Squirrels may also carry fleas and other unwanted organisms that can infest a structure long after the squirrels themselves have come and gone.ĭue to their playful nature, these early risers are easily identified by homeowners who hear them scurrying in attics or other high places. Once inside, they will gnaw on electrical wiring, causing shorts and even fires. Gray squirrels can do considerable damage to exterior trim and siding as they widen or create new ways to enter structures. Looking for warmth in late fall and winter, squirrels often nest in attics and exterior walls, using insulation as nesting material. Squirrel nesting behavior can often be seen in the wild, where squirrels construct nests out of leaves and dry twigs in the cavities of oak and hickory trees.ĭue to their large populations, gray squirrels are known for seeking shelter in human structures during the coldest months of the year. Though they do not hibernate or venture out during the heat of the day, gray squirrels tend to be most active during the early and late hours of the day. These intelligent animals aren’t picky about what they eat, choosing to feed on a variety of nuts, seeds, bulbs, insects, fruit, tree bark, buds, acorns, fungi, vegetables, and even insects, frogs, and small nesting birds. Often regarded as an invasive species due to their propensity for overpopulation, gray squirrels typically have 2 litters per year ranging from 2-6 pups, one litter in late summer and one in early spring. Hoarders by nature and armed with an excellent spatial memory and sense of smell, gray squirrels are capable of making and remembering several thousand food caches per season.
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