mammal
Eastern gray squirrel
Sciurus carolinensis
Low riskEdible cookedabundant
Everyday bushmeat of the oak-hickory woods.
Gray with a white eye-ring and a big plume tail. Fox squirrels (orange-rust, larger) share the same ridges.
- Habitat
- Hardwoods, towns, hickory groves.
- Season
- Year-round. Best eating in fall after nuts.
- Size
- 1–1.5 lb
- Field marks
- White eye-ring; bushy tail
Use
Fried squirrel, pot pie. Save the brains-and-tannin mix only if you already know hide tanning.