Squirrels are ubiquitous creatures that often spark curiosity with their energetic daytime antics. These common backyard residents engage in distinct daily routines, including specific sleep patterns and choices for their nocturnal retreats. Understanding these behaviors provides insight into how these agile rodents navigate their environment.
Squirrels’ Daily Rhythm
Most common squirrel species, such as grey and red squirrels, are diurnal. Their daily activity typically begins around dawn and continues until dusk. This pattern ensures they can forage for food and avoid predators more effectively during the brighter parts of the day.
Squirrel activity often exhibits a bimodal pattern, with peaks in the morning, from dawn to mid-morning, and again in the late afternoon leading up to dusk. During the middle of the day, squirrels frequently experience a lull in activity; they may retreat to their nests to rest, digest food, or avoid higher temperatures and increased predator presence. Their active hours can vary significantly with the seasons, ranging from about 4.5 hours in winter to 11.5 hours in summer. Extreme weather conditions like intense heat or cold can also reduce their outdoor activity.
Their activity levels are heavily influenced by environmental factors such as food availability and the presence of predators. For instance, increased food abundance can lead to more prolonged periods of activity, particularly in autumn when they are busy gathering and caching provisions for colder months. Some species, like flying squirrels, are an exception to this pattern, being nocturnal, while some grey squirrels can be crepuscular.
Where and How Squirrels Sleep
Squirrels seek out secure locations for their nightly rest, using two types of arboreal shelters: dreys and tree cavities. A drey is a spherical nest constructed from interwoven twigs, dry leaves, and grass, often lined with softer materials like moss or shredded bark for insulation. These nests are commonly built in the forks of tall trees, providing both elevation and concealment from potential threats.
Dreys serve as a refuge, offering protection from predators and insulating squirrels from harsh weather conditions. Squirrels may construct multiple dreys or use natural tree cavities, such as hollows in trunks or old woodpecker holes. Tree cavities are often preferred during colder months due to their superior insulation and protection against wind and rain.
While tree squirrels do not hibernate, they can enter a state of torpor during periods of extreme cold or food scarcity. Torpor involves a temporary reduction in body temperature, heart rate, and metabolic activity, allowing them to conserve energy for short durations, typically hours to a few days. This differs from hibernation, a prolonged, deep sleep lasting for months, primarily observed in ground squirrel species to endure winter.