Each month Trail Manager, Emily Galka, highlights flora and fauna that she observes in the Goethe State Forest that surrounds the Black Prong Resort. Goethe State Forest Species of the Month: Sherman’s Fox Squirrel (Sciurus niger shermani)
Each month Trail Manager, Emily Galka, highlights flora and fauna that she observes in the Goethe State Forest that surrounds the Black Prong Resort.
The trails have quieted down as the weather has cooled for winter, yet one animal still clearly has a big presence: the Sherman’s Fox Squirrel.
These squirrels have been active on property and in the Goethe since I arrived in the spring but seem to be more active now in these cooler months. I’m originally from up north so it was confusing when people referred to these large, tan, silver and black squirrels as fox squirrels, the northern kind are more of a red color and are rounder whereas these are large but more lanky.
After a bit of research I found out that they are in fact the same species but the Sherman’s Fox Squirrels are a subspecies that is specific just to Florida and some parts of Georgia.They are named after H. B. Sherman who was an ecologist that made many contributions to research on Florida’s native wildlife. These squirrels live specifically in longleaf pine and sandhill habitats making the Goethe an ideal home. The biggest threat to their populations are logging and development, which luckily they are safe from here. Though the reptiles and amphibians are not as active in the winter, it is still a great time to see Florida’s unique wildlife with the Sherman’s Fox Squirrels out and about.
Emily Galka (shown with her horse Lisa) is Black Prong’s Trail Riding Manager and resident naturalist.
