most common, found in parks, suburbs, and woodlands statewide. The Fox Squirrel (larger, often with reddish belly and shoulder patches, longer body) is rare and restricted to open oak woodlands in the western part of the state, particularly around the Great Lakes region and some scattered populations in the Hudson Valley. The Red Squirrel (small, reddish-orange coat, white eye ring, black line along side, tufted ears) lives in coniferous and mixed forests, especially in the Adirondacks and Catskills. The Southern Flying Squirrel (large round eyes, flat tail, skin flap between legs, nocturnal) is found in mature hardwood and mixed forests statewide but rarely seen because it is strictly nocturnal.
See ourstate wildlife pagefor the next step.
In New York, squirrel sightings usually improve when you slow down and match your first stop to the most useful ID markers and likely lookalikes. Use thestate wildlife huband theroute guideto narrow your first area, then check access, weather, and distance before you settle in. A short walk with one clear viewing plan often beats covering too much ground, especially when habitat changes fast from open edges to brush, wetlands, timber, shoreline, or neighborhood cover.
2. How can you tell Eastern Gray Squirrel from Fox Squirrel?
Size and color are the most reliable differences. Fox Squirrels are noticeably larger, weighing up to 2.5 pounds with a body length of 10 to 15 inches, while Eastern Grays average 1.5 pounds and 8 to 10 inches. Fox Squirrels often show reddish or rusty coloring on the underside and tail edges, with a longer, more robust body and broader face. Eastern Grays are uniformly gray above with a white or pale belly, smaller head, and more delicate proportions. In New York, Fox Squirrels are genuinely rare and found only in scattered locations in the western part of the state, so if you are in eastern or central NY, you are almost certainly seeing a Gray Squirrel.
See ourSquirrels guidefor the next step.
Most misses happen when people arrive at the wrong hour or expect nonstop activity. Build around where in the state people usually notice them first, keep one backup area in mind, and use theanimal facts pageplustour planning ideasto compare what a realistic outing looks like in New York. If movement slows, stay longer at one promising spot, listen for calls or watch for edge movement, and reset around weather, light, water, or feeding changes instead of jumping to a totally new area too early.
3. Where in New York are you most likely to spot each squirrel?
Eastern Gray Squirrels live nearly everywhere: Central Park in Manhattan, suburban yards across Long Island and Westchester, city streets, college campuses, and mature forests in all regions. They thrive in deciduous and mixed forests as well as urban parks with large trees. Fox Squirrels occupy open oak woodlands and open country in the western part of the state, particularly along the Lake Erie and Ontario shorelines and scattered through the upper Hudson Valley. Very few Fox Squirrel populations remain in NY, making them uncommon finds. Red Squirrels are found mainly in coniferous forests, especially in the Adirondack Mountains and the Catskill region, where spruce, fir, and pine dominate. You may also find them in mixed forests with significant conifer presence in the northern tier. Southern Flying Squirrels inhabit mature hardwood forests, particularly oaks and hickories with dead snags for nesting, found statewide but most commonly in the Hudson Valley, Adirondacks, and Catskills. Start by looking for dreys (leaf balls) in trees high up, as this narrows your species quickly.
4. What is the best season for squirrel sightings in New York?
Fall is prime time: squirrels are active gathering and caching food for winter, and leaf drop makes them easier to spot. Early morning and late afternoon offer the best odds in all seasons. Winter sightings are also very good because bare branches reveal squirrels moving between trees and their dreys are visible. Spring brings increased activity as squirrels emerge from winter torpor, but dense new foliage hides them. Summer activity is high, but the thick canopy makes observation challenging. Southern Flying Squirrels are only active at night, so evening spotlighting in late summer and fall is your best bet.
5. What field marks separate Red Squirrel from the other species?
Red Squirrels are unmistakable once you know what to look for. They are half the size of an Eastern Gray Squirrel, weighing only 5 to 9 ounces. Their coat is reddish-orange or russet, and they have a bright white eye ring and a thin black line along their side separating the reddish back from the white belly. They have tufted ears that are especially noticeable in winter. Their tail is less bushy than a Gray Squirrel and held upright more often. Most distinctive is their voice: they are extremely vocal and often scold loudly from pine and spruce branches with a harsh chattering call. They are highly territorial and aggressive. Look for them around conifer stands in the Adirondacks, Catskills, and northern parts of New York.
