Yes, squirrels are present in Phoenix, Arizona. While the city is widely recognized for its arid desert environment, several squirrel species have successfully adapted to and thrive within this unique landscape. Their presence extends beyond the typical desert image, often found in areas with more vegetation and water sources.
Squirrel Species of Phoenix
Phoenix and the broader Arizona desert are home to several distinct squirrel species, each with unique characteristics. Among the most prominent are ground squirrels, with tree squirrels also present in certain habitats.
The Harris’s Antelope Squirrel (Ammospermophilus harrisii) is a common ground squirrel in the region. It is gray with brown on its upper front and back legs, featuring a white stripe along its side and a white underbelly. Often mistaken for a chipmunk, this squirrel has a bushy black tail that it frequently arches over its back.
Abert’s Squirrels (Sciurus aberti), also known as tassel-eared squirrels, are tree squirrels identified by their tufted ears, which are particularly noticeable in winter. They typically have a gray coat with a reddish stripe down their back, pale underparts, and a rufous patch on their lower back. These squirrels are generally found in ponderosa pine forests at higher elevations.
The Rock Squirrel (Otospermophilus variegatus) is another large ground squirrel found in Arizona, often resembling a typical tree squirrel with its speckled grayish-brown fur and bushy tail. Round-tailed Ground Squirrels (Xerospermophilus tereticaudus) are smaller, with a uniform sandy color that blends with the soil and a long, round tail.
The Arizona Gray Squirrel (Sciurus arizonensis), a tree squirrel, is gray across most of its upper body with a black tail edged in white, and a white underside. This species is less common and primarily inhabits specific forested areas. Eastern Fox Squirrels (Sciurus niger) have been introduced to certain urban areas in Arizona, and are the largest tree squirrels native to North America, typically brown-grey with a brownish-orange underside.
Where Phoenix Squirrels Live and How They Survive
Squirrels in Phoenix inhabit diverse environments, ranging from natural desert landscapes to urban and suburban areas. Ground squirrels, like the Harris’s Antelope Squirrel and Rock Squirrel, often create burrows under shrubs, rocks, or even in urban settings like parks and residential neighborhoods. Tree squirrels, such as Abert’s Squirrels and Arizona Gray Squirrels, prefer forested areas, including riparian zones, where mature trees provide both shelter and food.
Surviving Phoenix’s hot, arid climate requires specific adaptations and behaviors. Many squirrels exhibit crepuscular activity, meaning they are most active during the cooler hours of dawn and dusk to avoid the intense midday heat. They seek shade in dense tree canopies, under bushes, or even on the shaded sides of buildings. Some ground squirrels, like the Round-tailed Ground Squirrel, may enter a state of estivation during the hottest parts of summer, similar to hibernation, to conserve energy and avoid extreme temperatures.
A notable heat-beating strategy is “splooting,” where squirrels lie flat on their bellies with splayed legs, pressing their less-furred undersides against cool surfaces like shaded ground, rocks, or concrete to dissipate body heat. Harris’s Antelope Squirrels use their bushy tails as a personal umbrella, arching them over their backs to provide shade. Squirrels obtain moisture from their food, which includes seeds, fruits, insects, and even cactus parts, but they also seek out water sources like puddles or bird baths.