They have mottled or flecked fur but few have recognizable patterns.Ĭommon to have patterned fur coat stripes and lines of spots. Short to moderately long and less bushy tail. There are five main differences between tree squirrels and ground squirrels: They have different diets depending on their habitat. Some ground squirrels hibernate, while tree squirrels do not. Tree squirrels and ground squirrels have different physical features, live in different habitats, and build their nests in different places and ways. Ground squirrels that live in cold regions are also the only squirrels known to hibernate for months. They are known for burrowing in the ground and standing up tall on their hind legs. They are also diurnal (awake during the day and asleep at night). There are more than 62 species of ground squirrels in the world.Ĭommonly known ground squirrels in the U.S include the small Thirteen-lined ground squirrel, the medium-sized California ground squirrel, and larger species like marmots. Ground squirrels are terrestrial rodents that spend their days on the ground or digging underground burrows. They have adapted to living in urban environments and are viewed as pets when they try to nest in attics or barns. Tree squirrels are omnivores and are diurnal (awake during the day and asleep at night). A large part of their diet is dependent on the trees and includes the following: They live in the trees’ canopy, nesting between branches or on tree hollows. Tree squirrels live in forests, woodlands, tree-lined suburbs, and city parks where they have at least 40 hectares of a continuous tree canopy. Common tree squirrels include eastern gray squirrels, fox squirrels, and American red squirrels. There are 28 species of tree squirrels ( Sciurus) in the world. Related: Types of Squirrels Tree Squirrels Overview West of the Mississippi River to the North of Canada.Įastern and the central United States between northern Mexico and Canada. Grasslands and urban areas with short grass. Grassland, woodlands, valleys, and rocky outcrops. Thirteen alternating dark brown and tan strips from the head to the base of the tail.įorest and woodlands of more than 40 hectares of tree canopies.Ĭoniferous forests, and suburbs with coniferous tree canopies.įorests and smaller urban forested areas. Gray fur peppered with light and dark brown mottle and white tips. Gray to light brown and reddish-brown with an orange underside. Light grey, and grey-brown, dark grey, and black fur. They spend their days on the ground and dig burrows to sleep in. Ground squirrels are often found in grasslands. Tree squirrels live in forests and city parks. In this article, we look at the difference and similarities between tree squirrels and ground squirrels and how you can tell them apart. One of the main differences is found in their name: tree squirrels prefer trees, and ground squirrels prefer the ground.īut, there are other significant differences. Tree squirrels and ground squirrels are part of the same rodent family ( Sciuridae) but they have notable differences. Tree squirrels live in tree canopies of forested areas while ground squirrels live on the ground in grasslands to the slopes of mountains. The difference between tree squirrels and ground squirrels is where they live and how they spend their days.
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