6. How do you identify a Southern Flying Squirrel?
You will rarely see one because they are strictly nocturnal and gliding. The key field marks are large, black, prominent eyes (adapted for night vision), a flat tail held parallel to the ground when gliding, and a loose skin flap (patagium) stretching between front and back legs. When gliding, the body appears flat and the patagium forms a sail. They are smaller than an Eastern Gray, weighing 2 to 3 ounces. Listen for high-pitched chirps and soft trills at night. Best chance for observation is near dense hardwood and mixed forests with dead snags and cavities for nesting. Use a red flashlight or allow your eyes to adjust to darkness, as a white light may startle them. Winter is often the best season because activity continues and bare branches help you spot their eye shine and movement.
7. What size and weight range helps identify New York squirrels?
Size is a quick sorting tool. Southern Flying Squirrels are the smallest at 2 to 3 ounces. Red Squirrels weigh 5 to 9 ounces and are noticeably small and compact. Eastern Gray Squirrels are medium-sized at 1 to 1.5 pounds and 8 to 10 inches long. Fox Squirrels are the largest, often weighing 1.5 to 2.5 pounds or more and measuring 10 to 15 inches in body length. If you spot a large squirrel with a robust body in western NY, it may be a Fox Squirrel. Anywhere else, an average large squirrel is an Eastern Gray.
8. Do any introduced or invasive squirrel species live in New York?
No established populations of non-native squirrels are present in New York. All four squirrel species found here are native to the state. Some isolated escapes of pet squirrels occur, but they do not establish breeding populations in the wild. Eastern Gray Squirrels are not native to the western US but are native to New York and the entire eastern United States. All squirrels you see in NY are either Gray, Fox, Red, or Southern Flying Squirrel.
9. Where can I find squirrel-themed apparel for my next outing?
If you want to show off your squirrel ID skills, check out these t-shirts from Easy Street Markets.
Wild Wings Wildlife T-Shirt Gray Squirrel
A 100% cotton tee featuring a detailed gray squirrel graphic. Perfect for field trips or casual wear.Check Price and Availability
Squirrel Lover Vintage T-Shirt
A classic vintage-style tee for squirrel fans. Simple and comfortable.Check Price and Availability
Squirrel Shirt. Squirrel Gift. Squirrel Clothing.
Funny squirrel graphic shirt, great as a gift or for personal use.Check Price and Availability
For more options, browse ourt-shirtssection.
See ourtour planning ideasfor the next step.
Gear and field guides
Frequently asked questions
1. What are the four squirrel species in New York?+
New York hosts four squirrel species. The Eastern Gray Squirrel (gray body, white belly, bushy tail, no ear tufts) is by far the most common, found in parks, suburbs, and woodlands statewide. The Fox Squirrel (larger, often with reddish belly and shoulder patches, longer body) is rare and restricted to open oak woodlands in the western part of the state, particularly around the Great Lakes region and some scattered populations in the Hudson Valley. The Red Squirrel (small, reddish-orange coat, white eye ring, black line along side, tufted ears) lives in coniferous and mixed forests, especially in the Adirondacks and Catskills. The Southern Flying Squirrel (large round eyes, flat tail, skin flap between legs, nocturnal) is found in mature hardwood and mixed forests statewide but rarely seen because it is strictly nocturnal. See ourstate wildlife pagefor the next step. In New York, squirrel sightings usually improve when you slow down and match your first stop to the most useful ID markers and likely lookalikes. Use thestate wildlife huband theroute guideto narrow your first area, then check access, weather, and distance before you settle in. A short walk with one clear viewing plan often beats covering too much ground, especially when habitat changes fast from open edges to brush, wetlands, timber, shoreline, or neighborhood cover.
2. How can you tell Eastern Gray Squirrel from Fox Squirrel?+
Size and color are the most reliable differences. Fox Squirrels are noticeably larger, weighing up to 2.5 pounds with a body length of 10 to 15 inches, while Eastern Grays average 1.5 pounds and 8 to 10 inches. Fox Squirrels often show reddish or rusty coloring on the underside and tail edges, with a longer, more robust body and broader face. Eastern Grays are uniformly gray above with a white or pale belly, smaller head, and more delicate proportions. In New York, Fox Squirrels are genuinely rare and found only in scattered locations in the western part of the state, so if you are in eastern or central NY, you are almost certainly seeing a Gray Squirrel. See ourSquirrels guidefor the next step. Most misses happen when people arrive at the wrong hour or expect nonstop activity. Build around where in the state people usually notice them first, keep one backup area in mind, and use theanimal facts pageplustour planning ideasto compare what a realistic outing looks like in New York. If movement slows, stay longer at one promising spot, listen for calls or watch for edge movement, and reset around weather, light, water, or feeding changes instead of jumping to a totally new area too early.
