Squirrel Life Cycles
There are two primary breeding seasons for squirrels: early spring and late summer. The average gestational period for pregnant squirrels is between 40 and 44 days, and a mother can birth between one and nine babies. Neonates, or baby squirrels, are born hairless and blind. They do not develop their sight until they are 28 days old or 35 days at the latest. The young squirrels will not even venture out of their nest until they are at least 42 days old, and the mother will not entirely wean the babies until they reach 50 days of age. Some babies stay close to their mother until after their first winter, especially if they were born in late summer, and this goes for all the squirrel species, including the tree squirrel.Survival Skills
While it may be hard to tell from their small size and high mortality rate, squirrels are quite intelligent and formidable. True, many do not make it past the first two years of life, but those that do acquire essential survival skills. Squirrels learn by watching. They study different species to understand how to survive. For example, they can learn to look both ways before crossing the street, and they can master how to forage and hide effectively. Squirrels are also agile and quick. They are responsive and do not hesitate to make decisions. Unfortunately, their speed can result in their demise, especially when they flee into oncoming traffic.
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