Grey Squirrel

Irish name: Iora glas

Scientific name: Sciurus carolinensis

The grey squirrel originates from the deciduous woods of the eastern United States and Canada. In 1911, a number of grey squirrels were released in Co. Longford and the animal is now found in 20 counties and will probably spread throughout the country. It is quickly becoming our most common squirrel, replacing our native red.

The grey squirrel has a brownish grey coat. In summer the fur on its back can look reddish. The belly is white. Grey squirrels are diurnal and spend a lot of their time on the ground. They usually feed on seeds from broadleaf trees so they are found in Irish broadleaf and mixed woods, hedgerows, parks and gardens.

Squirrels use twigs and bark to build large spherical nests called 'dreys', which they line with leaves, grass and moss. An individual may use a number of dreys in their home range. In summer they use open dreys, but in winter, the dreys are enclosed and spherical in shape to provide more shelter.

Grey squirrels have a broad diet, including beech mast, hazelnuts, pine cones, and acorns. Squirrels strip bark from broadleaf trees to reach the sugar-rich sap underneath.

Because grey squirrels spend a lot of time on the ground, they sometimes find and raid food stores hidden by red squirrels. During summer they spend more time in the treetops as they search for food. Grey squirrels will raid vegetable patches, root crops, orchards and bird feeders.

Breeding occurs between December and July. A litter usually contains three to seven young, born furless and blind. They are weaned at about 10 weeks. Most grey squirrels do not survive their first winter.

Grey Squirrel Sciurus carolinensis (Photo: Mike Brown)