You’ll notice pretty quickly that Oregon’s home to several native tree squirrels. These little guys show up in forests and even around town. The main native species you’ll spot are the Western Gray, Douglas, American Red, and the Northern Flying squirrel. Each one hangs out in different habitats and plays its own part in the local ecosystem.
Knowing these names makes it easier to tell native squirrels from nonnative ones like the Eastern Gray or the Fox squirrel.
As you read on, you’ll find out where each native species lives, how to tell them apart, and what’s threatening some of them. That background should help you spot which squirrels are truly local and which ones might just be visitors.
Native Squirrels of Oregon
Oregon has four main native tree squirrels. They live in different habitats, look pretty distinct, and each acts in its own quirky way.
You’ll find them in forests, oak savannas, or up in the mountain woodlands. Some are actually in trouble.
Western Gray Squirrel
The western gray squirrel (Sciurus griseus) stands out for its size and long tail. People usually see it in mature oak and mixed oak-conifer forests, especially in the Willamette Valley and parts of southwest Oregon.
Adults have gorgeous silver-gray fur with a white belly. That long, bushy tail really helps them balance and stay warm.
This squirrel likes areas with Oregon white oak and old trees that drop plenty of acorns and nuts. Sadly, it’s been declining in some spots because it loses habitat and faces competition from non-native squirrels.
The Oregon Conservation Strategy considers the western gray a species of concern in some areas. If you’re hoping to help, plant native oaks, protect bigger trees, and try not to feed or encourage those invasive Eastern gray squirrels.
Douglas Squirrel
The Douglas squirrel (Tamiasciurus douglasii), or chickaree, is smaller and has a more reddish-brown coat than the western gray.
You’ll bump into it in conifer forests, from the coast to the western Cascades. It builds nests in tree cavities, stick dreys, or thick branches and stays active all year.
Douglas squirrels munch on seeds from cones, fungi, and sometimes berries. They stash cones for winter and really depend on old-growth and mature conifer stands for food and shelter.
These squirrels help spread fungal spores that trees need. You’ll hear their rapid, chattery calls and see them darting up trees when they’re foraging. They’re pretty common, but they stick close to healthy conifer forests.
Northern Flying Squirrel
The northern flying squirrel (Glaucomys sabrinus, and sometimes the local Glaucomys oregonensis) is mostly nocturnal and glides between trees using a furry membrane.
You probably won’t see one during the day, but you might catch faint squeaks at night in old-growth forests west of the Cascades. They have big eyes, soft gray-brown fur, and a flat tail that helps them steer while gliding.
These squirrels need mature, multi-layered forests with lots of cavities and fungal foods like truffles. They play a huge role in spreading fungal spores that help trees.
You can help them by conserving old forests, leaving snags and cavity trees, and cutting down on light pollution that messes with their night-time routine.
American Red Squirrel
The American red squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus) is small, feisty, and pretty common in montane conifer stands, especially in eastern and some western parts of Oregon.
You’ll spot its reddish coat, white belly, and hear its loud chatter when it’s defending territory. It builds cone caches and middens—basically, little storage spots for seeds and cones to get through the winter.
Red squirrels like lodgepole and other cone-producing pines. They help spread seeds and eat a lot of cones.
Their busy antics and bold calls make them easy to spot. You can support them by keeping conifer stands intact and avoiding too much clearing of berry or cone-producing shrubs.
Other Squirrels and Related Species in Oregon
Oregon’s got plenty of ground-dwelling squirrels, plus a few chipmunks and even one marmot. You’ll find them in valleys, sagebrush flats, mountains, and meadows.
Many of these critters live in open areas and spend part of the year in torpor or hibernation.
Notable Ground Squirrels
You might see the California ground squirrel, which is all over west and central Oregon. It likes to perch on posts and can climb a bit.
The white-tailed antelope squirrel lives in the dry southeast. It doesn’t hibernate and dashes between shady spots, showing off a white side stripe.
Belding’s ground squirrel and the Wyoming ground squirrel live in eastern and high-desert areas. They go into torpor for months to make it through winter.
Look for the Columbian ground squirrel and the golden-mantled ground squirrel in mountain meadows. Columbian ground squirrels use mounds at meadow edges and spend most of the year underground.
Golden-mantled ground squirrels have a bold white-and-black stripe on their sides and often forage around rocks. The Piute and Merriam’s ground squirrels show up in shrub-steppe and prairie habitats.
If you’re curious about their ranges or want to ID them, check out this guide to squirrels, chipmunks, and marmots in Oregon.
Native Chipmunks and Marmots
Oregon has a couple of chipmunk species—the least chipmunk and the yellow-pine chipmunk. You’ll spot them during the day, darting through shrub-steppe and pine forests.
If you’re near towns or wandering forest edges, you might catch Townsend’s chipmunk or the Siskiyou chipmunk. These two seem to like thick vegetation and rocky hideouts.
Chipmunks stand out with their sharp stripes on the back and face. When startled, they’ll let out a quick, sharp call—sometimes it almost sounds like they’re scolding you.
The yellow-bellied marmot holds the title for Oregon’s largest squirrel family member. You can find marmots hanging out on rocky slopes and talus, mostly east of a line stretching from Mt. Hood to Mt. Mazama.
Marmots spend months hibernating. Most adults pop out in late winter or early spring and stick around through the summer.
If you want to see photos or check out more about their habitats, take a look at the Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife’s page on squirrels, chipmunks and marmots.
