March 16, 2026, 8:08 am | Read time: 3 minutes
You see them chasing through the trees year-round, cracking nuts or disappearing swiftly into the leaves—squirrels seem so familiar that it’s easy to forget how little we actually know about their lives. Could you, for example, say how old a squirrel really gets?
How Old Do Squirrels Get in the Wild?
In the wild, squirrels live to be about three years old. Compared to other mammals, this is a relatively short lifespan. Most squirrels that reach three years of age have likely been quite lucky in their lives. Squirrels face many natural predators in the wild that can significantly shorten their lives.1, 2
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Why So Many Squirrels Don’t Survive Their First Year
At the end of December and the beginning of January, the mating season for squirrels begins. During this time, you can observe real chases in the trees. A female is pursued by several males for up to a few days. The female then chooses a male to mate with. After mating, the two go their separate ways, and the female carries the young alone.
The gestation period can vary, but it usually lasts between 36 and 42 days. On average, four young are born in the squirrel’s nest. After birth, they stay with the mother for about ten weeks, during which she cares for them. However, they are not constantly safe in the nest. Predators like hawks and martens pose a constant threat to the animals.
When they are on their own and no longer living with their mother, the food supply also becomes a problem. Due to climate change, there are increasingly long dry periods during which squirrels find little usable food and, above all, no water sources. Animals living in urban environments face a similar problem. In cities, there is already a sparse supply. This is especially noticeable when they prepare for winter and want to stock up on nuts and fruits. Many young do not survive their first year of life.3
Squirrels Contribute to a Balanced Ecosystem
Squirrels live in coniferous, deciduous, and mixed forests. In many European countries, squirrels also live in urban areas. There, these animals play a crucial role in the health and renewal of our forests. Since they do not find many of their buried supplies from the fall, the forgotten seeds and nuts begin to sprout in the spring. In this way, squirrels unintentionally contribute to the spread and growth of new trees and shrubs. They are therefore considered natural “forest gardeners.”
Additionally, they serve as a food source for numerous native predators and are thus an important part of the food chain. Through their way of life, squirrels support biodiversity and the stability of the entire forest ecosystem.
Those who want to support squirrels can offer water-filled bowls, nut-rich feeding stations (hazelnuts, walnuts, sunflower seeds), and untended tree areas in the garden or on the balcony. Leaving old trees standing also helps, as they provide natural nesting sites.4