How Long Do Squirrels Live? All Species Lifespan Revealed!
How long do squirrels live? The answer to this question depends on the species and the environment in which they live. Squirrels are cute and soft, but you might not know that they can live for a long time. Wild squirrels can live up to 7 years, pet squirrels up to 15 years, and those in captivity up to 20 years.
A squirrel mostly eats nuts, seeds, grains, and fruit. But squirrels also enjoy many common human foods such as chocolate, peanut butter, raisin bread, and plain bread. They like to hide in branches and consume lots of acorns and seeds from trees.
Factors affecting a squirrel’s lifespan
Many things can affect how long a squirrel lives. The place they live affects how long they live, so it’s a big factor in their lifespan.
Living in a city backyard is very different from living in big open fields where there’s not much food and many predators. You might also wonder Are Squirrels Nocturnal?
Here are common factors that affect squirrel’s longevity:
- Climate
- Habitat
- Species
- Level of predation
- Human intervention
- Diseases
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Eastern Gray Squirrel life expectancy
This cute creature can live a long time, from 12 to 24 years in good condition. Eastern Gray squirrels make homes in trees and leaves, in both large forests and cities. Their tails are round and soft, and they often have white fur around their eyes.
American Red Squirrel life expectancy
American red squirrels can live for about 9 years. Female babies usually live longer than male babies. Male American red squirrels may live a bit longer than females, but it’s not a significant difference compared to other squirrel types.
Red Squirrel life expectancy
Red squirrels live for a long time despite their small size. A red squirrel usually lives for about 5 years, but in the wild, some can live up to 10 years.
Squirrels kept as pets can live for 8 years or longer. Most of their babies, about 75%, die before they’re even a year old.
Southern Flying Squirrel life expectancy
Southern flying squirrels are different from other squirrels. These unique mammals live for only 3 to 5 years and are the only flying squirrels in North America.
Black Squirrel life expectancy
Black squirrels live about 6 years in the wild and about 18 years in captivity. Black squirrels are not a different species; they are just gray squirrels or fox squirrels with a different color. The only difference is their melanin levels, which make their skin look darker than usual.
Abert’s Squirrel life expectancy
On average, Abert’s Squirrel typically has a lifespan of 7 to 8 years. Abert’s squirrels need Ponderosa pine trees to stay alive. It helps protect them from enemies, provides a safe place to make nests, and offers food too.
Arizona Gray Squirrel life expectancy
Like other gray squirrels, the Arizona gray squirrel usually lives about 6 to 20 years. We don’t know much about this type of squirrel because it lives in only a few small areas and high mountains.
Douglas Squirrel life expectancy
In their natural habitat, Douglas squirrels typically have a lifespan of approximately 5 to 6 years. Wild cats, American martens, bobcats, and birds like hawks and owls are some animals that often hunt these creatures.
Western Gray Squirrel life expectancy
In the wild, Western gray squirrels usually live for 7-8 years. But if they’re kept in a controlled environment, like a zoo, they can live up to 18 years on average.
Fox Squirrel life expectancy
Just like red squirrels, most of their babies die before they turn two years old. In the wild, they usually live for 8 to 18 years. And if they’re kept in a zoo or something like that, they can live up to 18 years too.
Ground Squirrel life expectancy
Ground squirrels are a type of squirrel that don’t live very long. They usually only live for 2 to 4 years in the wild. Male ground squirrels usually live shorter lives than female ground squirrels.
Females usually live until they’re around 4 years old, while males usually live less, usually up to about 2 years.
How long do squirrels live in the wild?
The lifespan of a squirrel varies depending on its species and habitat. Baby squirrels face challenges in survival because they’re hunted by other animals and have to deal with bad weather.
This makes it hard for many of them to live past their first year. If they manage to survive, they usually live in the wild for 3 to 15 years.
How long do squirrels live in captivity?
Squirrels that live in cages often have longer lifespans than squirrels that live outside. One reason could be that these animals don’t have to worry about predators anymore, and they get better food and homes than they would in the wild.
Also, pet squirrels get help if they get sick, which helps them live longer. Squirrels kept by people can usually live for about 16 years or longer. How long they live depends on how well they’re taken care of and what kind of squirrel they are.
How long do grey squirrels live in captivity?
When a baby eastern grey squirrel is born, it usually only lives for about two years. Grey squirrels can live up to 12 years in the wild. But when they’re kept in captivity, they can live as long as 20 years.
How long do squirrels live in a house?
Squirrels live for different lengths of time when they’re in houses. When they’re kept in captivity, they live longer because they’re taken good care of and protected from other animals that might harm them.
Squirrels hide in attics and walls to stay safe from other animals. But they still have to find food and water to stay alive.
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How Long Do Squirrels Live Without Food?
Squirrels can usually live without food for around 5 to 8 days. How long they can last without food depends on things like how healthy they are, how old they are, and the conditions around them.
Water is very important for them. They can only live 1 to 2 days without it. Not having enough water is a big danger to them.
How long can a squirrel live in an attic?
