E-Fauna BC Home

Sciurus niger Linnaeus, 1758
Eastern Fox Squirrel
Family: Sciuridae
Introduction to the Mammals of BC

Photograph

© David Blevins     (Photo ID #1288)

Map


Distribution of Sciurus niger in British Columbia.
Source: Map courtesy of David Nagorsen

Introduction


The Fox Squirrel is an introduced species in British Columbia that first arrived here in the 1980's in Osoyoos, probably from an introduced population in Okanagon County in Washington, and is now found north to Okanagan Falls (Nagorsen 2005). It is native to eastern North America where it is found in the eastern states (excluding New England) west to Colorado and Texas, and in Canada (southern Manitoba and southwestern Ontario) (Wikipedia 2012). This species is found in a variety of habitats, but often in forest patches with an open understorey. In British Columbia, it is found in urban areas, orchards and open forests in the Okanagan (Nagorsen 2005).

Status Information

Origin StatusProvincial StatusBC List
(Red Blue List)		COSEWIC
ExoticSNAExoticNAR (May 1979)



BC Ministry of Environment: BC Species and Ecosystems Explorer--the authoritative source for conservation information in British Columbia.

Species References

Nagorsen, David W. 2005. Rodents and Lagomorphs of British Columbia. Royal British Columbia Museum, Victoria.

© 2014 E-Fauna BC  Contact us