Squirrels are common backyard creatures that many people enjoy watching scamper about. If you’ve ever noticed differences between individual squirrels and wondered what a female squirrel is specifically called, you’ve come to the right place.
If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer to your question: Female squirrels are simply called female squirrels, she-squirrels, or squirrel does. There are no special names that apply only to female squirrels.
In this comprehensive guide, we will cover everything you could want to know about the terms used to describe female squirrels. We’ll discuss the different words used to refer to female squirrels, explain squirrel reproduction and behavior as it relates to female squirrels, and go over some fun squirrel facts about these bushy-tailed rodents.
What Female Squirrels Are Called
Female Squirrel
A female squirrel is commonly referred to simply as a female or she-squirrel. These bushy-tailed rodents likely don’t fret over gendered names, but we humans aim for accuracy in identification. Female squirrels are central to reproduction and sustaining squirrel generations.
She-Squirrel
Similar to a doe deer or ewe sheep, female squirrels carry the descriptive label of “she-squirrel.” This distinguishing term clarifies when referring to female squirrels specifically. For example, saying “The she-squirrel gathered nuts while the male chased her” avoids confusing the male and female squirrels in the scene.
When baby squirrels, known as kittens or pups, are present, it’s prudent to specify whether you saw a female squirrel or she-squirrel. The she-squirrel may be caring for the young ones in a drey nest or tree hollow.
Squirrel Doe
Borrowing deer terminology, female squirrels can also be called does. A doe is a female deer, while a female squirrel shares some soft, Doe-eyed similarities at times. Referring to a reproducing female squirrel as a doe works perfectly fine.
For formal writing, wildlife experts could use the Latin scientific names for female tree squirrels. For example, a female eastern gray squirrel’s scientific name is Sciurus carolinensis. Meanwhile, a female fox squirrel gets labeled as Sciurus niger.
| Common Name | Formal Latin Name |
|---|---|
| Eastern Gray Squirrel | Sciurus carolinensis |
| Fox Squirrel | Sciurus niger |
No matter what you call them, spotting these spunky females gathering acorns signals continuation of the species. Welcome the she-squirrels, does, girls, ladies, mothers or expecting furry friends to the ecosystem.
Squirrel Reproduction
Breeding Season
The breeding season for squirrels begins in late winter and lasts through mid-summer to ensure there is enough food available for their offspring. Most species have two litters per year. Tree squirrels like eastern gray squirrels tend to breed from December to February for their first litter, then again in June or July.
Ground squirrels emerge from hibernation in early spring and the females breed almost immediately afterwards.
Gestation Period
The gestation period of female squirrels varies by species, but generally ranges from 30-50 days. For example, eastern gray squirrels have a 44 day gestation period, fox squirrels gestate for about 45 days, and ground squirrels have a gestation period around 29-31 days.
The shorter gestation period of ground squirrels allows them to bear young that are ready to emerge from the burrow within a few months.
Number of Offspring
Litter size ranges from one to eight offspring, depending on factors like habitat quality and the mother’s age. Most tree squirrel species average 2-4 babies per litter. Older mothers tend to have larger litters than younger squirrels breeding for the first time.
For example, a first-time eastern gray squirrel mother might have 1-3 babies in her first litter, while an older breeding female can have up to 6 babies per litter. Ground squirrels like chipmunks also average 3-5 offspring per litter.
Raising Young
Female squirrels raise their offspring in either a drey (a nest made of leaves and twigs in tree branches) or underground in a burrow, depending on the species. The young are born hairless and blind. Eastern gray squirrels are weaned around 10-12 weeks, when they will leave the nest to forage with their mother before dispersing a few weeks later.
In species like fox squirrels, the mother will live closely with her offspring even after weaning until they are between 4 to 6 months old. Ground squirrels spend less time raising their young due to their shorter active seasons.
For example, thirteen-lined ground squirrel offspring emerge from the burrow when they are 25 days old and are thought to be independent soon after.
