Eastern Gray Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) is in the Squirrels family (Sciuridae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 294,879 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in April.
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 Eastern Gray Squirrel: observations by month (U.S.)
About Eastern Gray Squirrel
Sciurus carolinensis, common name eastern gray squirrel or grey squirrel depending on region, is a tree squirrel in the genus Sciurus. It is native to eastern North America, where it is the most prodigious and ecologically essential natural forest regenerator. The eastern grey squirrel in Europe is regarded as an invasive species.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Eastern Gray Squirrel by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florida | 35,779 | October | Sep–Jun |
| New York | 26,572 | April | Mar–Feb |
| Massachusetts | 20,108 | April | Sep–Jul |
| North Carolina | 19,816 | April | Aug–Jun |
| Virginia | 17,178 | April | Sep–Jun |
| Illinois | 14,538 | April | Aug–Jun |
| Pennsylvania | 14,403 | September | Sep–Jul |
| Maryland | 12,782 | April | Mar–Feb |
| New Jersey | 10,582 | September | Sep–Jun |
| California | 9,948 | April | Mar–Feb |
| Ohio | 9,648 | April | Mar–Feb |
| Texas | 8,646 | April | Mar–Jun |
| Minnesota | 7,963 | April | Mar–Feb |
| Georgia | 7,915 | April | Feb–Jul |
| Washington | 7,700 | April | Mar–Jan |
| Tennessee | 6,971 | April | Sep–Jul |
| Wisconsin | 6,518 | April | Mar–Feb |
| South Carolina | 5,928 | April | Mar–Feb |
| Michigan | 5,780 | April | Feb–Dec |
| Alabama | 5,129 | April | Jan–May |
| District of Columbia | 4,596 | October | Sep–Aug |
| Missouri | 3,804 | April | Mar–Feb |
| Oregon | 3,751 | October | Sep–Aug |
| Connecticut | 3,676 | October | Sep–Aug |
| Louisiana | 3,236 | April | Mar–May |
| Kentucky | 3,199 | April | Feb–Jun |
| Vermont | 2,890 | April | Apr–May |
| Indiana | 2,581 | September | Sep–Nov |
| Arkansas | 2,419 | October | Sep–Aug |
| New Hampshire | 1,824 | June | May–Apr |
| Maine | 1,453 | September | Aug–Jul |
| Mississippi | 1,380 | October | Sep–Aug |
| Rhode Island | 1,374 | April | Mar–Jan |
| West Virginia | 1,147 | April | Jan–Jun |
| Delaware | 1,055 | April | Mar–Feb |
| Kansas | 962 | April | Mar–Dec |
| Iowa | 764 | May | Mar–Oct |
| Oklahoma | 549 | April | Mar–Jun |
| Nebraska | 127 | May | Apr–Jun |
| North Dakota | 97 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Idaho | 42 | January | Jan–Jan |
| Wyoming | 34 | October | Jun–Oct |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related mammals (Squirrels)
Eastern Fox Squirrel
Eastern Chipmunk
California Ground Squirrel
Groundhog
American Red Squirrel
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 Eastern Gray Squirrel?
Nationally, April has the most observations, with the main season from March to February.
Where is Eastern Gray Squirrel most often seen?
The most observations come from Florida, New York, Massachusetts.