There are about 22 types of squirrels in Oregon. This includes native and no-native tree squirrels, chipmunks, ground squirrels, one species of marmot, flying squirrels, and a newly discovered flying squirrel species.
What squirrels can you find in the abundant forests of Oregon? And are hunters allowed to hunt them?
In this article, we answer these questions and learn about the latest species of flying squirrel discovered in the area.
Types of Squirrels in Oregon
There are 22 types of squirrels found in Oregon. These include three native and two non-native tree squirrel species, two types of flying squirrels, five species of chipmunks, nine types of ground squirrels, and one species of marmot.
Here is a list of the types of squirrels that reside in Oregon[1]:
- Western gray squirrel
- Douglas squirrel
- American red squirrel
- Eastern gray squirrel
- Eastern fox squirrel
- Northern flying squirrels
- Humboldt’s flying squirrel.
- Yellow-bellied marmot
- Yellow-pine chipmunk
- Least chipmunk
- Allen’s chipmunk
- Siskiyou chipmunk
- Townsend’s chipmunk
- California ground squirrel
- White-tailed antelope squirrel
- Belding’s ground squirrel
- Columbian ground squirrel
- Wyoming ground squirrel
- Golden-mantled ground squirrel
- Merriam’s ground squirrel
- Piute ground squirrel
- Washington ground squirrel
Related: Squirrels in Virginia (5 Species With Pictures)
Tree Squirrels in Oregon
Tree squirrels in Oregon include western gray squirrels, Douglas squirrels, American red squirrels, eastern gray squirrels, and fox squirrels.
Tree squirrels are diurnal rodents, rather than nocturnal, and they nest in the treetops. There are both native squirrels and non-native squirrels in Oregon.
The following tree squirrels are native to Oregon:
- Western gray squirrel
- Douglas squirrel
- American red squirrel
The following non-native tree squirrels are found in Oregan:
- Eastern gray squirrel
- Eastern fox squirrel
| Species | Species Name | Size | Region |
| Western Grey Squirrels | Sciurus griseusare | 18 – 24 inches | Low-elevation woodlands and coniferous in parts of western and central Oregon. |
| Douglas’ Squirrel | Tamiasciurus douglasiiis | 10.63 – 13.98 inches | Oregon’s coniferous forests from the Pacific coast to as far east as western Baker County |
| American Red Squirrels | Tamiasciurus hudsonicus | 10.63 – 15.16 inches | Oregon’s coniferous forests in Wallowa, Union, Umatilla, Morrow, Malheur, and Baker counties. |
| Eastern Gray Squirrels | Sciurus carolinensis | 12 -21 inches | Urban areas in Salem, Portland, Milwaukie, and Vale |
| Eastern fox squirrel | Sciurus niger vulpinus | Average of 23.43 inches | Multnomah, Washington, Marion, Lane, Union, Clackamas, Yamhill, and Baker counties |
Western Gray Squirrels in Oregon
Considered to be secretive but curious, Western grey squirrels (Sciurus griseusare) are the largest tree squirrels in the state of Oregon.
Western gray squirrels measure between 18 to 24 inches from head to tail.[1]
They live in low-elevation woodlands and coniferous forests in parts of western and central Oregon. They are also found in Washington, California, and in a small part of Nevada.
They are on the list of Oregon Conservation Strategy Species in the Willamette Valley ecoregion.
Douglas’ Squirrels in Oregon
Measuring between 10.63 to 13.98 inches, the Douglas’ squirrel (Tamiasciurus douglasiiis) is one of the smaller tree squirrels in Oregon.
This tree squirrel has a different coat in summer and winter.
In summer, Douglas’ squirrels’ fur is a reddish-brown to grayish-brown with light to dark orange undersides and a black stripe that runs along their sides. Juveniles don’t have this stripe.
In, Douglas squirrels’ fur is gray, including the undersides, and the black stripe is missing.[2]
They live in Oregon’s coniferous forests from the Pacific coast to as far east as western Baker County.
American Red Squirrels in Oregon
Only slightly bigger than the Douglas Squirrel, American red squirrels (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus) live in Oregon’s forests in Wallowa, Union, Umatilla, Morrow, Malheur, and Baker counties.
American red squirrels measure between 10.63 to 15.16 inches.[3]
They are not only similar in size to Douglas squirrels, but also have similar foraging, gathering, feeding, and resting behavior.
Eastern Fox Squirrels
This non-native Oregan squirrel was intentionally introduced to urban areas in the state in the 1920s as ‘watchable wildlife.’
Measuring an average total length of 23.43 inches, the Eastern fox squirrel (Sciurus niger vulpinuss) is one of the larger tree squirrels in Oregon. [6]
They are found in Multnomah, Washington, Marion, Lane, Union, Clackamas, Yamhill, and Baker counties.
