Have you ever thought about how forest animals sleep, for example, squirrels? Anyone who is interested in wildlife, this can be interesting. Or maybe you were lucky to even see sleeping squirrels? Photos of these animals resting after games and gathering, you can see in our article. Of course, we will consider some facts related to the sleep of these animals.
Description
Squirrel is a rodent that belongs to the squirrel family. On the limbs, the animal has claws for comfortable movement along the trunks and branches of trees. Dressed squirrel in a beautiful fluffy fur coat, which is complemented by the same tail. The body has a length of up to 30 centimeters, weighs no more than 350 g of protein.
The color of the fur coat of the animal depends on the habitat and on the season. Squirrels that live in coniferous forests have dark or completely black hair. The reddish-red color on themselves is tried on by residents of deciduous forests.
Lifestyle & Mode
Squirrel spends most of his life in trees. The diet includes berries, bark, mushrooms, but if there is little food, the animal does not mind eating insects, larvae, chicks and small amphibians.
In the warm and daylight hours, the protein gets its own food. On the ground moves in leaps up to one meter long. From part of the collected food makes a reserve for the winter. Active only in the afternoon. At night, do not leave the nests, so as not to get caught by predators. Sleeping squirrels are much more likely to survive when nocturnal animals go hunting.
Squirrels sleep for a long time. According to zoologists, this animal is among the ten most drowsy. The duration of daily sleep of an adult protein reaches an average of 14.9 hours.
From autumn to year, proteins migrate. Prefer to do it alone. This is due to the search for new places where there will be plenty of food.
Squirrels build their nests from thin bending branches in the form of a ball. Inside they insulate with moss, dry leaves, their own wool. They build nests not only in the hollow, but also in the crevice of the tree at a height of up to 15 meters. There is always an emergency exit in the nest in case of emergency evacuation. The number of shelters can reach 15 pieces. Parasites often wind up in squirrel nests, so they make them for themselves in advance. Nests are built exclusively by females, males settle in abandoned or unfinished nests. During severe colds in the nests, squirrels can live up to 5 individuals. Due to the amount, the temperature in the nest does not drop below 15 degrees with the + sign. Sleeping proteins are pressed against each other to maintain heat.
Reproduction occurs 2-3 times a year. The mating season begins at the end of February â beginning of March. Pregnancy lasts about 40 days. The number of babies born ranges from 4 to 8. After two weeks, the cubs are covered with wool, and after a month they become completely sighted. Cubs sleep even more than adults. Belchata are given sleep up to 20 hours a day.
Favorable conditions guarantee the protein up to 12 years of life, and in the wild no more than 5 years. This is due to the fact that the animal has many enemies in the face of birds of prey from the air and animals on earth. Squirrels also fall into the sight of hunters who strive to sew mittens from squirrel fur.
Hibernation
The question of hibernation certainly worries all wildlife lovers who want to know how and how much squirrels sleep. It should be remembered that these animals do not fall into hibernation, but their activity during the cold season is significantly reduced. Sleeping proteins consume very little energy, so the need for food in winter is reduced.