A yearlong resident of the Carson Range, western gray squirrels are found no where else in Nevada. They are probably migrants from the Sierra Nevada. Western gray squirrels are frequently found in mixed conifer forests of mature stands. They are also found in montane riparian habitats. In generally, they require cavities in large trees, masts, and snags for nests.
Gray squirrels are opportunistic feeders whose diet varies with season, locality and availability.
They eat fungi, pine nuts, acorns, and fruits. In the spring and summer, fungi is an important food crop. Nuts and seeds are important in the fall. For winter use, they bury seeds in the ground, not in groups as most others, but singly, 8-10 cm apart. Nests can also be built in the branches of trees.