8 Types of Squirrels in South Dakota

1. What squirrel species live in South Dakota?

South Dakota hosts three main tree squirrel species: the eastern fox squirrel, the eastern gray squirrel, and the red squirrel. The fox squirrel is the largest and most widespread, weighing 1.5 to 2.5 pounds and ranging from rusty orange to black in color. Gray squirrels are smaller, at 0.75 to 1.5 pounds, with silvery-gray uppers and white bellies. Red squirrels are the tiniest of the three, weighing only 0.5 to 0.75 pounds, with reddish coats and distinctive tufted ears.

Fox squirrels are found across the entire state, though they're most abundant in the eastern counties and around river bottoms. Gray squirrels are common in the eastern counties, particularly in parks, residential neighborhoods, and oak-dominated forests. Red squirrels are mostly confined to the Black Hills and northern forests where pine trees dominate. A fourth species, the northern flying squirrel, also inhabits the Black Hills and northern hardwood forests, but it's nocturnal and rarely seen by day watchers.

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2. How can you tell fox squirrels and gray squirrels apart?

Fox squirrels and gray squirrels can be distinguished by several key features. Size is the most obvious: fox squirrels are significantly larger, with a length of 19 to 27 inches including the tail, while gray squirrels measure 16 to 20 inches. Fox squirrels have a reddish-brown or rusty coat with darker facial markings and ears that lack the pronounced tufts of winter. Their tails are massive and bushy, often with rusty orange or cream-colored edges. Gray squirrels have a silvery-gray back, white or cream belly, and a less flamboyant tail with white fringing.

Behaviorally, fox squirrels are bolder and often seen on the ground feeding, while gray squirrels are more acrobatic and spend more time in high branches. In South Dakota, fox squirrels are more likely in open woodlands, parklands, and scattered oak groves, while grays favor denser hardwood forests. Fox squirrels make rapid chip-chip-chip alarm calls, while gray squirrels produce softer, more varied vocalizations. When perched, fox squirrels often hold their tails straight up or arched over their backs, whereas gray squirrels drape their tails more horizontally.

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3. Where in South Dakota do people usually see squirrels first?

Most sightings happen in eastern South Dakota, especially in cities like Sioux Falls, Brookings, and Yankton, where fox and gray squirrels are common in parks and residential areas. Sioux Falls has a robust urban squirrel population in neighborhoods with mature oaks and maples. Brookings, home to South Dakota State University, has excellent squirrel sightings on campus and throughout the arboretum. In the western Black Hills, red squirrels are frequently seen near ponderosa pine stands and spruce-fir forests. Custer State Park offers reliable red squirrel sightings, especially in areas with thick conifer cover. The South Dakota State University arboretum and the statewide network of county parks provide consistent opportunities for all three species.

In the central and western parts of the state, fox squirrels dominate the landscape in riparian oak woodlands along the Missouri River and its tributaries. The James River drainage in eastern South Dakota supports good gray squirrel populations. Smaller towns like Madison and Mitchell have sizable squirrel populations in their municipal parks and residential tree canopies.

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4. What time of year is best for squirrel watching?

The best time to watch squirrels is early morning or late afternoon from late summer through fall when squirrels are actively gathering and caching food. September through November is ideal because cooler temperatures increase activity and leaf loss improves visibility. October is peak season because falling leaves thin out canopy cover, making gray and fox squirrels easier to spot in high branches. Winter sightings are also excellent around bird feeders where squirrels are attracted to spilled seed. Spring is productive for observing young squirrels emerging from dreys and for watching territorial chases between males during mating season. Summer can be quiet during the heat of the day, but early morning and dusk remain productive. Red squirrels are active year-round but are most visible in winter when they venture from conifer cover to scavenge on snow-exposed ground.

5. Are there any lookalikes that cause confusion?

Ground squirrels, like the thirteen-lined ground squirrel and the plains pocket gopher, are sometimes mistaken for tree squirrels but differ significantly. Ground squirrels are smaller, have longitudinal stripes on their back, and live in burrows rather than trees. They move differently, scurrying low to the ground with less of the bounding hop characteristic of tree squirrels. In the Black Hills, the northern flying squirrel is nocturnal and rarely seen during the day, but its flat, membrane-like tail, large eyes, and smaller size clearly separate it from red squirrels. Another potential confusion is between juvenile gray squirrels and young fox squirrels, but adults are clearly distinct. Chipmunks occasionally confuse observers, but they're much smaller, more striped, and have smaller ear tufts.

