Squirrels are the furry and squishy little rodents you may see in the wild. Their cutest features are probably long teeth, slender body, furry tail, and cute little paws! With more than 200 species worldwide, they are probably the most widespread mammal you can think of!
You may have witnessed them jumping, flying, gliding, and running in zig-zag patterns in your backyard! With their teeth never growing, they always need to munch on something to keep them in place. Anyhow, I believe squirrels are probably the most adorable animal one can see in the wild.
Now you may be wondering if they hibernate or not; you need to keep reading this article below for more facts and fun!
What are red squirrels?
Red squirrels are one of the types of squirrels that are known for their red fur. Their shade varies from ginger to gray, but mostly it stays in the shade of red. You can easily find them in America, the UK, or some of Europe’s regions.
Though their population has drastically dropped over the years, continuous measures are being taken for their welfare. These have more diminutive size, prominent ear tufts, and round eyes.
Their eyesight is very sharp, and whiskers provide an excellent spatial memory. You can see these squirrels in urban or suburban areas with thick woodlands and forests.
These furry fellows also like living near human populations for food availability. They are agile but have very sharp brains. You should not go on their size since these furry fellows are capable of a lot more than you may think of!
What is hibernation?
Hibernation is when animals go into a ‘sleep phase’ during winters. Since in winters, the temperature is low, and it is difficult for an animal to go out in search of food, so instead some animals go into hibernation. During this phase, the body conserves energy, and the animal sleeps for quite an extended period.
The body changes like the heart, breathing, and metabolism slowing down. This happens so that the animal’s body can conserve energy. Animals hibernate due to lower temperatures and lack of food and protection in the wild.
Since with a scarcity of food and lower temperatures, the animals can have difficulty maintaining their average temperature. Hence they hibernate in hidden areas, where they can’t be preyed on by the predators, and their bodies conserve significant amounts of energy as well.
Do the red squirrels hibernate?
Now you may be wondering if red squirrels hibernate or not. The answer is no; they don’t! The red squirrels don’t hibernate throughout the year. They are active all year long and instead gather all year’s resources. They breed during the start and end of winters as well. And to keep this process going, it is vital for them not to hibernate.
Why don’t the red squirrels hibernate?
Every animal has its body mechanism. Squirrels don’t hibernate since their body has no such requirement. They don’t have the energy to do so either. However, hibernation sounds like a good idea to have some break from the wild, but this can be a very exhausting process.
Hibernation requires a lot of energy to lower the body’s temperature, and many animals can’t survive this process.
Similarly, a red squirrel’s body doesn’t have enough energy to go through the process of hibernation, and this way, the red squirrels can die as well. Hence, the squirrels store food in the summers to live and feed appropriately in colder temperatures.
Read Also : Are red squirrels destructive?
Have the red squirrels hibernated in Europe?
The red squirrel’s population in Europe has drastically fallen. People initially thought the red squirrels had hibernated, but they had not. In hibernation, an animal sleeps for a while and then wakes up after the harsh weather conditions are over.
The red squirrels in Europe have died and left the area for multiple reasons, especially after the invasion of gray squirrels in the area. An increase in the population of gray squirrels has led to the competition for food and the release of some contagious diseases like squirrel pox. Also, the gray squirrels are very aggressive and eat nine times more food than the red squirrels.
This way, food has become scarce for the red squirrels, who have left their homes. The majority of the population has died over the years as well.
What do the red squirrels do throughout the year if not hibernate?
The red squirrels don’t hibernate since their agile bodies can’t survive the process of hibernation. So how do they keep themselves safe during the colder temperatures? The red squirrels are active throughout the year; they eat, feed, mate, and roam in the wild all year.
Following are the measures that they take:
- The red squirrels gather food for over half of the year to keep their stomach full during winter. They gather and store their food under the ground for later use. These squirrels only feed on 20-30% of their food and save the rest, 70-80%, for winters.
- The red squirrels make multiple nests over an area. So they don’t rely on a single home to survive. If the nest gets blown away by air or falls, they have multiple other options to move on to. They make their nests with sticks from the branches of trees along with long leaves. These mammals prefer thick forests for their living but always make their nests near where they store their food.
- Instead of hibernation, these animals prefer to rest during the cold season. They sleep most of the time but become active in the morning so they can feed on food and exercise a bit.
- The squirrels make dens in cavities like trees or attics of buildings. This way, they get more shelter and protection from predators and harsh weather conditions. So keep your eyes open because a red squirrel might be living in the attic of your house in winter!
Do mother red squirrels hibernate with babies?
Mother squirrels are very possessive and protective when it comes to their children. These red mother squirrels would go through anyway for the safety of their little one. And so one thinking of them hibernating while with their babies is a big no! These keep their eyes open, so their babies are safe and sound.
They make their nests on multiple trees so that they can flee from one tree to another if they face any threat or danger. Mother red squirrels give babies where resources are near so they can easily feed on food while lactating.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Do red squirrels hibernate in the UK?
There may be squirrels that hibernate, but the red squirrels in the UK don’t hibernate. They don’t go into sleep mode in winters. Instead, these mammals are active throughout the year. Though they gather food for the whole year and keep it safe under the ground, these squirrels don’t hibernate.
How long can a red squirrel live?
A red squirrel can live around three to four years in the wild, but its lifespan can go up to seven years when kept in captivity. The lifespan of these mammals is significantly less compared to the other ones. These mainly die due to attack by the predators, road kills, food scarcity, diseases like squirrel pox, and invasion of their homes by the gray squirrels
Can a red squirrel die from hibernation?
Red squirrels are not meant to hibernate, so they don’t. But yes, if we assume that they hibernate, they might die because their bodies don’t have the ability to go through the process of hibernation.
Where can I find red squirrels?
Red squirrels can be found in many areas of the world. Though their population has dropped, according to the research, only 150,000 red squirrels are left. You may see them in America, Canada, Italy, the UK, Russia, Mongolia, China, etc. But since their overall population has dropped, you may not see them quite easily.
