Sciurus carolinensis, commonly known as the eastern gray squirrel, is native to the eastern and midwestern United States and parts of southeastern Canada. Its natural range includes states from southern Maine through the Canadian provinces of Quebec and Ontario, extending westward to Minnesota, Kansas, and eastern Texas, and going southward to Florida and eastern Texas.

The eastern gray squirrel inhabits deciduous and mixed forests, particularly those dominated by oak, hickory, walnut, and beech trees, which provide abundant food sources such as nuts and seeds. These forests are typically found in temperate climatic zones featuring four distinct seasons with warm summers and cold winters.

As an arboreal omnivore, Sciurus carolinensis plays a crucial role in forest ecology by contributing to seed dispersion and forest regeneration. The species is adaptable to urban and suburban environments, often found in parks and gardens where it exploits bird feeders and human-provided resources. Their high adaptability has allowed them to thrive in a variety of forested areas as well as in heavily populated areas where natural predators are limited.