If a squirrel is trapped in an attic without any way to get food or water, it probably won’t survive for more than two weeks. If squirrels are in your attic, there is a hole or opening letting them get in and out. Because of this, they can live there for a long time.
How long can a squirrel live trapped in a wall?
The answer to this question depends on if the squirrel has food and water. If a squirrel gets stuck in your wall without any food or water, it will likely not live for more than two days. However, if the squirrel has water, it might live for eight days to two weeks.
How many days can a squirrel live without water?
A squirrel can usually go without water for about 1 to 2 days. But it depends upon many things like the weather and how healthy or old the squirrel is.
Does diet affect a squirrel’s lifespan?
Yes, what a squirrel eats can change how long it lives. If a squirrel eats good food like nuts (including acorns, walnuts, and pistachios), seeds, fruits, and veggies then these foods increase their lifespan.
But if they eat bad foods, they become malnourished, get sick more often, and have a shorter life.
Why do squirrels live so long?
Squirrels live a lot longer than mice and rats, even though they look similar. Scientists believe that animals tend to live longer lives when they don’t have many predators around, and squirrels seem to be a good example of this.
Squirrels live in trees and move fast. So, it’s tough for other animals to catch them. These defenses might be one reason why they live so long.
Who lives longer: Tree squirrels or ground squirrels?
Tree squirrels are famous for living in trees, while ground squirrels, such as chipmunks and prairie dogs, are famous for living on the ground. Squirrels that live in trees typically have longer lifespans compared to those squirrels living on the ground.
Who lives longer: Male or female squirrels?
The lifespan of a female squirrel is usually longer than that of a male squirrel. In a research study on gray squirrels, the oldest female squirrel reached a lifespan of 12 and a half years, while the oldest male squirrel lived until nearly 9 years old before passing away.
Why do so many squirrels die as babies?
Baby squirrels are very tiny and helpless animals. When they’re born, they have no fur, and their eyes are closed, just like puppies and kittens. They can’t see anything when they’re firstborn.
It can be even harder because it takes up to three weeks for their eyes to open. At this stage, they rely entirely on their mother’s care. Mothers take care of babies, but they have to often leave the nest to find food.
This makes her babies unsafe because predators can easily get to the nest. Apart from animals that hunt them, storms can sometimes knock baby squirrels out of their nests. You might also be interested in Do Squirrels Eat Birds?
Squirrel lifespan compared to other rodents
Squirrels live a long life compared to all the rodents found in the world, nearly as long as capybaras live. Some people think squirrels make lots of babies really fast. But actually, that’s not true.
Most squirrels only have two sets of babies each year. And in each set, there are usually just four baby squirrels.
Do wild squirrels live longer than pet squirrels?
Squirrels in the wild can live for about 18 years. How long they live depends on what type of squirrel they are, where they live, and some other things.
Do squirrels kept in captivity usually have longer lifespans than those living in the wild? Sometimes. In captivity, red squirrels can live up to 8 years. But in the wild, they usually live around 5 years.
Gestation period by squirrel species
| Species of Squirrel | Gestation Period (in days) |
|---|---|
| Gray Squirrel | 44-45 |
| Red Squirrel | 35-38 |
| Fox Squirrel | 44-45 |
| Flying Squirrel | 40-45 |
| Ground Squirrel | 23-30 |
| American Red Squirrel | 35-38 |
| Eastern Gray Squirrel | 44-45 |
| Western Gray Squirrel | 44-45 |
| Douglas Squirrel | 30-35 |
| Pine Squirrel | 30-32 |
| Northern Flying Squirrel | 37-40 |
| Southern Flying Squirrel | 40-45 |
Squirrel life cycle
Tree squirrels may produce two litters annually, but flying squirrels, fox squirrels, and ground squirrels only have babies once a year. Baby squirrels are born without fur. They stay in their nest for about a month and a half before they can leave.
After two months, baby squirrels usually stop drinking their mother’s milk and start taking care of themselves.
FAQs
What is the maximum lifespan of a squirrel?
Squirrels usually live for about 5 to 6 years. A squirrel’s life can change a lot because they’re easily caught by other animals, and many young squirrels die before their first year. In the wild, they can live for about 15 years.
Are squirrels intelligent?
All rodents are smart, but squirrels are the most intelligent among them.
What is the lifespan of a squirrel in the UK?
In the UK, female squirrels live for four to six years, while male squirrels live for two to three years. Squirrels came to the UK in about 1876 and are now found everywhere in England, Wales, and Scotland. Many people think they are a problem in a lot of places.
What is the lifespan of a squirrel in Canada?
When squirrels are about nine months old, they become mature. That’s when young squirrels leave their homes to look for their own places to live. Squirrels in the wild usually live for about 5 to 10 years.
How long is a squirrel’s memory?
These animals remember things well. Squirrels can remember how to solve a puzzle even after not seeing it for almost two years.
What do squirrels like to eat the most?
Adult squirrels eat around one and a half pounds of seeds and nuts weekly, about the same as their weight. Squirrels really like eating hickory nuts, pecans, black walnuts, and acorns.
