Squirrels are busy, bushy-tailed animals that scamper up trees, leap between branches and bury nuts for later. You can probably spot one in a park near you! Let's scurry into some super squirrel facts!
🐿️ Squirrel quick facts
- Animal type
- Mammal (rodent)
- Home
- Forests, parks and cities on every continent except Australia and Antarctica
- Food
- Nuts, seeds, acorns, fruit, mushrooms and buds
- Size
- From about 3 inches to over 3 feet (1 m) long, depending on the kind
- Life span
- About 5 to 10 years
25 Squirrel Facts for Kids
- There are more than 250 kinds of squirrels.
- Squirrels live on every continent except Australia and Antarctica.
- There are three main groups: tree squirrels, ground squirrels and flying squirrels.
- Chipmunks, marmots and prairie dogs are all part of the squirrel family.
- Squirrels are rodents, like mice and beavers.
- A squirrel's front teeth never stop growing, so chewing nuts keeps them short.
- Squirrels bury nuts and seeds to eat during winter.
- A squirrel can bury thousands of nuts in a single season.
- Squirrels use their great sense of smell, and their memory, to find buried food.
- Forgotten nuts can grow into new trees, so squirrels help plant forests!
- Some squirrels pretend to bury a nut to trick anyone who is watching.
- Squirrels can turn their back feet around to climb down trees headfirst.
- A squirrel's bushy tail helps it balance, keeps it warm and acts like an umbrella.
- Squirrels flick their tails to send messages to other squirrels.
- Flying squirrels don't really fly. They glide from tree to tree using flaps of skin.
- Some flying squirrels can glide around 150 feet (45 m) in one leap.
- Baby squirrels are called kits or kittens.
- Squirrel nests in trees are called dreys, and they are made of twigs and leaves.
- Squirrels can jump about 10 times the length of their bodies.
- Squirrels have sharp claws that grip tree bark.
- The African pygmy squirrel is tiny, only about 3 inches (7.5 cm) long without its tail.
- The Indian giant squirrel can be over 3 feet (1 m) long, including its tail, and has colorful fur.
- Ground squirrels live in underground tunnels.
- Squirrels chatter, squeak and bark to warn each other about danger.
- Squirrels are very good at solving puzzles to reach bird feeders!
Questions kids ask about squirrels
What do squirrels eat?
Squirrels mostly eat nuts, seeds, acorns, fruit, mushrooms and tree buds. Some also eat insects and eggs.
Why do squirrels bury nuts?
Squirrels bury food to save it for winter when food is hard to find. The nuts they forget can grow into new trees.
Can flying squirrels really fly?
No, flying squirrels glide. They stretch out flaps of skin between their legs and sail from tree to tree.
What is a squirrel's nest called?
A squirrel's nest in a tree is called a drey. It's made of twigs, leaves and moss.
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