Important Facts About Squirrel Gestation 
There are a few important facts about squirrel gestation. Gray squirrels give birth to one or more babies every 25 to 30 days. Depending on the species, females can have as many as nine to fifteen babies at once. The newborns are helpless for the first few weeks. Mothers spend most of their time foraging for food and protecting the nest from predators. A gray squirrel will live for about two years after birth.
25 to 30 days
Most female squirrels only mate once a year, but males will pursue females throughout the year. They have a gestation period of between 25 to 30 days, with a female having two litters of up to nine babies. A female can have a number of babies, and they may even have more than one father in a single litter. While the gestation period varies with species, most ground squirrels have babies in the spring or early summer.
Squirrels have two breeding seasons per year, with females conceiving between three and seven babies. During nesting season, females may also build a new nest. A male may not be involved in raising his young, so it is unlikely to have much effect on the gestation period. A female will typically give birth to a single baby during the second breeding season.
1-9 babies per litter
Squirrels have two distinct breeding seasons, the first during the spring and the second during the summer. Both the male and female squirrels are fertile at 10-12 months of age. The female will give birth to one litter of babies during her first year of life. She may then produce two litters in one year, one in the spring and another in the summer. The young will stay with their mother until they are about 10 weeks old, at which time they will begin their own independent lives.
The Eastern Grey squirrel has one litter of two to four babies in February or March. An older female will produce a second litter in August, depending on the time of year and the availability of food. After the births, the babies leave the nest at three months old and grow to full size nine months later. The reproductive patterns of other species of squirrels are similar to those of Eastern Grey squirrels. But, the gestation period varies. Flying Squirrels have longer gestation periods than Eastern Grey squirrels.
Weaning occurs at the seventh to tenth week
Baby squirrels are born immature and are fed every two to four hours. They follow their mother around the den site, which begins around six weeks. Once they reach ten weeks of age, they slowly begin to eat solid food. By this time, some squirrels will start to build nests in the area. At eleven months, they are sexually mature. But for the most part, you should assume that your baby squirrel is still nursing.
At the seventh to tenth week of squirrel’s gestation, young squirrels begin venturing out of the drey. By the time they reach ten to twelve weeks, they have their first set of teeth. By the end of this time, they are completely weaned. In Grey and Red squirrels, maternal care usually ends after kittens are weaned, but some females will defend the young for another two weeks. Females spend increasing amounts of time away from the young during the nursing period, and they may move back to their old drey when weaning occurs.
Life expectancy for a gray squirrel at birth is 1-2 years
The average gray squirrel lives about 6 years, but lucky individuals may live up to 20 years. In the wild, there are one to five squirrels per acre, with an average density of about two per acre. There are about 818 million acres of forested areas in the United States, and between one and four billion gray squirrels live there. Life expectancy of a gray squirrel at birth is 1-2 years, but is closer to six or seven years.
The average lifespan of a gray squirrel is approximately 18 months. Females are not fertile until they are one year old, and males are sexually mature at one to two years. In North Carolina, approximately 15 to 25 percent of gray squirrels survive their first year of life, while only one percent survive to age five. The gray squirrel’s life expectancy is shortened by man, owls, and bobcats. The most common causes of death are cold weather, inadequate food sources, and secondary infections.
Females mate for a short period of time
While female squirrels do not form monogamous relationships, they do share protective bonds. It is not uncommon for males to raid squirrel pups’ nests and kill them. According to Jessica Haines, a geneticist at the University of Alberta, the reasons behind these behaviors are complicated, but they may indicate a male’s ability to identify his offspring. During this period, female squirrels may mate with several males.
Grey squirrels live in urban settings. They nest in chimneys and attics and breed twice a year. During the breeding season, male squirrels may approach and mate with females. Female squirrels bear their young in nests of shredded bark and leaves. Typically, a litter of three to five young will emerge from a female’s pouch. Young remain with the mother for around six weeks after mating.
How long is a squirrel’s gestation period?
Answer: A squirrel’s gestation period is approximately 38 days long.
How many babies does a squirrel typically have per litter?
Answer: A squirrel typically gives birth to 2-6 babies per litter.
How often do squirrels give birth?
Answer: Squirrels usually give birth once a year in the springtime.
At what age do squirrels reach sexual maturity?
Answer: Squirrels reach sexual maturity at around one year old.
How long do squirrels live?
Answer: The average lifespan of a squirrel is 5-10 years although some have been known to live up to 20 years in captivity.
What do baby squirrels look like?
Answer: Baby squirrels are born blind and hairless and weigh only about an ounce.
What do squirrels eat?
Answer: Squirrels are mainly herbivorous and their diet consists mainly of nuts seeds and fruits.
What predators do squirrels have?
Answer: Common predators of squirrels include snakes hawks owls and foxes.
What is the biggest threat to squirrels?
Answer: The biggest threat to squirrels is humans through habitat destruction hunting and vehicle collisions.
What is the smallest squirrel?
Answer: The smallest squirrel is the African pygmy squirrel which is only about 5 inches long.
What is the largest squirrel?
Answer: The largest squirrel is the Indian giant squirrel which can be up to 3 feet long.
How can you tell if a squirrel is male or female?
Answer: You can usually tell if a squirrel is male or female by looking at the size of their tails – males have bigger fuller tails while females have smaller narrower tails.
Do squirrels hibernate?
Answer: Squirrels do not hibernate but they do cache (or bury) food to store up for leaner times.
What is the scientific name for squirrels?
Answer: The scientific name for squirrels is Sciurus.
What other animals are in the squirrel family?
Answer: Other animals in the squirrel family include chipmunks groundhogs and prairie dogs.
Jessica Watson is a PHD holder from the University of Washington. She studied behavior and interaction between squirrels and has presented her research in several wildlife conferences including TWS Annual Conference in Winnipeg.
