For Love of Capstone Squirrels

Capstone squirrels are nearly all the eastern gray squirrel, Sciurus carolinensis.

Though called the gray squirrel, they actually have brown and white fur blending into the gray, with touches of cinnamon.

A squirrel nest is made of leaves and lined with moss or other soft plants. It’s quite messy, but the squirrels seem to like it.

Squirrel climbing down a tree head first

Squirrels can turn their feet backward to anchor their claws, making them one among few mammals able to descend a tree head first.

A brown squirrel sitting on a moss-covered tree.

With about 20 needle-sharp teeth, squirrels can gnaw open foods as tough as hickory nut shells.

While accustomed to people, Capstone squirrels are wild and don’t make good pets.

A family of squirrels is called a drey, and an unrelated group of squirrels is called a scurry.

If you ever get the feeling a squirrel is watching you, it probably is. With many predators, squirrels must be ever-vigilant. Don’t take it personally.