how do squirrels land when they fall

Squirrels usually land by spreading out midair , twisting their body to face feet-first, and then touching down in a crouch with all four limbs ready to absorb impact. Their small size helps too, because they reach a relatively low terminal velocity, so even a fall can be survivable if the surface isn’t too hard.

How it works

• They use a “righting” reflex to rotate their body while falling.

• They spread their limbs and tail to increase air resistance, which slows the fall a bit.

• Right before landing, they brace with a low, wide posture that spreads out the force of impact.

Important nuance

Not every dramatic “squirrel superhero landing” photo is a landing at all; some viral images turned out to be squirrels scratching or grooming themselves. And while squirrels are very good at surviving falls, injuries are still possible, especially on hard surfaces or from awkward landings.

Plain-English version

Think of it like a tiny built-in parachute move: twist, spread, brace, land. That’s why they often look so unbothered after a drop.

TL;DR: squirrels don’t “stick” the landing like a movie stunt; they right themselves, spread out to slow down, and hit the ground in a low crouch that helps absorb the impact.