2025-10-15 Eastern Gray Squirrel (1024x680)

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The Eastern gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) is an invasive species in Washington state, where it displaces and threatens the native Western gray squirrel (Sciurus griseus)

The Eastern gray squirrel is not native to Washington. It was deliberately introduced to the Puget Sound area in 1925 and has since become well-established, especially in cities and suburban areas.

The aggressive Eastern gray squirrel competes directly with the native Western gray for food and habitat. Studies have shown that Eastern gray squirrels use riparian areas more, while Western gray squirrels predominantly use uplands, indicating differing resource use that is likely influenced by competition.

Due to pressure from the invasive Eastern gray squirrel and other factors, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) has increased protections for the native Western gray squirrel, uplisting it from threatened to endangered status in 2023.

You can differentiate the invasive Eastern gray squirrel from the native Western gray squirrel by several key features:

 

Size: The Western gray squirrel is larger, while the Eastern gray is smaller.

Color: The Eastern gray squirrel has a mix of brownish, reddish, and gray hairs, a paler underside, and a reddish-brown wash on its face and tail. The Western gray has a more uniform silver-gray coat with a white underside and a very long, bushy tail with a white fringe.

Tail: The Western gray's tail is notably longer and bushier than the Eastern gray's.

Vocalizations: When alarmed, the Eastern gray squirrel makes a "que, que, que" sound while flicking its tail. The Western gray produces a hoarse "chuff-chuff-chuff" bark.

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