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when do squirrels have babies

Squirrels usually have babies twice a year, with litters arriving in early spring and again in late summer or early fall in many regions.

When Do Squirrels Have Babies? (Quick Scoop)

Main timeline (short answer)

For common tree squirrels like gray and red squirrels:

  • Mating seasons (2 times a year):
    • Winter mating: roughly December–February.
* Summer mating: roughly **May–August** (some sources narrow this to late June–August).
  • Gestation:
    • About 38–46 days from mating to birth.
  • Birth seasons (when babies appear):
    • First litters: late winter to early spring , usually February–April.
* **Second litters:** **late summer to early fall** , usually **August–September**.

So if you’re seeing tiny baby squirrels or moms staying close to nests, the most likely months are March–April and August–September in many North American areas.

Species and location details

Different squirrel species and regions shift this timetable a bit, but the pattern stays similar (spring babies, then late-summer/early-fall babies).

  • Eastern gray squirrels:
    • Mate December–February , with babies in February–March.
    • Mate again May–June , with babies in July–August.
  • Red squirrels:
    • First breeding January–March , babies March–April.
    • Possible second litter August–September , depending on food and conditions.
  • Flying squirrels:
    • Babies in spring (March–May) and late summer (August–September).
  • Example warm-climate note (Florida):
    • Breed January–March and July–September , with babies in early spring and early fall.
  • Example cooler-climate note (Ontario/Canada):
    • Babies arrive in spring and often again in fall , after winter breeding in December–February.

Litter size and how long babies stay

Once the babies are born, the story continues for a couple of months in the nest.

  • Typical litter size:
    • Usually 2–4 babies , sometimes more (up to around 6–8 reported) but 2–4 is most common.
  • Time in the nest:
    • Babies stay in the nest (drey) for several weeks, eyes closed at first and completely dependent on mom.
* They are usually **weaned at about 8–10 weeks** and may stay with their mother up to about **12 weeks** while they learn how to forage and navigate the area.

An example: if a gray squirrel gives birth in early March, you might start seeing her half-grown young confidently exploring branches and feeders by late April or May.

Handy month-by-month feel

Here’s a simple way to imagine the year for many common squirrels in temperate North America (exact timing shifts with climate):

  • Dec–Feb: Winter mating, lots of chasing and calling; pregnant females start nesting.
  • Feb–Apr: First babies born and hidden in nests; later in this window, you start seeing tiny juveniles venture out.
  • May–Jun: Young from the first litter become more independent; second mating period begins.
  • Jul–Sep: Second wave of babies born , especially July–September ; in places like Florida, September is a peak “baby squirrel” month around homes.
  • Oct–Nov: Late-summer babies grow fast and focus on learning to store food and survive winter.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.