The Fox Squirrel: Nebraska’s Backyard Acrobat
If you spend any time watching wildlife in Nebraska, chances are the squirrel darting across your yard is a Fox squirrel (Sciurus niger). These energetic animals are the largest tree squirrels commonly found across much of the Midwest, and they’ve become a familiar sight in neighborhoods, parks, and farmyards. With their bushy tails, rusty-orange coloring, and fearless personalities, fox squirrels often steal the show in backyard wildlife videos—making them perfect stars for channels like ours!
One reason fox squirrels thrive in Nebraska is their excellent adaptability to climate and habitat. Unlike some squirrel species that prefer dense forests, fox squirrels are comfortable in open woodlands, shelterbelts, city parks, and suburban neighborhoods. Nebraska’s mix of farmland, scattered trees, and river corridors is almost tailor-made for them. They handle both hot summers and freezing winters well, using tree cavities or leafy nests called “dreys” to stay protected from harsh weather.
Another fun fact is their surprisingly long lifespan for a small wild animal. In the wild, fox squirrels typically live 8 to 12 years, although many live shorter lives due to predators and environmental hazards. When conditions are good and predators are few, some fox squirrels have been known to reach well over a decade. Their longevity helps explain why you might see the same squirrel family returning to the same trees in your yard year after year. We believe we have a mama squirrel that has been living in our neighborhood for three years now.
Fox squirrels are also incredible problem solvers and memory experts. Like many squirrels, they practice “scatter hoarding,” burying hundreds of nuts and seeds across their territory. Their memory and sense of smell allow them to relocate many of these hidden food stashes months later. Interestingly, they sometimes pretend to bury food if another squirrel is watching—an entertaining behavior that wildlife watchers and backyard cameras occasionally capture. We have caught some of these humorous “pretend” buries in our own backyard. They look around to see if anyone is watching! Yes little squirrel, we saw the whole thing!
The fox squirrels' distinctive appearance makes them easy to identify compared with other squirrels. Fox squirrels are larger and bulkier than many species, with thick bodies and long, fluffy tails that help them balance when leaping between branches. Their fur often ranges from gray-brown to reddish-orange underneath, and in Nebraska you’ll often see individual squirrels with a warm, rusty belly and pale nose. That bold coloring is part of what gives them their “fox” name.
Finally, fox squirrels are surprisingly bold and curious around people, which is why they’re so commonly featured in backyard wildlife videos. They quickly learn where food sources are—bird feeders, gardens, your back deck and nut trees are all fair game. Their playful chases, dramatic tail flicks, and acrobatic leaps make them endlessly entertaining to watch. If you’re filming wildlife content like us, the fox squirrel might just be the most reliable backyard performer Nebraska has to offer.