Eastern Gray Squirrel

What it does

Eastern gray squirrels are bold, agile, day-active climbers that travel along wires, fences, and branches to reach rooflines. They gnaw constantly and readily enter attics, soffits, and chimneys to nest, chewing wood, wiring, and vents. Outdoors they raid bird feeders and gardens; indoors, their gnawing on wiring poses a real fire risk.

Where it lives

They live in wooded areas, parks, and tree-filled suburbs across the eastern and central US, with introduced populations in the West. They nest in tree cavities and leafy dreys, but readily move into attics, chimneys, soffits, and wall voids of homes, especially to raise young in late winter and late summer.

How it breeds

Gray squirrels typically breed twice a year, in late winter and midsummer, with litters of about two to four young raised in a tree cavity, drey, or an attic. Young are weaned after roughly two to three months and disperse. This twice-yearly nesting is why squirrels often move into attics in winter and summer.

What it eats

Gray squirrels eat nuts, acorns, seeds, buds, fruit, and fungi, and they bury caches of nuts for winter. They readily exploit bird feeders and gardens and will take some insects and, rarely, eggs. Their search for food and nut caches often brings them close to and onto houses.

Identification

The eastern gray squirrel is a tree squirrel about 9-12 inches in the body with a large, bushy tail nearly as long, gray fur often washed with brown, and a white to pale belly. Its size, bushy tail, and tree-climbing habits separate it from ground squirrels and the much smaller, striped chipmunk.

Signs of an infestation

• Scratching, scampering, or rolling sounds in the attic by day
• Gnawed holes at the roofline, soffits, vents, or fascia
• Nests of leaves and shredded material in attics or chimneys
• Chewed wiring, wood, and insulation in the attic
• Squirrels seen entering the roof or traveling along wires

Prevention tips

• Trim tree limbs back 6-8 feet from the roof
• Seal roofline gaps, and cap chimneys and cover vents with metal screening
• Repair chewed soffits and fascia with durable materials
• Move bird feeders away from the house and reduce spilled seed
• Inspect the attic and eaves each fall and spring for entry points

Professional solutions

Squirrels in an attic are best handled by a wildlife professional, especially during nesting season when young may be present. Pros use one-way exclusion doors, humane trapping where allowed, and sealing of entry points, and they can safely remove young. Because gray squirrels are game animals or protected in many states, DIY relocation is often restricted, so professional, lawful removal is recommended.