American Red Squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus) is in the Squirrels family (Sciuridae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 41,269 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in June.
Seasonal pattern in the national data: year-round resident. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.
When to photograph American Red Squirrel: observations by month (U.S.)
About American Red Squirrel
The American red squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus) is one of three species of tree squirrel currently classified in the genus Tamiasciurus, known as the pine squirrels (the others are the Douglas squirrel, T. douglasii, and Mearns's squirrel, T. mearnsi). American red squirrels are also referred to as pine squirrels, North American red squirrels, and chickarees. They are medium-sized (200–250 g) diurnal mammals that defend a year-round exclusive territory. The diet of these tree squirrels is specialized on the...From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
American Red Squirrel by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | 4,608 | September | Aug–Jul |
| Michigan | 3,804 | July | Jun–May |
| Vermont | 3,230 | May | Apr–Mar |
| Maine | 3,173 | July | Apr–Oct |
| Alaska | 2,793 | July | May–Sep |
| New York | 2,789 | June | Jan–Nov |
| Massachusetts | 2,578 | April | Mar–Nov |
| Ohio | 2,421 | May | Feb–Jul |
| Wisconsin | 2,087 | May | Feb–Dec |
| Wyoming | 1,759 | September | May–Sep |
| Pennsylvania | 1,613 | June | Feb–Oct |
| Montana | 1,463 | August | Mar–Oct |
| Utah | 1,461 | August | Mar–Oct |
| New Hampshire | 1,371 | June | Mar–Oct |
| Indiana | 1,274 | April | Feb–Jul |
| Idaho | 877 | July | May–Oct |
| North Carolina | 561 | June | Apr–Nov |
| Connecticut | 514 | June | May–Apr |
| Tennessee | 487 | June | Mar–Jul |
| Washington | 477 | June | Mar–Oct |
| Colorado | 315 | July | May–Nov |
| Rhode Island | 245 | April | Apr–Aug |
| South Dakota | 233 | June | Jun–Sep |
| New Jersey | 231 | May | Mar–Nov |
| West Virginia | 214 | July | Mar–Oct |
| Maryland | 180 | June | May–Jul |
| Oregon | 173 | July | Apr–Oct |
| North Dakota | 126 | August | Mar–Sep |
| Illinois | 85 | April | Mar–Feb |
| Virginia | 48 | May | May–Jun |
| Delaware | 42 | April | Apr–May |
| Iowa | 35 | October | Sep–Jun |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related mammals (Squirrels)
Eastern Gray Squirrel
Eastern Fox Squirrel
Eastern Chipmunk
California Ground Squirrel
Groundhog
Common Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel
Western Gray Squirrel
Yellow-bellied Marmot
Photography tips
- Keep a legal and safe distance: 100 yards from bears and wolves and 25 yards from other large animals in national parks.
- Dawn and dusk are peak activity times for most mammals.
- Use your car as a blind on wildlife drives.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph American Red Squirrel?
Nationally, June has the most observations, with the main season from May to April.
Where is American Red Squirrel most often seen?
The most observations come from Minnesota, Michigan, Vermont.