7.0 Squirrel love

From December (in special cases end November) the mating season begins. This is the moments you see squirrels chasing each other from tree to tree. In nature it is the case that whichever male endures the chase the longest, gets to mate with the female.

The female is only fertile for one day, but a dominant male sometimes gets to stay with the female a few days beforehand. After mating, the male leaves again.

At the start of February, 2 to 6 babies are born in a maternity nest. they are cared for by their mother, who also brings them to safety if the nest is disrupted. After 8 weeks the babies leave the maternity nest for the first time. Another month later, they are cast away and go their own way. The babies reach sexual maturity after 9 to 10 months. Later the same year, some squirrels repeat the same ritual.