I find the diversity in nature to be the key ingredient underpinning the strength of Mother Nature. This was abundantly clear last week when I was in Florida searching for a unique variation of the eastern fox squirrel (Sciurus niger). I was looking for the Sherman’s fox squirrel (Sciurus niger shermani), which occurs only in a handful of places in Florida and a couple of other states.
The Sherman’s fox squirrel is a subspecies of the more common and widespread eastern fox squirrel (Sciurus niger). The fox squirrel is the largest tree squirrel in North America, measuring 20 to 30 inches from nose to tail and weighing between 2 and 3 pounds.
Fox squirrels are found throughout the eastern United States, but several subspecies exist. I was in Florida in search of the Sherman’s subspecies. This large, unusual-looking squirrel requires stands of longleaf pine trees with a scattering of oaks. It feeds on pine and oak seeds, making it highly dependent on a specific habitat.
Just the overall appearance of this squirrel makes it worth seeking out. It has a black head, forelegs, and back, with bright white ears and a white-tipped nose that stand out against its dark fur. Its belly ranges from tan to cream, and it has a large, bushy tail that can be black to silver.
Of course, to find one of these super shy and secretive squirrels, I did a lot of internet research to learn about possible locations where I could spot and photograph one. After staying up late compiling a list, I spent the next morning making calls to various state and county parks. Most went unanswered, but one park had staff who picked up. They told me they had a couple of these squirrels.
I dropped the phone and started driving. Upon arrival, I was given a map and directions. It was a five-mile hike to the location, so I packed water, snacks, and my camera gear and set out. When I arrived, I saw evidence of a Sherman’s fox squirrel feeding on the large cones of the Longleaf pine trees – but no squirrels. By the time I got back to my truck, I was exhausted. The search continued.
While driving through central Florida, I stopped at another state park that had the right habitat. I drove in and talked to the staff, who basically laughed in my face and said, “Good luck, buddy.” They told me the squirrels are hard to find and super shy. The same thing happened at the next several parks I stopped at.
Next, I drove an hour and a half south to a nature preserve where someone on Facebook had reported seeing one. Upon arrival, I realized the habitat wasn’t right. I drove a little farther down the road and saw someone in their driveway. Taking a chance, I pulled onto their property.
The homeowner wasn’t too pleased to see me and said they don’t get many visitors out in the country. When I asked about the squirrels, he told me he had never seen one in the area. So, I was off again.
I made a few more phone calls and sent some text messages to friends in Florida who know wildlife well. I got a few replies but no solid leads. The search continued like this for three days. Every time I got a promising lead, it didn’t pan out.
Frustration was setting in, and I was starting to think I wouldn’t be able to find one.
A friend who was born and raised in Florida knew of the species and said the only place he had ever seen one was along a remote rural road. With no other leads left, I figured it was worth a try.
One morning around 10 a.m., I arrived in the general area my friend had mentioned. I had little hope of spotting one – until suddenly, about 50 feet off the road, I saw one heading toward a fence.
I pulled the truck over and got out. I was able to grab a few images of the fleeing squirrel. It sat on the fence long enough for me to capture a few more. Then, it jumped to a tree, allowing for a couple more shots. I came back a couple of times over the next few days and managed to capture even more images. It was amazing. Until next time …
Editor’s note: Stan Tekiela’s NatureSmart column appears twice a month in the Eden Prairie Local News. Tekiela is an author, naturalist, and wildlife photographer who travels extensively across the United States to study and capture wildlife images.
You can follow his work on Instagram and Facebook. He can be contacted via his website at www.naturesmart.com.
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