Facts about Eastern Gray Squirrels

1. 08

   Approximately 20 percent of Eastern Gray Squirrels develop melanism, a genetic condition causing dark or completely black fur, which is particularly common in urban populations of northern regions.

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2. 07

   Breeding season for Eastern Gray Squirrels occurs twice annually, typically from December to February and June to August, producing litters of two to four young per cycle.

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3. 06

   Eastern Gray Squirrels possess four incisors that never stop growing throughout their entire lives, requiring constant gnawing to maintain usable tooth length.

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4. 05

   In spring and fall, Eastern Gray Squirrels undergo molts lasting approximately two months, during which they shed and regrow their entire fur coat twice yearly.

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5. 04

   A single Eastern Gray Squirrel can bury between 200 and 300 nuts per season, often forgetting approximately 25 percent of these caches, which inadvertently helps reforest ecosystems.

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6. 03

   Gray squirrels can remember the locations of thousands of buried nuts with remarkable accuracy, relying on spatial memory rather than scent to retrieve cached food.

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7. 02

   Eastern gray squirrels can survive falls from heights up to 40 meters by rotating their bodies and spreading their limbs to reduce impact velocity.

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8. 01

   Their bushy tails comprise approximately 60 percent of an Eastern Gray Squirrel's total body length, aiding balance and communication.

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