The European, or Eastern Grey Squirrel
sciurus carolinensis
Threat: Can damage electrical wiring creating potential fire hazards. Can damage decorative and structural aspects of buildings, if nesting inside soffits, attics, or walls. Can cause damage to flowers, plants or garden spaces due to foraging and burying of food. Can damage items and materials while collecting nesting materials.
Grey Squirrel Feeding On Deck In Calgary, Alberta
This is probably the most common squirrel in urban areas throughout central and southern Alberta. The Eastern Grey Squirrel is one of the larger tree squirrels found in North America. Native to the oak and hardwood forests of eastern Canada and the north-eastern United States, the Eastern Grey Squirrel is considered to be an introduced species in western Canada. The Eastern Grey Squirrel’s coat can range in colour, usually found as black, grey, or brown. Some people mistake these as different species of squirrel, but they are just coat colour variations that can emerge even within the same immediate family.
The Eastern Grey Squirrel is considered to be a tree squirrel, but they have a great affinity towards urban and human environments. In fact, they tend to do better in urban environments than they do in more rural, wooded areas. Unlike other tree squirrels, the Eastern Grey Squirrel prefers to build their nests inside existing enclosures. Most tree squirrel nests are called dreys, but as this name refers to the stacking and intertwining of sticks, twigs and fur, a lot of wildlife workers simply refer to Eastern Grey Squirrel nests as dens.
The Eastern Grey Squirrel will create dens inside any enclosure where they can feel isolated, dry and protected from the elements as well as from predators. Common den sites for Eastern Grey Squirrels are inside hollowed out dead-wood or tree stumps, under piles of dead-wood, under steps, inside attics or soffits, inside chimneys or chimney stacks, inside walls, under sheds, or inside abandoned machinery, structures, or vehicles. On some occasions or in non-urban areas, the Eastern Grey Squirrel will build a drey in the branches of a tree, or perhaps wedged on top of an awning, or among the lattice work above a gable or gazebo.
