Species: Eastern gray squirrel

Scientific name: Sciurrus carolinensis

Claim to fame: Eastern gray squirrels and their close cousins, fox squirrels, have the multiple reputations of being popular game animals, watchable wildlife and destructive pests. Each year, it's estimated Missouri hunters bag around a million squirrels. This year, the state's squirrel season runs from May 26 through Feb. 15. In urban settings, squirrels are familiar sights in backyards and around bird feeders. Some people encourage squirrel attendance in their yards by putting up squirrel feeders. However, other people try to get rid of them through trapping and other methods because of squirrels' penchants for being garden pests and gnawing nuisances.