Do squirrels hibernate?

In one of the daily photo challenges earlier this week I commented that I hadn’t seen the squirrels recently and that I thought they must be hibernating. My friend Dixie said she didn’t think they did hibernate.  So....I had to check it out. 

Dixie is right, Squirrels do not hibernate. They do  apparently “sit out any really cold weather in their dreys, which are very thick walled and keep them very snug.” Basically they may have a bit of a lie in on very cold winter days, but if they are hungry they'll come out and forage! The squirrel is famed for hiding (squirreling away) nuts so when the weather allows they can raid these caches if necessary settling down to a torpor like sleep if the weather worsens again.  So it seems clear they do not go to sleep at the beginning of winter and wake up in spring. As I always thought.  I wonder why I thought that?

Some squirrel facts for you.

Of the ten species of tree squirrels in the northern hemisphere. The most common are the Eastern Gray,  followed by the Red squirrel,  the Fox squirrel, the Abert or Kaibab squirrels,  Douglas squirrel,  Pine squirrel,  Japanese squirrel,   Persian squirrel,  Arizona gray, and of course the Western gray squirrel. 

The largest squirrel is the Ratufa (ratufa indica) sometimes known as the Indian giant squirrel, it can grow to three feet in length. This species is found in southeast Asia, and parts of Nepal. 

The African Pygmy (Myosciurus, pumilio) is the smallest squirrel in the world. Its head and body length is only two and half inches long. With a tail approximately the same length. They are found, in Southeastern Nigeria, Cameroon, and Gabon. 

The squirrel uses its tail for many things; its primary function is for balance. This enables the squirrel to manoeuvre quickly without falling.  It is also used as a parachute, should the squirrel fall.  It can act as a blanket in the winter.   Squirrels also use their tail to communicate with other squirrels. Yes I have seen them doing that.  Watch them and you will see them flicking their tails all the time.

Squirrels look like they run fast and for their size and weight they do.   The average speed, at a full run, is between 8 and 10 mph.   There is an old story of an Illinois state police officer that once clocked a gray squirrel, with his radar gun at 20 mph. as it ran across a highway. 

Squirrels in captivity have lived to be twenty years old.   Most Gray squirrels will die before their first birthday, not due to predators or the lack of food.   But by being run over by vehicles.   If they survive their first year, they should live five or six more years.

Squirrels mate in the late winter or very early spring.   This time may vary with location, and the weather conditions.   The best time to see a squirrel's acrobatic skill is, during the "mating chase".

Baby squirrels are born in the spring, without fur.  They're blind, and weigh in at one or two ounces each.   There are usually four in a litter.   The mother will keep the young in the nest and nurse them until they're ready to venture out of the nest, on their own.  This is usually in eight to ten weeks.  You may see a mother squirrel move her babies, she will carry them by mouth, one at a time. The male squirrel leaves after the mating.  The female raises the babies by herself. Typical male then, has his wicked way and then buggers off!

Squirrels are renowned for being clever especially in their pursuit of food.  I should know I have tried loads of different things to stop them getting at my bird feeders and nothing works.  Watch the video to see how they do it.

Just because I have done a squirrel blog does not mean that I like them.  I hate the pesky things!

JILLY