EVERGLADES FOX SQUIRREL Sciurus niger avicennia 



Order: RODENTIA Family: SCIURIDAE 



Distinguishing characteristics : Coloration grades from black on the head and shoulders 

 to brown with an orange wash on the sides , rump , and tail . The belly is orange or black 

 washed with orange . This combination differs markedly from the fox squirrels of central 

 and northern Florida which are much paler on the belly and back. A melanistic form of 

 the Everglades fox squirrel occurs in which the entire pelage is black except for some 

 white on the nose . 



Present distribution : Found only in the Big Cypress Swamp and adjacent pinelands of 

 southwestern Florida (Collier and northwestern Monroe Counties) . 



Former distribution: Across all of southern Florida south of Lake Okeechobee in suitable 

 habitat. It was present in Dade and Broward Counties until the early 1900's. There are 

 no recent records of its occurrence in those portions of Everglades National Park where 

 it once was found. 



Status: Occurs in low numbers in restricted areas. 



Estimated numbers : Not possible to accurately estimate, but certainly no more than a few 

 hundred. 



Breeding rate in the wild : Not known, but probably one or two litters per year of two 

 to four young each. 



Reasons for decline : Habitat destruction as result of logging mature pine and cypress 

 forests brought about its early decline. Continued bulldozing of trees and development of 

 natural habitats in and around the Big Cypress Swamp are eliminating remaining populations . 

 Complete fire protection in pine woodlands has resulted in growth of dense understory 

 vegetation consisting of palmettos and broadleaf trees . Fox squirrels in Florida do not 

 fare well unless the understory vegetation is open and sparce. 



Measures proposed : Initiate studies to determine optimum habitat requirements; conduct 

 control burns in the pinelands to open up the understory; establish refuges in the Big 

 Cypress Swamp area to protect and develop optimum habitat. 



Number in captivity : None probably . 



Remarks : This subspecies is sometime referred to as the Mangrove fox squirrel, because 

 it is occasionally sighted in the mangrove zone along the southwest coast of Florida. However, 

 because of the absence of nesting cavities or suitable food, this squirrel cannot be con- 

 sidered permanent residents of the mangrove zone. 



Over the last few years, L.N. Brown has surveyed various habitats of the Big Cypress 

 Swamp region for evidence of S . niger avicennia . Only a few scattered populations of low 

 densities were found. The only protected population known is located in the Corkscrew 

 Swamp Sanctury of the National Audubon Society situated in northern Collier County . It is 

 also possible that a few fox squirrels remain in the remote northern portions of Everglades 

 National Park, but this has not been verified. 



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