Ever watched a squirrel dash across a snowy yard and wondered where it keeps warm? Most tree squirrels stay active through winter by sleeping in nests or hollow tree cavities, while some ground squirrels hibernate in burrows. Let’s take a quick look at where they hide and why those places actually work.
You’ll find out about cozy dreys tucked into branches, snug tree hollows, and even some weird spots like attics, chimneys, or under the hood of a car. Squirrels have some clever tricks to stay warm and find food when it’s freezing outside.
Where Squirrels Sleep in the Winter
Squirrels pick sheltered spots that block wind and trap heat. Some build leafy nests high up, others squeeze into wood cavities, and ground squirrels dig down below the frost.
Tree Squirrels and Dreys
Tree squirrels usually sleep in a drey—a round nest built from twigs, leaves, and moss. Dreys perch in branch forks or thick foliage, maybe 15 to 30 feet above the ground, where the canopy helps shield them from wind and rain.
Inside, squirrels add softer stuff like grass or fur to hold in body heat. They often build more than one drey in their territory so they can switch if one gets soaked or something disturbs it.
In cities, squirrels sometimes sneak into attics or nest boxes when trees are limited, but they still like tree dreys best when they can find them. Dreys aren’t perfect at blocking the cold, so squirrels stay active and leave to forage when the weather isn’t too harsh.
Flying Squirrels and Tree Cavities
Flying squirrels pick tree cavities over flimsy leaf nests most of the time. Cavities give them sturdy walls, better insulation, and space for a few squirrels to huddle together.
During a cold snap, flying squirrels can slow their metabolism and go into short torpor. Cavities help keep their temperature steady. They line the cavity with leaves, fur, or shredded bark for extra warmth.
Since flying squirrels are nocturnal, you probably won’t see them, but you might hear faint scratching in hollow trees or attics at night. They pick deep hollows instead of exposed dreys when it gets really cold.
Ground Squirrels and Burrows
Ground squirrels dig deep burrows below the frost line. Many of them hibernate, dropping their body temperature and slowing way down inside insulated chambers.
Burrows branch into several tunnels and have a nesting chamber lined with grass or fur. Squirrels sometimes plug the entrance with soil or plants to keep warmth in and predators out.
On mild winter days, some ground squirrels wake up to snack on stored food, then slip back into torpor. For many species, this winter sleep is true hibernation, unlike tree squirrels who stay active off and on.
Winter Adaptations and Survival Strategies
Squirrels rely on shelters, food hiding, and behavior changes to get through the cold. Let’s check out how their nests work, how they stash food, and why different species pick different survival tricks.
Nest Insulation and Group Huddling
Squirrels often build dreys high in trees using twigs, leaves, and moss. There’s an outer shell of twigs for structure and a softer inner layer—shredded bark, fur, dry leaves—for insulation. That inner part traps air and keeps warmth inside.
Tree cavities offer even better protection. Cavities block wind and hold heat longer than a drey. In cities, squirrels sometimes move into attics or under the eaves of buildings for similar shelter.
When it’s really cold at night, squirrels sometimes share a nest. Group huddling helps by letting two or more squirrels press together and share body heat. Flying squirrels do this often, and sometimes tree squirrels join in on the coldest nights.
Scatter Hoarding and Food Storage
You’ll see squirrels burying nuts all over their turf—a habit called scatter hoarding. Each cache is small and spread out, which makes it less likely that a thief will find and steal everything.
Squirrels use memory and their noses to find buried food again. They check their favorite spots and only dig when they need to. On warmer winter days, you’ll spot them leaving nests to dig up these hidden snacks.
Ground squirrels and a few others keep central food stores in their burrows instead of scattering them. Those underground stores sit near the nest and are easier to reach during cold weather. In cities, squirrels sometimes rely on human food scraps or bird feeders to get by when their own caches run low.
Differences Between Species
Tree squirrels usually build dreys or pick tree cavities for their homes. They rely a lot on scatter hoarding.
You’ll spot dreys high up in branches. In wooded or suburban areas, they dig for their caches more often.
Ground squirrels dig burrows and spend long periods hibernating or just lying low. Their underground nests and food stashes help them stay safe through freezing weather.
When the weather warms up, they’ll wake and eat from their central caches.
Flying squirrels go for cavities and often nest together in groups. Their communal nests and nighttime habits make them tough to spot, honestly.
But they really benefit from sharing warmth. In cities, squirrels adapt fast—using buildings and whatever food people leave out.
They change where they sleep and how often they head out to forage.
