[7] Mount Graham squirrels usually eat a diet of mixed seeds, conifer cones and air-dried fungi.

[8] Historically, the Mount Graham red squirrel inhabited about 11,750 acres (47.6 km2) of spruce-fir, mixed-conifer and ecotone zone habitats that were generally at higher elevations throughout the Pinaleño Mountains.

[8] When choosing a potential nesting site, the squirrels typically pick a cool, moist area with an abundance of food sources.

[8] Drought, forest fires, and insect infestation have been responsible for a decrease of the squirrel in the spruce-fir habitat.

They were petitioned under a procedure of the Endangered Species Act by a group that contends it is necessary to remove the observatory and other private structures.