ABSTRACT

Five species of squirrels (genus Sciurus) commonly referred to as gray squirrels inhabit North America; all are tree squirrels. The eastern gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) has the most extensive range and is found throughout the eastern US Gray squirrels are congeneric with fox squirrels, of which the eastern species (S. niger) occurs throughout the US generally east of the 104th meridian. Eastern gray squirrels are mainly active early mornings and late evenings. They adapt well to locally abundant cultivated and wild food sources that may greatly influence the degree of trapping success. Depending upon local conditions, capture success will likely be higher during winter or spring when food resources tend to be scarcer. lace traps on fairly level terrain to prevent tipping. Stake traps to ground with two 0.3-m sections of 8-gauge wire, each having a securing hook on one end. In frequently flooded areas, traps should be wired to trees above the expected high-water mark.