Fox Squirrels Are Common on hiking trails and Golf Courses in the North Carolina Sandhills
If you are ever out hiking or golfing in the Sandhills of North Carolina, you may stumble upon a large curious, rodent-like critter with black fur. Often confused as a skunk, fox, or raccoon, the large animal is actually the fox squirrel.
The fox squirrel, known to scientists as Sciurus niger, is the largest species of tree squirrel in North America—nearly twice the size of the common gray squirrel. They can grow to be over two feet long, including their bushy tail, and weigh up to 3 pounds. Their coloration varies between gray, rust, or completely black.
Fox squirrels are harmless to humans and generally not a nuisance. In Pinehurst, North Carolina, the fox squirrels are typically black and live in pine forests, parks, and most notably golf courses. Unlike other tree squirrels, fox squirrels are less agile but more adept at foraging on the ground or sneaking into golf carts. A typical fox squirrel diet typically consists of longleaf pine seeds, nuts, fruits, mushrooms, and insects. However, the Pinehurst fox squirrel may have a taste for hot dogs and transfusions…but please don’t feed them.
The fox squirrel below was spotted on June 9, 2024 by golfer Min Woo Lee during a practice round of the U.S. Open Championship being held at Pinehurst Resort.
The black fox squirrel is commonly seen on the golf courses of Pinehurst in the early morning and late afternoon. They are a beloved local animal. They are so intertwined with the Pinehurst area that you can get a fox squirrel headcover for your golf clubs.
Learn more about the fox squirrel from the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission >> https://www.ncwildlife.org/species/fox-squirrel
Banner image courtesy of the North Carolina Wildlife Federation
