There are two mating seasons one in December lasting thru February and then again in May and June. The young spring litters born in February and March will hold close to their dens for several weeks after being weaned so if you find them in the forest you only need to search the trees for current nesting sites. Now is a good time to start searching for the dreys of fox squirrels. You will recognize the ball-shaped leaf clusters more readily among the bare branches of deciduous treetops at this time of year. Make sure you choose nesting sites’ that have not been abandon, by watching if the squirrels spend time in them or not. Older trees with hollow cavities will show den entry holes that may have telltale tufts of hair or be worn smooth from squirrel use. Characteristic gnawing will be present on the smaller openings where squirrels chew the holes to proper size. A little patience and persistence will show you where to find them and you can make a mental note of where they live.

When turkey season begins you can familiarize yourself with the newly leafed trees by searching those known to have nests and dens for squirrel activity. If you do your homework in searching for these little dumplings now, you will have a very good idea where to find them when the season starts in May.

Spotting the squirrels can be an incredible game of search and find, as they often remain motionless against a tree trunk or flattened along the fork of two branches where they remain unnoticed for long periods, blending into the shadows and the color of the bark itself. Look for mulberry trees, as they are a favorite source of food among squirrels. Empty nut hulls along the forest floor are also a good sign squirrels have recently fed in the area. The likelihood of spotting several winter squirrels increases when I choose to scout on an unusually warm day.

Red squirrels are slightly larger than gray squirrels but both have similar habits and except for the reds bushier tail their color and sizes are the only noticeable difference. Fox Squirrels have red underbellies with red tipped tails where greys have a white underparts and tips on their tails. For reasons of territorial disputes and just not getting along with one another these species usually do not inhabit the same immediate areas but will compete for the same food sources in winter.