Why are Delmarva fox squirrrels endangered?
Current causes for their decline include loss and fragmentation of their habitat due to timber harvesting and converting forested land into farms, housing developments, roads and commercial property. This loss of habitat has reduced the population primarily to protected preserves such as National Wildlife Refuges and state management areas. Predators include red and gray foxes, weasel, minks, eagles and raptors. Nestlings and young may be taken by raccoons, opossums and rat snakes. Unleashed dogs and cats may also prey upon Delmarvas. Accidental mortality can be attributed to Delmarva fox squirrels being hit by automobiles or shot by hunters mistaking them for gray squirrels. What is being done to help restore them? To help the Delmarva fox squirrel a recovery plan was developed in 1979. Revised in 1983 and 1993, the goal of the recovery plan is to delist the Delmarva fox squirrel by increasing its population and protecting its habitat. Efforts to recover the Delmarva fox squirrels wil