Flying Squirrels in Oregan
Northern flying squirrels are native to Oregan. In 2017, scientists discovered what they thought was a color variation of the northern flying squirrel to be a different species of a flying squirrel: the Humboldt’s flying squirrel.
Flying squirrels are nocturnal and glide from tree top to tree top using a membrane of skin known as patagium. The patagium extends from their wrists to their ankles.
When leaping, the outstretched patagium creates a parachute-type effect to help the squirrels glide for many feet.
Northern Flying Squirrels
The Northern flying squirrel is Oregan’s smallest tree-dwelling squirrel measuring between 10 to 12 inches. They have gray-brown fur with a have gray undersides.[7]
They live in forested areas:
- West of the Cascade Range
- Eastward to near Lakeview
- Lake County
- Paulina Lake
- Deschutes County
- Blue, Ochoco, and Wallowa mountains
Humboldt’s Flying Squirrels
The newly discovered Humboldt’s flying squirrels (Glaucomys oregonesis) live in Oregon alongside northern flying squirrels.
In 2017, scientists researching flying squirrels’ mitochondrial DNA discovered that what they thought was a lineage of the northern flying squirrel is in fact a different species.
Now known as Humboldt’s flying squirrel, these flying squirrels look so similar to Northern flying squirrels that they were mistaken for being the same species for years.
Scientists found that they are not even the closest relative to the northern flying squirrel.[9]
Northern Flying Squirrels vs. Humboldt’s Flying Squirrels
The difference between these two flying squirrels is that Humboldt’s Flying Squirrel is slightly smaller and darker than northern flying squirrels.[6]
Humboldt flying squirrel also predates northern flying squirrels. Researchers found that this species broke from a common ancestor about 300,000 years before the northern and southern flying squirrels diverged.
So they may be new to us, but they have been around longer than northern flying squirrels.
Marmots in Oregon
There is only one marmot in Oregon: the yellow-bellied marmot.
The Yellow-bellied marmot is the largest squirrel in Oregon and measures between 18.50 to 27.56 inches.[10]
It lives in areas where there are boulders or piles of rocks and surrounding succulent vegetation east of a line connecting Mt. Hood, Hood River County, and Mt. Mazama, Klamath County, except for the Columbia Basin.
Marmots hibernate in winter. In central Oregon, the males emerge from hibernation in the last week of February or the first week of March.
A few days later, adult females, yearling females, and yearling males emerge in that order.
Chipmunks in Oregon
Yellow-pine chipmunk, Least chipmunk, Allen’s chipmunk, Siskiyou chipmunk, and Townsend’s chipmunk are all residents of Oregon.
Chipmunks can be described as striped pygmy squirrels. They are small terrestrial squirrels, but what makes them unique from ground squirrels is that they have large internal cheek pouches.[11]
The following chipmunks are found in Oregan:
- Yellow-pine chipmunk
- Least chipmunk
- Allen’s chipmunk
- Siskiyou chipmunk
- Townsend’s chipmunk
Ground Squirrels in Oregon
There are nine species of ground squirrels in Oregon. They burrow and nest underground. What makes them unique is that they stand up tall on their hind legs when looking out for danger.
Ground squirrels that live in cold regions are known to hibernate throughout winter.[12]
The following ground squirrels are found in Oregon:
- California ground squirrel
- Belding’s ground squirrel
- Columbian ground squirrel
- Wyoming ground squirrel
- Golden-mantled ground squirrel
- Merriam’s ground squirrel
- Piute ground squirrel
- Washington ground squirrel
- White-tailed antelope squirrel
The Washington ground squirrel is on Oregon Conservation Strategy Species.
Squirrel Hunting in Oregon
Squirrel hunting is permitted in Oregon, but permits are required and only certain squirrels can be hunted at certain times of the year.
Oregon’s Western gray squirrel is the only native tree squirrel that can be legally hunted.
A license needs to be purchased to hunt western gray squirrels.
Western gray squirrel hunting season starts on 15 September and ends on 31 October in the Northern and central regions of Oregan.
In the rest of Oregon, hunting season starts on 1 September and ends on 15 November. [12]
| Region | North – Central Oregon | Remainder of the State |
| Western gray squirrel hunting season | Sept. 15 – Oct. 31 | Sept. 1 – Nov. 15 |
| Bag Limit | 3 squirrels daily. | 5 squirrels daily. |
Squirrel Hunting Techniques
Squirrels are small, so hunters in Oregan are known to use small caliber rifles.
They also take aim at the squirrel’s head in order to keep as much meat intact as possible.[13]
Squirrel Hunting Restrictions
There are hunting restrictions on western gray squirrels, particularly in the Willamette Valley Ecoregios where they are listed as vulnerable state-sensitive species.
No one is permitted to hunt Oregan’s Douglas squirrels as they are listed as nongame protected wildlife species. [14]
