Ever spot a squirrel darting over snowy ground and wonder where it disappears when winter really sets in? Squirrels don’t migrate. They stick close to home, nestling into cozy nests, tree cavities, or burrows, only popping out during warmer midday hours to snack on food they stashed away in the fall.
They get through winter with insulated nests (dreys or cavities), sometimes sharing warmth, and by digging up their hidden food stores when they need a meal.
Let’s talk about where squirrels shelter, how they hide their food, and the little tricks they use to stay warm. I’ll share tips for spotting squirrel homes and why some species seem to nap more while others stay busy.
Where Do Squirrels Go in the Winter?
Squirrels keep active in cold months by finding warm, sheltered spots and eating from their food stashes. You’ll see them in tree hollows, leaf nests, or sometimes even in little nooks around buildings that people forget to seal up.
Typical Squirrel Shelters
Squirrels usually build two kinds of shelters: dreys and cavities. A drey looks like a messy ball of twigs and leaves jammed into a tree fork. Dreys block some wind, but honestly, they’re not as warm as a tree cavity.
Tree cavities go deeper and hold heat better. Squirrels pack them with leaves, moss, and a bit of fur. If you notice chew marks near a hole or spot a squirrel slipping out at midday, you’ve probably found a cavity in use.
Some squirrels switch it up depending on the season. You might catch a glimpse of a drey in summer and then see the same squirrel move into a cavity for winter. Trees with thick branches or old woodpecker holes are squirrel real estate gold.
Underground Burrows and Tree Cavities
Ground squirrels dig burrows that stay just above freezing but out of the wind. Their burrows have rooms for nesting and storing food. If your yard has loose soil or old mole tunnels, don’t be surprised if a squirrel turns it into a winter hideout.
Tree cavities really help tree squirrels avoid both cold and predators. These cavities might be old rot holes or abandoned bird nests. They keep temperatures steadier than dreys, so squirrels hunker down inside for long stretches when it’s freezing.
You can spot a used cavity by looking for smoothed entrances or bits of nesting material nearby. If you find a hole in your house during winter, it’s better to wait until the animal leaves before sealing it up.
Urban Squirrels and Man-Made Shelters
In cities, squirrels love attics, chimneys, garages, and dryer vents if they can squeeze in. These places offer warmth and soft things like insulation or rags for nests. Look for small chewed holes along your roofline or vents—classic squirrel entry points.
Cars and crawl spaces attract them too. Engines and under-deck spots stay warm, so squirrels sometimes nest under car hoods. If you find droppings, shredded stuff, or chewed wires, that’s probably your culprit. You can block entry with a chimney cap or a screened vent—no need to hurt the animal.
If a squirrel turns up in your walls or attic, it’s best to call wildlife control. They’ll safely remove the squirrel and help you seal up your home so you both avoid trouble.
How Squirrels Survive Cold Weather
Squirrels rely on body fat, thick winter fur, insulated nests, and their food stashes to get through the cold. Some sleep deep in burrows, while others stay active and just venture out on warmer days.
Do Squirrels Hibernate?
Most tree and flying squirrels don’t really hibernate. Ground squirrels, though, go into true hibernation: their heart rate and body temperature drop for weeks. If you see a squirrel that’s barely moving all winter and lives in a burrow, it’s probably a ground squirrel hibernating.
Tree squirrels, like gray and red squirrels, use short spells of torpor instead. They slow their metabolism for a day or two to save energy, then wake up to eat. Torpor helps your local gray squirrel survive cold snaps without sleeping through the whole season.
Types of Squirrels and Their Winter Behaviors
Different squirrels have different tricks. Ground squirrels dig burrows and hibernate for months. Arctic ground squirrels can lower their body temperature almost to freezing during these long naps. You probably won’t see them above ground till spring.
Gray squirrels and fox squirrels stick to the trees. They grow thicker fur, put on fat, and sleep more. Flying squirrels tuck themselves into tree cavities and often snuggle together at night to share body heat. The active species time their foraging for the warmest part of the day and move quickly when outside.
Leaf Nests and Dreys
Tree squirrels build dreys—those messy, ball-shaped nests of twigs, leaves, moss, and fur—high up in tree branches. A good drey has a soft inner lining that traps air and keeps heat from escaping. If you look up and see a clump of leaves and twigs in the crown of a tree, that’s probably a drey.
Flying squirrels and some tree squirrels also use tree cavities or even attics, since they’re warmer than dreys. When several squirrels huddle together inside a cavity or drey, their combined body heat keeps everyone warmer. You’ll often find dreys near trunks or on branches that get some shelter from wind and rain.
Storing Food and Hoarding Strategies
You might spot squirrels hustling around in the fall, grabbing acorns, seeds, and nuts. They stash these little treasures all over the place—your yard, the woods, under leaves, sometimes even right by your porch.
This whole “scatter hoarding” thing? It means squirrels spread their food stores far and wide. One squirrel can end up burying hundreds of snacks in shallow spots—under leaf litter, beside logs, or tucked near tree roots.
They depend on their memory (and honestly, a pretty good nose) to find their hidden food later. But, let’s be real, they forget a few. Those missed acorns? Sometimes they sprout when spring rolls around.
When winter hits, squirrels dig up their old caches on warmer days for a quick meal. Some species go for a different approach and make bigger, central food stashes inside their nests or burrows. Still, most gray and tree squirrels stick with scatter hoarding—it just seems to work for them.
