05/24/2025
The gray squirrel, North Carolina’s official state mammal, is far more than just a familiar backyard presence! It’s a remarkable species with a vital role in our natural world.
Often overlooked as everyday wildlife, gray squirrels are intelligent and ecologically important animals. These adaptable mammals have exceptional spatial memory, allowing them to store and retrieve hundreds of hidden food caches. When some of those caches are forgotten, the uneaten nuts can sprout, helping to regenerate forests naturally. Gray squirrels are also skilled climbers and jumpers, with flexible ankle joints that rotate to help them descend trees headfirst and leap great distances. Their communication is subtle but effective, relying on vocalizations, tail movements, and posture to send warnings or establish territory. Even their nests, known as dreys, are thoughtfully constructed from leaves and twigs high in the trees.
Far more than simple backyard visitors, gray squirrels play a meaningful role in the ecosystems they call home! Want to read more about our state symbols? Visit: https://bit.ly/3EPhwED
Image description: A squirrel perches alertly on a tree log in a natural woodland setting.
Image credit: J. Wyche
Image location: Merchants Millpond State Park
