You’ll spot all kinds of squirrels across Texas, from city parks to rocky deserts. Texas has several common species: the Eastern gray, fox, flying, rock, and different ground squirrels. Each one sticks to certain regions and habitats. Here’s a quick guide to what you might see, where you’ll see them, and what they like to eat.
Want to tell tree squirrels from ground squirrels? Curious about where flying squirrels hide at night? Or which ones love city life? You’ll pick up some handy tips on spotting them in your own yard.
Types of Squirrels in Texas
You’ll run into both tree and ground squirrels here. Some hang out in yards and parks, while others stick to forests or rocky places.
Eastern Gray Squirrel
The Eastern Gray Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) pops up a lot in eastern and central Texas. You’ll catch it in city parks, oak groves, and even in suburban backyards.
It wears a gray coat, a white belly, and a fluffy, bushy tail for balance and warmth. You’ll see it foraging for acorns, pecans, berries, and sometimes bird eggs.
Watch for them burying nuts in shallow holes and digging them up later. They’re busiest around dawn and late afternoon.
They build leafy nests called dreys high up in tree forks. If one sneaks into your attic, humane exclusion and sealing up holes usually does the trick.
I wouldn’t recommend feeding them by hand—they get bold fast and adapt easily to people.
Fox Squirrel
The Fox Squirrel (Sciurus niger) is bigger than the gray squirrel and often sports rusty or orange fur. You’ll spot it all over Texas wherever mature trees grow—think parks, ranch edges, and old neighborhoods.
Its size and strong jaws help it crack big nuts like pecans. Fox squirrels prefer open woods and scattered trees.
They split their time between the ground and trees, caching food and nesting in tree cavities or dreys. They breed twice a year, and the young move out after about two months.
On farms, you might see them near cornfields or orchards where they raid crops. In towns, they act bold and curious, so it’s smart to squirrel-proof your bird feeders.
Southern Flying Squirrel
The Southern Flying Squirrel (Glaucomys volans) is tiny, nocturnal, and glides from tree to tree on a skin membrane. You probably won’t see one during the day; look at dusk or listen for soft squeaks at night.
They prefer mature hardwood forests in eastern Texas and need tree cavities for nests. Their diet covers nuts, seeds, fruit, insects, and sometimes bird eggs.
They often cache food and sometimes nest together in winter to keep warm. If you set up a nest box for flying squirrels, you might lure them away from your attic.
Since they’re active at night and so small, they rarely cause big problems. Humane exclusion and outdoor nest boxes usually keep them out of trouble.
Rock Squirrel
The Rock Squirrel (Otospermophilus variegatus) loves rocky outcrops and dry areas in western and central Texas. You’ll find it on cliffs, canyon ledges, and stone fences.
It’s stockier than tree squirrels, with mottled gray-brown fur that blends into the rocks. Rock squirrels dig burrows among rocks and spend most of their time on the ground.
They eat seeds, cactus fruit, and insects. You’ll hear them give loud alarm calls if they spot danger.
You might catch them sunning on rocks or darting into crevices. On ranches and trails, they sometimes raid crops or campsites.
If they dig under buildings, shore up foundations and remove easy food sources to avoid issues.
Ground and Other Squirrel Species in Texas
These ground squirrels mostly stick to open grasslands, scrub, and desert edges. You’ll see them digging burrows, standing sentry, and munching on seeds, insects, and green plants.
Mexican Ground Squirrel
The Mexican Ground Squirrel (Ictidomys mexicanus) lives in southern Texas, especially near the Rio Grande and lower Rio Grande Valley. You’ll spot it in fields, pastures, and along roadsides where it digs shallow burrows with several entrances.
Adults reach about 10–12 inches, tail included, and wear light brown fur with faint dorsal markings. You’ll usually see them foraging in the morning and late afternoon.
They eat seeds, grains, insects, and green shoots now and then. When threatened, they chirp sharply and dash into their burrows.
If you manage land, their burrows can mess with crop rows and irrigation lines.
Thirteen-Lined Ground Squirrel
The Thirteen-Lined Ground Squirrel (Ictidomys tridecemlineatus) stands out with bold stripes and spots. Look for it on short-grass prairies and lawns in northern and central Texas.
It grows 8–11 inches long and uses tunnels and surface runways. You’ll see it stand upright to watch for hawks and snakes.
Its diet covers seeds, insects, small vertebrates, and sometimes corn or garden veggies. It hibernates deeply in winter, so you’ll really only see it from spring through fall.
Their burrows help aerate soil, but they can undermine lawn edges and small buildings.
Texas Antelope Squirrel
The Texas Antelope Squirrel (Ammospermophilus interpres), a close cousin of Harris’s antelope squirrel, lives in dry parts of West and South Texas. It’s small and zippy, with a white side stripe and a body about 7–10 inches long.
You’ll find it on rocky slopes, desert scrub, and sandy flats. This squirrel is active during the day and shrugs off high heat.
Watch for it darting between shrubs, eating seeds, insects, and small plants. It digs shallow burrows and hides in shaded rock crevices to escape the sun.
Look for its quick, jerky movements and that bright white flank stripe if you’re exploring desert country.
Spotted Ground Squirrel
The Spotted Ground Squirrel hangs out in northern Texas, sticking to compact prairies and pastures. You can spot one by its small size—usually around 7 to 9 inches—and those pale spots scattered across its back.
It digs little burrows with just a few entrances. Sometimes, it even shares the grassland with other ground rodents like prairie dogs or pocket gophers.
You’ll probably catch it munching on seeds, grasses, or maybe an unlucky insect. If something spooks it, you’ll hear a sharp alarm call—pretty loud for such a tiny animal.
Unlike some other ground squirrels, this one prefers to stay active during the cooler parts of the day. I think land managers should pay attention to its role in spreading seeds and turning over soil, though I guess dense colonies might mess with grazing areas a bit.
