During the night, the squirrels will end their activities by retreating to their nests, which are built largely in trees. Squirrels have to build nests to be their homes, and they use them to raise their babies or to rest. The squirrels will normally build their dwelling in the tree branches and some may even take up shelter in the tree cavities that are located in the trunk of trees.



The squirrels like to keep busy, and they live their lives running around and gathering or hoarding their food. During the mating period, they keep busy looking for a mating partner and then they spend time raising their babies. When they are tired, they will also take time to sleep, and the sleep pattern will be different for tree squirrels and ground squirrels. This will depend on where they spend their lives and where they retreat in order to sleep.

Comfy drays or cozy dens are preferred by squirrels. For a tree squirrel, it should have a cozy den if it wants to shut its eyes. The squirrels will also use the den for the long winter. In warm months, a dray can serve to raise the babies and to sleep in.

Many squirrels will do their business in the daytime and they reserve the nighttime for their sleeping. If the squirrel is not moving around, then it is searching for nuts or it moves in the trees. It can also be found underground caring for its babies or even sleeping during the night.

When the squirrels live in hot climates, they can get away from the heat in the summer months through an action known as estivation. This can last for a few months, and the burrows that are away from the hot sun and close to the ground are cooler, so these are used for the estivating.

If you hear any sound during the night, then it is possible that you are not dealing with a squirrel since they sleep during the night. You might have a squirrel if you are hearing faster, lighter and pitter-patter noises or a scurrying noise during the daytime. When there is a scratching noise in the night, it will be a nocturnal animal like raccoons and opossums. The squirrel may be up at night for only a few minutes or when it is taking care of the babies.

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