General: Douglas' Squirrels (Tamiasciurus douglasii) are small tree squirrels that are very active and spend most of their time chattering in the trees while cutting green pine cones, harvesting the seeds, and storing them for the winter.

Douglas' Squirrels are small tree squirrels, growing to only about 12-inches long (head and body 6-7 inches, tail 4-5 inches). During summer, these squirrels are grayish above with some rust on the back, a black line on the side, and orange on the belly. During winter, they lose the rust, black line, and orange belly. The ears have a bit of a hair tuft (especially during winter), and the eyes have a bold eyering. The tail is bushy, usually edged with white.

Also called Douglas Squirrel and Cone Cutter.

Distribution: Douglas' Squirrel is a west-coast species, occurring throughout the Sierra Nevada and Cascade mountain ranges and west to the Pacific Ocean. They can be found from the Southern Sierra Nevada Mountains of California north to British Columbia. Don't look for this species around Las Vegas; rather, look for them places like Yosemite National Park and Olympic National Park.

Habitat: Forest habitats with conifer trees.

Similar Species: Red Squirrels (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus) look similar, but are more reddish, always have a white belly, and live to the east of Las Vegas from the Grand Canyon and Zion north to Alaska.

Comments: Douglas' Squirrels often cut cones and let them fall to the ground, then pick them up later.