Sciurus niger, fox squirrel

The Sciurus niger while widely distributed across the great plains of the continental United States, lives in a restricted habitat. Residential areas provide many of the requirements necessary for the continuation of this species; therefore it comes as a surprise to many that this animal is restricted to a particular habitat. Tall sturdy trees for nesting, look-outs, and a form of transportation networking are essential to the fox squirrel. Their diet consists of nuts, seeds, fruits, some fresh green plant material, bird's eggs, insects, and carrion. Home ranges are generally 10 to 20 acres with large areas of undefended overlap among ranges. When food and shelter are plentiful, there is greater tolerance among individuals. As the resources become less plentiful, competition for those resources increases and the areas of defended territory become larger.