Squirrels are so appealing and fun to watch. Squirrels like to bury their acorns and look adorable. They often run out into the middle of traffic, not knowing they are risking their lives.
Chipmunks and ground squirrels are closely linked to prairie dogs, who all resemble each other. I have found eleven reasons squirrels are so cute, and I would like to share them with you.
Why Are Squirrels So Cute?
1. There Are Many Different Squirrels
There are about eleven different squirrel species that reside in the United States. These include:
- Eastern Gray Squirrel: You can find them trying to feast on your backyard bird feeder
- American Red Squirrel: Primarily found in coniferous forests due to their diet of seeds from evergreen trees
- Fox Squirrels: Often found in small patches of deciduous forests with trees that cater to their diet of a wide variety of nuts.
- Abert’s Squirrel: Primarily found in coniferous forests near their favorite tree, the Ponderosa Pine.
- Humboldt’s Flying Squirrel: A new species that lives in coniferous forests
- Flying Squirrels: Live at the top of trees and are rarely seen
The other squirrel species include the Arizona Gray, Western Gray, Douglas, Northern Flying, and Southern Flying Squirrels.
All of these squirrels are cute and have unique traits. The tiniest squirrel is the African pygmy squirrel, which is five inches from nose to tail.
2. Squirrels Scamper
Have you ever seen a squirrel scamper off to look for nuts? It is irresistibly cute! Squirrels look adorable when scampering because they look like they are on a mission.
Squirrels get excited when it comes to their:
- Acorns
- Nuts
- Berries
- Flowers
Squirrels will also feed off leaves, roots, and seeds. Scampering is when a small animal or child runs with quick, light steps, especially when they are frightful or excited. Squirrels sure do scamper big time!
3. Squirrels Are Playful Animals
Squirrels are incredibly playful animals. Young squirrels play in two different ways:
- Social play
- Solitary play
The animal will run, climb, jump, and playfight with objects during solitary play. During social play, two or more squirrels will mock a fight.
These forms of play have been identified in both red and gray squirrels, and when young squirrels play, it helps with their development. Chasing and fighting skills may be required later in their life.
Squirrels may take turns tugging at one another during play activity, but it never really gets aggressive.
Squirrels will often utilize a stick or a twig as their toy. They also collect items from the ground to use as playthings. Squirrels like to do this when they are in a playful mood.
Social play in young red and gray squirrels typically consists primarily of chasing and play fighting, and it is so cute to watch the little squirrels play and go at it.
4. Squirrels Can Be Like Cats
Sometimes squirrels jump and run out of nowhere for no apparent reason, which is very catlike. They may jump, twist, and zigzag, which can indicate happiness.
Squirrels are happy much of the time. They resemble cats when they are scurrying and darting about. They can be extremely fast, too. Squirrels are energetic animals that like to move around.
5. Squirrels Have Bushy Tails
The squirrel’s bushy tail is cute and serves several purposes. It can be helpful in dire situations when they are otherwise unprepared. Their tails seem to have minds of their own!
Squirrels may use dropping out of trees as an exit strategy, and the big bushy tail helps to slow their fall. The tail acts almost like a parachute and eases them onto the ground.
In the instance of a free fall situation, the squirrel cushions their fall by placing their tail on the ground before the rest of the body.
Squirrels may also use their big bushy tails like a rudder when swimming. Squirrels may not be known as swimmers, but they put that bushy tail to good use!
6. Squirrels Are Deceptive
Squirrels treat their precious acorns like buried treasure and may sometimes pretend to hide their food when they suspect they are being watched. Squirrels are adorably deceptive when they do this.
Squirrels also like to choose which acorns the squirrels eat and which ones they bury. Red oak acorns are plentiful for them to store for winter, but white oak acorns are usually eaten right away.
It is especially cute that squirrels depend on their sense of smell to find and retrieve their food. They look so adorable, as they appear to be on a treasure hunt for gold!
7. Squirrels Have A Special Talent
Squirrels have an exceptional talent for putting their lives in danger, but that in itself is not cute. What is so cute to see is that they do not know any better.
Squirrels like to dart back and forth in the middle of the road a few times before they make up their mind to go one way or another.
Squirrels can be endearing in this situation because they are so clueless; it is all good as long as they can get across the road unscathed.
8. Relative Squirrels Raise Orphans
Squirrels will sometimes adopt an orphaned baby squirrel in need. Squirrels will often raise babies that are not their own and help them grow and get strong.
Squirrels often decide to raise these babies if they can determine that the orphan is a relative. Research has shown that this is the case. It is referred to as altruistic behavior.
Nothing is sweeter or cuter than seeing an orphaned squirrel in need being raised by other squirrels who care. It is a beautiful gesture of good nature for them to take on this task.
Some would say that these adorable squirrels choose to raise squirrels that are not their own simply because they are compassionate creatures.
As long as the squirrel determines that the orphan is no danger to her babies, she will surely raise them as her own.
9. Mother Squirrels Are Rescuers
All babies in the wild require their mothers to survive. All babies need love no matter what species they happen to be. Baby squirrels are no different.
Mother squirrels have been seen rescuing their fallen or displaced babies by carrying them by the scruff of their neck back to their nest.
If you ever happen to encounter an adorable infant squirrel who appears to be misplaced, return them to their nest immediately.
Their nest should be a tree in the immediate area where you found the squirrel.
10. Baby Squirrels Cry For Mother
Let’s face it; baby squirrels are too adorable for words! When the mother squirrel is off gathering food, baby squirrels will cry until she returns. The cries are very soft.
When the mother squirrel hears her babies crying, she comes running to unite with them.
11. Baby Squirrels Are Born Naked
Baby squirrels are born naked, just like human babies. Squirrels begin to grow a bit of hair when they are about a week old, but it only starts on their face and head.
It takes until squirrels are about a month and a half old to have their permanent coat on them.
To learn more, you can also read our posts on why dogs hate squirrels, why capybaras are so chill, and why there are so many spiders in Australia.
Conclusion
Squirrels are endearing little creatures with big bushy tails. Squirrels are born naked, and they cry for their mother. Orphaned squirrels have the good fortune of being adopted by their relatives.
Some squirrels fly, while others usually chill up in trees. These furry little animals are fantastic and fun to watch.