You’ve probably watched squirrels dart through the trees and wondered where they disappear at night. Most squirrels sleep in dreys, tree cavities, or underground burrows, depending on their species and the season. Knowing this makes it easier to spot their hideouts and maybe even understand why some seem busy all day, while others only show up at dusk.
Keep reading, and you’ll see which squirrels build leafy nests, which squeeze into hollow trees, and which dig burrows. There are even some oddball habits—like huddling together or going into torpor for days in winter.
Main Sleeping Spots of Squirrels
Squirrels pick snug, hidden spots to sleep. You’ll find them in leaf nests, hollow trees, or underground tunnels, and it all depends on the species and the season.
Tree Squirrel Nests: Dreys and Tree Cavities
Tree squirrels usually make dreys—those round, leafy nests tucked into the forks of branches. A drey is about 6–12 inches wide and lined with soft stuff like moss or shredded bark.
You’ll spot dreys near the trunk, where branches are thick, so the nest stays put in the wind.
Tree squirrels also use tree cavities. Cavities offer better protection from rain and predators than a drey ever could.
You might catch a squirrel slipping into a hole left by a woodpecker or one formed by rot. Squirrels will move into an existing cavity or even widen a small opening to fit.
If you see a nest in your yard, check its location: dreys sit in branch forks, while cavities are those dark holes in trunks. Both work as sleeping spots, nurseries, and storm shelters.
Where Ground Squirrels Rest: Underground Burrows
Ground squirrels dig burrows in the soil or under rocks to sleep. These burrows have chambers for sleeping, storing food, and sometimes a separate spot for waste.
You’ll notice small, round entrances with loose dirt piled up nearby.
Burrows shield ground squirrels from heat, cold, and hungry predators. In winter, some species hibernate in these tunnels, while others use them all year.
The tunnels branch out, giving squirrels escape routes if something dangerous comes sniffing around.
If you spot runways or a cluster of holes close together, you probably have a colony of ground squirrels or their cousins. Their burrow systems can get pretty sprawling and might house several critters.
Flying Squirrels: Tree Cavities and Communal Nests
Flying squirrels like to sleep in dark tree cavities or thick nests built up in branches. They use woodpecker holes, knot holes, or natural hollows, and inside, they craft a soft drey from bark, leaves, and moss.
These little guys often nest together in the cold months. Since they’re nocturnal, you probably won’t see them during the day; at night, they glide from tree to tree.
Communal nesting helps them share body heat, which is basically their trick for surviving chilly nights.
If you hear a gentle rustling in a hollow at dusk, flying squirrels might be tucked inside. Their nests usually sit high in big trees and are tough to spot.
Unique Sleeping Habits and Variations
Squirrels pick shelters and routines based on what they need, their habitat, and the season. You’ll notice how different types—from red tree squirrels to California ground squirrels—choose nests, raise their young, and get through cold weather.
How Squirrel Sleep Varies by Species and Season
Different squirrel species pick different sleeping spots. Tree squirrels (gray and red) usually sleep in dreys made of leaves or inside tree cavities.
You’ll see dreys high up in the forks of branches, while cavities are often old woodpecker holes. Flying squirrels stick to tree cavities during the day since they’re nocturnal.
Ground squirrels and California ground squirrels sleep in underground burrows with chambers for resting and storing food.
Season matters a lot. In summer, tree squirrels use lighter, breezier dreys.
When storms roll in, they shift to cavities if they can. Ground squirrels dig deeper or shallower burrows to get comfortable.
Species in cold places build thicker nests or use cavities more in winter to hang onto warmth.
Baby Squirrels: Where They Sleep and Grow
Baby squirrels—people call them kits or kittens—stay in the safest spot their mom can find. For tree squirrels, that’s usually a tree cavity or a well-lined drey.
Cavities give solid walls and steady temperatures, which protect blind, hairless kits. Moms pile in soft stuff like moss, shredded bark, or even fur to keep the babies cozy.
Ground squirrel pups sleep in deep chambers inside burrows. Those chambers keep pups hidden from predators and at a steady temperature.
You’ll see mothers come back often to nurse and tidy up the nest. As the pups grow, they first poke around near the nest, then start sleeping outside for short stints before finally moving out.
Winter Strategies: Hibernation, Torpor, and Nest Sharing
Not every squirrel hibernates, which is kind of surprising if you think about it. Tree squirrels skip hibernation, but they go into torpor—basically, they drop their body temperature for a few hours when it gets bitterly cold at night.
They pick the warmest spots they can find, like deep tree cavities or winter dreys packed with insulation. If you look closely in late fall, you’ll probably see those dreys looking extra thick and tightly woven.
Some ground squirrels, on the other hand, do hibernate for months in their underground burrows. These burrows help them keep their body temperature and metabolism super low.
In really cold places, tree squirrels sometimes share dens or cavities. When several squirrels huddle up together, they save a lot more heat. It’s not unusual to catch a handful of gray squirrels squeezed into one cavity during a freezing night.
