Can Squirrels Swim? 7 Facts About These Critters and Water

Squirrels are known for scampering across the ground and leaping through the trees, but you’ve probably never seen them swim. These creatures are a part of the Sciuridae family, which includes small or medium-sized rodents.

They’re a common sight on most continents besides Australia and Antarctica and are known for their bushy tails and large eyes. So, are squirrels able to survive in water?

Yes, squirrels can swim, but they don’t particularly enjoy getting wet! And there are many other surprising facts to learn about squirrels and water.

1. Squirrels Can Swim

Squirrels can swim and they’re actually pretty good at it. Eastern gray squirrels likely swim across relatively large rivers in order to migrate to new locations in search of better weather, food, or water sources.

The book Squirrels: The Animal Answer Guide reports that in 2005, a man kayaking in Lake Superior even observed a red squirrel swimming from the mainland to a nearby island for 30 minutes. The squirrel covered a distance of approximately 1 mile or 1.5 km.

2. Squirrels Don’t Enjoy Getting Wet

Although squirrels can swim, that doesn’t mean they prefer it. Swimming certainly isn’t their favorite activity, and their ability to swim varies depending on the type of squirrel. For example, flying squirrels are not good swimmers, and there are reports of them drowning when landing in water.

3. Squirrels Don’t Need to Drink a Large Quantity of Water

Of course, squirrels need water to survive, but it’s not surprising if you’ve never seen a squirrel taking a drink. On average, squirrels need only 30 to 60 mL of water per day, according to Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control. They tend to drink twice a day — in the early morning and evenings when they are most active.

Nursing mother squirrels need to drink more water to replenish their milk supply. However, baby squirrels get all the nutrients they need from their mother’s milk, so they don’t actually need to drink water for the first month of their life.

4. Squirrels Find Creative Ways to Stay Hydrated

In the wild, squirrels get water in ways you might expect. They drink from lakes, rivers, and streams, or from puddles of standing water. A squirrel’s diet may also provide them with adequate hydration.

These creatures can get more creative in finding water. They may drink dew that collects in the grass or take a sip from the neighborhood bird bath.

5. Squirrels Sweat Through Their Feet

Like most mammals, squirrels lose water through excretion such as urinating or sweating. Interestingly, squirrels only have sweat glands on their feet, so they don’t lose much water from sweating. They also cool off through respiration and their fur can act as cooling insulation, says the Toronto Star.

6. Squirrels Use Their Tails for Protection from the Rain

Unsurprisingly, squirrels aren’t a big fan of the rain. When the weather gets bad they prefer to protect themselves from getting wet by hiding out in their nests. It can be difficult for these rodents to control their body temperatures if they get soaked.

Squirrels also know a cute trick to help keep their body dry. They are able to use their tails as a sort of umbrella to protect their bodies during light rain.

7. Squirrels Like to Drink Sweet Things

Squirrels need water to live, but it’s not the only thing they like to drink. As these creatures often live around urban environments some have been known to drink milk, sweet drinks like soda, and even alcohol.

Although squirrels like sweet drinks, they aren’t very good for these creatures’ health, and humans should avoid trying to give them anything other than water.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Sam Robertshaw/Shutterstock.com