What is a squirrel's mating habits, when do they give birth, and how does it raise its young?
Like most animals, squirrels have their own way of mating and raising their young. You might notice squirrels that look like they are chasing each other on your front yard. These squirrels do not do the chasing merely for fun, but to actually reproduce.

The Squirrels' Way of Mating
When a female squirrel turns one, she gives off pheromones to attract the male squirrels. The females are generally ready for mating after the winter season. Female squirrels are only fertile twice a year. Their breeding seasons are usually from March to May, and from July to September. Male squirrels are fertile the whole year round. Males become excited when they smell the pheromones that are coming from the female squirrels. The males will try to seek the females for an opportunity of mating with her. When two male squirrels are pursuing the female at the same time, they will fight each other. Male squirrels are not territorial by nature and they don't actually harm their other male competitor. They merely try to intimidate and chase the other squirrel so that they can pursue the female squirrel without any interruption.

Mating usually only lasts for a minute. The males will ejaculate a waxy-like substance inside the female's body in order to prevent other sperm from impregnating the female squirrel. The waxy substance is not effective all the time and there is a chance that the litters produced came from multiple fathers.After a mating, the female will continue to chirp for two to three weeks. This will attract other males which will ensure her pregnancy.

Gestation Period of Squirrels
A squirrel will carry her young inside her womb for a month or more. To maintain her health, the female squirrel will continue to find food. She will eat more than her usual consumption in order to have strength when she gives birth and that food that will serve as nutrients for her unborn young. She hoards a lot of seeds and will begin to build her nest. She will find a place where there is no danger of predators or male squirrels being present. Male squirrels tend to kill the young that are not theirs or so that they can mate with female squirrels once again. The nest is usually constructed using bits of clothing, or a shredded bark of a tree. The female squirrels will choose to build a nest in an attic, or in the hollow part of a tree - wherever she feels the safest. Male squirrels do not help the female to raise their young. Females usually hunt for food and leave her young for a few hours. If you see baby squirrels inside your attic or anywhere near your property, you should alert a wildlife expert as soon as possible. You can also call a professional since it is cruel to separate the mother squirrel from her babies at an early stage of their lives.