About 3 young comprise a litter. At birth they are hairless, blind, and their ears are closed. Young are weaned at 10 to 12 weeks. During the breeding season, noisy mating chases take place. They nest in tree cavities, human-made squirrel boxes, or in leaf and stick nests.
Cavities are the preferred nest sites.
They frequently chew holes through pipelines used in maple syrup production. During population highs, new squirrels arrive quickly to replace those shot or trapped. Attach metal using encircling wires held together with springs to allow for tree growth. Prevent squirrels from traveling on wires by installing 2-foot sections of lightweight 2 to 3 inch diameter plastic pipe. Slit the pipe lengthwise, spread it open, and place it over the wire.