Are Squirrels Nocturnal?

What’s that creeping and crawling in the night? Contrary to popular belief, urban wildlife are not all nocturnal! Squirrels spend most of their energy scavenging and scurrying around during the day. They are commonly found in urban areas, so residents don’t have to wait until night time to enjoy squirrel activity.

Squirrels are not nocturnal. They are actually diurnal creatures meaning they are mainly active during the day. Many mammals are diurnal. Humans are good examples, as most of us get everything done during the daytime. Squirrels enjoy the daylight because their food gathering and foraging is dependent on the environment’s temperature. They utilize the warmer weather to efficiently access food sources and avoid predators during the winter. Squirrels don’t hibernate, but they hate the cold. So, instead of spending long trips foraging for food on cold afternoons, they would rather sleep long hours in their nests.

WHAT ARE DIURNAL CREATURES?

Diurnal creatures are the opposite of nocturnal creatures. While animals that hibernate are equipped with warm fur and eyes that can see in the dark, diurnal creatures are dependent on the sun to survive. Similar to us, diurnal creatures will stay indoors if weather conditions are too harsh, however, you can find squirrels out on both sunny and rainy days.

ARE SQUIRRELS DIURNAL ALL YEAR LONG?

Similar to all urban wildlife, squirrels adapt to the cold temperature that arrives during the winter. Although squirrels are still active all winter long, running across snow covered fences throughout the day, on particularly cold days they will stay inside their den and rest. The deep sleep state squirrels enter to get through those particularly cold weeks is called torpor. Rather than entering an unbroken sleep state of hibernation, squirrels will enter torpor whenever it is necessary. Once the weather is more comfortable to exit the den site, the squirrels awaken.

WHERE DO SQUIRRELS GO AT NIGHT?

During the night time when raccoons and skunks begin to emerge from their den sites, our squirrel friends are tucking in for a good night sleep. As they have used their energy throughout the day, it is important squirrels use the night to rest and regain their strength. Squirrels have an average of 4 to 5 active den sites they can choose between to sleep at night. While squirrels make natural dens in hollowed out trees or by munching up leaves in branches, however, their most comfortable den site is usually found in the attic of a home.

Since the squirrel’s tendencies are exposed by the light of day, people can readily see any unwanted activity on your property. It’s important to keep track of their routines in your yard. It gives hints as to whether they are in your home. Regularly survey your building’s outer walls. Squirrels can enter through small holes in your roof or chimney.

WHAT IF SQUIRRELS ARE LIVING INSIDE MY HOME?

To humanely remove squirrels, it’s important to remove any babies from the home as well. This is best done by hand so that the babies can quickly be reunited with their mother outside of the home. Once the critters have left, it’s equally as important to seal up all potential entry points to prevent them from coming back.

To protect your family, the squirrels and any potential babies, you should rely on professionals to get the job done humanely, quickly, and effectively. Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control can safely extract the family and repair and clean the damage left behind. After the squirrels have left and gone about their nightly activities outside your home, Skedaddle technicians will seal every entry point with galvanized steel screens to prevent any squirrels from getting inside in the future. Connect with Skedaddle today to get rid of the squirrels in your house.