Our Mission
Tree Squirrels of California - (T.S.O.C) helps people understand and protect the state’s two native tree squirrels—the Western Gray and Douglas squirrels—and offers guidance on how to live responsibly with the two introduced species. Through squirrel ID tools, habitat awareness, and citizen science, we guide California’s squirrel friends and foes alike toward better choices and peaceful coexistence.
Tree Squirrels of California isn’t a formal organization — it’s a personal education project, run by one person who’s a little squirrel-obsessed.
Some people adore squirrels.
Some… don’t. Let’s break it down.
Tree Squirrel Love?
- Delightful to watch, film and photograph
- Plant trees by forgetting buried acorns
- Help forests thrive by dispersing seeds and fungi
- They teach us about ecosystems and wildlife intelligence
- They’re just plain cute!
Tree Squirrel Woes?
- Digging up plants in gardens
- Chewing on wires, nesting in buildings and stripping tree bark
- Raiding bird feeders and picnic tables
- Non-natives threaten native squirrels and other native wildlife
- They sometimes carry parasites or disease
Western Gray Squirrels may be shy of humans and seem docile, but they are fierce and highly territorial around non-native species of squirrels. Learn more →
Why This Site Exists
Tree Squirrels of California was created to help people better understand squirrels, regardless of their point of view. Some people enjoy watching and photographing them. Others are trying to identify a squirrel in the yard or solve a problem at home. Our goal is to provide clear, balanced information that helps people better understand these remarkable animals.
Squirrels are intelligent, adaptable, and fascinating members of our native wildlife. They can also damage homes, gardens, orchards, and irrigation systems, and in some situations they may carry diseases that can affect people or pets. Many websites explain how to remove squirrels, but the options often depend on which species is involved and on local wildlife regulations. Understanding why squirrels behave the way they do, and what attracts them in the first place, can often help prevent conflicts before they begin.
What We Do
Tree Squirrels of California is dedicated to providing accurate information about the tree squirrels of the West Coast and helping people distinguish them from other members of the squirrel family, Sciuridae. Whether you’re trying to identify a squirrel in your backyard, understand its behavior, or simply learn more about these remarkable animals, our goal is to provide reliable, science-based information without taking sides.
Squirrels are wild animals, and many of their behaviors make more sense once you understand how they survive. They spend much of their lives searching for food, raising young, and competing for territory. Sometimes those behaviors bring them into conflict with people. There are laws and wildlife regulations that may apply in some situations, especially when squirrels are causing damage or need to be relocated. Rather than telling you what to do, we’d like to give you the background needed to make informed decisions and to clear up some of the many misconceptions surrounding these energetic rodents.
