Squirrels
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There may be no other creature in the world that causes as much frustration to backyard bird
enthusiasts as the squirrel. Yet, if you can get past their insatiable appetite for birdseed and their
penchant for gnawing anything in their paths to smithereens, you just might find that those bushy-tailed
"tree rats" are pretty fascinating and entertaining in their own right.
Whether you're a fan of these high-flying daredevils, or a believer in the motto, "Know thy enemy," read
on for more squirrelly facts.
enthusiasts as the squirrel. Yet, if you can get past their insatiable appetite for birdseed and their
penchant for gnawing anything in their paths to smithereens, you just might find that those bushy-tailed
"tree rats" are pretty fascinating and entertaining in their own right.
Whether you're a fan of these high-flying daredevils, or a believer in the motto, "Know thy enemy," read
on for more squirrelly facts.
Squirrels are rodents - from the same group of animals as rats, mice, and hamsters. There are 365
species of squirrels and squirrel-like mammals worldwide, including ground squirrels, flying squirrels,
and the familiar tree squirrels. The most common tree squirrels in the northern hemisphere are the
grey squirrel and the red squirrel. Adult greys are about 15 inches long, while reds are smaller,
around 10 inches. Grey squirrels may be brown, or even white or black, as well as grey, and reds can
be all black. Like other rodents, squirrels have adapted readily to life in human environments, even in
large cities.
Unlike most other rodents, squirrels are most at home high above the ground, and are active mostly
by day. This is responsible for two of their more endearing features: their large curious eyes and
enormous bushy tails. They see in color, not black-and-white as many animals do, although a
squirrel's eyes are blue-yellow colorblind. A squirrel’s tail is most useful for balance on those
precarious limbs. And should he fall, the tail acts as a parachute to slow his descent and a cushion to
break his fall. The tail also makes a handy blanket for its owner to wrap around itself to keep warm.
The squirrel’s name goes back to Aristotle, who called it skiouros , a compound of skia, meaning
shade, and oura, tail.
Squirrels are most active in the few hours after dawn, resting for most of the afternoon and resuming
activity in the hours before sunset. (These are probably the times you’re likely to see them raiding
your feeders!) They rarely leave their nests at night.
A squirrel's brain is about the size of a walnut, which is pretty big for such a small animal, and
accounts for its cleverness at solving problems like how to get to that bird feeder or open the lid of the
can where you store the seed. Squirrels communicate with each other through their chattering voices
and tail gestures. By varying the frequency and duration of notes, they can vocalize everything from
laughter to alarm.
species of squirrels and squirrel-like mammals worldwide, including ground squirrels, flying squirrels,
and the familiar tree squirrels. The most common tree squirrels in the northern hemisphere are the
grey squirrel and the red squirrel. Adult greys are about 15 inches long, while reds are smaller,
around 10 inches. Grey squirrels may be brown, or even white or black, as well as grey, and reds can
be all black. Like other rodents, squirrels have adapted readily to life in human environments, even in
large cities.
Unlike most other rodents, squirrels are most at home high above the ground, and are active mostly
by day. This is responsible for two of their more endearing features: their large curious eyes and
enormous bushy tails. They see in color, not black-and-white as many animals do, although a
squirrel's eyes are blue-yellow colorblind. A squirrel’s tail is most useful for balance on those
precarious limbs. And should he fall, the tail acts as a parachute to slow his descent and a cushion to
break his fall. The tail also makes a handy blanket for its owner to wrap around itself to keep warm.
The squirrel’s name goes back to Aristotle, who called it skiouros , a compound of skia, meaning
shade, and oura, tail.
Squirrels are most active in the few hours after dawn, resting for most of the afternoon and resuming
activity in the hours before sunset. (These are probably the times you’re likely to see them raiding
your feeders!) They rarely leave their nests at night.
A squirrel's brain is about the size of a walnut, which is pretty big for such a small animal, and
accounts for its cleverness at solving problems like how to get to that bird feeder or open the lid of the
can where you store the seed. Squirrels communicate with each other through their chattering voices
and tail gestures. By varying the frequency and duration of notes, they can vocalize everything from
laughter to alarm.
Squirrels build nests, called ‘dreys,’ between tree branches. These are pouch-shaped and usually
have two entrances, and are lined with fur, feathers, moss, or other soft materials. A squirrel will also
make a den in a hollow of a tree, if it can find one, or even in the attic of a house.
Squirrels mate in late fall and winter, and the young are born in spring. Newborn squirrels are about
an inch long, without hair or teeth, and are blind for the first six to eight weeks of their lives. An
average litter is about four babies. A second litter may be born in mid-summer if the food supply is
good. Their mother cares for them alone; the male squirrel leaves after mating. Sometimes one or
more baby squirrels will be orphaned by the death of their mother or be pushed out of the nest by
their growing siblings. Kitten milk replacer makes an adequate food, if you wish to attempt to save
infant squirrels.
have two entrances, and are lined with fur, feathers, moss, or other soft materials. A squirrel will also
make a den in a hollow of a tree, if it can find one, or even in the attic of a house.
Squirrels mate in late fall and winter, and the young are born in spring. Newborn squirrels are about
an inch long, without hair or teeth, and are blind for the first six to eight weeks of their lives. An
average litter is about four babies. A second litter may be born in mid-summer if the food supply is
good. Their mother cares for them alone; the male squirrel leaves after mating. Sometimes one or
more baby squirrels will be orphaned by the death of their mother or be pushed out of the nest by
their growing siblings. Kitten milk replacer makes an adequate food, if you wish to attempt to save
infant squirrels.
Tree squirrels do not hibernate in the winter, but remain active year-round. They simply spend more
time inside their cozy dens to conserve body heat. They may not come out of the nest for days at a
time. Adult squirrels usually live alone, but in extremely cold weather, several may share a nest in order
to conserve body heat.
