Arizona Gray Squirrel - Sciurus arizonensis

Habitat

The Arizona gray squirrel lives in deciduous forests with walnut, sycamore, oak, cottonwood, and pine trees. It is usually found in areas with elevations of 5,000-6,000 feet above sea level. In New Mexico, it is found in canyons with a water source and lots of black walnuts and acorns!

Diet

A large part of the Arizona gray squirrel's diet is made up of walnuts. It also eats fungi, pine cones, juniper berries, nuts, acorns, berries, and seeds. When it cuts pine cones to feed on, it carries the whole cone to the trunk of the tree before removing the seeds.

Life Cycle

Breeding season runs from April to May. Several males will chase a single female. Gestation lasts about two months. A leaf nest is made in a tree. The female has two to four babies.

Behavior

The Arizona gray squirrel is just as likely to flee from a threat by running on the ground as it is to climb a tree. It also will remain completely still when it wants to avoid detection.