American Red Squirrel

Q: What are the chances of seeing an American Red Squirrel in Denali National Park?

Very likely. About 80% of wildlife watchers report an American Red Squirrel sighting in Denali National Park on a given day, based on 230 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 5th most-seen of the 19 mammals we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to over 90%, if each day is a fresh chance.

Q: When is the best time to see an American Red Squirrel in Denali National Park?

June to August. In those months about 80% of wildlife watchers report an American Red Squirrel in Denali National Park on a given day, against about 30% in October, the lowest month. Those are among Denali National Park's wettest months, with about 140 mm of rain a month against 45 mm in April. November to February have too few records to rate.

Q: What time of day is best to see an American Red Squirrel?

Between 9 am and noon. Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most American Red Squirrel sightings with a recorded time, and about 8 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.

Q: Is Denali National Park the best place to see an American Red Squirrel?

Yes. Of the 22 parks where we can rate American Red Squirrel sightings, Denali National Park has the highest daily chance: about 80%. Next come Isle Royale National Park (United States, about 70%) and Voyageurs National Park (United States, about 60%). All parks ranked.

Q: Which relatives of the American Red Squirrel live in Denali National Park?

Same family: Sciuridae. The closest relatives of the American Red Squirrel that you can see in Denali National Park (family Sciuridae, Squirrels) are Arctic Ground Squirrel (about 90%) and Hoary Marmot (about 40%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.

Q: Where does the American Red Squirrel sighting chance come from?

GBIF citizen-science records. It is estimated from how often the American Red Squirrel is recorded against all the mammals logged in Denali National Park (230 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.

Tamiasciurus hudsonicus

Silhouette: PhyloPic

LCLeast ConcernNTVUENCR

KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
PhylumChordata (Chordates)
ClassMammalia (Mammals)
OrderRodentia (Rodents)
FamilySciuridae (Squirrels)
GenusTamiasciurus (Pine Squirrels)
SpeciesTamiasciurus hudsonicus (American Red Squirrel)

Daily sighting probability ~80% · Very likely

at Denali National Park

In 3 days >90%

230 Verified sightings at Denali National Park From 2019 to 2026

3,803 In all 22 parks

July Best month

☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted

Challenge Backyard Classics North AmericaMedium

About the American Red Squirrel

The American red squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus) is one of three species of tree squirrels currently classified in the genus Tamiasciurus, known as the pine squirrels (the others are the Douglas squirrel, T. douglasii, and the southwestern red squirrel, T. fremonti). The American red squirrel is variously known as the pine squirrel or piney squirrel, North American red squirrel, chickaree, boomer, or simply red squirrel. The squirrel is a small, 200–250 g (7.1–8.8 oz), diurnal mammal that defends a year-round exclusive territory. It feeds primarily on the seeds of conifer cones, and is widely distributed across much of the United States and Canada wherever conifers are common, except in the southwestern United States, where it is replaced by the formerly conspecific southwestern red squirrel, and along the Pacific coast of the United States, where its cousin the Douglas squirrel is found instead.

The squirrel has been expanding its range into hardwood forests. American red squirrels should not be confused with Eurasian red squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris); since the ranges of these species do not overlap, they are both commonly referred to as simply "red squirrel" in the... Wikipedia →

Sounds

Call0:07

Canada · 2025

Call1:02

United States · 2025

Recording0:11

United States · 2026

Marj H. · iNaturalist · CC0

Global Distribution

Where it is recorded most Known range (Mammal Diversity Database, Marsh et al. 2022)Our parks where it lives Our cities where it livesIn captivity: 11 zoos & centres

Parks Where Found

#	Park	Country	Daily sighting probability
1	Denali National Park	🇺🇸 United States	~80%
2	Isle Royale National Park	🇺🇸 United States	~70%
3	Voyageurs National Park	🇺🇸 United States	~60%
4	Acadia National Park	🇺🇸 United States	~60%
5	Elk Island National Park	🇨🇦 Canada	~60%
6	Cape Breton Highlands National Park	🇨🇦 Canada	~50%
7	Banff National Park	🇨🇦 Canada	~50%
8	Grand Teton National Park	🇺🇸 United States	~50%
9	Kluane National Park	🇨🇦 Canada	~50%
10	Jasper National Park	🇨🇦 Canada	~50%
11	Great Smoky Mountains National Park	🇺🇸 United States	~40%
12	Wrangell-St. Elias National Park	🇺🇸 United States	~40%
13	Yellowstone National Park	🇺🇸 United States	~40%
14	Glacier National Park	🇺🇸 United States	~40%
15	Katmai National Park	🇺🇸 United States	~40%
16	Gros Morne National Park	🇨🇦 Canada	~40%
17	Pacific Rim National Park Reserve	🇨🇦 Canada	~40%
18	Riding Mountain National Park	🇨🇦 Canada	~40%
19	Great Bear Rainforest	🇨🇦 Canada	~40%
20	Rocky Mountain National Park	🇺🇸 United States	~30%
21	Kenai Fjords National Park	🇺🇸 United States	~20%
22	Grand Canyon National Park	🇺🇸 United States	~10%

