Life Cycle of a Kentucky Squirrel

Squirrels in Kentucky breed twice each year. The first mating (summer) occurs between May and June, and the birthing takes place in July. By December or January, the adults are ready to breed again. This time, birthinf will take place between February and March, just in time for spring. These are the times when you are most likely to hear or discover squirrels in your attic.

When grey squirrel kits are born, they are completely deaf, hairless, and blind, making them utterly reliant on their mother for survival. They develop fur first (2 weeks), then hearing (3 weeks), and finally sight (4-5 weeks) to develop fully.

After 6-12 weeks, the squirrel kits will have been fully weaned, marking the start of the juvenile stage. During this stage, they will begin to explore outside their nest, learning to survive and forage for food along the way. This is important for their development, as it marks the beginning of their complete independence from their mother, which will take them another 6-9 weeks.

Squirrels will reach sexual maturity in the first year, which is when they reach adulthood. These adult squirrels can have 1-2 litters per year and 2-4 kits per litter, though they can only mate during the spring and summer months. Squirrels typically live 6-12 years in the wild, though they can live even longer in captivity, allowing their populations to grow rapidly. And for those of you who think feeding the squirrels is cute, fun, or even necessary… think again. Read this blog and find out why you shouldn’t.

If squirrels are entering your home, multiple generations may quickly begin using it for nesting sites. It’s important to both eliminate infestations and prevent reinfestation to reduce structural damage and the potential for disease spread.

If you suspect your home may be infested with squirrels, call Four Seasons Pest Solutions and let our Nuisance Wildlife Control Experts provide your squirrel control needs!