Winter Survival Tactics of Squirrels

Winter is a tough time for many animals are squirrels are no exceptions. Squirrels have adapted to cold weather and have several tricks up their fur lined sleeve to help get through the winter.

Squirrels will fatten themselves up in the fall by eating excess food. They will also create massive food stores so winter foraging is easier. They put on a new, heavier coat and open up their nests to other squirrels so they can all stay warm together.

Squirrels are amazing creatures and are a lot tougher than most people give them credit! Here is a link to the original article about squirrels surviving in cold weather.

Transcript

1. Squirrels in Winter How Do They Survive?
2. Squirrels Have Many Mechanisms to Survive in Winter • Bulking up • Thicker Coat • Food Stores • Sharing Body Heat • Shivering • If they get these steps wrong they might freeze!
3. Bulking Up • Squirrels will eat massive quantities of food in the fall • Typical mass increase of 30-50% • Fat stores are used for calories to minimize foraging time outside the nest • Fat stores add insulation and help preserve core body temperature • Fat stores are typically depleted by Spring and squirrels are normal sized again
4. Thicker Coats • Squirrels develop a thicker coat for added warmth in Winter • The thick coat is molted in the Spring when a lighter coat is needed • Some squirrels grow ear tassels that are about an inch long to help keep their ears warm!
5. Food Stores • Squirrels cache large amounts of nuts in preparation for winter • Red squirrels create a massive single stash of food called a midden • Grey squirrels create multiple stashes, often in odd locations. • Grey squirrels will often create fake hiding spots to fool other squirrels who try to steal their nuts • The buried nuts that squirrels do not eat often spout and grow into new trees
6. Shared Body Heat • Squirrels will shiver to generate body heat • Squirrels will share their nest with multiple other squirrels to share body heat • Squirrel nests are lined with dry leaves and other insulating material to keep the body heat from escaping the nest.