Any Squirrel Experts?

[Dizneypins.com]

I have been having this squirrel in my back yard. Anyone know what type he is? I live in central Florida.
Sitting upright on butt he was well over a foot tall
from nose to tail he was almost 3 feet. Face looks like a skunk and paws like a racoon. It's face is black with white nose, ears and underbelly. The color of the rest is like a grey squirrel with a VERY long tail as picture shows. Most grey squirrels here and normal size not the size of a LARGE cat..
Talk about huge squirrel

 

[amid chaos]

OMGosh..that is a monster squirrel...that tail is looong!

 

[Snowwark]

Oh wow!!! I thought they grew things big in Texas, but I think Florida's got them beat!!!

There is something kind of nutty about that squirrel! I suggest you pack up your family and get the heck out of there!!!!!!

Three feet tall!!!! Yikes....some kind of mutant! How long has ummm....it...been hanging around your yard, Larry?


Kim

 

[amid chaos]

I guess you shouldl't worry unless he starts doing this....

Is this him?

or is it this guy? if it is, he's lost...LOL
http://www.enature.com/fieldguide/s...ID=5&shapeID=1041&curPageNum=15&recnum=MA0480

 

[Dizneypins.com]

Thanks
I think it is the Eastern Fox Squirrel in the Black Phase
size sounds right up to 13" tall and 28" long

 

[Tulirose]

Oh my gosh! That is some weird looking squirrel!!!

 

[DebºoºS]

Oh My! He's a big one!
What's he eating? Everything?

 

[olena]

What a scruffy looking critter!

 

[olena]

Is that even a squirrel? I looked at web sites about squirrels in Florida and I didn't recognize him. The tail seems too long to be an Eastern Squirrel. His head and feet look odd to me, too. Maybe it's just the picture.

 

[marydmjj]

I thought the same thing Heather. It looks like a lemur to me but I don't think that is possible. Either way, he kind of creeps me out!

 

[olena]

Maybe it's an escaped pet. There's a bobcat roaming a local neighborhhod here in Atlanta. It seems to be an escaped pet.

 

[Dizneypins.com]

Thanks all,
I emailed Lowry Park Zoo in Tampa and this is the responce I got from them:
Larry,
From what I have found out by asking around the zoo, it seems that the information you got off the internet is correct. The squirrel appears to be an Eastern Fox Squirrel. Apparently they are native to this area but are quite slow moving so tend to be easy prey, which is why they are not often seen. Good detective work on your part and hope I was any help at all.
Andrea Schuch

Lowry Park Zoo
1101 W Sligh Ave
Tampa FL 33604

 

[Snowwark]

Thank you for the update, Larry.

I still think that squirrel got a hold of somebody's steroids!!