Have you noticed what’s up with squirrels lately?
Only a week or so back, they were hopping about in minimalist survival mode: foraging; keeping an eye out for predators; and in general trying to stay as warm and dry as their furry little bodies—and fluffy tail-that-doubles-as-a-blanket-and-umbrella—would let them.
But, boy, things sure have changed these past few days. Every squirrel in town seems to be engaged in a giant game of Tag. Or is it Keep Away?
Actually, it’s Follow the Leader, and it’s the Sciurus version of The Dating Game.
In our area, midwinter is mating season for squirrels (as well as our nocturnal neighbors the raccoons, opossums and skunks, plus coyotes and foxes). And because squirrels are a ubiquitous part of our suburban landscape, their antics are hard to miss.
Take yesterday, for instance. My coworker Lauren and I were discussing some important nature business in our Pottawatomie Community Center office when, looking up, my eye caught a flash of fur speeding past the window. Distracted, we then both watched as the furry flash—a male gray squirrel—joined three others in hot pursuit yet another gray—a female who was doing her best to stay just as few short strides ahead of the bunch.
The group ran up one tree, across a branch, and down another, then leapt up and over a 6-ft. wooden fence. Moments later they reappeared, hopping back over the fence and down to the ground where the chase continued.
Except for the fact that we were watching squirrels, not tiny flying reindeer, the scene unfolding before us was nearly identical to the line from the famous Christmas poem: “To the top of the porch! To the top of the wall! Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!”
Given our human perspective on courtship—wine, roses, candlelit dinners and Barry White in the background—it might seem as though the squirrels were rushing things just a bit.
But from the squirrel’s perspective, speed is of the essence. Females typically are receptive to male advances for only a short period of time, as little as eight hours in some instances. And, even though many males may join in the chase, only one will be allowed to pass his genes along.
Think of it like the rush that can occur at a Krispy Kreme Doughnut shop when the bright neon “Hot Doughnuts Now” sign flashes on. Folks pile in from miles around in hopes of sampling some of the yummy warm goodness. Early birds are rewarded, while latecomers are left, literally, out in the cold.
Which is exactly what happened to our Pottawatomie squirrels. The female eventually ended the game by ducking into a convenient tree cavity, leaving the four males outside, shaking their tails. After a few short seconds, the boys began a chase of their own as the dominant suitor did his best to shoo away the other three.
Keep an eye open for these easy-to-observe behaviors over the next couple of weeks, and again in June, when Round Two of the reproductive cycle occurs. And remember, when you see a bunch of squirrels running hell-bent across the yard…it’s probably not Krispy Kremes they’re after.
Pam Otto is the manager of nature programs and interpretive services for the St. Charles Park District. She can be reached at potto@stcparks.org or 630-513-4346.