Halysidota tessellaris
This fuzzy little guy is a Banded Tussock Moth caterpillar. It's fuzzy hairs can cause skin irritation and can feel like you're being stung. It's best not to touch them. They change over winter inside cocoons covered in their irritating hairs.
These caterpillars are common east of the Rocky Mountains and are found in southern Canada to mid-Florida and mid-Texas. They do not range west of the Rockies.
The caterpillars are seen from July to October, while the adults are seen flying from May to August or even later in more southern areas. The adults are attracted to artificial light and they like deciduous forests as the cat's main food sources are alder, ash, birch, elm, hazel, hickory, oak, poplar, tulip tree, walnut, and willow. With that many kinds of leaves to eat, no wonder they are so common!
I found this one in our yard here in Southern Missouri on a small unknown tree. I snapped a few photos and left him alone.
Hope you liked meeting this cute, fuzzy caterpillar. Thanks for looking! Stay tuned!