The black fox squirrel is a large, beautiful tree squirrel with some distinctive features that set it apart from gray and red squirrels. In this article, we’ll explore what a black fox squirrel looks like including its size, fur color, markings, tail, and other physical characteristics. We’ll also overview its range and habitat.
Quick Facts on the Black Fox Squirrel’s Appearance
Here are some quick facts on what a black fox squirrel looks like:
– Its fur is mostly black mixed with olive-brown, gray, or white. The belly is white or tan.
– It has a brown-black mask around the eyes and nose.
– Ears are small and rounded without tufts.
– Body is 18 to 27 inches long with a large, fluffy tail that is 10 to 16 inches long.
– Weighs between 1.5 to 2.5 pounds.
– Larger than red and gray squirrels.
Fur Markings and Coloration
The black fox squirrel gets its name from its predominantly black fur. However, its coat coloring can vary from jet black to a salt-and-pepper mix of black, gray, olive brown, and even white. The underside and inner legs are generally tan or yellowish-white.
The black fur is grizzled or mixed with flecks of olive-brown, gray, or white along the sides and back. The degree of mixing can range from mostly solid black fur with just a few flecks of gray or olive, to a more marbled salt-and-pepper appearance of black and gray.
The head has a distinctive brownish-black “mask” across the eyes, nose, and cheeks. The ears are small and rounded without tufts.
Overall, the black fox squirrel has a dark, charcoal colored coat with white to tan undersides. The mixed salt-and-pepper pattern in the fur helps provide camouflage when up in the treetops.
| Body Part | Fur Color |
|---|---|
| Back and sides | Black mixed with olive-brown, gray, or white |
| Belly and inner legs | White or tan |
| Facial mask | Brown-black |
| Ears | Small, rounded, no tufts |
Large Size and Fluffy Tail
The black fox squirrel is noticeably larger than gray and red squirrels. Their body length measures between 18 to 27 inches, compared to just 15 to 20 inches for grays.
They are stocky with a rounded, muscular build. Weights range from 1.5 to 2.5 pounds, making them up to twice as heavy as smaller tree squirrels. The hind feet are around 2.5 inches long.
The tail is one of the fox squirrel’s most distinguishing features. It is large and fluffy, measuring between 10 to 16 inches in length. That’s more than half of the squirrel’s total body length.
The bushy tail has black edges with a grayish, olive, or white underside. It helps provide balance and aids in climbing, even acting as a rudder when jumping. When resting, the squirrel will drape its tail over its body for added warmth.
| Body Feature | Size |
|---|---|
| Body length | 18 to 27 inches |
| Weight | 1.5 to 2.5 lbs |
| Hind feet | Around 2.5 inches |
| Tail length | 10 to 16 inches |
Range and Habitat
The black fox squirrel is found across the central and southeastern United States. Its range extends from eastern Texas and Louisiana to Ohio and Pennsylvania.
It inhabits open woodlands, river bottoms, pine forests, oak-hickory forests, farmlands with trees and woodlots, and urban parks. Mature hardwood forests with nut trees like oak, hickory, walnut, and pine are preferred.
The fox squirrel’s large size helps it compete with gray squirrels where their ranges overlap. It is able to exploit certain habitats and food sources that smaller tree squirrels can’t handle as well.
Behavior and Movement
The large black fox squirrel moves deliberately through the treetops and is not as hyper and quick as smaller gray and red squirrels. It has a steady, slow pattern of movement as it forages.
When bounding between branches or trees, the fox squirrel will spread its legs out to control its landing. It can make impressive leaps across large gaps by flattening its body in flight.
The bushy tail acts as a stabilizer and rudder when jumping. It may jerk its tail from side to side to maintain balance as it runs and climbs.
Fox squirrels spend a fair amount of time on the ground compared to other tree squirrels. They will engage in fast sprints across open spaces.
Diet and Feeding Behavior
Fox squirrels have an varied and opportunistic diet. They eat tree seeds and nuts, berries, fungi, corn, insects, and sometimes birds’ eggs and nestlings.
Favorite tree foods include acorns, hickory nuts, pine seeds, walnuts, and pecans. The squirrels help scatter these seeds and nuts when burying caches for later.
Fox squirrels use their large size and strength to open tough nuts and pine cones that smaller squirrels can’t handle. They also exploit human food sources like corn, fruit trees, and bird feeders.
The squirrels can peel back tree bark to eat the moist inner bark and lichens underneath. They also tap into sap wells dug by yellow-bellied sapsuckers.
Fox squirrels will actively hunt for insects, larvae, caterpillars, beetles, and other protein-rich foods when available. Some prey is captured midair during spectacular leaps.
| Food Type | Examples |
|---|---|
| Tree seeds & nuts | Acorns, hickory nuts, pine seeds, walnuts, pecans |
| Fruit & berries | Mulberries, blackberries, wild grapes, persimmons |
| Fungi | Mushrooms, lichens, truffles |
| Human foods | Corn, bird feeders, fruit trees |
| Animal matter | Insects, larvae, eggs, nestlings |
Voice and Sounds
Black fox squirrels have a varied repertoire of squeaks, grunts, barks, rattles, buzzes, whines, growls, and clicks used to communicate. Their alarm call is a buzzing “kuk” sound.
When mating, males make “ka-ka-ka” chuckles at potential female partners. Young black fox squirrels whine and cry when distressed.
The squirrels also make scraping and gnawing sounds when opening nuts and other hard foods. Rattling sounds are produced as they leap between branches and shake them.
Differences From Gray and Red Squirrels
There are some key differences that distinguish the larger black fox squirrel from more common gray and red squirrels:
– Fox squirrels are up to twice as large with bigger tails.
– The coat is mostly black mixed with olive, gray, or white along the sides rather than solid gray or reddish tones.
– Fox squirrels have a brownish-black facial mask.
– The small, rounded ears lack tufts.
– Fox squirrels are found in the central and southeastern U.S. while red and gray squirrels range further north and throughout the West.
– Fox squirrels spend more time on the ground compared to the very tree-dwelling gray and red squirrels.
– Foxes exhibit a slow, steady climbing pattern compared to the quick, jerky movements of grays and reds.
| Feature | Black Fox Squirrel | Gray & Red Squirrels |
|---|---|---|
| Size | 18-27 in. long 1.5-2.5 lbs |
15-20 in. long 0.5-1.5 lbs |
| Coat color | Mostly black mixed with olive, gray, white | Solid gray or red tones |
| Facial mask | Brown-black | None |
| Ears | Small, rounded, no tufts | Larger, may have tufts |
| Range | Central and SE U.S. | Throughout U.S. except Southeast |
| Ground time | Moderate amount | Very little |
| Movements | Slow and steady | Quick, jerky |
Conclusion
In summary, the black fox squirrel is distinctly identified by its large size, salt-and-pepper black coat, brown facial mask, small rounded ears, big fluffy tail, and slower more deliberate movements. It fills an ecological niche across the central and southeastern U.S. that is separate from smaller gray and red squirrels. The fox squirrel’s adaptability, strength, and opportunistic feeding give it an advantage in certain open woodland, farmland, and urban habitats. So next time you see a large, charcoal-colored squirrel bounding between trees or along the ground, chances are it is a beautiful black fox squirrel.