Squirrels are a common sight in many backyards and parks, their quick movements and bushy tails often catching the eye. Many wonder about their behaviors, especially how they care for their offspring. The way these small animals raise their young is a fascinating aspect of their natural history, revealing a complex period of development and maternal dedication.
Yes, Squirrels Nurse Their Young
Squirrels are indeed mammals, meaning mother squirrels produce milk to nourish their offspring. This milk is the sole source of nutrition for newborn squirrels, often called kits or pups, during their earliest weeks. A lactating female squirrel undergoes physical changes, such as elongated nipples and hair loss around them, which facilitate nursing for her babies.
Squirrel milk is rich in high concentrations of fat and protein. For instance, gray squirrel milk contains about 9-10% protein and 12-25% fat, along with lactose. This specific composition supports the rapid growth and development of the young, enabling them to gain weight quickly. Infant squirrels are born completely dependent on their mother’s milk for survival, warmth, and hydration.
The Nursing Period and Kit Development
Newborn squirrels are born in a highly undeveloped state, often weighing around one ounce and measuring only about an inch in length. They are altricial, meaning they are born blind, deaf, and hairless, relying entirely on their mother within the safety of the nest, or drey. During the first few weeks, their skin begins to darken, and a thin layer of fuzz-like fur starts to appear, becoming more noticeable by two to three weeks of age.
Around three weeks, their ears typically open, and by four weeks, their eyes begin to open, allowing them to perceive their surroundings. As their vision develops, fur growth progresses. By seven weeks, their body and tail are fully covered, making them resemble miniature adults. Throughout this period, kits nurse frequently, consuming milk every two to four hours as they gain strength and grow within the nest.
From Nest to Independence
The transition from exclusive nursing to self-sufficiency is a gradual process for young squirrels. Around seven to ten weeks of age, kits begin weaning from their mother’s milk as solid foods are introduced. This weaning period can last several weeks, with full weaning typically completed by ten to twelve weeks, though some mothers may nurse for longer. During this time, the young squirrels start to venture outside the nest for short periods, usually around six to eight weeks old, always under the watchful eye of their mother.
The mother squirrel teaches her offspring essential survival skills. She demonstrates how to forage for food, identify safe areas, and navigate their environment. Young squirrels learn to crack nuts, climb trees efficiently, and understand predator avoidance through observation and practice. By ten to twelve weeks of age, they have developed the physical capabilities and learned behaviors to become fully independent, ready to leave the nest and establish their own territories.