Squirrels are among the most familiar wild mammals that we encounter, both in our backyards and out in the wilderness. Unlike many mammals, squirrels are diurnal and their energetic antics make them highly conspicuous.
The Pacific Northwest is home to numerous ground squirrels and tree squirrels, including a couple non-native species.
The Douglas Squirrel (Tamiasciurus douglasii)– also called a Chickaree– is the species you are most likely to see in the forests of western Washington and Oregon. These bold little animals are very vocal and will often bark, growl, or whistle at (i.e. ‘scold’) those they perceive as intruders, including well-intentioned hikers and naturalists.
Description
Douglas Squirrels are 11-14 in length (28-36 cm). They have brown fur on their backs and orange or orange-white fur on their bellies. A black line may run along the squirrel’s sides, dividing the dorsal and ventral fur.
The ears are tipped with black tufts and their is a ring of light-colored fur around the eye.
The non-native Eastern Fox Squirrel looks a little like a Douglas Squirrel. If you live in an urban area, you are more likely to see the larger Fox Squirrel.
Habitat and Range
Douglas Squirrels live in coniferous forests from British Columbia south to the Sierra Nevada mountain range in California. You can see a range map here.
Old tree cavities excavated by woodpeckers are used as nests by Douglas Squirrels in the winter (they do not hibernate). The squirrels make dreys out of abandoned crow nests and use these in the warmer months.
Diet
The primary food source for this squirrel is nuts from conifer cones, including those from fir, pine, spruce, and hemlock. Piles of Douglas Fir cone scales at the base of a tree are evidence of Douglas Squirrel feeding.
Green cones are clipped from trees by Douglas Squirrels in the autumn. The squirrels then stash the cones in caches called middens. Hollow spaces under logs or rocks are common places for middens. A midden serves as a sort of pantry in winter, when food is otherwise scarce for squirrels. Hundreds of cones might be piled in a midden and these may accessed for several years.
Douglas Squirrels also east mushrooms, berries, and seeds.
Predators
Owls, Northern Goshawks, American Martens, Bobcats, foxes, Coyotes, and domestic cats all eat Douglas Squirrels.
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We used to feed them all the time when I was growing up camping in the Columbia Gorge! They are fascinating to watch, we had a couple which would eat out of our hands, taking nuts away to hide and coming back for more. We always knew when the Douglas Fir cones would start to ripen because suddenly one day we’d start hearing the ‘thunk thunk thunk’ of the chewed up cones hitting the top of our camping trailer. These squirrels bring back some fond memories, thanks for the post!
Sounds like you have some intimate experience with these squirrels, Kelly. Very cool. I’m always torn about the ethics of feeding squirrels and chipmunks, but I admit it would be fun to have a Douglas squirrel eating from my hand. Thanks for the comment!
Well written and photographed – definitely one of my favorite forest residents.
Thanks, Michael. They are one of my favorites too.
I have a Douglas Squirrel as a pet. When he was approximately 2 weeks old, I had found him laying in a cement parking lot at work barely breathing and not awake. Knowing he was nowhere near trees it a possible nest, I picked him up, which he never moved at all, and went to my car to get a bottle of water. I dipped my finger in the water and put the drip on his lips, then proceeded to put him in my bra to get back up to body temp. After work I went and bought a bottle and formula and hand fed him for 2 months. He is completely humanized and relies on me for everything and I have to say, he is what puts a smile on my face daily. A total kick in the pants. He is spoiled and has full run of the house and other animals. I am glad I was able to save him, he has become a shining star for me.<3
coolest story. you are so thoughtful and so lucky to have such a special little buddy. i happened to walk into a mother DS carrying her baby acrossed the golf course. when she saw me she dropped her baby and ran up a tree and started going nuts barking at me. i saw what it was and moved back and she came down and carried the baby away. I always wondered why she was moving her baby. ive since started building the tree houses for them and they seem to use them in the winter when the snow gets deep. the babies, for a while during and after they are weaned, all pack in there at once…its pretty funny.
I work on a golf course in the sierra nevada mountains in california. I am currently building a few dozen squirrel homes for all my little douglas squirrel friends for the upcoming winter. One observation i have made is that, in the deep woods they rarely come into contact with one another. They seem to own an acre or two of land which they stay on and protect. Here on the golf course, and in the nearby village, they are always crossing lines onto other squirrels “property”, which leads me to believe that there isnt enough for all of them since all you see them do is chasing one another around here in town and on the course. Lots of young ones this year, and i figure they will need the extra room. Plus they keep the red tailed hawks active on the golf course which helps with all the other, more destructive rodents like voles and waterfowl, which the hawks consume.
I live in Alta, CA. We are fortunate to have California Grays and Douglas Squirrels at our bird feeders every day, practically all day. The Douglas Squirrels scatter all over our decks and property; the Grays mostly stay up in the pine trees. It’s like having my own private animal kingdom. I love it. We moved to the mountain area specifically to live amongst the wild, rather than a close-knit neighborhood. I couldn’t live in a better environment than this. Btw, you have a pretty cool site.
There are always Douglas squirrels around my place driving the Jack Russells crazy. I have over an acre of large Douglas fir, and over 1/2 is fenced off so the JR’s can’t get in. There seem to be underground tunnels in that part of the yard.
Do you think the squirrels made them? Live in them in our rainy winters? Use them for storage?
Good question, El. Douglas Squirrels are definitely in the ‘tree squirrel’ category, and spend most of their time among the branches on running along and around fallen trees. As far as I know, they don’t spend much energy digging holes. They do cache cones in hollows under logs.
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