To most people, squirrels are pests who need to be kept away from bird feeders and backyards. Squirrels are common sights in neighborhood parks and zoos, but not all species of squirrels are so numerous. The Delmarva fox squirrel is one such species that was declared an endangered species by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service in 1967.

Historically, the Delmarva could be found throughout southeastern Pennsylvania, southern New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia. Now this squirrel can only be found in a few select counties in Maryland and Chincotegue in Virginia along the Delmarva peninsula. Recently, the Delmarva fox squirrel has been transplanted to several protected areas around its historical range in Delaware. Scientists hope that by reintroducing the squirrels into their historic range, they can bring the species back from the brink of extinction.

Groups such as Queen Anne's Conservation Association and Defenders of Wildlife disagree saying that as long as the U.S. Fish & Wildlife continue on with how they have treated this species, the squirrel has little hope of recovery. These two groups have gotten together to sue the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service for what they say is the government's failure to address the ongoing loss and fragmentation of the squirrel's habitat that has resulted from commercial and residential development. The main problem that has faced the squirrel in regards to the government is that most of their habitat occurs on privately owned lands where the federal government is hesitant to enforce the laws under the Endangered Species Act. The Clinton administration had promoted initiatives enacted to teach private landowners about endangered species conservation; however, according to these two groups, none of these initiatives have been utilized to promote conservation of the squirrel's habitat.

Delmarva fox squirrel habitat consists mainly of woodlots which include mixed strands of mature hardwood forests, groves of trees along streams and bays, and agricultural fields. These squirrels, unlike their relatives the gray squirrels, prefer to make their dens in the hollows of trees. Occasionally they will mimic the nests made by the gray squirrels by making a nest of leaves and twigs. Unfortunately, with the expansion of the suburbs on the East Coast, Delmarva fox squirrel habitat has been harder and harder for them to find.

Despite having over thirty years to conduct research and help to conserve this species since it was declared endangered, very little has been done to help it. There is a recovery plan in effect with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service which consists of four general steps: inventory and management of essential habitat, release of Delmarva fox squirrels into suitable habitat areas, protection of existing populations, and promotion of public support for the squirrel. The question then becomes, how do they plan on implementing any of these steps? According to Defenders of Wildlife and Queen Anne's Conservation Association, this is all talk and the Fish & Wildlife Service is not truly serious about saving this squirrel. Even with the protection of the Endangered Species Act, this squirrel faces many problems in making it back from the brink of extinction.

Aside from its problem of finding suitable habitat that hasn't been built over by housing developments and business parks, the Delmarva also has to fear hunters. A lot of hunters go out there and shoot gray squirrels for sport and many, when they see a Delmarva, have no idea what they are looking at aside from an enormous gray squirrel with white feet and a black stripe along its tail. This is why the Maryland Department of Natural Resources created a Delmarva fox squirrel poster telling hunters that this is what the squirrel looks like and that they are not permitted to shoot it. You can see a picture of this poster on their website at: http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/sqposter.htm

If the Delmarva fox squirrel had suitable habitat to live in and didn't have to worry about hunters, they would probably be able to make a come back fairly quickly. Mating season for the Delmarva occurs in late winter to early spring and the gestation period last 44 days, with the young squirrels being born in February, March, or April depending on where the squirrel lives. The Delmarva fox squirrel has a litter of 1-6 young and the female will raise the young on her own. So, if one squirrel had six young per year, in five years, there would be at least 30 young squirrels!

What needs to be done now is that the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service needs to start enforcing the laws set forth under the Endangered Species Act to help protect this squirrel. Even if they have to upset a few private landowners, the Fish & Wildlife Service must do what the agency was put there to do. Also, people must be aware of the plight 0of the Delmarva fox squirrel, and hunters need to be educated on what the squirrel looks like so they can tell the difference between what they are allowed to hunt and what they are not allowed to hunt. Hopefully with just these two simple acts, we can help save the Delmarva fox squirrel.