FWS Focus

Overview

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.

Scientific Name

Sciurus niger cinereus
Common Name
Delmarva Peninsula fox squirrel
eastern fox squirrel
FWS Category
Mammals
Kingdom

Location in Taxonomic Tree

Identification Numbers

TSN:

Geography

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Timeline

Explore the information available for this taxon's timeline. You can select an event on the timeline to view more information, or cycle through the content available in the carousel below.

12 Items

Listing

Experimental Pop Designation (10j)

Experimental Pop Designation (10j)

Experimental Pop Designation (10j)

Experimental Pop Designation (10j)

Correction

Five Year Review

Five Year Review

Post Delisting Monitoring Plan

Delisting

Delisting

Delisting

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Listing

Mar 11, 1967

Mar 11, 1967 Listing (Endangered)
Endangered Species List - 1967
  • Publication type: Final
Item 1

Experimental Pop Designation (10j)

Apr 5, 1984

Apr 5, 1984 Experimental Pop Designation (10j) (Non-essential)
Proposed Determination of Experimental Population Status for Introduced Population of Delmarva Fox S…
  • Publication type: Proposed
Item 2

Experimental Pop Designation (10j)

Apr 5, 1984

Apr 5, 1984 Experimental Pop Designation (10j) (Non-essential)
Proposed Determination of Experimental Population Status for Introduced Population of Delmarva Fox S…
  • Publication type: Proposed
Item 3

Experimental Pop Designation (10j)

Apr 5, 1984

Apr 5, 1984 Experimental Pop Designation (10j) (Non-essential)
Proposed Determination of Experimental Population Status for Introduced Population of Delmarva Fox S…
  • Publication type: Final
Item 4

Experimental Pop Designation (10j)

Sep 13, 1984

Sep 13, 1984 Experimental Pop Designation (10j) (Non-essential)
Determination of Experimental Population Status for an Introduced Population of Delmarva Fox Squirre…
  • Publication type: Final
Item 5

Correction

Dec 21, 1984

Dec 21, 1984 Correction
(Correction) Gypsum Wild Buckwheat (Eriogoum gypsophilum) & Sciurus niger cinereus (Delmarva Fox…
  • Publication type: Notice
Item 6

Five Year Review

Jul 6, 2005

Jul 6, 2005 Five Year Review (Information Solicitation)
Initiation of a 5-Year Review of 5 Listed Species: The Virginia Northern Flying Squirrel (Glaucomys…
  • Publication type: Notice
Item 7

Five Year Review

Aug 4, 2010

Aug 4, 2010 Five Year Review (Information Solicitation)
Initiation of 5-Year Reviews of Five Listed Species: Delmarva Peninsula Fox Squirrel, Northeastern B…
  • Publication type: Notice
Item 8

Post Delisting Monitoring Plan

Sep 23, 2014

Sep 23, 2014 Post Delisting Monitoring Plan (Document Availability (non-FR))
Proposed Rule To Remove the Delmarva Peninsula Fox Squirrel From the List of Endangered and Threaten…
  • Publication type: Draft
Item 9

Delisting

Sep 23, 2014

Sep 23, 2014 Delisting
Proposed Rule To Remove the Delmarva Peninsula Fox Squirrel From the List of Endangered and Threaten…
  • Publication type: Proposed
Item 10

Delisting

Nov 16, 2015

Nov 16, 2015 Delisting
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Removal of the Delmarva Peninsula Fox Squirrel From t…
  • Publication type: Final
Item 11

Delisting

Nov 16, 2015

Nov 16, 2015 Delisting
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Removal of the Delmarva Peninsula Fox Squirrel From t…
  • Publication type: Final
Item 12