The Eastern Gray Squirrel, a familiar resident across North America, is a highly active animal whose routine is governed by foraging needs and energy conservation. Understanding the rhythm of their day, especially how they manage periods of rest, helps explain their seemingly boundless energy. This small mammal’s need for both deep sleep and quick bouts of inactivity shapes its twenty-four-hour cycle.
Squirrel Activity Patterns
Tree squirrels, such as the Eastern Gray Squirrel, concentrate their activity during daylight hours. Their daily pattern is typically bimodal during warmer months, meaning they have two distinct peaks of intense activity. These busy periods occur shortly after sunrise in the early morning and again in the late afternoon before sunset, when they are most visibly engaged in foraging.
This structured schedule allows them to maximize the collection and caching of food resources. This pattern adjusts seasonally; in the winter, when daylight is shorter, their activity often becomes unimodal. This single peak of movement is usually centered around the warmest part of the day, often near midday, to conserve energy.
Daily Resting Behavior
Squirrels exhibit periods of light rest during the day, which can be described as napping, though it differs from their deep sleep at night. This midday lull in activity is a direct result of their bimodal schedule, occurring between the morning and afternoon peaks of foraging. This daytime rest is often triggered by the need to avoid the hottest part of the day or to digest a large meal.
This light sleep is part of a polyphasic sleep pattern, involving multiple intervals of rest and wakefulness. Instead of a single consolidated block of sleep, the squirrel takes several short naps to recharge quickly. During these rest periods, a squirrel may be seen sitting motionless, engaging in extended grooming, or sun-basking on a branch. This light resting contrasts with the consolidated, deeper sleep they enter once settled securely in their nest for the night.
Where Squirrels Rest and Sleep
The physical locations a squirrel chooses for rest are determined by the type and duration of the sleep required. For the consolidated, deeper sleep required overnight, tree squirrels rely on a secure structure called a drey or a natural tree cavity.
A drey is a spherical nest constructed of twigs, leaves, and moss, often built high in a tree fork for protection. Tree cavities provide insulation and protection from the elements and predators, and are frequently used, especially during cold winter months. Daytime resting spots, however, are far more temporary and easily accessible. A squirrel may simply stretch out on a thick branch, flatten itself against a sun-warmed roof, or settle on a secure platform for a quick nap. These temporary locations prioritize immediate safety and convenience over the security of their nocturnal sleeping quarters.