How Do Squirrels Mate?

Mating Call

When a male squirrel is ready to mate, beginning in January, he begins his mating call. The sound is like a sneezing sound in Gray squirrels, but there are other types of squirrels, like the Red variety, that make a sound similar to this. Some scientists compare the call to a nestling sound. One thing is certain, though: during the late winter and early spring months, all a male squirrel wants to do is mate.

The Chase

When a male finds a female squirrel, he begins to court her. Just like the male squirrels love to mate, so do the females. They essentially play "hard to get." The chase is exactly that--the male chases the female up, down and around trees and branches. She runs ahead, stops, waits for him to catch up, then runs off again. This can go on for days until she finally lets him catch her. Don't be fooled, though--the females have full control over their mates.

Intercourse

Like many other animals, the male mounts the female squirrel from behind. He grasps her around the top, and ejaculates sperm into her oviduct. Inside the mother's womb, the baby squirrels take about 6 weeks to fully develop.

Raising the Babies

Female squirrels are abandoned by the male squirrel immediately after mating. The mother gives birth to about 3 squirrels each time. She keeps the babies in her nest for about 10 weeks. They are born completely helpless, furless and blind. She ventures out of the nest only for food, then returns to nurse her young. If she needs to move her young to a safer location, she carries them in her mouth. Each baby squirrel weigh less than 2 oz.

Second Round

It is no secret that squirrels mate constantly. You see them in your own yard at home. For this reason, many squirrels give birth twice a year, once in the spring and once late in the summer. Of course, not all squirrels have two litters of kittens, but many do. When the kittens are about 1 year old, they begin the circle of life on their own.

Resources

• Gray Squirrels and Mating
• Squirrel FAQ
• Facts on Squirrels