Douglas’s Squirrel

Identification

The Douglas squirrel is a compact pine squirrel about 13 inches (33 cm) in total length, including a 5-inch tail, and weighs between 5.3 and 10.6 ounces (150–300 g). Seasonal variation is striking: summer coats display greyish or greenish-brown backs with pale orange chests and bellies, while winter fur becomes browner above and greyer below, with noticeably tuftier ears. Like many squirrels, it bears a distinctive white eye-ring. John Muir called it "by far the most interesting and influential of the California Sciuridæ."

Range & Habitat

This species inhabits coniferous forests along the Pacific Coast from California's Sierra Nevada northward to southwestern British Columbia, with an isolated subspecies (Mearns's squirrel) in northern Baja California's xeric pine forests. Douglas squirrels prefer old-growth or mature second-growth forests and are often considered dependent on these forest types. They essentially fill the ecological niche occupied by the American red squirrel elsewhere in North America, with minimal territorial overlap between the two species.

Behaviour & Diet

Highly territorial and diurnal year-round, Douglas squirrels occupy roughly 10,000 square metres individually in winter, though mated pairs defend a single territory together during breeding season. They are vocal animals, often chattering noisily at intruders. Summer nights are spent in ball-shaped tree nests; winter shelter is found in tree cavities. They breed from February onward, producing up to two litters annually in southern portions of their range, typically with four to six kits per litter.

Douglas squirrels are larder hoarders, accumulating food in middens—single storage sites where generations of squirrels have deposited cone scales, creating piles several metres across. Their diet centres on conifer seeds (Douglas fir, Sitka spruce, shore pine) and sequoia cone scales, supplemented by acorns, berries, mushrooms, bird eggs, and fruits like strawberries and plums. Predators include Pacific martens, bobcats, northern goshawks, and owls.

Best Time & Places to See It

Douglas squirrels are active throughout the year, making them accessible to observers in all seasons. Summer visits offer the best opportunity to observe family groups, as juveniles from a single litter often remain together. Look for them in coniferous forests from the Sierra Nevada and Pacific Northwest through coastal British Columbia. Listen for their characteristic loud chatter—Native Americans of Kings River named them "Pillillooeet" in imitation of this alarm call—which often betrays their presence before you spot them.

Photography Tips

The Douglas squirrel's seasonal colour changes offer excellent photographic opportunities: capture the vibrant pale-orange underside and greenish-brown back of summer individuals, or the richer brown winter coat. Their tuft-eared profile and white eye-ring are distinctive features worth emphasising. Early morning light in coniferous forests will best reveal their colouring. Watch for foraging behaviour around cone-rich trees and listen for their loud vocalizations to locate active individuals. Summer gatherings of juveniles provide opportunities for group compositions.