skip to main content

Wildlife Garden

Attracting Fox Squirrels

14 years ago

Does any one have fox squirrels . They are a lot bigger than a grey squirrel. Daddy used to feed them peanuts in the shell when I was a kid. There is a pair that comes to the house. You can tell the female is nursing. But she doesnt like peanuts in the shell. She does like peanut butter and pecans. Red

Featured Answer

paulsiu

14 years ago

They tend to overlap with the grey squirrel and behaves pretty much the same. For example, unlike red squirrels, they are not territorial. They tend to like wintergreen trees and likes pine cones.

In my area, I see roughly 50/50 grey and fox squirrels.

Paul

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (11)

chao
Original Author
14 years ago
You very seldom see a fox squirrel in our area. There was years here you never saw one. I think the only reason this pair is here is because the planted pines are over 30 years and there is a lot of pine cones.Where are you located Paulsiu. Red
Related Discussions
Squirrel Control - Bait Update
Q
Comments (9)
Harvestman, et al, I just eclipsed 95 takes since May, between Reds, Grays and Chipmunks. Plus one woodchuck came to snack. They keep coming back for the Black Oil Sunflower Seeds. My neighbor came back from a 5 month leave of fishing on Lake Ontario and said to me this morning: "There are no squirrels left to shoot, you got them all." -Eric ----------------------------------------------------
...See More
Does Miracle-Gro Potting Mix attract Squirrels?
Q
Comments (14)
Eeeek, not a good idea, brink. Mothballs are highly toxic...not just to wildlife and pets, but you! They are not intended to be used other than in an enclosed area to kill insects. Actually, the fact that they can be deadly to non target animals that may ingest them is why they need to be removed from public use. Holly, my favorite tip is to sprinkle cayenne pepper liberally where those critters dig. I buy a big canister of it at Costco every year and use it generously. It helps keep them out of seed beds, new garden plantings, and my containers for cuttings and flowers. Has no effect on birds, so you can even use cayenne in birdseed to keep the squirrels at bay. I have a couple of wooden propagation boxes that I use for cuttings and divisions and I don't want anything walking around in there! I lay hardware cloth on top of the box and weight it with heavy rocks! So, yes.....wrangling the squirrels and chipmunks are an annual event for me.
...See More
Using squirrel houses (hawks & foxes go after squirrels, etc.)
Q
Comments (6)
We have three squirrel houses in 3 different trees and the only critters we've seen giving the squirrels any grief are raccoons. The first one I built is designed differently than yours, with a roof that overhangs the front. One time a raccoon hung over the front and managed to reach in and get a hold of one, although he didn't get it. I promptly put a little rail on top to block them. We've had Cooper's hawks come through and stalk them but never seen one try and get in one of the houses. No foxes around here, so I can't say. It's not as easy for a larger predatory bird to get at them in the box. Some boxes have ledges installed underneath the hole on the inside to keep other predators from reaching them. 6-7 feet is kind of low. The general recommendation is at least 15 feet although some say 10 is enough. Mine are about 15, 20 and 25 feet up. The one has been up for 8 years and I put two more made from tires up last year. What can I say? I found a plan, was curious and had an old tire. I almost laughed when I saw them moving in last fall. ("SOB! They work!") When you hang them, give them some kind of nesting material to get them started. I put dry crushed or mulched leaves in ours, about 1/3 filled. One caveat about your box. Even being one inch thick, pine will rot over time, especially the floor. Even though it has a hole for drainage, water will collect in there from time to time. I made mine of cedar and it's held up well, but I can see I'll have to replace the floor or build a new one before long. I got the idea for the tire ones from a guy who sells them online.(Not myself) They hang from hooks and he sells them with a rope and attachment to fling it over a limb. I also found a plan for a different style house made from a tire. They seemed to like them just fine.
...See More
attracting skinks, ribbon sknakes and gray squirrels
Q
Comments (1)
hi nature, I have squirrels galore cuz I have food and water and shelter in my yard. You can plant berry producing shrubs, put out bird baths for water, certainly a squirrel feeder and bird feeder. You could also provide squirrel nesting boxes. As for skinks and snakes, I will let someone else comment on them but I believe they love stones and logs. I have a snake that comes to my garden every couple of days from the field across the street to hunt for lizards. Check out National Wildlife web site and look at the back yard habitat link. michelle
...See More
paulsiu
14 years ago
I live in the Northern Illinois area. I think the Fox Squirrel is usually located further out west. Since we live in the Midwest, there's probably some overlap. When I live out east, I never see one.

