Big Cypress Fox Squirrel
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I feel very fortunate to get an opportunity to capture southwest Florida’s Big Cypress fox squirrel.
This fox squirrel is a unique subspecies of the Eastern fox squirrel, and is found south of the Caloosahatchee River and west of the Everglades region of Florida.
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Big Cypress Fox Squirrel
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The Big Cypress fox squirrel is protected as a threatened species in Florida. There is little information known about this subspecies due to their limited range, secretive nature, and reluctance to be captured.
Sightings are rare. I photographed this one in Big Cypress National Preserve which is where Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission suggests to search for them while walking or driving along the preserve’s dirt roads into the wet pine and cypress forests.
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Big Cypress Fox Squirrel
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After that last shot, the fox squirrel scampered up the tree and I continued my walk.
Returning back down the path to my car, I looked for the fox squirrel again and found him/her relaxing in another tree. A quick photo and I continued on, very excited with this sighting!
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Big Cypress Fox Squirrel
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Great shots of that squirrel Donna ! What lens did you use ?
Thank you, Rudi, I loved this sighting! I shot this using my Nikon AF-S VR-Nikkor 70-200mm F2.8 with my Nikon AF-S TC-17E III Teleconverter 1.7.
Very nice series of images Donna! Great images!
Thank you, Reed!
You’re like a Dr Dolittle – with all the creatures coming to see you! Great photos Donna!
I like that title, Mike! 😉 (hint…another one tomorrow and it did come to see me!) Thanks, Mike!
It could be that cute little buggy of course, but more likely to be you. 😊
I’ve never seen a squirrel in Florida! In Georgia I see them daily. Great shots, Donna. 🙂
Thinking back, I don’t think I have before either! 🙂 Thanks HJ!
Perfect set!
Thank you, Hans!
Wonderful images Donna and what a treat to see this beautiful squirrel! 💛
Thank you, Xenia! I loved this multi-colored squirrel, so happy I finally saw one! 😊
Squirrels just can’t help looking cute. Good pictures.
They do top the ‘cuteness’ bar! Thanks Tom!
Donna, these are great pictures! I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a tail that long – unless, of course, on a Delmarva fox squirrel. I will always be grateful to you for telling me where to spot the fox squirrels at Blackwater. We were just there yesterday and made that turnoff our first stop. I saw one squirrel near the nest in the tree on the right, but when I got out of the car with my camera he had disappeared – probably into the nest.
Thank you, Susan, and you’re quite welcome! So glad to hear they are still in that area thriving. Yes, they are quick and so secretive. And those beautiful long tails are stunning!
Great shots, Donna – another exciting sighting, you’re on a roll! 🙂
Thank you, Eliza! I love all wildlife!! (just petrified of spiders, lol)
You have lots of company there! 😉
that’s a pretty cute looking squirrel breed ,and of course lovely shots.
Thank you! It does have awesome coloring and that tail is so gorgeous!
These are great photos Donna! I LOVE the squirrel and with the colors around and behind it just makes for beautiful photos! Such a cute little face 😊
Thank you, Lisa! S/he was a sweetheart, allowing me a few shots before scampering away! 😊
Lovely photos Donna. I am absolutely fascinated by squirrels, they are so cute! This one looks particularly striking with its different colours. 💙
Thank you, Sue! I don’t think I’ve seen such a multicolored squirrel before myself, I love its little white ears and white feet!
Great job, Donna! Excellent details and clarity in these pictures! Adorable critter!!
Thank you, Indira! This was such a lucky sighting, such a cutie!!
Talk about “bright-eyed and bushy-tailed” hehe!!! Gorgeous.
😍 S/he fits that description and saying perfectly! Thank you, Liz!!
Wow! Twice as big as the squirrels we have up north here! These pictures are fantastic, with its reddish brown highlights. Love the body language and facial expression on the last one, “what, you again?” 🙂
Thank you, Barbara! It did seem like he was waiting for me lol. There are 10 subspecies of the fox squirrels in North America. I’ve photographed three, so seven to go! 😉
Congratulations … you must have been thrilled to see it and make these wonderful images! I see the black head is a distinguishing feature.
Thank you, Denise! And those white ears and white feet. 🙂 What a lovely mix of colors to make this one its own species.
All excellent photos, I particularly liked the last one!
Thank you, Belinda! My husband and I cracked up when we came back and found it lounging. 😁
Oh, how cute. It’s a shame they can be so destructive in urban areas. I guess if you keep them fed, they don’t chew on the infrastructure.
Thanks, Vic! Generally, yes! But you won’t find this sub-species wrecking havoc in an urban area. They live in the big swampy Big Cypress Preserve in the wooded forests. They want to stay as far away from us humans as best as they can. 🙂
Smart critters.
Excellent captures, Donna, and how exciting to even see one! I love that lounging image.
Thank you, Ellen! We had a good laugh seeing it lounging so casually. 😅
It has a great bushy tail! I miss that. We have ground squirrels here and their tails are long and skinny.
I just love the fox squirrel tails, so bushy bushy! Yes, our eastern squirrels up in the mid-Atlantic are skinny tails too.
What a beautiful creature! Very nicely captured too.
Thank you, I love that pretty face!
An interesting Squirrel I have not come across Donna. Especially loved the last shot of how he is looking at you.
Thank you, Ashley! Certainly a unique one in its rich coloring and that gorgeous busy tail. It was comical to come back pass the area and find him lounging there, lol. It was like he knew we couldn’t reach him with all the trees between us and him. 🙂