The Douglas squirrels are also known as pine squirrels and chickarees.  They are one of the smallest squirrels in their range.  They are a reddish or a brownish-grey and chestnut brown on their backs.  They have a white or very light orange belly and a black lateral line that runs down their sides.

Their bodies measure 12 inches length and about 6 inches in tail length.  Their hind feet are 45-60 mm and they weight about a half of a pound.  The Douglas squirrels have a summer and winter coat that molt twice each year.  In the spring the molt begins in September, but the tail only molts once a year in the summer.