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Do Squirrels Hibernate? (No — and That's Why They Want Your Attic)
Bears hibernate. Groundhogs hibernate. Gray squirrels? They just get cozy, eat snacks and look for real estate. Same, honestly.
Quick answer: No. Gray and red squirrels don’t hibernate. They stay active all winter, spend more time in their nests on the coldest days, and live off food they stored in fall. A warm attic is a five-star winter nest — which is why fall and winter are peak squirrel season for New Jersey homes.
What squirrels do in winter
| Behavior | Why |
|---|---|
| Bulk up in fall | Extra fat for cold weather. |
| Stay in nests on cold or stormy days | Saving energy, sometimes sharing a nest to stay warm. |
| Come out on mild days | To dig up stored food. |
| Look for shelter | Hollow trees, leaf nests — or attics, soffits and wall voids. |
| Breed in late winter | First litters are born around late winter to early spring. |
Late winter babies: A squirrel in the attic in January or February may be a mother about to give birth. Never seal a hole without checking — see baby season in NJ.
Hearing them now? 9 signs of squirrels in the attic · squirrel fun facts
Watch: how we seal squirrels out
Squirrel wintering in your attic? Silver Bullet Pest Control handles squirrel removal and proofing across Bergen, Passaic and Essex counties. Call 973-510-2585, text us, or request a free quote.
What to look for
More about squirrels
- 20 Fun Facts About Squirrels
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- What Can Squirrels Chew Through??
- Who Gets Rid of Squirrels??
- All pest questions, answered
Fun facts about other pests
- 21 Fun Facts About Ants
- 20 Fun Facts About Bees and Wasps
- 20 Fun Facts About Mice
- 18 Fun Facts About Rats
- 18 Fun Facts About Cockroaches
- Waterbug vs. Cockroach: Fun Facts
Common questions
Do squirrels hibernate?
No. Gray and red squirrels stay active all winter and rely on stored food.
Where do squirrels go in winter?
Tree cavities, leaf nests, and sometimes attics, soffits and wall voids.
Do flying squirrels hibernate?
No, but they often huddle together in groups to stay warm, sometimes in attics.
When do squirrels have babies in New Jersey?
Usually late winter to early spring, and again in late summer.
Schedule today
Call 973-510-2585, text us or request a free quote online. Silver Bullet Pest Control is licensed and insured in New Jersey.