Why Do Squirrels Stomp Their Feet?

If you’re out in the yard and you see a squirrel stomping its little feet at you, you’re not imagining things. Squirrels do, indeed, stomp their feet frequently and for specific reasons. There’s not much that you, a human, can do about it, aside from watch carefully and steer clear of whatever drama may be unfolding in the animal world. Find out why squirrels stomp their feet, other indicators of the same practices, and who to call for humane squirrel removal in Whitby.

Defending Territory 

The primary reason why you would likely notice a squirrel stomping its feet is that you, or another animal near you, a dog, a bird, perhaps a nearby hawk or cat, something has entered the territory of that squirrel. The squirrel is sending a message to let intruders and other nearby squirrels know something is amiss; a foreign object has entered the ring. 

• Stomping 

Stomping is one way to alert nearby squirrel kin that something is up. Stomping creates a sound that travels further than other sounds that we are used to hearing. Squirrels can pick up the sounds of stomping from far away, letting them know there is a potential danger. 

• Posture

Squirrels also present themselves with a puffed-up, enhanced and erect posture when defending territory. They will often stand on their hind legs to let intruders know that they are a formidable enemy should advances be made further into the territory. 

• Vocalizations

Squirrels are also known to make a crying sound when their territory has been breached. If you have ever heard this sound, you know that it doesn’t sound much like any crying you have ever heard before. It sounds a lot more like nails on a chalkboard instead. Squirrels use this specific sound to ward off intruders and to warn other squirrels of danger. 

Mating Communication 

Squirrels, just like everything else in nature, have specific mating rituals and seasons. Squirrels usually mate and give birth twice a year. Female squirrels are known to mate with more than one partner throughout a mating season but are generally only inseminated once due to the nature of how squirrel mating works. Baby squirrels are called kits or kittens. Squirrels litters can vary in size but range from one to upwards of six kits at a time. But before the hairless, deaf, and blind kittens can enter the picture, squirrels have to go through a series of mating behaviours.

• Stomping 

Squirrels stomp during mating for several reasons: to help locate a potential mate, let the potential mate know that they are interested in mating, and let the potential mate know that mating is about to happen. That’s a lot of oomph in a little stomp!

• Scent 

Interestingly, squirrels rub their faces rather than their behinds on their surroundings to let other squirrels know that they are ready to mate. Squirrels have oral scent glands around their mouths, and when they rub their faces on other squirrels, much can be learned from their pheromonal secretions. 

• Chase 

Perhaps the most familiar aspect of squirrel mating behaviours is the chase. Most everyone has seen squirrels chasing one another at full speed up trees around bushes over fences across lawns, and so forth. This elaborate chase is all part of the mating ritual that will ultimately end in the actual act of mating.  If you find that you have too many squirrels or have squirrels nesting with their kits in someplace they shouldn’t, like your attic, for example,  it is not recommended to touch wildlife or trying to handle the removal process on your own. Instead, call the professionals at Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control for squirrel removal in Whitby.