Cities Where Found

#	City	Country	Daily sighting probability
1	Edmonton	🇨🇦 Canada	~50%
2	Anchorage	🇺🇸 United States	~40%
3	Toronto	🇨🇦 Canada	~30%
4	Salt Lake City	🇺🇸 United States	~20%
5	Minneapolis [Saint Paul]	🇺🇸 United States	~20%
6	Calgary	🇨🇦 Canada	~20%
7	Detroit	🇺🇸 United States	~20%
8	Montreal	🇨🇦 Canada	~20%
9	Boston	🇺🇸 United States	~10%
10	Chicago	🇺🇸 United States	<5%

Zoos & Centres Where Found

#	Zoo / Centre	Country
1	Ostrava Zoo	🇨🇿 Czechia	In captivity
2	Ecomuseum Zoo	🇨🇦 Canada	In captivity
3	Wildlife World Zoo	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
4	Hanover Zoo	🇩🇪 Germany	In captivity
5	Van Blanckendaell Park	🇳🇱 Netherlands	In captivity
6	Pyrénées Animal Park	🇫🇷 France	In captivity
7	Dierenpark Zie-ZOO	🇳🇱 Netherlands	In captivity
8	Kecskeméti Vadaskert	🇭🇺 Hungary	In captivity
9	Yumemigasaki Zoological Park	🇯🇵 Japan	In captivity
10	Almere Jungle	🇳🇱 Netherlands	In captivity
11	Wildwood Devon	🇬🇧 United Kingdom	In captivity

Show all 11 Show fewer

Closest Relatives at Denali National Park

Urocitellus parryii

Daily sighting probability ~90% · Very likely

Marmota caligata

Daily sighting probability ~40% · Likely

Erethizon dorsatus

Daily sighting probability ~50% · Likely

Castor canadensis

Daily sighting probability ~40% · Likely

Ondatra zibethicus

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible

Myodes rutilus

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible

Alces americanus

Daily sighting probability ~90% · Very likely

Rangifer tarandus

Daily sighting probability ~90% · Very likely

Ursus arctos

Daily sighting probability ~80% · Very likely

Ovis dalli

Daily sighting probability ~70% · Very likely

Lepus americanus

Daily sighting probability ~50% · Likely

Ochotona collaris

Daily sighting probability ~40% · Likely

See all 12 relatives Show fewer

Before you go

What are the chances of seeing an American Red Squirrel in Denali National Park?

Very likely

About 80% of wildlife watchers report an American Red Squirrel sighting in Denali National Park on a given day, based on 230 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 5th most-seen of the 19 mammals we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to over 90%, if each day is a fresh chance.

When is the best time to see an American Red Squirrel in Denali National Park?

June to August

In those months about 80% of wildlife watchers report an American Red Squirrel in Denali National Park on a given day, against about 30% in October, the lowest month. Those are among Denali National Park's wettest months, with about 140 mm of rain a month against 45 mm in April. November to February have too few records to rate.

What time of day is best to see an American Red Squirrel?

Between 9 am and noon

Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most American Red Squirrel sightings with a recorded time, and about 8 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.

Is Denali National Park the best place to see an American Red Squirrel?

Yes

Of the 22 parks where we can rate American Red Squirrel sightings, Denali National Park has the highest daily chance: about 80%. Next come Isle Royale National Park (United States, about 70%) and Voyageurs National Park (United States, about 60%). All parks ranked.

Which relatives of the American Red Squirrel live in Denali National Park?

Same family: Sciuridae

The closest relatives of the American Red Squirrel that you can see in Denali National Park (family Sciuridae, Squirrels) are Arctic Ground Squirrel (about 90%) and Hoary Marmot (about 40%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.

Where does the American Red Squirrel sighting chance come from?

GBIF citizen-science records

It is estimated from how often the American Red Squirrel is recorded against all the mammals logged in Denali National Park (230 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.

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American Red Squirrel

About the American Red Squirrel

Sounds

Recent sightings of American Red Squirrel in Denali National Park

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found

Cities Where Found

Zoos & Centres Where Found

Closest Relatives at Denali National Park

Arctic Ground Squirrel

Hoary Marmot

Quiller

American Beaver

Muskrat

Northern Red-backed Vole

Moose

Caribou

Brown Bear

Dall Sheep

Snowshoe Hare

Collared Pika

Before you go

What are the chances of seeing an American Red Squirrel in Denali National Park?

When is the best time to see an American Red Squirrel in Denali National Park?

What time of day is best to see an American Red Squirrel?

Is Denali National Park the best place to see an American Red Squirrel?

Which relatives of the American Red Squirrel live in Denali National Park?

Where does the American Red Squirrel sighting chance come from?