Baby Squirrels Again
September! Thoughts start turning towards falling leaves, eventual sweater weather, and all things pumpkin pie spice. We generally think of wildlife babies being born throughout the spring and summer, but in our area squirrels are busy nesting and raising their young in the late summer and fall, sometimes even having a second yearly litter.
We have three species of squirrels in our area; gray (sometimes called cat) squirrels, fox squirrels, and southern flying squirrels. In our area, flying squirrels generally have their young between October and January; they are seldom seen as they are quite small and nocturnal. Both gray squirrels and fox squirrels may have a litter very early in the year (January through March), and again from July through October.
The fox squirrel is the largest squirrel in our area. They have small ears (in comparison to the size of their head), are mainly gray on their back and head, and have distinctive orange fur on the throat and chest. Additionally, their tail is fringed in orange fur. Occasionally we see melanistic fox squirrels in our area; they can either be totally black, or have black fur tipped in some orange. Although they are our largest squirrel, they are generally quite passive and tend to stay in more rural areas, preferring to not compete with the somewhat smaller gray squirrels. Only the females are involved in nest building and the rearing of the young. They typically have two to four pups; the babies are born without any hair, eyes and ears closed, and they are totally helpless. They are referred to as pinky squirrels. Female squirrels generally build several nests so that if one is destroyed by storms, predators, or is infested with insects, she can move her young to an alternate nest (this is true for gray squirrels as well). By two weeks old, the young begin to get a slight cast of fur. By five weeks of age, the babies are fully furred and their eyes open. The tail will continue to “fluff out” over the next several weeks. The babies will begin exploring a bit at about six weeks of age, and also begin nibbling on some solid foods. They are typically weaned at about eight to twelve weeks of age, at which point they are mostly independent.
Flying squirrels are more unique in their breeding habits. Our southern flying squirrels are quite small, only about the size of a pet hamster, and their tails (even though fluffy) are flat. They have flaps of skin stretching between their front and back legs, so they don’t actually “fly”, but they glide, somewhat like a hang glider, between trees. They use their tails like a rudder to help them balance and steer. They prefer to nest in tree cavities, and they will also sometimes take up residence in bird houses. They sometimes live in small colonies, especially in colder weather, and the group will share stashed food. The babies are quite tiny when born, hairless and defenseless, but the characteristic skin flaps are clearly evident. The young will generally stay with their mother and/or the colony until the spring.
To learn more about what we do and view pictures of many of the animals we assist, please visit our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/SavingTexasWildlife. Details and more specifies-specific flowcharts regarding how to help found animals can be viewed on our website at www.ftwl.org (click on “Help and Advice”). These charts are extremely helpful to determine if an animal truly needs rescuing or not. If you need assistance with a wildlife animal you have found, please call us at 281-259-0039 or email us at ftwl.help@gmail.com. We offer many educational programs (including camps, birthday parties, educational presentations, and Second Saturdays). Our educational visitor’s center is open the second Saturday of each month from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., located at 29816 Dobbin Hufsmith Road, Magnolia, Texas.