Each squirrel will have stores of nuts and seeds, gathered when food is plentiful and buried in many
separate hoards near its home. When these are needed, the squirrel is capable of sniffing out its
hidden supplies to survive the winter. Inevitably, though, it will miss some, and these will germinate in
the spring. Thus these rodents can be effective distributors and planters of trees.
time inside their cozy dens to conserve body heat. They may not come out of the nest for days at a
time. Adult squirrels usually live alone, but in extremely cold weather, several may share a nest in order
to conserve body heat.
Each squirrel will have stores of nuts and seeds, gathered when food is plentiful and buried in many
separate hoards near its home. When these are needed, the squirrel is capable of sniffing out its
hidden supplies to survive the winter. Inevitably, though, it will miss some, and these will germinate in
the spring. Thus these rodents can be effective distributors and planters of trees.
Not only will squirrels steal the seed you've set out for the birds, they also have no scruples about
chewing up the feeders until they're completely destroyed. It's very difficult to keep squirrels from
gaining access to a bird feeder. They have no fear of falling in making fantastic leaps from the
nearest tree branch, can climb most poles, and can even make an impressive vertical jump from the
ground to reach low feeders.
Some feeders are marketed as squirrel-proof, but in our experience, there's really no such thing.
Squirrel resistant, yes; squirrel-proof, no. Feeders with weight-activated covers to block feeding
ports, feeders enclosed in metal cages, and dome-shaped squirrel baffles to protect feeders from
above and below can make things difficult for squirrels, but seldom impossible for the truly
determined. Squirrel resistant feeders are a useful tool in the battle, but don't expect them to win it
in a single shot.
Squirrels will often take the path of least resistance, so they can often be persuaded to leave your
feeders alone if there's an easier alternative. First, make your regular bird feeders as difficult as
possible for them to burgle.
Use squirrel-resistant feeders.
Use a squirrel baffle dome on top of hanging feeders and below pole-mounted ones.
Hang feeders as far beyond the reach of squirrels as possible. This means high enough
that they can't jump to them from the ground and far enough from trees, shrubs, and eaves that
they can't leap to the feeder from them.
If your squirrels are very destructive, buy an all-metal feeder that is resistant to chewing.
Now, here's the part that will make some people cringe. In order to win the war, you may have to
concede one battle. Give the squirrels their own feeding station, and stock it with treats for them.
You can use a cheap platform feeder, a nut box with a hinged lid to exclude jays, or even just the
top of a picnic table, but make sure it's easy for squirrels to get to. Favorite foods of squirrels
include peanuts, both shelled and in the shell, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, and corn.
With such delicious morsels right there for the taking, there's little reason for squirrels to expend
the effort of performing those death-defying feats of acrobatics or waste time figuring out how to foil
those high-security features on your bird feeders.
chewing up the feeders until they're completely destroyed. It's very difficult to keep squirrels from
gaining access to a bird feeder. They have no fear of falling in making fantastic leaps from the
nearest tree branch, can climb most poles, and can even make an impressive vertical jump from the
ground to reach low feeders.
Some feeders are marketed as squirrel-proof, but in our experience, there's really no such thing.
Squirrel resistant, yes; squirrel-proof, no. Feeders with weight-activated covers to block feeding
ports, feeders enclosed in metal cages, and dome-shaped squirrel baffles to protect feeders from
above and below can make things difficult for squirrels, but seldom impossible for the truly
determined. Squirrel resistant feeders are a useful tool in the battle, but don't expect them to win it
in a single shot.
Squirrels will often take the path of least resistance, so they can often be persuaded to leave your
feeders alone if there's an easier alternative. First, make your regular bird feeders as difficult as
possible for them to burgle.
Use squirrel-resistant feeders.
Use a squirrel baffle dome on top of hanging feeders and below pole-mounted ones.
Hang feeders as far beyond the reach of squirrels as possible. This means high enough
that they can't jump to them from the ground and far enough from trees, shrubs, and eaves that
they can't leap to the feeder from them.
If your squirrels are very destructive, buy an all-metal feeder that is resistant to chewing.
Now, here's the part that will make some people cringe. In order to win the war, you may have to
concede one battle. Give the squirrels their own feeding station, and stock it with treats for them.
You can use a cheap platform feeder, a nut box with a hinged lid to exclude jays, or even just the
top of a picnic table, but make sure it's easy for squirrels to get to. Favorite foods of squirrels
include peanuts, both shelled and in the shell, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, and corn.
With such delicious morsels right there for the taking, there's little reason for squirrels to expend
the effort of performing those death-defying feats of acrobatics or waste time figuring out how to foil
those high-security features on your bird feeders.
Nesting and Breeding
The Squirrel in Winter
Life and Death
Being a squirrel isn't easy or safe. A squirrel’s life span is about six years, but urban squirrels seldom
live more than one year due to deaths by car. Their tactic of zigzagging to confuse pursuers
unfortunately isn’t very effective against vehicles. Squirrels in rural or wild areas more often die from
starvation. An average adult squirrel weighs about one pound, and needs to eat its weight in food in a
week. If that doesn't inspire a little sympathy for the bandits plundering your bird feeder, it at least
explains why they're so attracted and so determined to get at the tasty seed inside.
live more than one year due to deaths by car. Their tactic of zigzagging to confuse pursuers
unfortunately isn’t very effective against vehicles. Squirrels in rural or wild areas more often die from
starvation. An average adult squirrel weighs about one pound, and needs to eat its weight in food in a
week. If that doesn't inspire a little sympathy for the bandits plundering your bird feeder, it at least
explains why they're so attracted and so determined to get at the tasty seed inside.