When Do Squirrels Hibernate? 🐿️How These Smart Survivors Outsmart Winter

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When Do Squirrels Hibernate?

Most squirrels do not hibernate at all. While some animals sleep through winter to survive the cold, most squirrel species—like gray squirrels and flying squirrels—stay active. Instead of hibernating, they rest more, limit their movement, and rely on food they’ve stored during warmer months. Only a few species, such as certain ground squirrels, go into true hibernation.

So, if you see fewer squirrels in winter, it’s not because they’re hibernating—it’s because they’re staying hidden and warm, waiting for better weather.

🔎Dive Deeper

Do Squirrels Hibernate?
Types of Squirrels and Their Winter Habits
Where Do Squirrels Go in Winter?
How Do Squirrels Survive Cold Weather?
What About Baby Squirrels?
Squirrel Survival Chart
🎯 Final Thoughts
📚 References

Do Squirrels Hibernate?

No, not most of them. The squirrels you see in your neighborhood—like gray squirrels, fox squirrels, and flying squirrels—do not hibernate. They go through a state called torpor, which is when animals rest more and move less during very cold days. They still wake up, eat, and even come out of their nests when the weather warms up slightly.

The exception is ground squirrels, especially species that live in cold climates. These squirrels do hibernate, lowering their body temperature and staying in their burrows for months.

Types of Squirrels and Their Winter Habits

There are three main types of squirrels:

Squirrel Type	Hibernate?	Winter Strategy
Tree Squirrels	❌ No	Stay active, rest more, use food stores
Ground Squirrels	✅ Yes (some)	True hibernation underground
Flying Squirrels	❌ No	Rest more, stay in shared nests

Tree squirrels like the gray squirrel sleep more but still go outside during warmer days.
Flying squirrels stay hidden in nests and may share space to keep warm.
Ground squirrels enter true hibernation in deep underground burrows.

Where Do Squirrels Go in Winter?

Squirrels prepare for winter long before it arrives. They build strong, warm nests in trees or underground and store food in small hiding places called caches.

In the winter:

Squirrels stay in their nests for longer periods.
They only come out when it’s warm enough to search for food.
They rely on the nuts and seeds they stored in the fall.

How Do Squirrels Survive Cold Weather?

Squirrels use smart survival techniques:

🟫 Thicker Fur and Body Fat

Squirrels grow a thicker coat to stay warm.
They eat a lot in the fall to build up body fat for energy.

🟩 Nest Building

Their nests, or dreys, are made of leaves and twigs and lined with soft materials.
Some squirrels may nest together to share body heat.

🟨 Food Caching

Squirrels bury or hide hundreds of nuts and seeds.
They use memory and scent to find these food stores during winter.

🌰 Did You Know? Gray squirrels can bury up to 10,000 nuts every year!

What About Baby Squirrels?

Squirrels often give birth twice a year, and one of those times is during late winter:

January to March: Some squirrels give birth in their nests.
Mothers stay in the nest, nursing their babies until they’re strong enough to explore.
Babies usually leave the nest in early spring.

These young squirrels don’t face the harshest part of winter because they’re protected in a cozy, well-insulated nest.

Squirrel Survival Chart

Here’s a summary of how different squirrels handle winter:

Squirrel	Hibernate?	Winter Behavior
Eastern Gray Squirrel	❌ No	Stays active, eats stored food
Fox Squirrel	❌ No	Nests in trees, more resting
Flying Squirrel	❌ No	Nocturnal, nests in groups for warmth
Arctic Ground Squirrel	✅ Yes	Deep hibernation in frozen ground
Thirteen-lined Ground Squirrel	✅ Yes	Long hibernation in underground burrow

🎯 Final Thoughts

When do squirrels hibernate? Most of them don’t. Instead, squirrels survive winter by sleeping more, staying hidden, and using food they stored earlier. Only a few types of ground squirrels truly hibernate, but the squirrels you see in trees and parks are wide awake—just being extra quiet during the coldest months.

📚 References

National Wildlife Federation. Squirrel Facts. https://www.nwf.org/Educational-Resources/Wildlife-Guide/Mammals/Squirrels
U.S. Forest Service. Eastern Gray Squirrel. https://www.fs.usda.gov/database/feis/animals/mammal/scca/all.html
Smithsonian National Zoo. Squirrels. https://nationalzoo.si.edu/animals/squirrels
Alaska Department of Fish and Game. Arctic Ground Squirrel. https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=arcticgroundsquirrel.main
NY State Department of Environmental Conservation. Winter Wildlife Behavior. https://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/9356.html

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