Breeding Season for Ohio Squirrels
It may be chilly outside, but there are some squirrels out there that are hot and bothered right about now. It’s squirrel breeding season. [Round 1]
Ohio’s squirrels mate in December and January [Round 1]. So as this post is written today on January 9, the first 
breeding season has already been underway for a while.
If you are a squirrel observer, you may have noticed adult squirrels seemingly chasing other squirrels around tree trunks and branches recently. Biologists tell us this behavior is related to breeding and is triggered by scent.
As a female squirrel comes into estrus and is looking for a male squirrel, her body communicates to male squirrels through their noses. Multiple male squirrels often pick up on the scent. As suitors gather, chasing and aggressive behaviors can be observed as display their biological “dominance”. The male squirrel that emerges at the top of the pecking order is the one who will breed the female.
The female squirrel eventually accepts the winner and she is receptive to breeding for just the short period of time (hours) that the biology says is right for fertilization. Biology is amazing.
Once she is bred, she is left alone. As January proceeds the chasing will subside and the scene around backyard bird feeders will be calm again. And 44 days after she is bred…more squirrels!
Two Breeding Seasons
Though squirrels are breeding right now, that does not mean this is the only time of year this occurs. All of this activity will occur again this summer, as squirrels breed two times a year.
That is why that in the paragraphs above talking about what is going on right now [Round 1] was noted.
All of this breeding activity will happen once again in May and June. Those resultant baby squirrels will be born in July/August.
Two breeding seasons and two litters of squirrels per year help us to understand why there are so many squirrels in some of our neighborhoods. High populations also explains why squirrels find new nesting sites in our homes rather than the neighborhood trees. They are always looking for a real estate upgrade.
Squirrels Develop Quickly
The baby squirrels resulting from this current breeding activity will be born in February and March. But, they are born hairless and with their eyes closed. Though they develop rapidly they don’t leave the nest for at least a couple of months.
Here is a handful of baby squirrels that was removed from a nest before they even started to look like squirrels.
This litter wouldn’t have been noticed by a homeowner at all as they are quite and not moving around.
After about 10 weeks baby squirrels are developed enough to be able to leave the nest on their own. For a squirrel born in early February that would be toward the end of April. When the young squirrels start leaving the nest, they are a lot more noticeable to homeowners because of an increase in noise. Noises in ceilings, attics, and walls are heard as the litter mates interact with each other and wait for mom to return with food
In this respect, squirrel removal needs to be attuned to what is happening in the squirrel world so that a comprehensive solution is offered.
That is why a currently suspected squirrel problem shouldn’t be ignored. If you wait until it warms up, there will probably be babies and the job of removing them will be more involved. Removing a female squirrel before she has given birth makes a lot of sense.
Visit Ohio Division of Natural Resources Page on Gray Squirrels
Squirrel Trapping | Removal | Akron, Canton, Kent Area
They don’t breed as much as rabbits, but gray squirrels certainly do their best to keep the populations high.
Taking a look around many of the neighborhoods here in the Akron, Canton & Kent area we see that once populations are high enough and all the best spots in trees are taken, nesting squirrels seek the next best things- our homes.
If you suspect a squirrel is nesting your attic, walls, or soffit, give us a call today. Squirrels don’t hibernate and neither do squirrel removal professionals. Give Frontline Animal Removal a call today for all of your squirrel removal needs.
From inspecting to removal to repair, we offer solutions for squirrels!
