Squirrels, commonly seen darting through trees and across yards, exhibit fascinating sleep habits. These adaptable rodents possess distinct patterns of rest, carefully selecting their sleeping quarters and adjusting their routines to environmental conditions. Understanding how and where squirrels sleep provides insight into their survival strategies and their intricate connection with their surroundings.
Where Squirrels Sleep
Squirrels primarily construct two types of nests for sleeping and raising their young: dreys and tree cavities. Dreys are spherical nests built high in tree branches, typically 20 feet or more above the ground, often nestled in a fork near the trunk for stability. These structures are crafted from interwoven twigs, leaves, and grass, with an inner lining of softer materials like moss, shredded bark, or pine needles, creating a well-insulated and protective haven.
Tree cavities, also known as dens, offer an alternative sleeping location, particularly during colder months. These natural hollows, or abandoned woodpecker holes, provide superior protection from precipitation, wind, and predators. Squirrels enhance these cavities with soft nesting materials to improve comfort and insulation. While tree squirrels predominantly use dreys and dens, some species, such as ground squirrels, create intricate underground burrows for their resting and living spaces, offering security from above-ground threats.
When and How Squirrels Sleep
Most squirrel species are diurnal, meaning they are active during the day and sleep at night. They typically retreat to their nests or dens as darkness falls to rest. While active throughout daylight hours, squirrels also take several short naps during the day to conserve energy.
Squirrels average around 14 to 15 hours of sleep daily, including nocturnal and daytime rest periods. When sleeping, squirrels often curl their bodies into a tight ball, which helps them retain body heat within their insulated nests. Their bushy tails can also serve as an additional blanket, wrapped around their bodies or faces for warmth. While sleep patterns are primarily dictated by light, factors like temperature, food availability, and predator presence can influence their timing and duration.
Winter Sleep and Torpor
A common misunderstanding exists regarding squirrels and hibernation. Most tree squirrel species, including the common gray and red squirrels, do not truly hibernate. Instead, they remain active throughout the winter months, albeit with reduced activity levels. They adapt to the cold by spending more time inside their well-insulated dens or dreys to conserve energy and stay warm.
During periods of extreme cold or food scarcity, squirrels may enter a state known as torpor. Torpor is a temporary reduction in metabolic activity, where their body temperature, heart rate, and breathing slow down. Unlike true hibernation, which can last for months, torpor allows squirrels to easily wake up to forage for cached food. They prepare for winter by increasing their food intake in the fall to build up fat reserves, which provides both insulation and an energy source when food is scarce. Some ground squirrel species, however, do enter a more prolonged state of hibernation, remaining in their underground burrows for several months.