Tree squirrels, such as the common Grey and Red species, are diurnal creatures, meaning their activity is restricted almost entirely to the daylight hours. This activity includes foraging for food, caching or burying resources for later use, and engaging in territorial defense or mating chases. Understanding a squirrel’s daily schedule involves recognizing its general timing patterns, which are dictated by the availability of light and the need to manage energy reserves.
Peak Activity Hours
Squirrel activity generally follows a biphasic or bimodal pattern, characterized by two distinct peaks separated by a period of rest. The first and most intense period occurs shortly after sunrise, when the animals emerge from their nests to search for food and replenish energy reserves. Peak activity occurs approximately three to four hours after sunrise. A secondary, less intense peak occurs in the late afternoon, usually a few hours before sunset, dedicated to securing a final meal and caching food. Between these peaks, squirrels enter a mid-day rest phase, retreating to groom, digest, and avoid the hottest temperatures of the day.
How Seasonal Changes Affect Timing
The overall length of the day dictates how long a squirrel can remain active, resulting in major shifts in their schedules across the seasons. Longer summer daylight hours allow for an extended activity window, sometimes resulting in a trimodal pattern with three peaks of activity. Conversely, the short days of winter severely compress the activity window, often reducing it to a single, unimodal peak in the morning. Squirrels do not enter true hibernation, but they employ strategies to cope with severe cold and resource scarcity. Activity during winter may be limited to only about four hours per day, focusing on retrieving cached food during the warmest part of the day.
Environmental Factors Influencing Daily Schedules
While the season establishes the general framework, short-term environmental conditions frequently cause squirrels to deviate from their established daily schedule. Extreme heat, particularly when temperatures exceed 77°F (25°C), can suppress activity, causing squirrels to push their foraging periods earlier into the morning and later into the evening to avoid the sun. They may also adopt a “splooting” posture, lying flat on cool surfaces to disperse body heat. Heavy rain or strong winds can prompt a temporary retreat into a drey or tree cavity. Sudden drops in barometric pressure, often signaling an approaching weather front, can trigger a spike in frantic feeding and caching activity before the storm arrives.