Hi, everyone! Today, we’re going to learn about some fascinating things squirrels do, especially during the winter. Let’s dive in!
Our friend Squeaks has a pen pal named Ruffles. Ruffles is an eastern gray squirrel who lives far away in Chicago. They keep in touch by writing letters to each other. But during winter, we haven’t heard from Ruffles because squirrels spend a lot of time sleeping when it’s cold.
In winter, it’s tough for squirrels to find food. They eat a variety of things like nuts, fruits, and even small animals like insects. But during the cold months, there aren’t many nuts or fruits, and insects are mostly asleep. So, squirrels save energy by sleeping a lot, sometimes waking up only once every few days!
Before winter arrives, squirrels prepare by storing food. They hide their food in the ground, like creating their own underground kitchen cabinets. That’s why you might see a squirrel digging in the yard. It’s looking for the food it buried before winter, like tasty acorns.
Remembering where they buried their food isn’t easy for squirrels. They have some clever tricks to help them. One trick is to dig up the food every few days to remind themselves where it is and check if it’s still good. Their noses are also super helpful! They can smell where food is buried, which helps them find it. Sometimes, they even find food buried by other squirrels and might take some!
Sometimes, squirrels forget where they buried an acorn. If they don’t dig it up, it might grow into an oak tree. Oak trees can become huge, as tall as an eight-floor building, all from a tiny acorn!
Now that spring is almost here, squirrels will soon find plenty of food again. Nuts and fruits will grow on trees, and there will be more insects around. They won’t need to sleep as much to save energy. If Ruffles isn’t awake yet, she will be soon!
Let’s write Ruffles a letter to say good morning. We’ll get pencils, paper, and crayons to draw pictures of what we’ve been up to this winter.
Thanks for joining us! If you have more questions about animals or want to share some art, we’d love to see it! Just ask a grownup to help you leave a comment or send us an email at [email protected]. See you next time!
Acorn Hunt: Go on a mini adventure in your backyard or a nearby park. Pretend you’re a squirrel and hide some small objects (like acorns or pebbles) in different spots. After a few days, try to find them again. Can you remember where you hid them? This will help you understand how squirrels remember their hiding spots!
Squirrel Snack Time: With the help of an adult, gather some squirrel-friendly snacks like nuts or seeds. Place them in different spots outside and watch from a distance. See if any squirrels come to find the treats. Notice how they use their noses and paws to search for food. Talk about how squirrels prepare for winter by storing food.
Grow Your Own Tree: Plant an acorn or any seed in a small pot with soil. Water it regularly and place it in a sunny spot. Keep a journal to draw or write about its growth. This activity will show you how a tiny seed can grow into a big plant or tree, just like the acorns that squirrels sometimes forget!
