Natural Oakville - The Eastern Gray Squirrel

The most commonly seen squirrel in the Oakville region is known as the Eastern Gray Squirrel.
The name is somewhat misleading however, since the coat colour most often seen in Oakville and the rest of southeastern Ontario is black. 
There are grayish brown variants of the the Gray Squirrel and these may often be seen cavorting with their black cohorts.

The Eastern Gray Squirrel is native to eastern Canada and to eastern and midwestern USA.

Squirrels are food hoarders and each squirrel makes several thousand food caches during the gathering seasons.

Eastern Gray Squirrels are able to descend a tree head first and are one of the few mammals who are able to do this.

They do not hibernate, contrary to what is commonly believed.

Eastern Gray Squirrels build nexts, called dreys, in the forks of trees. The nests are made of twigs and moss.
They breed twice a year and may have up to 8 young each time.
Young squirrels leave the nest at 10 weeks of age.

Eastern Gray Squirrels are omnivorous and will eat both plants and animals.

The Eastern Gray Squirrel can be seen very easily when visiting any of Oakville's parks or woodlands and many homeowners have squirrels frequently visiting their yards in search of handouts.

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