Eastern Gray Squirrel

(Sciurus carolinensis) 

This well-known woodland denizen hardly needs an introduction. Its success is attributable to two characteristics: First, it’s a highly adaptable creature. Supported by relatively advanced cognitive abilities and a social structure, it can readily adjust to and survive in changing conditions. Secondly, together with most other rodents, squirrels excel at reproduction, producing two litters of pups a year, thus easily keeping up with or even exceeding the population’s death rate.