Have you ever seen a squirrel frantically running in circles out in the open? This strange behavior can seem amusing at first, but it may indicate that the squirrel is distressed. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore the reasons why squirrels sometimes end up running in circles and what you can do if you spot this occurring.
If you don’t have time to read the full article, the main reasons squirrels run in circles are panic, neurological issues, snakes, overheating, and seizures.
Panic
Being Chased or Cornered
Squirrels may frantically run in circles when they feel threatened or trapped by a predator. This panicking behavior is an instinctual response triggered when the squirrel senses danger but cannot easily escape.
The frenzied running fits into the “fight or flight” response – with the circling an attempt to look for an escape route while also confusing the predator.
A common reason squirrels circle is getting chased up a tree by a dog, cat or other predator and becoming cornered. Feeling under attack with no clear exit, the squirrel reacts by madly dashing back and forth along the branch.
This may seem bizarre to humans but makes sense for a small prey animal trying to survive. The darting motion aims to startle the predator while scanning the surroundings, hoping to spot a way out.
Squirrels have lightning-fast reflexes to rapidly change direction. Zigzag running throws off predators and makes the squirrel a difficult target to catch. It also shows the squirrel is scared but ready to defend itself if necessary.
Even though circling looks crazy, it has an evolutionary purpose to help squirrels escape or fight back when feeling under siege.
Confusion
Sometimes perfectly healthy squirrels will chase their own tails or spin repetitively without any obvious threat present. Veterinarians have determined this peculiar behavior is likely due to the squirrels being confused or stressed by sensory overload.
Squirrels have hypersensitive hearing, smell and visual ability to constantly monitor their surroundings and watch for predators. Too much external stimuli at once can short-circuit this system and cause squirrels to compulsively circle or self-groom.
Loud noises, unusual smells, changes to their habitat or even rare neurological disorders may trigger the response. Like humans, squirrel brain chemistry can also become imbalanced, resulting in repetitive movements similar to obsessive-compulsive disorder.
In most cases, the spell quickly passes as the squirrel regains control or calms down. However, continually repeating these behaviors may be a red flag for more serious medical issues. For wild squirrels, running tight circles could signal injury, disease or toxicity causing them to feel dazed and unstable.
If you see a pet or backyard squirrel spinning long-term, consult an exotic veterinarian.
Neurological Issues
Injuries or Disease
Like other animals, squirrels can suffer from various neurological conditions that cause them to display unusual behaviors like running in circles. These conditions often result from injuries, infections, or age-related degeneration of the brain or inner ear structures that control balance and coordination.
For example, head trauma from falls or blows as well as inner ear infections can damage the vestibular system – the sensory organs and nerves involved in balance. This impairs the squirrel’s ability to perceive its body position and motion properly.
The disorientation makes the squirrel run in looping circles or tilt and fall over as it tries to compensate. Similarly, conditions like encephalitis (brain inflammation) or strokes affecting parts of the brain like the cerebellum can cause loss of motor control and balance.
Vestibular Disease
A common condition is vestibular disease, marked by sudden, non-progressive disturbances in balance and orientation. While the exact causes are unknown in squirrels, theories point to infections, blood supply loss, or immune-mediated inflammation damaging inner ear structures.
As per veterinary resources like Washington State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine and clinics like MSPCA-Angell, such impairment in interpreting motion/gravity signals manifests in repetitive circling, stumbling, rolling, and falling.
Since proper orientation is vital for survival in the wild, wildlife rehabilitators have to assess if vestibular squirrels can compensate for the deficit over time. Supportive care helps aid recovery chances – controlling nausea, preventing injury from falls, retraining orientation and movement senses through techniques like placing food/toys to stimulate proper movement.
Sadly, severely affected or age-weakened squirrels often must be euthanized if release prospects seem unlikely post-treatment.
Snakes
Rattlesnake Defense
Rattlesnakes use their distinctive rattle at the end of their tails to ward off potential threats. When sensing danger, the muscles in the rattle contract, causing the interlocked segments to vibrate against one another and emit the iconic rattling noise.
This serves as an auditory warning to tell perceived predators to back away. If the threat persists, the snake may ultimately strike in self-defense.
Interestingly, baby rattlesnakes are born with a pre-button instead of a rattle. They shed their skin several times a year, adding another segment to the rattle each time. As such, the number of rattle segments can indicate the approximate age of the snake.
The buzzing sound can carry for an impressive distance thanks to the hollow segments in the specialized tail tip.
Other Venomous Snakes
While rattlesnakes are likely the most infamous venomous snakes in North America, there are a number of other species to be mindful of as well. These include:
- Copperheads – Often found in wooded, rocky areas in the eastern and central US. Tend to freeze when threatened instead of fleeing.