Paul
maifleur01
14 years ago
Fox squirrels live from the east coast to the prairies. I was amazed at the different looks of fox squirrels. Supposedly 10 subspecies. The one that is listed as the Southern Fox squirrel looks nothing like the ones here. Our squirrels like nuts, oak and walnut. If you can provide nest boxes or leave old trees with chambers for them they will live in both of them. They also like cobbed corn.
chao
Original Author
14 years ago
I thaught she wasnt going to eat a cheaper peanut butter today. But she came back and ate it. She is spoiled . Only likes Jiff crunchy. Still wont eat peanuts. Red
lisa11310
14 years ago
We have Fox, Gray, Black, Red and (less commmon) Flying here and a bunch of intermingled "mutts". All pretty cute.
woodlandgal
14 years ago
I used to see only Fox squirrels where I grew up about 15 miles from where I live now in west central WI. I've never seen a Fox squirrel here. We have Grays and two black ones in our woods. There was a pair of Red squirrels, but I haven't seen them since last winter.

I have never seen a Flying squirrel, but they are supposed to be around here.
lifeistoshort
11 years ago
Watermelon rinds!!! I swear by it. I won't see any fox squirrels for days, the minute I cut up a seedless watermelon and throw the rinds in the back yard; they come out in droves and start eating the rinds down to the skin. Mind you I have peanuts in shells, cracked corn, sun flower seeds etc... In the yard at all times which they also love. There is just something about watermelon that they can't refuse. They won't leave till all traces are eaten up!! :>)
HU-249340343
5 years ago
Attract squirrels ? Climb up a tree and act like a nut !
mr1010
4 years ago
We have Fox Squirrels here in Central Florida and there's a colony of them within

1200-1500 ft. of my property but I've never seen them on my land even though I feed the gray squirrels year round.

I enjoy watching them though and they seem pretty mild mannered, almost tame.
George Williams
3 years ago
Fox squirrels do not like gray/cat squirrels...we have had alot of success establishing large fox squirrel colonies by getting rid of the gray squirrels. Fox squirrels and flying squirrels thrive when gray squirrels are scarce in an area. We live in Alabama 🐿

Related Stories

LIFE How to Outsmart Backyard Critters

By Tiffany Carboni

Learn to think like a raccoon, skunk or squirrel to keep your home safe and your garden intact

PRODUCT PICKS Guest Picks: Woodland Friends Roam Through Decor

By Laura Gaskill

Fake a forest in your foyer — or living room or bedroom — with fox, mushroom and faux-bois accents

GARDENING FOR BUTTERFLIES Garden for Wildlife to Reap Rich Rewards

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

When you plant with animals and insects in mind, you make gardening easier, the planet healthier and yourself more present

GARDENING GUIDES Backyard Birds: Invite Entertaining Hummingbirds Into Your Garden

By Habitat Network

Hummingbirds — unique to the Americas — zip through open landscapes seasonally or year-round. Here’s how to attract them

GARDENING AND LANDSCAPING Take Back Your Front Yard: 8 Ways to Make It Social

By J. Peterson Garden Design

If only trees and squirrels gather in your front yard, you're missing out on valuable socializing space. Here's how to remedy that

GARDENING FOR BUTTERFLIES A Quick-Start Guide to Bird-Watching for Fun and Learning

By Alison Hodgson

Set out some seed and grab your field guide. Bird-watching is an easy, entertaining and educational activity for the whole family

GARDENING GUIDES Celebrate Eastern Oaks for Wildlife, Longevity and Seasonal Interest

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

There might not be a more important tree to have in your eastern U.S. landscape — if you can fit one in

LANDSCAPE DESIGN Great Design Plant: Vine Maple

Exciting year-round color and adaptability make this highly ornamental native small tree a top choice for home gardens

GARDENING GUIDES How to Bring the Joy of Bluebirds to Your Garden

By Habitat Network

Attract these beautiful songbirds with nesting habitat and food sources, including berry-producing trees and shrubs

GARDENING GUIDES 13 North American Backyard Birds to Know

By Annie Thornton

Find out about these enchanting native species and learn how to attract them to your yard

Sponsored

More Discussions

Two new species at feeder!

2

Starlings and grackles have discovered my feeders, are decimating suet

0