How do squirrels spend the winter?

Squirrels are mainly distributed in coniferous forests or coniferous and broad-leaved mixed forests composed of pine, larch and Picea species. In mixed coniferous and broadleaf forest, higher population density can be maintained, and small woodland in suburbs or even cities can be used to become companion animals. How do squirrels survive winter?

How do squirrels survive winter?

Squirrels do not hibernate in winter, and their daily activity rhythm is unimodal in winter. They will stay in the nest for several days without activity in cold weather conditions. Squirrels spend 70% to 80% of their time foraging and tend to forage and store food in coniferous forests.

II. Squirrel distribution range

Widely distributed in Palaearctic temperate and cold-temperate forest ecosystems, from Iberia and Great Britain in the west to Kamchatka Peninsula, Sakhalin Island in Russia and Hokkaido in Japan in the east, and to the Mediterranean Sea, Black Sea, northern Mongolia, northwest and northeast China in the south.

III. Squirrel living environment

Squirrels are mainly distributed in coniferous forests or coniferous and broad-leaved mixed forests composed of Pinus, Larix and Picea species. Due to the relatively abundant and stable food sources, squirrels can maintain high population density in coniferous and broad-leaved mixed forests, and can use small woodlands in suburbs or even cities to become companion animals.