Delmarva Peninsula Fox Squirrel

This large, slate grey tree squirrel (Sciurus niger cinereus) has an unusually full, fluffy tail and white belly. Larger than common gray squirrels, this fox squirrel subspecies measures up to 28 inches long and weighs up to three pounds. Once found throughout the Delmarva Peninsula, the range was reduced to 10% of the original size at the time of listing and it only occurred in three counties and a small island in one other county. Populations of the Delmarva fox squirrel now occur naturally in portions of Queen Anne's, Talbot, Dorchester and Caroline Counties in Maryland, and southwestern Sussex County, Delaware. Together with successful translocated populations, the current distribution now includes eight counties on the Eastern Shore of Maryland (all but Cecil) and Sussex County, Delaware and Accomack County, Virginia. The Delmarva fox squirrel inhabits mature forests of mixed hardwoods and pines in the agricultural landscapes of the Delmarva Peninsula. The mature trees provide higher abundance of acorns and other foods and provide den sites as well. Mature forest tracks along rivers, streams and bays are also used.