Building a Future for the Delmarva Fox Squirrel

Once considered endangered, the Delmarva fox squirrel is one of Delaware’s conservation success stories — but its future depends on continued habitat protection and restoration. This large, silver-gray squirrel is native to the Delmarva Peninsula and relies on a very specific environment to thrive: mature forests, open woodlands, and nearby farmland.

Why Habitat Matters

Unlike the common gray squirrel, the Delmarva fox squirrel is a slow mover and prefers the safety of spacious woodlands with minimal underbrush. It forages on acorns, pine seeds, and other nuts, and nests in large trees, often close to open fields. Loss of these habitats due to development, logging, and farmland conversion led to sharp population declines in the 20th century.

Building Better Homes for the DFS

Habitat restoration for the Delmarva fox squirrel involves:

• Planting native trees such as loblolly pine, oak, and hickory

• Preserving mature woodlands with large-diameter trees for nesting

• Maintaining open understory so squirrels can move easily between feeding areas

• Connecting forest patches to avoid isolation caused by habitat fragmentation

By creating continuous corridors of woodland, these efforts give squirrels safe routes for finding food, nesting sites, and mates — helping maintain healthy populations.

Conservation in Action

On preserved lands across Sussex County, volunteers and landowners have worked together to plant native trees, manage forests for mixed-age growth, and protect critical edges where farmland meets woodland. These edge habitats are vital for the Delmarva fox squirrel’s feeding and movement.

Programs such as the Black Forest Wildlife Coexist Program and local agricultural land preservation initiatives ensure that the habitats built today will remain for generations to come.

How You Can Help

• Plant native trees on your property

• Protect existing woodlands from unnecessary clearing

• Support land preservation programs that safeguard large tracts of forest

• Volunteer with conservation groups working to restore squirrel habitats

Every tree planted, every acre preserved, and every corridor connected is a step toward securing the future of the Delmarva fox squirrel. By continuing to build and protect their habitats, we not only help this remarkable species thrive — we strengthen Delaware’s ecosystems and natural heritage for all.