Understanding the breeding behaviors and reproduction capacity of local squirrel species can help with managing issues like property damage. It also highlights why conservation of habitats and food sources is crucial for squirrel population stability.
For more details on reproduction and behavior, check out resources like the Encyclopedia Britannica and university sites such as University of Minnesota Extension.
Squirrel Behavior
Nesting Habits
Squirrels are resourceful creatures that build nests known as dreys to live and raise their young. They prefer to build dreys high up in the branches of trees to keep safe from predators. Dreys are usually made of interwoven twigs, leaves, moss, bark, and fur to provide insulation and protection.
According to the National Wildlife Federation, squirrels often have two to three dreys, using one for rearing babies in spring and switching nests at other times of the year.[1]
Food and Feeding
Squirrels spend a good amount of time foraging for food. They mainly eat nuts, seeds, fruits, fungi, eggs, and young birds. Squirrels hide or “cache” some of this food to eat later. Their excellent sense of smell helps them find these cache sites.
Squirrels that live near humans often get food from bird feeders or trash cans.
In autumn and winter, squirrels rely heavily on nuts and seeds to fatten up for cold periods when less food is available. Michigan State University notes that abundant food sources allow female squirrels to produce two litters per year rather than one.
Interactions with Humans
Many people enjoy watching the antics of squirrels in parks and yards. However, squirrels digging up gardens and nibbling on crops, wires, and houses can cause problems.
Excluding squirrels from bird feeders or attics helps reduce conflicts. Squirrels tend to avoid repellents with strong smells like chili powder or predator urine. Some also install slick metal barriers on poles and wires to block climbing access.
Domesticated squirrels kept as pets require considerable attention and care. The Humane Society does not recommend keeping squirrels as pets, though wildlife rehabilitators sometimes help orphaned babies survive to adulthood so they can be released back to nature.
Fun Squirrel Facts
They Have an Impressive Memory
Squirrels have shown in studies that they possess excellent spatial memory and can remember the locations of up to 10,000 nuts that they bury for winter! Their spatial memory helps them find their buried treasure months later.
Researchers found that squirrels use spatial cues and landmarks to find these locations with precision. No wonder we sometimes see squirrels digging up our gardens – they definitely know what they buried where!
Squirrels Play an Important Role in the Ecosystem
Though these bushy-tailed critters can be a nuisance at times, squirrels play a vital ecological role. As hoarders of nuts and seeds, squirrels disperse tons of trees and plants. It’s estimated squirrels are responsible for planting thousands of new trees every year by forgetting where they buried some nuts!
Squirrels also pruney trees and disperse mycorrhizal fungi spores that are beneficial to tree roots. Additionally, squirrels are prey for many predators like hawks, coyotes, bobcats, and foxes. So while they can be pesky little thieves, we should appreciate the impact squirrels have on maintaining balanced ecosystems.
Their Tails Serve Multiple Purposes
A squirrel’s large, bushy tail is one of its most distinguishing features. But their tails are more than just decoration – they serve many important functions! Squirrels use their tails for balance, as a warm covering in cold weather, and as a signal to communicate with other squirrels.
When a squirrel senses danger, it will rapidly twitch or flick its tail as a warning sign. Squirrels also use their tails as a rudder when jumping to help steer themselves through the air – amazing! And of course, the tail acts as a comfy blanket for them to snuggle under.
Squirrels certainly put their tails to good use in their daily lives.
Conclusion
We hope this detailed overview has answered your question about what female squirrels are called. As we reviewed, there’s no special term that applies only to female squirrels—they are simply referred to as female squirrels, she-squirrels, or squirrel does.
Understanding the basics of squirrel reproduction, behavior, and fun squirrel facts sheds further light on these delightful creatures. Female squirrels play a vital role in maintaining healthy squirrel populations as well as balance in the broader ecosystem.
The next time you spot a nimble squirrel foraging or bounding about, consider that roughly half the squirrels out there are reproductive females! They may not have a fancy special name, but female squirrels are incredibly important animals in their own right.
