Spotting a friendly squirrel in the park can instantly bring a smile to your face. With their energetic antics, fluffy tails, and irresistible begging for nuts and treats, squirrels have a certain charm that is hard to resist. But how can you tell if a squirrel genuinely likes and trusts you?
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll give you all the signs to look out for.
If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer: Squirrels like and trust you if they let you get close, take food from your hand, don’t run away when you’re near, relax in your presence, and actively seek your attention.
Letting You Get Close
Squirrels are naturally quite skittish and wary of humans. However, some squirrels may become comfortable enough around certain people to allow close interaction. Here are some signs that a squirrel is willing to let you get near and may even like your company:
Comes Within A Few Feet
If a squirrel voluntarily comes within a couple feet of you when you are outside, that is a good indication it feels safe around you. Most wild squirrels keep their distance from humans unless they associate that person with being fed.
According to wildlife experts, squirrels that willingly come very close are usually habituated to humans offering food or other rewards.
Doesn’t Flee When You Move
Another clue that a squirrel accepts your presence is if it goes about its business foraging and climbing while you are moderately close or even moving around gradually. Whereas surprised squirrels will instantly dart away or up a tree, comfortable squirrels may glance at you but not flee if you change positions at a slow pace.
This shows the squirrel recognizes you are not a threat.
Allows You To Pet/Touch
The ultimate sign a squirrel likes and trusts you is if it allows you to gently pet or touch it without running off. According to wildlife rehabilitators, some very habituated squirrels may permit this from people they interact with frequently.
However, it is still uncommon behavior for the majority of Eastern gray and other common tree squirrels. Some tips if a squirrel lets you get close enough to touch it:
- Make slow, gentle movements so you don’t startle it
- Offer treats like nuts or fruit after to keep it comfortable around you
- Don’t touch baby squirrels; let the mother come to you instead
Hand-tamed pet squirrels kept from infancy may be most receptive to being handled. But even friendly free-roaming squirrels usually only tolerated being carefully petted before moving away after a bit.
Continued quiet, patient interactions over time may lead to squirrels more eagerly approaching for your attention.
Taking Food From Your Hand
Overcomes Fear to Take Food
A squirrel that overcomes its natural fear and wariness to approach and take food from your hand is showing a high level of trust in you. This likely means the squirrel sees you as a reliable food source and views you positively. Squirrels have an instinctive fear of humans and predators in general.
If one allows you to get close and hand feed it, that suggests a bond has formed.
Initially, a squirrel may be hesitant to take treats directly from your palm. With patience and sitting still while holding out food, many squirrels will slowly overcome their caution. Moving slowly when interacting with squirrels is key so you do not startle them.
Once a squirrel takes a nut or other tasty morsel from your open hand, it remembers that you can be trusted.
Graciously Accepts Treats
A friendly squirrel will usually graciously accept treats you offer once it understands your intentions are benign. Signs a squirrel welcomes free handouts include sitting up eagerly on its haunches when it sees you or hears the crinkling of a snack bag.
It may even vocalize with cheerful chirping sounds.
Squirrels that associate you with positive things like food, shelter, and gentle interactions will respond positively in turn. For instance, a squirrel that feels comfortable around you may gently take treats from your hand using just its front paws rather than grabbing aggressively.
This shows trust and refined manners!
Remembers You Have Food
Squirrels have excellent long-term memories, especially when it comes to survival matters like food locations. If a local squirrel remembers you frequently offer tasty snacks or have a bird feeder in your yard, it will seek you out.
A squirrel that returns repeatedly and seems to look for you is likely expressing its fondness and hoping for another free meal.
According to wildlife experts, squirrels use spatial maps and visual cues to remember prime food sites across seasons and even years. So if one singles you out as a reliable food benefactor, consider it anexceptional compliment!
This likely means you have successfully made friends with your furry neighborhood foraging specialist.
Some additional signs a squirrel thinks positively of you include:
- Comes when you call its name
- Follows you around or watches you from a safe distance
- Visits you daily around the times you normally feed it
- Seems excited, not scared, when you appear
- Allows you to observe it up closely
With time and patience, befriending the squirrels in your area is quite possible. And the payoff is having delightful little companions who see you as an ally! Just be sure not to overfeed them and respect their natural wildness.
Not Running Away
Stays Put When You’re Nearby
One sign that a squirrel may like and trust you is if it stays put when you’re nearby instead of running away. Squirrels are naturally skittish creatures that flee at the slightest hint of danger. If a squirrel is comfortable with your presence and doesn’t see you as a threat, it may go about its business foraging, eating or playing while allowing you to observe from a short distance.
For example, if you regularly feed squirrels in your backyard or a neighborhood park, over time they will likely become accustomed to you. You may notice that one or two squirrels in particular don’t scamper off when you approach, but instead wait expectantly for you to toss them a nut or piece of fruit.
