Squirrel Life Cycle
Squirrels are members of the rodent family – Sciuridae. This family is characterized for its inclusion of small to medium sized rodents. Tree squirrels, ground squirrels and red squirrels (along with a larger list of rodents) count themselves amongst the Sciuridae family.
At Birth
After a gestation period lasting between 39 and 44 days, baby squirrels are born blind and hairless. Litters typically consist of three to five kits. Dependent on their mother for at least six weeks, some squirrels may continue to nurse up to twelve weeks before weaning off and leaving the nest.
Adulthood
Maturity of a squirrel is reached around nine months, at which point adolescent squirrels leave their nests to find their own territories. In the wild, squirrels enjoy lifespans anywhere from 5 to 10 years.They can live five to ten years in the wild, though the average lifespan of a squirrel is likely much shorter. Due to diseases, human interaction, and predators, it is estimated that most wild squirrels do not live more than eighteen months.
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