Get Ready for More Baby Squirrels in the Hudson Valley

Summer might be coming to a close, but there's at least one animal that plans on being extremely active this month.

Usually spring is considered the season of new beginnings, with all types of animals from skunks to snapping turtles all using the time to produce the next generation. This month in the Hudson Valley, however, another animal could be having a second act.

Squirrel Mating Season(s) in the Hudson Valley

Squirrels are so common in New York State that there presence is almost invisible (although their strange leaf nests are anything but). While baby squirrel "season" is usually in the beginning of the year, there will very likely be a second wave this month.

Read More: This Is the Odd Reason Behind the Hudson Valley Squirrel Boom

"Double" the Squirrels This August in the Hudson Valley

While rabbits are generally the animal known to actively procreate, squirrels aren't far behind. Depending on their age, some squirrels have not one, but two separate breeding seasons.

As the Cornell University Cooperative Extension shared, not only do many squirrels have a second litter of babies in August and September, but the "late summer litter" can actually be bigger as well:

Food availability greatly influences litter size, which can range from 1 to 9 young. The first litters of the year generally have fewer young than those of late summer, averaging 2.5 and 3.2 young per litter, respectively

Get our free mobile app

More baby squirrels also means there's a higher chance of an animal needing help, as squirrels are born blind, hairless, and unable to survive on their own if they fall out of their nest or otherwise become separated from their mother. The NYS DEC reminds residents to always contact a certified rescue organization in the case of a distressed animal.