Squirrels: those adorable little fluff-balls darting across power lines, stealing birdseed, and staring at you with that “I dare you” look.
But beneath the twitchy tails and acorn obsession lies a creature that’s surprisingly clever, weirdly athletic, and—let’s be real—kind of a big deal in the animal kingdom.
Let’s dig into 17 squirrel facts so wild, you’ll want to share them at your next dinner party. (Or at least the next time one raids your backyard.)
1. There Are Over 285 Species of Squirrels 🌍
That’s right—285+ kinds of squirrels roam the planet.
You’ve got:
✅ Tree squirrels (the ones you see doing parkour on your roof)
✅ Ground squirrels (including chipmunks and prairie dogs)
✅ Flying squirrels (yes, they glide. We’ll get to that.)
They live pretty much everywhere except Antarctica and Australia. Here’s the full breakdown.
So, if you thought squirrels were just those gray dudes in your yard… think again.
2. Squirrels Accidentally Plant Thousands of Trees 🌳
Squirrels bury nuts. That’s their thing.
But they don’t remember where they bury all of them.
And when they forget? Nature wins.
Some researchers estimate squirrels plant thousands of trees a year just by being forgetful snackers. Smithsonian confirms it’s a massive win for reforestation.
They’re like tiny, twitchy Johnny Appleseeds.
3. They Can Smell Nuts Buried Under a Foot of Snow ❄️
Snow? Ice? Frostbite? Squirrels don’t care.
Their sense of smell is so intense, they can detect buried food up to 12 inches under snow.
So yeah, you’re not the only one sniffing around for snacks in winter.
4. Squirrels Fake Bury Nuts to Outsmart Thieves 🕵️
Ever pretend to tie your shoe just to dodge someone? Squirrels do that—but with fake nut burying.
When another squirrel (or nosy crow) is watching, they’ll dig a hole, pretend to drop a nut in, cover it up… and leave with the nut still in their mouth.
It’s called deceptive caching, and it’s straight-up ninja behavior.
5. Flying Squirrels Can Glide 150 Feet (or More) 🪂
Flying squirrels don’t fly—they glide. But wow, do they do it well.
Using a stretchy skin flap called a patagium, they can glide over 150 feet between trees.
That’s like jumping off a fifth-story building and landing on your feet. National Geographic breaks it all down.
6. Their Teeth Never Stop Growing 🦷
Squirrels’ front teeth grow 6 inches per year.
That’s horror-movie stuff—unless you constantly chew like a maniac. Luckily, squirrels do.
✅ Wood
✅ Bark
✅ Cables (sorry, car owners)
They’ll gnaw anything to keep those chompers in check. American Veterinary Medical Association says it’s standard rodent business.
7. They Can Leap 10 Times Their Body Length 🤸
That squirrel on your fence? It can probably jump 8 to 10 feet in a single bound.
Thanks to ultra-strong back legs and freakish balance, they make jaw-dropping leaps like it’s nothing.
Basically, they’re the Simone Biles of your backyard.
8. They Hit Speeds of 20 MPH 🏃💨
Squirrels are deceptively fast. Some can clock in at 20 miles per hour in a sprint.
They also zigzag when running, making it nearly impossible for predators to catch them.
Imagine a furry sports car with built-in evasive maneuvers.
9. They Talk With Tail Flicks, Chirps, and Barks 🗣️
Yes, squirrels talk. Not like “Hey Carl, pass the acorn,” but close.
They use a combo of:
✅ Tail flicks (to signal danger or flirtation)
✅ High-pitched squeaks
✅ Barks, growls, and even purring sounds
So the next time a squirrel chatters at you from a branch, it might be telling you off.
10. Flying Squirrels Glow Bright Pink Under UV Light 🌈
Yep. They glow in the dark.
Under ultraviolet light, flying squirrels turn bright neon pink. This was discovered accidentally in 2019 by researchers shining a blacklight on them.
Why? No one knows for sure—camouflage? Mating? Alien messages?
We don’t know. But we’re here for it.
11. Squirrels Can Remember Where They Hid 80% of Their Nuts 🧠
Yes, they forget some caches. But squirrels can actually remember up to 80% of their buried snacks.
How? They use spatial memory and landmarks to locate hidden food later.
Basically, they’re little mental map-makers.
12. They Can Rotate Their Ankles 180 Degrees 🦶
Tree squirrels can rotate their back ankles a full 180°, letting them hang from bark or climb down head-first.
You try hanging upside down from a tree trunk and then sprinting back up it. Didn’t think so.
13. Squirrels Are Ruthless When Food Is Scarce 😬
When winter hits and nuts are low, squirrels will:
✅ Steal from each other
✅ Bully smaller squirrels
✅ Eat baby birds or insects to survive
It’s not all fluff and tail flicks in the squirrel world.
14. Baby Squirrels Are Called Kits (And They’re Adorable) 🍼
Newborn squirrels—aka kits or pups—are born hairless, blind, and helpless.
They usually stick with mom for about 10–12 weeks before venturing out to take over your garden.
Fun fact: most squirrels have two litters per year, usually in spring and late summer.
15. Squirrels Sometimes Adopt Orphaned Babies 💞
Mama squirrels aren’t all about survival of the fittest.
If another squirrel’s babies are orphaned, a female (usually a close relative) may adopt and raise them—a rare trait in wild animals. The University of Guelph found it happening in red squirrels.
Awww.
16. Their Brain Grows During Food Storage Season 🧠🍂
In fall, a squirrel’s brain actually grows in size to help it remember all those nut stashes.
Scientists believe this brain boost helps with spatial memory, which is crucial when you’ve buried 300 snacks across the yard and winter’s coming.
17. They Once Shut Down the NASDAQ Stock Exchange 🐿️⚡
Not kidding. In 1987, a squirrel chewed through a power line and shut down the entire NASDAQ. Here’s the full story.
They’ve also:
✅ Caused blackouts
✅ Set off fire alarms
✅ Disrupted internet connections
There’s a reason some IT departments fear squirrels more than hackers.
Squirrel Stats: Quick Visual Roundup
| Fact | Stat / Detail |
| Total squirrel species | 285+ |
| Leap distance | 10x body length |
| Top speed | 20 mph |
| Glide range | 150+ feet |
| Teeth growth | ~6 inches per year |
| Memory accuracy | Up to 80% recall of buried food |
| UV glow? | Yes—flying squirrels glow pink |
| Brain size in fall | Increases to improve memory |
| Tail communication | Signals danger, aggression, flirtation |
| Adopts orphans? | Yes, if genetically related |
Final Thoughts: Squirrels Deserve a Standing Ovation 👏
They leap like gymnasts, run like sprinters, glow like rave dancers, and accidentally plant forests while forgetting where they hid their snacks.
They’re sneaky, smart, social—and a little bit savage.
So the next time a squirrel stares you down from a tree, just know you’re in the presence of one of nature’s greatest multitaskers.
And maybe throw them a peanut. They’ve earned it. 🥜
