Maybe you picture a saber-toothed cartoon squirrel dashing across glaciers, but real Ice Age squirrels? They looked nothing like that. Yep, squirrels were around during the Ice Age, though most were ancestors of today’s squirrels—not the wild, fanged creature from the movies. Let’s dig into which types actually survived those cold times, and what’s just…
Ever catch a glimpse of a squirrel after dark and think, “Wait, aren’t they supposed to be asleep?” Most squirrels stick to daylight hours, but a few—like flying squirrels—or those dealing with food shortages, competition, or habitat problems, might head out at night. So, spotting a squirrel after sunset isn’t always weird, though sometimes it…
You probably see squirrels every day and wonder if they really belong here. Yep—most squirrel species you spot in North America are native, with a surprisingly deep fossil history on this continent. Some populations, though, got moved around by people. That mix of old lineages and human introductions? It explains why their numbers and types…
Ever spotted a squirrel sprawled out on the sidewalk and wondered what’s up with that? Squirrels sometimes “sploot”—they stretch out their limbs and press their bellies against cool surfaces when things heat up. This simple pose lets them dump body heat into the ground so they can chill out on a hot day. As you…
It might sound odd today, but people in early America often kept squirrels as pets. Wealthy families and curious kids tamed gray, red, and even flying squirrels. Yep — squirrels really were common household pets, especially back in the 1700s and 1800s. Stories pop up about squirrels on little leashes, learning tricks, or even starring…
If squirrels keep raiding your birdfeeders or nesting in your attic, you can nudge them to move on without hurting them. Most squirrel problems stop when you remove food, block entry points, and use humane deterrents like motion sprinklers, squirrel-proof feeders, and scent repellents. These steps usually work best together, making your yard and home…
You can cut down squirrel visits to your trees by making them harder to climb and less appealing. Try a mix of physical barriers, clever landscaping tweaks, and some simple scent or motion deterrents to keep most squirrels from turning your trees into their personal buffet or nesting spot. Tree collars, trimmed branches, and a…
Squirrels can destroy your pumpkins pretty quickly, but you’ve got some tricks you can try. You can protect pumpkins by mixing simple barriers, taste repellents, and clever placement to keep most squirrels at bay. This article walks through practical steps you can use in your yard, plus a few creative ideas for porch displays. You’ll…
You can attract squirrels with food, sounds, and a bit of routine, but you can’t really “call” them the way you would a dog. Try putting out nuts, keeping a steady feeding spot, and making gentle chattering noises—over time, they’ll get used to you and might come closer. If you want squirrels to show up…
Maybe you can picture a little squirrel zipping around under a T. rex’s feet, but that’s not quite how it happened. The squirrels you see today didn’t show up until long after non-avian dinosaurs vanished, so they never actually shared the prehistoric stage. Still, some small, squirrel-like mammal relatives did scurry around while dinosaurs ruled…