Squirrels are adorable. When you’re out enjoying a hike or a walk through the woods, you can’t help but stop and watch them scamper about. They seem so active, collecting nuts and seeds to eat, but do they ever take time to rest? 

They do! In fact, you can learn a lot from understanding the sleeping habits of squirrels. Unfortunately, they don’t just live in the forest. You’ll often find squirrels taking up residence in your backyard or even your home. While this may seem fun and exciting at first, they can cause some serious issues, making squirrel removal in Madison an essential service.

When Do Squirrels Sleep?

Squirrels are just like you. They are active during the day and sleep during the night. This is why you always see them when you’re out enjoying nature on a daytime adventure. During the day, they run about building their nests, dens and increase food supplies. They collect nuts, seeds, acorns and pinecones. As soon as the sun starts to go down, those squirrels run off to their nests so they can care for their babies and go to sleep for the night.

Different types of squirrels in specific seasons and various areas of the world may also sleep during the day to conserve energy. This is known as either hibernation or estivation.

Hibernation

You’ve likely heard this term before. Bears hibernate, groundhogs hibernate, and so do bats, snakes and snails. Squirrels hibernate so they can reserve energy for the warmer months when they are having babies, caring for their young and filling their nests with food. A squirrel’s body temperature decreases to a few degrees warmer than the temperature outside, and its heart rate slows down as well. A hibernating squirrel may only wake for 12 to 20 hours each week. This helps it survive the winters.

Estivation

Estivation is a lesser-known habit of wildlife that is basically the opposite of hibernation. During estivation, the squirrel hunkers down for the hotter months of the year. This dormancy helps squirrels survive droughts, high temperatures and overheating from working too hard. Estivation helps squirrels accumulate body fat so they can survive the winter.

Where Do Squirrels Sleep?

There are a few different types of squirrels, and they sleep in various kinds of nests. A tree squirrel or flying squirrel is going to nest in a tree. Some create drays within the branches, and others find an old woodpecker hole or another cavity in the side of a tree where they can create a den.

Ground squirrels nest in the ground. They dig down in the dirt, often underneath a rock or stump, and create a tunnel to their den. Because so many rural areas are quickly becoming suburban and urban regions, many squirrels don’t mind living in the backyard of a happy human family.

What’s the Problem?

It may seem harmless if squirrels take up residence in your tree, but it’s going to become a problem at some point. Squirrels in the backyard get used to humans. They’re going to become daring and find a way into your home where it’s warm and comfortable with a constant source of food.

Since not all squirrels hibernate during winter, they’re going to look for a warmer place when the colder months hit. This often becomes your attic or between your walls. These creatures carry diseases, and you don’t want those in your home. They also love to chew. This activity keeps their little incisors in the best shape to crack open acorns and other food, but it’s a big issue when squirrels start chewing wires, wood, walls and other elements of your house.

Contacting the Professionals

As you learn more about the sleeping patterns and other behaviors of squirrels, you’ll understand additional ways to prevent a squirrel infestation in your home. For more information, or for squirrel removal in Madison, contact Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control today.