The invasive eastern gray squirrel has encroached on much of what was once the territory of the native western gray squirrel in the Coast Range Mountains.

The long nights of fall are upon us, and all around, wildlife can be seen preparing for short, cold days ahead, with less food and harsher weather.

Perhaps no animal so symbolizes gazing toward future needs as the squirrel.

Squirrels don’t hibernate heavily in the Columbia-Pacific region the way they do in colder areas, but they still need to stash food away to get through the lean months of late fall, winter and early spring.

Our most common native tree squirrel is the Douglas squirrel. This little mammal is quite striking, with a gray-brown back and a bright orange underside, though this takes a duller tone in winter to help with camouflage.

They generally don’t reach more than about a foot in length, tail included — but what they lack in size they make up in attitude. Their chittering alarm call can be heard at some distance through the trees, and they often aren’t afraid to climb down close to perceived dangers to scold them personally.

The eastern gray squirrel is common in urban areas and sometimes in forests. It is larger than the Douglas squirrel, with a tail and body that can far exceed a foot in length. As its name suggests, it has a gray coat with a white underbelly, and the gray has a distinctive brown tint.

The eastern gray is an invasive species brought here from eastern North America and has wrought havoc on both rural and urban ecosystems. One of the native species that has been most affected by its introduction is the western gray.

At first glance, it may look like an invasive cousin, but the western gray squirrel has no brown in its coat and can have a silvery tone to its fur. It has become quite rare in the Coast Range as the eastern gray has been pushing it out of its habitat, and those wishing to see one may need to go over to the Willamette Valley. (Should you ever see a verifiable western gray squirrel, contact your state fish and wildlife department.)

Not all squirrels stick to the trees, either. The Douglas ground squirrel, a local subspecies of the California ground squirrel — which looks rather like a hefty gray squirrel with a reddish-tan underbelly and pale spots on its back and sides — dives into underground burrows to escape danger.

Rather than running up a tree to hide, they’re most easily observed in open grassy areas like Fort Stevens State Park, and are much more common in Oregon than in Washington.

Chipmunks are also considered squirrels, and the only one commonly found in our region is the Townsend’s chipmunk.

Like other chipmunks, they are reddish-brown in color, and about the size of a Douglas squirrel. They have four white and five dark stripes on their back, and similar stripes on their face. Their slender tail is gray on top, with a red-brown hue underneath. They are shyer than their tree squirrel relatives and will find shelter both in trees and, more commonly, in underbrush.

While eastern gray squirrels are growing in number, the other squirrels are at risk due to habitat loss and competition from invaders.

Washington lists the western gray squirrel as endangered, and its numbers continue to wane. While squirrels may not be as charismatic as some larger or flashier wildlife, they are a key part of their ecosystems, not only as food for predators but important distributors of seeds.

Protecting and restoring good forest habitat for native squirrels is key to their protection. Sensitive species like the western gray may do best in particularly rural areas, but clearcutting puts their last havens at risk.

Those who feed birds should avoid allowing eastern gray squirrels to access feeders, as this not only allows them to get a better foothold in an area but also takes food away from native species. It is not advisable to feed wild mammals as they can become too dependent on humans. Proper wildlife habitat full of a wealth of native species will provide native squirrels with the food they need.

Keeping cats indoors and dogs on leashes also protects these little animals, which all too often find themselves the victims of predators. Native squirrels that survive a dog or cat attack need to be taken to the nearest wildlife rehabilitation facility, as they can suffer from internal injuries that are not readily visible.

We are fortunate that we get to see our local squirrels for much of the year. As the weather changes, let’s appreciate these adorable and energetic little animals who brighten our world with their animated activity.