The squirrel will usually climb the rope and leave the chimney. If there is a crack or a hole in a building, squirrels will make it bigger so that they can get in. Squirrels of many sizes and colours have forever been part of the Toronto landscape, but only recently has concern about their large numbers and evolving behavior begun to take hold. Squirrel is in the damper. Squirrel Childbearing: Litter Size and Caring for Young. How many babies can a squirrel have? Media reports dubbing Toronto the “raccoon capital of Canada” have focused Toronto’s wildlife concerns to these black-masked mainstays. Cover the stove or fireplace door with a barrier to keep the squirrel from escaping into your home until you are ready. Most species have 3 or 4 babies at a time, but they could have as many as 9, and Ground squirrels could have up to 15 at one time! They absolutely get along…the red squirrel will run the chipmunk off just a few feet then return to eating, but nothing more. Squirrels, unfortunately, also like to nest in attics, leaving droppings and urine. Otherwise, they will be chased away to less crowded feeding areas. Red squirrels are highly territorial. Sexual maturity: Squirrels are sexually mature and able to reproduce at 11 months. “I’ve heard that flyers will eat grapes and things like that in the urban setting,” Boutin said. There are many species of rodents that inhabit the immense territory covered by Canada. There is a higher frequency of the black morph in the northern portions of the eastern gray squirrel's range; which includes the southern portions of central Canada and northern United States. If the squirrel is above the damper, you can hang a 1.25cm (½”) thick rope down the chimney. Australia does have possums which exhibit some of the same behaviours, but they do most of their cheeky acts at night. Despite this, squirrels are essential to the environment since they carry microriza which help plants to grow. Flying squirrels, which are nocturnal, actually feed more on mushrooms and various types of fungi. 5. Eastern gray squirrels give birth to their young in late winter or early spring and then again in July or August. Typically some of the squirrels will remain actively using the birthing den. As some of the answers have pointed out, we have introduced species of ‘squirrels’, but none are native to our environment. Food is plenty. “Squirrels are pretty eclectic in what they can eat,” Boutin said. These rodents naturally share many characteristics such as long incisors, but each species has its own unique behaviours and physical appearance. Cynthia, I have around 20 red squirrels & 30 chipmunks living in and around & under my home. They are the only animals who do. I live in Maine. If there are not too many squirrels in the area, the young will build nests nearby. Tree squirrels had been nearly eliminated from many U.S. cities by the mid-19th century, but cities responded by adding more parks and trees — and by adding squirrels. Scientists theorize a few reasons why this might be the case although it is difficult to say conclusively why there are so many black squirrels in Toronto compared to their grey counterparts.