3. Where in New York are you most likely to spot each squirrel?+
Eastern Gray Squirrels live nearly everywhere: Central Park in Manhattan, suburban yards across Long Island and Westchester, city streets, college campuses, and mature forests in all regions. They thrive in deciduous and mixed forests as well as urban parks with large trees. Fox Squirrels occupy open oak woodlands and open country in the western part of the state, particularly along the Lake Erie and Ontario shorelines and scattered through the upper Hudson Valley. Very few Fox Squirrel populations remain in NY, making them uncommon finds. Red Squirrels are found mainly in coniferous forests, especially in the Adirondack Mountains and the Catskill region, where spruce, fir, and pine dominate. You may also find them in mixed forests with significant conifer presence in the northern tier. Southern Flying Squirrels inhabit mature hardwood forests, particularly oaks and hickories with dead snags for nesting, found statewide but most commonly in the Hudson Valley, Adirondacks, and Catskills. Start by looking for dreys (leaf balls) in trees high up, as this narrows your species quickly.
4. What is the best season for squirrel sightings in New York?+
Fall is prime time: squirrels are active gathering and caching food for winter, and leaf drop makes them easier to spot. Early morning and late afternoon offer the best odds in all seasons. Winter sightings are also very good because bare branches reveal squirrels moving between trees and their dreys are visible. Spring brings increased activity as squirrels emerge from winter torpor, but dense new foliage hides them. Summer activity is high, but the thick canopy makes observation challenging. Southern Flying Squirrels are only active at night, so evening spotlighting in late summer and fall is your best bet.
5. What field marks separate Red Squirrel from the other species?+
Red Squirrels are unmistakable once you know what to look for. They are half the size of an Eastern Gray Squirrel, weighing only 5 to 9 ounces. Their coat is reddish-orange or russet, and they have a bright white eye ring and a thin black line along their side separating the reddish back from the white belly. They have tufted ears that are especially noticeable in winter. Their tail is less bushy than a Gray Squirrel and held upright more often. Most distinctive is their voice: they are extremely vocal and often scold loudly from pine and spruce branches with a harsh chattering call. They are highly territorial and aggressive. Look for them around conifer stands in the Adirondacks, Catskills, and northern parts of New York.
6. How do you identify a Southern Flying Squirrel?+
You will rarely see one because they are strictly nocturnal and gliding. The key field marks are large, black, prominent eyes (adapted for night vision), a flat tail held parallel to the ground when gliding, and a loose skin flap (patagium) stretching between front and back legs. When gliding, the body appears flat and the patagium forms a sail. They are smaller than an Eastern Gray, weighing 2 to 3 ounces. Listen for high-pitched chirps and soft trills at night. Best chance for observation is near dense hardwood and mixed forests with dead snags and cavities for nesting. Use a red flashlight or allow your eyes to adjust to darkness, as a white light may startle them. Winter is often the best season because activity continues and bare branches help you spot their eye shine and movement.
7. What size and weight range helps identify New York squirrels?+
Size is a quick sorting tool. Southern Flying Squirrels are the smallest at 2 to 3 ounces. Red Squirrels weigh 5 to 9 ounces and are noticeably small and compact. Eastern Gray Squirrels are medium-sized at 1 to 1.5 pounds and 8 to 10 inches long. Fox Squirrels are the largest, often weighing 1.5 to 2.5 pounds or more and measuring 10 to 15 inches in body length. If you spot a large squirrel with a robust body in western NY, it may be a Fox Squirrel. Anywhere else, an average large squirrel is an Eastern Gray.
8. Do any introduced or invasive squirrel species live in New York?+
No established populations of non-native squirrels are present in New York. All four squirrel species found here are native to the state. Some isolated escapes of pet squirrels occur, but they do not establish breeding populations in the wild. Eastern Gray Squirrels are not native to the western US but are native to New York and the entire eastern United States. All squirrels you see in NY are either Gray, Fox, Red, or Southern Flying Squirrel.
9. Where can I find squirrel-themed apparel for my next outing?+
If you want to show off your squirrel ID skills, check out these t-shirts from Easy Street Markets. ### Wild Wings Wildlife T-Shirt Gray Squirrel A 100% cotton tee featuring a detailed gray squirrel graphic. Perfect for field trips or casual wear.Check Price and Availability ### Squirrel Lover Vintage T-Shirt A classic vintage-style tee for squirrel fans. Simple and comfortable.Check Price and Availability ### Squirrel Shirt. Squirrel Gift. Squirrel Clothing. Funny squirrel graphic shirt, great as a gift or for personal use.Check Price and Availability For more options, browse ourt-shirtssection. See ourtour planning ideasfor the next step.
Keep exploring
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