The grays are the squirrels of the hardwood deciduous forests. The eastern gray squirrel, with its long bushy tail, is the species we see most frequently in Minnesota. They are most common in the south but also can inhabit the mixed coniferous/deciduous forests in the northern part of the state. From extreme southern Canada to the Gulf of Mexico, the range of the eastern gray squirrel covers most of the eastern half of the United States. They are highly arboreal and usually associated with nut-bearing trees such as hickory and oak. Casual observers know these squirrels can become quite tame — they're the ones people feed in city parks.

Black (melanin) and white (albino) phases of the species are not rare. Sometimes these mutations are so common they become the dominant in an area.

Gray squirrels are 18 to 20 inches long, including the tail, and weigh about one pound. In winter the soft gray fur grows long and dense, allowing these animals to be out and about except during very stormy or extremely cold days.

Individual squirrels consume about 2 pounds of food per week, or 100 pounds a year. Acorns, walnuts and butternuts dominate the gray squirrel's diet from late summer to spring. Wild berries and other fruits are also eaten. Bark, twigs and buds keep squirrels alive when food stores run low. Even better are sunflower seeds or corn from a friendly person's feeding station. Early spring produces sweet sap to lick and swelling buds to eat.

Jim Gilbert's Nature Notes are heard on WCCO Radio at 7:15 a.m. Sundays. His observations have been part of the Minnesota Weatherguide Environment Calendars since 1977, and he is the author of five books on nature in Minnesota. He taught and worked as a naturalist for 50 years.