Squirrels belong to the rodent family. They’re medium-sized creatures who live in every part of the world except Antarctica and Australia.
Like other rodents, squirrels require a secure space for hiding and sleeping.
Usually, squirrels sleep in nests with their eyes closed and curl their bodies. Most times, squirrels sleep alone. However, in winter, they sleep together for extra warmth.
Below, I will discuss how squirrels sleep for all those interested in the sleeping habits of these rodents, so let’s dive right in.
How Do Squirrels Sleep?
The squirrel family consists of three major types: ground squirrels, flying squirrels, and tree squirrels. They’re all active creatures who spend most of their time speeling.
What’s unique about squirrels is that they don’t sleep together. These creatures sleep in different places, including baby squirrels. For instance, tree squirrels sleep and reside in their nest after delivery for about six weeks.
After six weeks, they finally open their eyes, explore their surroundings, and spend time outside their nests.
Most types of squirrels reach adulthood within ten months. However, some kids, like the flying squirrel, reach maturity at 18 months.
Nevertheless, once squirrels become adults, they start building their nests for living.
Do Squirrels Sleep With Their Eyes Open?
Squirrels have eyelids, so they close their eyes while resting and sleeping. These small creatures close their eyes to block the lights, protect their eyes from drying out, etc.
Moreover, squirrels blink and have excellent eyesight during the day.
What Do Squirrels Do When Sleeping?
Squirrels curl their bodies while sleeping. That’s how they keep themselves warm while sleeping, especially in colder periods of the year.
When it’s warm outside, squirrels sleep throughout the night and, sometimes, take naps during the day.
Male squirrels usually sleep alone, while females sleep with their babies. However, their nests aren’t that far apart. In winter, squirrels hibernate together for additional warmth.
See Where Do Squirrels Go In The Winter?
Do Squirrels Sleep on Their Backs?
Typically, squirrels curl their bodies while sleeping for extra warmth. However, I’ve seen many pet squirrels sleeping on their backs. So, it’s safe to assume they sometimes take naps on their backs, knowing they’re safe.
How Do Squirrels Sleep in Trees?
So far, we know of 200 squirrels species.
They all have different sleeping habits and build their nests differently, using branches, leaves, etc. Most squirrels sleep in trees. However, some make their nests in people’s properties or underground caves.
Here’s a brief description of common species of squirrels and their sleeping habits.
Tree Squirrels
Tree squirrels live, raise their babies, and sleep in dreys. These squirrels use branches, leaves, and twigs to make their dreys.
Common types of tree squirrels include fox and gray squirrels.
Ground Squirrels
The Journal of Mammalogy suggests that ground squirrels sleep over 80% of their days. Moreover, as their name suggests, ground squirrels spend their lives on the ground and sleep in ground-level burrows.
Flying Squirrels
Many associate flying squirrels with flying because of their name, but they don’t actually fly. These squirrels have web-like skin flaps for gliding from tree to tree, so we associate their rapid movements with flying.
Moreover, these squirrels create their nests in trees with small branches, leaves, moss, and barks.
Do Squirrels Sleep Together?
Almost all types of squirrels live and sleep in nests called dreys. These nests consist of small branches, grass, moss, and leaves.
Typically, squirrels make these nests inside the holes of tall trees. However, sometimes, they build their homes inside people’s homes, particularly attics.
Moreover, most types of squirrels sleep in separate nests. However, they sleep together during winter for extra warmth.
Tree squirrels don’t like company, so they sleep in separate trees. Still, when cold times strike, the father, mother, and baby tree squirrels curl together in one nest.
Male and female squirrels never sleep together, even after mating. Females often sleep with their offspring, while males sleep in another nest.
On the other hand, ground squirrels sleep together, whether it’s hot or cold outside.
Most family members will sleep in groups but seldom in couples. They’re social creatures, so they don’t mind sharing their bed with their family members. The same goes for flying squirrels.
Do Squirrels Have a Bedtime?
Studies say that squirrels sleep for about 15 hours daily.
Moreover, most people think they’re nocturnal but crepuscular, so they’re mostly active at dusk and dawn, like cats.
Squirrels don’t have a specific bedtime. They’re running around, looking or hoarding for food, and mating mostly at dusk and dawn, so they usually sleep during the day.
However, some species of squirrels, like flying and tree squirrels, enjoy the sun and can stay out of their nests all day during the summer months.
What Time Do Squirrels Wake Up?
Squirrels aren’t nocturnal but crepuscular. Therefore, they typically wake up at dawn or dusk and search for food, mate, or explore their surroundings.
Does Age Affect How Long Squirrels Sleep?
Age affects the sleeping time of squirrels.
For instance, when they’re babies, red, gray, tree, fox, and flying squirrels live and sleep in their nests. However, as they become older, their sleeping habits chances.
Here’s how:
Young Squirrels
Baby squirrels need extra sleeping hours because they’re developing and growing. So, they sleep for about 22 hours daily.
Adult Squirrels
On the other hand, adult squirrels sleep between 18 and 20 hours daily. Therefore, they sleep less than baby squirrels.
Fun Facts About Squirrels
Squirrels have multiple unique traits, such as the following:
- Squirrels have a great vision. Moreover, they can see behind their back because of the unique position of their eyes.
- Squirrels can find buried nuts and other food by their odor because of their strong sense of smell.
- Squirrels remember the exact locations of buried nuts. So, they also have a great memory.
- Squirrels can consume about 1.5 pounds of food weekly, which is how much they weigh.
- These creatures use their tail for balancing when moving and jumping.
- Squirrels have long, muscular hind legs and short front legs and can jump up to 20 feet.
- Ground squirrels hibernate in burrows during winter.
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