Naturalist Notes: Nutty Neighbors
Written by: Cathy Wesley, JNC Naturalist
If you’ve spent any time in Michigan, chances are you’ve spotted a squirrel or two darting up a tree or scampering across the park. But did you know that Michigan is home to 9 different squirrel species.
The name "squirrel" comes from the Greek word skiouros, which means "shade tail". The squirrels in Michigan are divided into two groups: tree squirrels and ground squirrels. Fox squirrels, eastern grey squirrels, red squirrels, and northern and southern flying squirrels are tree-loving species. Eastern chipmunk, least chipmunk, thirteen-lined ground squirrels, and groundhog/woodchuck are team ground squirrels. Just because this group is called ground squirrels that does not mean you won’t see them climb a tree from time to time. Ground squirrels might climb a tree to get away from a ground predator the same way a tree squirrel might run to the ground to escape an aerial predator.
Where these different species make their homes is a clue to which group they fall into. It’s this time of year you might spot a tree squirrel's summer home. As the leaves fall from the trees you might see a ball or nest of leaves high in the branches, this is called a drey. Dreys are where tree squirrels spend their summers, but they move lower to the ground or in tree cavities in colder months. Ground squirrels are natural architects. Their burrows can be quite complex, featuring several tunnels, multiple entrances, and even separate chambers for food storage and sleeping. These intricate underground homes keep them safe from predators and help them survive Michigan’s cold winters.
Eastern Gray Squirrel
The Eastern Gray Squirrel is probably Michigan’s most famous squirrel. These squirrels are a staple of suburban and urban parks and are easily recognized by their bushy tails and gray fur, though they can range from pure black to shades of brown. They’re incredible acrobats and are known for their ambitious food-storage habits, burying nuts all around (which helps grow future forests!). These squirrels have a remarkable memory for where they’ve hidden their food, but they still “lose” a fair amount, which then germinates into new trees.
Fox Squirrel
Slightly larger and less common in the more northern parts of Michigan, the Fox Squirrel is another highly visible species. True to their name, they have a more reddish-brown color, reminiscent of a fox. Fox squirrels are the biggest tree squirrels in Michigan, reaching up to 30 inches long (including their tail!). Unlike the Eastern Gray, they tend to prefer open woodlands with large, scattered trees, like oaks, where they can forage easily. Fox squirrels use a “head flicking” motion when they sense danger, a behavior that has developed to help them communicate with other squirrels.
Eastern Gray Squirrel
Fox Squirrel
Red Squirrel
Red Squirrel
Michigan’s Red Squirrel may be small, but it’s also one of the most vocal squirrels you’ll encounter. Known for their fiery attitudes and piercing “churr” sounds, red squirrels are fiercely territorial and will scold anyone who enters their domain. They have rusty-red fur and white underbellies and prefer coniferous forests, where they feast on pine seeds, nuts, and fungi. Red squirrels create “middens,” which are organized piles of eaten cones and nuts, kind of like a squirrel pantry!
Northern Flying Squirrel
The elusive Northern Flying Squirrel is Michigan’s only nocturnal squirrel, so it’s a rare sight unless you’re out during a nighttime hike. These little gliders have a thin membrane of skin between their arms and legs, allowing them to glide between trees. They’re typically found in mature forests and are essential to Michigan’s ecosystems for their role in spreading fungal spores. Northern Flying Squirrels can glide up to 150 feet, making them mini flying superheroes of the Michigan woods.
Southern Flying Squirrel
Though similar to their northern relatives, Southern Flying Squirrels are smaller and have a slightly more southern range. They also have a remarkable ability to glide and can travel significant distances through the air. These flying squirrels are known to inhabit Michigan’s warmer and more forested areas, where they prefer a mix of hardwood trees. These little creatures have adapted large eyes that give them excellent night vision, perfect for navigating Michigan’s forests in the dark.
Northern Flying Squirrel
Southern Flying Squirrel
Ground Hog or Woodchuck
Groundhogs
In Michigan, the most famous ground squirrel is actually the groundhog, also known as a woodchuck. Yep, groundhogs are part of the squirrel family! Known for their burrowing skills, they can create extensive underground tunnels, which double as cozy homes and perfect places to hide from predators.
Thirteen-Lined Ground Squirrel
Often mistaken for chipmunks, the thirteen-lined ground squirrel is another of Michigan’s quirky ground squirrels. Their striped pattern (13 stripes, alternating light and dark) is unique to them and makes for some excellent natural camouflage in grassy areas.
Eastern Chipmunk
The Eastern Chipmunk is the larger of Michigan’s two chipmunk species and is likely the one you’ve spotted scampering around backyards or darting across trails. These chipmunks are prodigious food collectors, using their expandable cheek pouches to haul food like nuts, seeds, and berries back to their underground storage chambers. This food hoarding habit helps them survive the winter months in their burrows.
Least Chipmunk
The Least Chipmunk, the smaller and rarer of the two, can mostly be found in northern Michigan and in open forest edges or shrublands. Their petite size and coloring make them a bit harder to spot, but they’re well worth the effort!
Each of Michigan’s squirrels plays a unique role in the ecosystem, from planting trees to dispersing seeds and fungi. Next time you’re in the woods or even your backyard, take a moment to appreciate the busy lives of these incredible little mammals – they’re essential workers in our forests and fields! So, whether they’re zooming across a park, gliding from tree to tree, or chattering at you from a branch, Michigan’s squirrels are a wonderful reminder of nature’s diversity right in our backyard.
Thirteen-lined ground squirrel
Eastern Chipmunk
Least Chipmunk
All photos from https://animaldiversity.org/