Squirrels are extremely intelligent animals. They usually learn to navigate various obstacles and find efficient routes to food. They are also amazing tricksters as they deceive any thieves from stealing their food. Have you ever wondered how long they actually live?
In this article we will talk about the lifespan of squirrels in detail, so read on.
Summary;
What is the average lifespan of a squirrel?
- The average lifespan of a squirrel is 5 – 6 years
- Red squirrels live for 1 – 3 years
- Fox squirrels have been known to live for 8 – 18 years
- Squirrels kept as pets can live up to 20 years with a well-maintained diet and proper healthcare.
An Overview of Squirrels
Let us have a quick overview of squirrels before we dive into their life expectancy.
Squirrels have a variety of roles to play in our environment. They even have their own appreciation day on January 1st.
They are very trusting animals as they can eat out of a person’s hand. We all love seeing them running around, playing and collecting food.
They have accidentally helped plant many trees all over the world. Whenever they bury food that is never found, it helps spread trees.
Fun Fact: Squirrels are so intelligent that Iran claimed a few years ago that squirrels found near the nation’s borders were actually spies. Can you believe that?
On Average, How Long Do Squirrels Live?
The average lifespan of a squirrel is 5 to 6 years. This could vary depending on the specific species, region, and habitats.
The lifespan of squirrels in captivity is longer than those in the wild. Wild squirrels are prone to diseases, predators and even being killed by humans.
How Long Do Squirrels Live As Pets?
Squirrels can live up to 20 years when kept as pets. This is due to safety from predators and also access to enough food and water. The longer a squirrel is kept inside as a pet, the less likely it will survive in the wild.
Most people especially those with farms consider squirrels as pests that destroy crops. However, some people consider and keep them as house pets.
If you want to keep a squirrel as a pet it is very crucial to understand their lifespan and things you can do to make them live longer and provide you the companionship you desire.
If you are thinking about other pets in the rodents family, this article on rats will be useful. Dogs and Cats although popular, they are great companions too.
How Long Do Squirrels Live in the wild?
Squirrels living in the wild live from 6 to 10 years. They have to deal with predators all the time, lack enough food, and are prone to diseases. These are some of the factors that decrease their lifespan significantly.
How Long Do Grey Squirrels Live?
The average lifespan of grey squirrels is 1 to 4 years.
In rare cases, grey squirrels can live very long. The longest lifespan of a grey squirrel held in captivity was 20 years. [1]
There are rare cases of grey squirrels in the wild living up to 13 years. The life expectancy of grey squirrels depends on several factors such as wintertime conditions, the presence of predators, food availability, and parasitic infections.
During the winter the squirrels spend time in their nests and do not hibernate. This harsh weather minimizes their ability to find food hence starvation. Predators such as humans, coyotes, hawks, owls, and red foxes attack grey squirrels frequently thus reducing their population immensely.
Here is an interesting video on the grey squirrel.
How Long Do Red Squirrels Live?
Red squirrels have an average lifespan of 1 to 3 years. Those kept as pets can live as long as 10 years.
An interesting fact is that male red squirrels have longer lifespans than females. This species has a very high mortality rate with only 22 percent surviving past one year.
This means that many of them hardly make it to one year in the wild and if they do they can reach up to 3 years. The survival of the red squirrels is highly dependent on food, shelter, and seeds availability.
How Long Do Fox Squirrels Live?
Fox squirrels have an average lifespan of 8 to 18 years. Most fox squirrels sadly die before they even reach adulthood. Fox squirrels in captivity have been known to live up to 18 years.
Females have a higher life expectancy of 12.6 years while males have a lifespan of 8.6 years. Many subspecies of the fox squirrels are endangered because of over hunting and the destruction of forests.
How Long Do Flying Squirrels Live?
The flying squirrels can live in the wild for up to 6 years and 12 to 15 years in captivity. Their name does not mean they can fly. They generally glide from a tree in a higher elevation to a lower one.
This is usually a defense mechanism to escape predators. Flying squirrels have been known to form amazing bonds with humans if acquired at a young age. They are happy spending time climbing on one’s shoulders as they assume that is a tree!
Conclusion
Squirrels have been known to consume large portions of foods consisting of vegetables, seeds, and meats. They are omnivorous and generally eat anything they get their hands on. When they eat foods not suitable for their bodies, their life expectancy decreases.
Squirrels can be infected by parasites as they search for food in dustbins and garbage bags. This leads to many infections and diseases leading to early deaths.
Ultimately, these beautiful creatures can live long as they are very cautious and run away quickly if in danger. They are very agile making it hard for predators to catch them.
