what do squirrels do in the winter?
141862
Squirrels mate in the Winter, and you can often see males chasing females up, down, and around trees. Once mated, both the male and female build the nest.\n\nEastern Gray Squirrels usually live in forests, but they are also seen in yards, gardens, and city parks. Basically, they live anywhere there are large, deciduous  trees (trees whose leaves die in the Fall).\n\nThese squirrels live in trees year-round, either in cavities or nests they build out of leaves. Cavities are often old woodpecker holes. Nests are usually high up in tree crotches. Nests are hard to see in the Summer, because they are made with green leaves, and are hidden by foliage (leaves on the trees). They are easy to see in the Winter, when the nest leaves have turned brown and tree leaves fall to the ground.\n\nThe trees most commonly used by Eastern Gray Squirrels to live in are White Oak, American Beech, American Elm, Red Maple, and Sweetgum, though they will use others also.
496645
No, they don't- they generally form a ball in the winter and try to keep the queen a toasty 50 degrees F. For all we know they also don't sleep ever.
992223
You need to look more closely.  Around this time of year, you will see younger, not-quite-grown squirrels in backyards and woody areas.  They are more "svelt" than their parents, and their tails are usually a little less full.  The difference between them and the fully grown adult is about like the difference between a high school student and a grown up:  the size may be the same, but they still look younger and different somehow.  It's just hard to see when they are running across your backyard.
373718
target practice with squirrels that way ya got dinner if he kills one.
43166
in the snow.....lol....:)
882444
They can hunker down in deep grasses. The snow and grass act as insulation keeping them warm.\n\nWhat's cooler (pun intended) than this is to look at tree squirrels, who have nests high in trees open to the blowing wind. Even they stay warm while being that exposed. The nests help trap body heat while breaking the wind.\n\nNature has some remarkable methods to keep animals warm.
263149
THeir fur is actually colorless, it absorbs light to heat their bodies.  It works so well, that they frequently have to swim in freezing waters to cool down or roll around in the snow.  They aren't very active either becasue then they would overheat.
311778
Squirrels aren't very smart.  Their instinct when they sense danger is to run to the last safe place they have been.  They just don't have the brains to figure out the which side of the road is closer or that they will get smooshed if they turn around.  They get scared, and instinct takes over.\n\nRemember, squirrels evolved over millions of years, and when been chased by a larger, faster predator, going to the nearest safe place is usually the best plan.  They have only been dealing with cars for a hundred years, and haven't updated the planbook yet.
623624
When fall turns to winter and the temperature dips, the food sources for the wild animals becomes very scarce.  Some animals wait out the harsh conditions of winter, constantly searching for food and shelter.  Other animals, like the bear, spend the winter in hibernation. \n     Hibernation is a dormant sleep-like state.  By going into hibernation the bears bypass winter when their food supply, nuts and berries, disappears.  Animals like the bear would find it extremely difficult to find enough food during winter, and therefore go into hibernation. \n\n     During hibernation the bear cuddles up in a cave or in a hollowed out tree, safe from the dangers of winter.  In order to survive this long period of inactivity the bear must build up its body weight by accumulating fat.  In the months before  hibernation bears can gain up to forty pounds of fat per week.   A bear’s body goes through several changes once it enters hibernation.  Its heartbeat drops from fifty-five beats per minute to ten beats per minute, and the bear’s body temperature will drop from five to nine degrees below normal.  While in hibernation the bear uses  the stored energy it accumulated as fat to survive.  So a bear can lose from fifteen to forty percent of its body weight during the winter just by sleeping! \n\n     Bears will generally enter hibernation in early October and emerge sometime in April or May, when their food is plentiful again.  The hibernation cycle is just another unique adaptation of nature that allows many animals like the bear to survive during the severe conditions of winter time. \n\nhope this helps.
444715
Squirrels eat acorns when they can't get picnic food, and make their homes in trees.  They are somewhat territorial, so the more trees there are, the more squirrel families the park can support.\n\nNot that you want more squirrels.  Rats with bushy tails.
909972
How do you know they are looking for nesting sites?? Maybe they are just looking to roost or feed.  A few birds will build nests to sleep in, but most just build to breed in. The weather will trick birds sometimes and weather that is too warm due to things like global warming may confuse them.  Some birds such as the Anna's hummingbird will start nesting as early as December. Some hawks will also start to pair up early for the spring.
868756
The body needs energy to keep warm. Before winter, many animals go on eating binges to get fat for winter. But you are maintaining a lean diet.\n\nDiet and aerobic exercise will get you to your weight goal. Keeping a little cold will help, but not much. Don't do anything extreme that may induce hypothermia.
251613
Yes.\n\nThese squirrels are still in boot camp:\nhttp://www.dp2.org/~nick/images/squirrels/squirrels.jpg\nthey are learning hand-to-hand (or paw-to-hand fighting):\nhttp://www.dp2.org/~nick/images/squirrels/angry.jpg\nothers prepare to attack:\nhttp://www-personal.umich.edu/~degeorge/SOCC/images/squirrel5.jpg\nhttp://bailey.aros.net/nature/images/Ground%20Squirrel.jpg\nhttp://www.djbrak.com/upload/squirrel.jpg\nthey even have naval forces!:\nhttp://z.about.com/d/waterski/1/0/O/twiggy2.jpg\n\nso beware...they're out there waiting now...:\nhttp://www.dp2.org/~nick/images/squirrels/alert-squirrel.jpg
207443
Yes they do.\n\nQuote from article found at http://ant.edb.miyakyo-u.ac.jp/ \n\n---quote begins---\nAlthough ants can be seen in various places from spring to autumn, they go into hibernation in the winter. In addition, from spring to autumn, many ants are seen to come from, and go into, the entrances of their nests, but these entrances are closed in winter and no ants are seen to come from there.\nWhere do ants pass the winter?\n---quote ends---\n\nFind out more from\nhttp://ant.edb.miyakyo-u.ac.jp/BE/Kingdom/5657/5657e.html
789569
If you have to chip it out of 3 feet of ice its going to be a bad winter.\nIf your girlfriend is using them as slippers its going to be a bad winter.\nIf it died in taking refuge in a bears behind, its going to be a baaad winter.\nIf it got hit by a semi on the freeway while trying to hitch hike to California, then it's going to be a bad winter.\n\nOn the more serious side, turkeys like most forest animals accumulate more fat previous to harsh winters. Of course you would say food source is a factor, this is true, but studies have also proven( including the farmers almanac) that one of the main staples for deer and turkey, acorns, actually are also more generated to have a large crop prior to a more harsh winter.
405760
get an attack dog, train it to hunt squirrels. then when you catch it you can eat a whole packet of biscuits in front of it and make it cry.
223973
They are less active in winter but they don't migrate. It was just looking for a place to rest for a minute that offered a little shelter from the weather.