Fox Squirrel

Sciurus niger

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered

Insufficient data

overall probability at Joshua Tree National Park

2 Verified records at Joshua Tree National Park

☀️ Diurnal When it's active during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

The fox squirrel (Sciurus niger), also known as the eastern fox squirrel or Bryant's fox squirrel, is the largest species of tree squirrel native to North America. It is sometimes mistaken for the American red squirrel or eastern gray squirrel in areas where the species coexist, though they differ in size and coloration.The word Sciurus came from the ancient Greek words skia, meaning shade, and oura, meaning tail. Niger refers to the black coloration. Wikipedia →

Closest Relatives at Joshua Tree National Park

Ammospermophilus leucurus

40–50% · Likely

LC Endemic

Otospermophilus beecheyi

20–30% · Possible

Tamias obscurus

5–10% · With luck

Xerospermophilus tereticaudus

<5% · Rare

Neotoma lepida

5–10% · Rare

Dipodomys merriami

<5% · Rare

Chaetodipus penicillatus

Dipodomys deserti

Chaetodipus spinatus

Chaetodipus formosus

Chaetodipus fallax

Perognathus longimembris

Insufficient data

See all 12 relatives Show fewer

📅 Monthly Probability

📊

Fewer than 5 records of Fox Squirrel at Joshua Tree National Park — not enough to chart months honestly.

☀️ When They're Spotted

Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)

☀️Diurnal

Global Distribution

Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.

where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is) · parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there

Parks Where Found

#	Park	Country	Probability
1	Big Cypress National Preserve	🇺🇸 United States	30–40%
2	Congaree National Park	🇺🇸 United States	20–30%
3	Point Pelee National Park	🇨🇦 Canada	20–30%
4	Channel Islands National Park	🇺🇸 United States	20–30%
5	Everglades National Park	🇺🇸 United States	5–10%
6	Shenandoah National Park	🇺🇸 United States	5–10%
7	Glacier National Park	🇺🇸 United States	5–10%
8	Rocky Mountain National Park	🇺🇸 United States	Insufficient data
9	Badlands National Park	🇺🇸 United States	Insufficient data
10	Death Valley National Park	🇺🇸 United States	Insufficient data
11	Redwood National Park	🇺🇸 United States	Insufficient data
12	Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks	🇺🇸 United States	Insufficient data
13	Joshua Tree National Park	🇺🇸 United States	Insufficient data
14	Great Smoky Mountains National Park	🇺🇸 United States	Insufficient data

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Fox Squirrel

Closest Relatives at Joshua Tree National Park

White-tailed Antelope Squirrel

California Ground Squirrel

California Chipmunk

Round-tailed Ground Squirrel

Desert Woodrat

Merriam's Kangaroo Rat

Desert Pocket Mouse

Desert Kangaroo Rat

Spiny Pocket Mouse

Long-tailed Pocket Mouse

San Diego Pocket Mouse

Little Pocket Mouse

📅 Monthly Probability

☀️ When They're Spotted

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found