Mating

Squirrels begin mating in late winter. The timing of mating fluctuates from year to year depending on the amount of food that was stored in the previous fall. If there is lots of food, mating may begin as early as January. If there is not much food, mating may not start until the end of March.

In most years, each female will be in oestrous for only one day during which she will mate with up to 8 different males. Each pup born in a litter can have a different father.

First Pups born

Females give birth to 2-6 pups 35 days after mating. Pups are born furless and blind, weighing only 9 grams. Over the next 50 days pups are kept in an insulated nest and cared for solely by the mother while they grow and finish developing.

pups growing in the nest

By 30 days of age, pups have fur coats, fully developed ears, eyes are opening, and they begin to emerge from the nest and get the first glimpses of the world. From then on, the pups will transition from milk to seed, mushrooms, and vegetation, and explore the world around them until it is time to leave home.

Emergence

After emerging from their mother’s nest pups remain on their mother’s territory for about another month before they are weaned. They then need to disperse away and find a territory of their own.