This means squirrels can become active quickly if they need to. But, their metabolism and temperature will stay the same. It’s normal for some squirrels to sleep for a few days at a time during winter rest.ĭuring winter rest a squirrel’s heart rate will slightly drop. Their day will mostly be filled with sleeping and eating. They will still carry out their usual activates but not as often. Winter rest means that animals will greatly reduce the activity they do during the winter months. However, winter rest is a much milder form of dormancy. Just like hibernation, the aim is to save energy for the animals. Winter rest is another type of dormancy for animals. Hibernation can be affected by the weather, seasons, and how much energy the animal has stored away. The lack of food and water means they also do not need to get rid of any waste during this time. The animal’s body will shut down to minimal levels to save as much energy as possible.ĭuring hibernation, the body will rely on fat stores so the animal does not need to wake to eat.

A state of hibernation can last a few days or even months. This allows the animal to save energy and survive during the cold months without needing to search for food. This allows their heart rate, temperature, and breathing rate to drop. Hibernation is a state of being dormant for warm-blooded animals. These can often be easily confused as they are similar but have a few details that make each process different.

Hibernation and Winter Restīefore we discuss what squirrels do in the winter, we need to talk about the different survival modes animals can use. Now you’re probably wondering what’s the difference between hibernation and winter rest? And where do squirrels go to do all this? This guide will take you through everything you need to know about what squirrels do during the winter. Sleeping and eating are the main priorities for winter resting squirrels to survive. This helps them to become less active during the winter to save energy. Both of these behaviors are a type of dormancy for squirrels. Tree squirrel species will go into a period of winter rest. Ground squirrels are the only type of squirrel that will hibernate during winter. With all that prep you may be wondering do squirrels hibernate in the winter? You’ll see them sitting in trees, at bird feeders, and scurrying across your yard.

Grey squirrel hibernation