6. What do squirrel nests look like and where can you find them?

Tree squirrels build leaf nests called dreys, which are football-shaped or round clusters of leaves and twigs wedged in tree branch forks. A typical drey measures 12 to 18 inches in diameter and is constructed with an inner cavity lined with shredded leaves, grass, and bark fiber. In winter, squirrels also use tree cavities in oak, maple, and hickory trees. Look in branches 20 to 60 feet above ground in oak, maple, pine, and ash trees. In South Dakota, fox squirrels prefer open branches for their dreys and often build several backup nests throughout their territory. Gray squirrels build more compacted nests and favor tree cavities in older oaks. Red squirrels build tighter nests closer to the main trunk in conifers and use cavity nests in dead trees. Drey activity increases in fall as squirrels prepare winter homes, making autumn an excellent time to locate and count nests.

7. How do red squirrels differ from the other species?

Red squirrels are the smallest South Dakota squirrel, weighing half what gray squirrels weigh and a quarter what fox squirrels weigh. They have a bright reddish coat with a white eye ring and distinctive tufted ears that are especially prominent in winter. Their tails are proportionally smaller and thinner than those of their larger cousins. Red squirrels have a rapid, chattering alarm call that sounds like a rapid trill or staccato bark, distinctly different from the softer, single-chip calls of gray squirrels and the rapid chip-chip-chip of fox squirrels. In South Dakota, they are mainly found in the Black Hills and along the Missouri River in pine forests. They strongly prefer coniferous habitat and are more aggressive toward other squirrels, often driving away intruders from their territory. Red squirrels are highly vocal and territorial, making them easier to locate by sound. They cache pine cones in large winter larders and are active year-round, even in deep snow.

8. What gear helps you get better squirrel sightings?

A good pair of binoculars with 8x42 magnification helps spot squirrels in high branches and allows closer observation of distinctive features like ear tufts and tail coloration. Carry a laminated field guide to South Dakota mammals for quick on-site identification checks. A notebook for recording observations, dates, and locations helps build a personal sighting log. Late in the day, a headlamp with a red light or green filter can help observe squirrels without spooking them, as they're less sensitive to those wavelengths. For comfortable extended observation, bring a portable seat cushion or camp stool, binoculars, and a camera with a zoom lens. A hand-held audio recorder or smartphone with a recording app captures squirrel vocalizations for later study. Wear neutral earth-tone clothing to reduce visibility and approach quietly to avoid alarming subjects.

9. What are the seasonal behavior changes in South Dakota squirrels?

Spring brings intense territorial and mating activity in March through May, with males engaging in frantic chases through branches. Females produce their first litter in April or May after a 45-day gestation. Young squirrels emerge from dreys in May and June, creating high activity levels as mothers teach foraging and climbing skills. Summer is relatively quiet as squirrels rest during the hottest parts of the day, typically active at dawn and dusk. Fall, September through November, triggers the most dramatic behavior change: squirrels enter a frantic food-caching mode, collecting and burying nuts and seeds for winter survival. A single fox squirrel may bury thousands of acorns in thousands of separate locations, relying on spatial memory to recover them later. Winter activity depends on temperatures and food availability. While gray and fox squirrels don't fully hibernate, they enter a state of reduced activity, emerging from dreys on warmer days to retrieve cached nuts. Red squirrels remain more active year-round, particularly on clear days when they venture to their underground caches.

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11. How do squirrels navigate and remember their territories?

Squirrels rely on spatial memory and visual landmarks to navigate their home ranges and locate cached food. Research shows that fox squirrels have remarkable recall, using spatial cues like distinctive trees, rock formations, and human-made structures as landmarks. They employ a strategy called chunking, dividing their territory into sections and using systematic memory to retrieve 80-90% of their buried nuts even months later. Gray squirrels use similar cognitive maps and can remember cache locations with surprising accuracy even when food is buried under leaves or snow. Red squirrels maintain smaller, more defensible territories and memorize precise cache locations within their conifer-dominated ranges. This sophisticated navigation ability explains why squirrels rarely relocate to new territories once established, as they've invested significant cognitive energy in learning their current home range. Observers can predict squirrel movement patterns by understanding territory boundaries, marked by scent and aggressive chases, which typically range from 2 to 20 acres depending on food abundance.

12. Why do some areas have more squirrels than others?

Squirrel abundance in South Dakota correlates directly with food availability, habitat structure, and winter survival conditions. Eastern counties with mature oak and maple forests support the highest densities of fox and gray squirrels because these trees produce abundant acorns and seeds. Sioux Falls and Brookings have elevated squirrel populations due to their extensive urban tree canopy and year-round food supplementation from bird feeders. Urban areas provide safety from natural predators and consistent human-provided food sources. The Black Hills' coniferous forests support robust red squirrel populations because pine and spruce seeds are their primary food. Wet years with abundant acorn and nut production lead to increased survival rates and higher population numbers the following year. The Great Plains regions west of the Missouri River have lower squirrel densities because scattered grassland vegetation provides limited tree cover and food. River bottoms, particularly along the Missouri and James rivers, act as corridors that allow squirrels to extend their range into otherwise unsuitable habitat. Winter snow depth and temperature extremes influence survival rates, with mild winters supporting population growth and severe winters causing die-offs among young and poorly prepared individuals.