Sciuridae Archives - NatureWorks

Sciuridae - Squirrels, Chipmunks, Marmots, Prairie Dogs

There are around 284 species in the Sciuridae family. They live on every continent except Australia and Antarctica.

Species in this family are found in many different habitats. Some live in trees, while others live in burrows underground. Most squirrels eat nuts, seeds, fruits, and other plant foods. Some species also eat fungi, insects, eggs, and small animals.

There are three main types of squirrels: flying squirrels, tree squirrels, and ground squirrels.

Flying squirrels live in trees. They have a flap of skin that stretches between their front and back legs, allowing them to glide from tree to tree. Most flying squirrels are active at night.

Tree squirrels spend most of their time in trees and have long, bushy tails. Both flying squirrels and tree squirrels live in habitats with plenty of trees.

Ground squirrels live mainly on the ground. Their tails are furry but not as bushy as those of tree squirrels. They dig underground burrows where they live and raise their young. Ground squirrels can be found in forests, grasslands, deserts, and other habitats. Woodchucks, chipmunks, prairie dogs, and marmots are all types of ground squirrels.

Tree squirrels and ground squirrels are active during the day. Some species in this family, like prairie dogs, live in colonies; other species are solitary.

Harris's Antelope Squirrel
(Ammospermophilus harrisii)

Harris's Antelope Squirrel is found in New Mexico, Arizona, and Mexico. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
Texas Antelope Squirrel
(Ammospermophilus interpres)

The Texas Antelope Squirrel is found in Texas, New Mexico, and Mexico. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
White-Tailed Antelope Squirrel
(Ammospermophilus leucurus)

The White-tailed Antelope Squirrel is found in California, Utah, New Mexico, Nevada, Colorado, Oregon, Arizona, Idaho, and Mexico. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
Nelson's Antelope Squirrel
(Ammospermophilus nelsoni)

Nelson's Antelope Squirrel is found in California. IUCN Redlist Status: Endangered
Golden-Mantled Ground Squirrel
(Callospermophilus lateralis)

The Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel can be found from southeastern British Columbia in Canada south to Arizona, New Mexico, and Southern California. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
Cascade Golden-Mantled Ground Squirrel
(Callospermophilus saturatus)

The Cascade Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel is found in The Cascade Mountains from southern British Columbia in Canada south to the Columbia River in Washington. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
Black-Tailed Prairie Dog
(Cynomys ludovicianus)

The Black-tailed Prairie Dog is found in Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, and Wyoming. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
Utah Prairie Dog
(Cynomys parvidens)

The Utah Prairie Dog is found in Utah. IUCN Redlist Status: Endangered
Northern Flying Squirrel
(Glaucomys sabrinus)

The Northern Flying Squirrel is found in Canada and the northern United States including Alaska, Washington, Oregon, California, Idaho, Montana, Utah, Wyoming, Minnesota, Michigan, and Wisconsin. It is also found in the Appalachian Mountains from New England through North Carolina. It is found in New Hampshire. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
Southern Flying Squirrel
(Glaucomys volans)

The Southern Flying Squirrel is found from Texas, Kansas and Minnesota east through most of the eastern United States. It is also found in southeastern Canada and in Mexico and Central America. The southern flying squirrel is found in New Hampshire. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
Mexican Ground Squirrel
(Ictidomys mexicanus)

The Mexican Ground Squirrel can be found from Northern Mexico north along the Gulf coast of Texas and into western and central Texas and southeastern New Mexico. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
Hoary Marmot
(Marmota caligata)

The Hoary Marmot is found in Alaska south to Washington, northern Oregon and parts of Montana and Idaho. IUCN Redlist: Status: Least COncern
Woodchuck
(Marmota monax)

The Woodchuck, also known as the groundhog, is found across much of the eastern U.S. and across much of southern Canada. It is also found in Alaska. In New Hampshire, the woodchuck can be found throughout the state in grassy areas, yards, meadows, fields, pastures and in grassy areas along highways. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
Olympic Marmot
(Marmota olympus)

The Olympic Marmot is only found in the Olympic Mountains in Washington state. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
California Ground Squirrel
(Otospermophilus beecheyi)

The California Ground Squirrel is found in south central Oregon, western Washington, and most parts of California. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concer
Rock Squirrel
(Otospermophilus variegatus)

The Rock Squirrel is found in southern Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, western Texas and the panhandle of Oklahoma. It is also found in Mexico. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
Abert's Squirrel
(Sciurus aberti)

Abert's Squirrel is found in the mountainous areas of New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, Arizona, and parts of Wyoming and north central Mexico. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
Arizona Gray Squirrel
(Sciurus arizonensis)

The Arizona Gray Squirrel lives in canyon bottoms of central Arizona and the in the mountain ranges of southeastern Arizona. IUCN Redlist Status: Data Deficient
Eastern Gray Squirrel
(Sciurus carolinensis)

The Eastern Gray Squirrel is found in the eastern U.S. and Canada. It is found throughout New Hampshire. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
Fox Squirrel
(Sciurus niger)

The Fox Squirrel is found in the eastern and central United States west to the Dakotas, Colorado, and Texas. It is not found in New England, most of New Jersey, western New York and northern and eastern Pennsylvania. Its range also extends into northern Mexico and southern Canada. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
Arctic Ground Squirrel
(Spermophilus parryii)

In the United States, the Arctic Ground Squirrel is found in Alaska. In Canada it is found in the Yukon Territory, northern British Columbia , and the mainland of the Northwest Territory. The Arctic ground squirrel is also found in Siberia. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
Eastern Chipmunk
(Tamias striatus)

The Eastern Chipmunk is found in southeastern Canada and most of the the northeastern United States south to Mississippi and Virginia and west to North Dakota and Oklahoma. The eastern chipmunk is found throughout New Hampshire.
Douglas Squirrel
(Tamiasciurus douglasii)

The Douglas Squirrel is found from southwest British Columbia south to northern California. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
Red Squirrel
(Tamiasciurus hudsonicus)

The Red Squirrel is found in most parts of Alaska and Canada. It is also found in the Rocky Mountain states and in the eastern United States, including New Hampshire, south to northern Virginia and west to Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio.
Columbian Ground Squirrel
(Urocitellus Columbianus)

The Columbian Ground Squirrel is found in Canada in eastern British Columbia and Western Alberta. In the United States, it is found in eastern Oregon and Washington, northern Idaho, and western Montana. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern