Habitat Use by Southern Fox Squirrel in Coastal South Carolina

We monitored 18 southern fox squirrels (Sciurus niger niger) by telemetry in coastal South Carolina to determine habitat use in relation to availability of habitat types within observed home-range areas. Fox squirrels used leaf nests primarily, although females preferred to nest in cavities during winter. Nests were concentrated in hardwoods with a preference for oak (Quercus spp.) and gum (Nyssa spp.) species with >20 cm DBH (diameter breast height). Fox squirrels preferred (P < 0.01) hardwood, mixed pine-hardwood, and pine with a hardwood midstory habitat types, and ecotone areas.