- Cottonmouths – Semi-aquatic pit vipers living in southeastern wetlands and streams. Known for gaping to show the white interior of their mouths when threatened.
- Coral snakes – Small, vibrantly colored snakes living in southern states. Highly venomous but not aggressive, with a weaker biting force than many snakes.
It’s wise to be familiar with the venomous snakes in your region and give them space if sighted. Antivenom is available for all native species but preventing bites is the ideal scenario. Recording behaviors like tail rattling and unusual body postures is valuable data for herpetologists seeking to conserve these unique reptiles for future generations.
Overheating
Overheating can cause a squirrel to run in circles for a few key reasons. When a squirrel’s body temperature rises too high, it can begin to experience heat exhaustion or heat stroke. This causes neurological symptoms that may make the squirrel become disoriented and start moving erratically in circles or zigzags.
There are a few main causes of overheating in squirrels:
- High ambient temperature – Squirrels have a normal body temperature around 100°F. On very hot summer days, especially with high humidity, they can overheat if they cannot find shade or cooler areas.
- Exertion – Squirrels are very active creatures. If a squirrel engages in intense physical activity like chasing or playing on a hot day, it may overheat from the exertion.
- Dehydration – Without adequate fluid intake, squirrels can become dehydrated, which makes it harder for them to regulate their body temperature.
- Disease – Certain diseases like distemper may cause fever and temperature regulation problems leading to overheating.
When overheated, a squirrel loses its normal ability to control its movements and orientation. Its brain essentially goes into survival mode, causing the squirrel to scrabble and dart around aimlessly. The circles may be an attempt to find shade or cool earth to press against.
Researchers have found that overheating causes neurological dysfunction in the brains of affected squirrels[1]. Key brain centers like the cerebellum, which controls coordination and movement, are impaired. This causes a scrambling, circular movement pattern.
In most cases, the circling behavior will resolve on its own once the squirrel cools down adequately and brain function is restored. However, severe overheating can lead to seizures, collapse, and even death in rare cases.
If you see a squirrel running in consistent circles for more than a few minutes on a hot day, it may need medical assistance to prevent serious health consequences.
Some tips for helping an overheated circling squirrel include:
- Providing cool fresh water to drink
- Gently misting or spraying the animal with cool water
- Placing an ice pack or frozen water bottle wrapped in a towel near (but not directly touching) the animal
- Moving the animal to shade
- Monitoring closely and contacting a wildlife rehabilitator if symptoms persist
Taking quick action when you spot an overheated squirrel can help save its life and prevent permanent neurological damage from the hyperthermia. With swift care and cooling, most affected squirrels make a full recovery and can be released back to the wild.
Seizures
Seizures in squirrels can be alarming to witness. A squirrel having a seizure may exhibit strange behaviors like running or circling in place, falling over, muscle twitching, loss of bladder control, and disorientation. While upsetting, seizures are actually not uncommon in squirrels.
Causes
There are a few potential causes of squirrel seizures:
- Head trauma – If a squirrel takes a hard fall from a tree or gets hit by a car, head injuries can cause immediate seizures or seizures later on.
- Metabolic disorders – Squirrels can have naturally occurring conditions like low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) that can cause seizures.
- Infections – Bacterial, fungal, or viral brain infections like encephalitis can cause inflammation and seizure activity.
- Toxins – Ingesting toxins like lead or pesticides can overstimulate a squirrel’s nervous system and induce seizures.
- Parasites – Parasitic infestations, especially from fly larvae in the nasal passages or ears, can irritate the brain and cause seizures.
Is it Serious?
The occasional brief seizure may not be serious if it was caused by a temporary factor like low blood sugar. However, recurrent or prolonged seizures usually indicate a more serious underlying problem requiring veterinary attention.
Without treatment, chronic seizures can cause permanent neurological damage or even become fatal. Sadly, even with prompt care, the prognosis for squirrels having recurrent seizures is often poor if there is an infection or structural brain damage behind the problem.
What to Do
If you see a squirrel seizing:
- Clear away any potential hazards so it does not hurt itself during the seizure episodes.
- Call your local wildlife rehabilitation center for advice and to arrange an assessment. Time is of the essence for proper treatment.
- If transport is recommended, use thick gloves to safely contain the disoriented squirrel after seizures stop.
While watching seizures in an innocent creature like a squirrel is deeply troubling, try to have compassion. Getting the squirrel veterinary assessment and therapy offers the best chance for recovery or humane euthanasia if the prognosis is very poor.
Conclusion
In summary, the main reasons a squirrel may end up running in tight circles include panic, neurological conditions, snakes, overheating, and seizures. If you spot this occurring, avoid interfering directly but monitor the squirrel from a distance.
Call animal control if the behavior persists for over an hour. With knowledge of the common causes, you can better understand this strange squirrel behavior if you come across it.
