The Sherman’s Fox Squirrel at the Withlacoochee State Trail

Have you ever seen a Sherman’s Fox Squirrel? They are not very common, but if you are in a rural area like we have here on the Withlacoochee State Trail, you are more likely to have a brief encounter. They are larger than our Gray Squirrels and at first glance, you might even question whether or not you have seen a fox or a squirrel. They weigh between one to three pounds, whereas the Gray Squirrel weighs between a quarter to a half a pound! The squirrel is named after H.B. Sherman, an ecologist who studied small mammals. They come in a variety of colors but will almost always have a black head and white ears. The squirrels are protected due to declining numbers throughout the State.