They chatter, chirp, bark, growl, squeak, and squeal. Most squirrels mate in early spring, after much fighting and chasing. Blind, hairless ' and helpless, they depend on the mother's milk for food. In about six weeks they emerge from the nest, fully furred, bright-eyed, and half the size of the adults. Baby squirrels are playful and pester the adults.
Squirrels have four sharp claws on their front feet and five on the rear.
They are used for climbing, digging, and eating. Every year squirrels shed their fur, called molting. They get a heavier coat for winter and a lighter one for summer. Squirrel tails can be warm blankets, and help the animals balance when running and jumping. Squirrels often sun themselves on a tree branch, on a rock, or by a burrow.