Squirrel
Sciurus carolinensis
Quick answer
Squirrels are agile tree-climbing rodents best known from the eastern gray squirrel, a familiar resident of woodlands, parks, and gardens across North America and much of Europe. They are mostly herbivorous, feeding on nuts, seeds, and fruit, and famously bury food caches to survive winter. Adults typically measure 23 to 30 cm (9 to 12 in) in body length plus a long bushy tail, and wild gray squirrels usually live around 6 years. Squirrels as a family live nearly worldwide.
Squirrel facts at a glance
| Scientific name | Sciurus carolinensis |
|---|---|
| Diet | Omnivore (mostly nuts, seeds, fruit) |
| Habitat | Woodlands, parks, and gardens |
| Lifespan | About 6 years in the wild |
| Weight | 400–700 g (0.9–1.5 lb) |
| Top speed | Up to 32 km/h (20 mph) |
| Conservation status | Least Concern (IUCN) |
| Kingdom | Animalia |
|---|---|
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Mammalia |
| Order | Rodentia |
| Family | Sciuridae |
| Genus | Sciurus |
Where it lives
Woodlands, parks, and gardens across North America and Europe (the eastern gray squirrel; squirrels as a family live nearly worldwide).
Behavior and agility
Squirrels are remarkably acrobatic, leaping between branches and running headfirst down tree trunks thanks to ankle joints that rotate to grip bark. Their long, bushy tails aid balance, act as a rudder during jumps, and serve as a blanket in cold weather. They are active by day and stay alert for predators, flicking their tails and giving sharp calls when alarmed. Gray squirrels build leafy nests called dreys high in trees.
Diet and food caching
Squirrels are mostly herbivorous, eating nuts, seeds, acorns, fruit, buds, and fungi, and occasionally insects or eggs. They are famous for caching food, burying thousands of nuts each autumn to eat through winter. Many of these buried seeds are never recovered and grow into new trees, making squirrels important seed dispersers. They use spatial memory and smell to relocate their hidden stores.
Habitat and range
The eastern gray squirrel is native to eastern North America but has been introduced widely in Britain, Ireland, and parts of continental Europe, where it often outcompetes native red squirrels. Squirrels as a family live on nearly every continent except Antarctica and Australia. Gray squirrels thrive in deciduous and mixed forests and have adapted well to city parks and suburban gardens. They do not hibernate and remain active year-round.
Reproduction and life cycle
Female gray squirrels usually have one or two litters a year, each with two to four young born blind and hairless in a tree nest. The young are weaned at around 10 weeks and become independent soon after. Most squirrels die young, but those that survive their first year may live around six years in the wild. Predators include hawks, owls, foxes, and domestic cats.
Frequently asked questions about the Squirrel
What do squirrels eat?
Squirrels eat mostly nuts, seeds, acorns, fruit, buds, and fungi, and they occasionally take insects or eggs. They bury surplus food in autumn to survive the winter.
Do squirrels remember where they bury nuts?
Squirrels use a mix of spatial memory and smell to relocate buried food. Many caches are never recovered, and those forgotten seeds often grow into new trees.
How long do squirrels live?
Wild gray squirrels typically live around six years, though many die in their first year. In captivity, protected from predators, they can live considerably longer.
Do squirrels hibernate?
Gray squirrels do not hibernate. They stay active all winter, relying on stored food caches and fat reserves, and shelter in their nests during the coldest spells.
Why are gray squirrels a problem in Europe?
Introduced gray squirrels outcompete native red squirrels for food and habitat and carry a virus that is deadly to reds. This has caused red squirrel declines across much of Britain and Ireland.
Can squirrels climb down trees headfirst?
Yes. Squirrels can rotate their hind ankles to point their claws backward, letting them grip the bark and run down tree trunks headfirst.
