Fish and wildlife habitat loss or degradation.The western gray squirrel was added to Washington’s list of state threatened species in 1993 when surveys indicated a decline in its geographical distribution. The North Cascades population is the only one occurring outside of the range of Oregon white oak in Washington.įor maps of worldwide distribution and conservation status of this species, check out NatureServe Explorer and the International Union for the Conservation of Nature Red List. It's range is now limited to three isolated populations: the oak woodlands and conifer forests of Klickitat and southern Yakima counties low to mid-elevation conifer forests in Okanogan and Chelan counties and the oak woodlands and conifer forests on Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Pierce and Thurston counties. It could be found in the south Puget Trough and Columbia River Gorge and on the east slope of the Cascades north to Okanogan County. The western gray squirrel was once common at low to mid-elevations in dry forests where oak, pine, and Douglas fir mix. If they can survive the first year, they typically live three to five years. Vehicles, disease, and starvation also kill squirrels. Population density varies with food supply and occurrence of disease. Most squirrels die during their first year. On the ground, large hawks and owls, domestic cats and dogs, coyotes, and bobcats catch squirrels. In trees, squirrels are relatively safe, except for the occasional owl or goshawk. Mistletoe infections are another common characteristic of nest trees. Most nest trees are located inside or on the edge of a forest stand and have crowns connecting with surrounding trees. Occupied nests may have fresh leaves, green conifer boughs, or lichen on top. Nesting frequently occurs in either large conifers (especially ponderosa pine and Douglas-fir) or oaks averaging greater than 16 inches in diameter. Western gray squirrel nests are large and often clustered in dry oak / conifer forests. Where these are unavailable, they will build spherical or cup-shaped nests in trees, attics, and nest boxes. They also need a diverse selection of vegetation to provide a multitude of food resources.Ī western gray squirrel family on the look-out from their nest tree cavity at the Klickitat Wildlife Area.Īll tree squirrels create nursery nests in hollow trees, abandoned woodpecker cavities, and similar hollows. The squirrels require mature stands of trees with sufficient canopy cover to provide secure nest sites and allow for traveling about in trees. In Washington, they also use stands of Douglas fir trees when a component of oak or pine is present. Western gray squirrels are most frequently associated with pine trees, which provide nesting cover and seeds for food, and oak trees, which provide natal den sites and acorns for food. Western gray squirrels are often confused with introduced eastern gray squirrels that are increasingly common in Washington’ urban areas. The western gray squirrel's large size, bushy tail, and gray fur lacking any brown on the body or tail are keys to distinguishing it from other tree squirrels in Washington. This occasional small patch of brown is only visible upon close inspection and is the only part of the squirrel that may have any brown. They also have prominent ears, which can be reddish-brown on the back in winter. They are steel gray on the back, with contrasting white on the belly and throat, resulting in the name, "silver gray squirrel" in some parts of their range. They are distinguished by their very long and bushy tails that are primarily gray with white-frosted outer edges. The western gray squirrel is the largest tree squirrel native to the Pacific Northwest.
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