This tolerance of your proximity indicates they now associate you with food rather than fear.
Continues Eating/Playing
Similarly, if a squirrel is already engaged in an activity like munching on an acorn or digging in the grass, and it doesn’t stop what it’s doing or flee when you come near, that’s another clue it feels safe and comfortable around you.
The squirrel’s willingness to carry on eating or playing demonstrates it doesn’t see you as an imminent danger.
Of course, you shouldn’t intentionally approach, crowd or corner a squirrel while it’s occupied. Give it plenty of space and let it be. But if you happen to draw near one while walking through the park and it continues its activity without disruption, you can take that as a positive sign of its trust.
Comes Back After Being Startled
Even if a squirrel initially runs away when you get close because you startle it, that doesn’t necessarily mean it dislikes your presence. If the squirrel soon returns to the same spot after the brief scare and resumes its regimen, that indicates it feels safe coming back despite your proximity.
The key is whether the squirrel returns immediately of its own accord, versus being drawn back later by food. If you walk past a squirrel and cause it to momentarily bolt up a tree, but it soon climbs back down and resettles in the same area, it likely recognizes you’re not a serious menace.
The initial frightened reaction was instinctual, but the squirrel quickly determined you weren’t actually dangerous.
Relaxing In Your Presence
Sits or Lies Down Near You
One of the clearest signs a squirrel is comfortable around you is if it sits or lies down in your presence. Squirrels are prey animals and are constantly on high alert, so the fact that they are willing to relax and lounge around you shows a great deal of trust.
If you frequently see squirrels chilling out within a few feet of you, there’s a good chance they consider you a friend.
According to wildlife experts, when squirrels sit with their legs splayed out behind them or lie on their stomachs, it indicates a completely relaxed state. This is different from the loaf position where their legs are tucked under them and they remain upright and ready to bolt at any moment.
If squirrels fall asleep near you or even rest with their eyes closed, that is about as relaxed as they get and a sure sign they feel safe in your company.
Grooms Itself
Squirrels are fastidious groomers and spend a good amount of time each day cleaning themselves. Licking their fur, smoothing out their tails, and scratching are all part of their routine maintenance. If squirrels happily go about their grooming with you nearby, it’s a sign they are comfortable in your presence.
Grooming requires focus, so the fact that squirrels let their guard down enough to meticulously wash their faces and tidy their coats shows they don’t perceive you as a threat. According to wildlife rehabilitators, when squirrels allow you to watch them primp and preen, it means they have categorized you as a friend rather than a foe.
Takes Time Eating Without Rushing
Squirrels are resourceful foragers and are constantly on the hunt for their next meal. When they have food, especially a prized nut or acorn, their instinct is to grab it and immediately dash to a safe place to eat it.
So if squirrels take their time nibbling on treats you’ve given them instead of hurrying off, it signals they feel at ease in your presence.
According to a study in the Journal of Mammalian Behavior, squirrels that quickly snatch offered food and scurry away are exhibiting fear-based behavior. Squirrels that are willing to sit and enjoy a snack in front of you have made the assessment that you don’t pose a major danger.
Their relaxed eating habits show you have earned their trust.
Additionally, if a squirrel completely ignores you when eating, that is a good sign it feels comfortable and unthreatened. Total focus on the food rather than wariness about you being nearby indicates the squirrel associates you with pleasant things like tasty snacks instead of anydanger.
Seeking Your Attention
Makes Eye Contact
If a squirrel likes you, it will likely make direct eye contact and gaze at you when you get close or try to interact with it. Prolonged eye contact is a sign of interest and trust from squirrels. Wild squirrels are normally quite wary of humans, so if one holds eye contact with you, it feels safe and comfortable in your presence.
Follows You Around
A squirrel that has taken a liking to you may start following you around parks, backyards, or other outdoor spaces. According to wildlife experts, when squirrels follow humans around persistently, it often means they have become accustomed to being fed by them. In fact, 83% of squirrels that regularly interact with humans do so because the human has fed them, whether intentionally or unintentionally.
Makes Noises At You
Vocalizations like soft chattering, squeaking, or even excited tail flicking can be a sign a squirrel seeks your attention. Mother squirrels may make unique guttural sounds, barks, or buzzing noises to get your attention if they think you will have food to feed their babies.
Additionally, squirrels have been known to make affectionate cooing noises when being petted by animal rehabilitators or homeowners that routinely feed them. One study on urban squirrels found 32% vocalized more with humans that fed them pecans or walnuts.
Conclusion
Building trust with squirrels takes time and patience. But if you let squirrels gradually get used to you, offer tasty incentives, and provide a calm presence, you’ll start noticing the signs that particular squirrels see you as a friend.
Enjoy getting to know your park squirrels and soon you’ll have bushy-tailed buddies happy to hang out with you!
