Squirrel Sounds: The Noises Squirrels Make & Their Meaning

5 Types of Tree Squirrel Sounds

Tree squirrels make sounds accompanied by tail movements to communicate with other squirrels and animals. Their calls are used to intimidate other squirrels, alert squirrels of a predator, express interest in mating, and call their mother when hungry.

Tree squirrels, like eastern gray squirrels, are one of the most common in urban areas.

Common squirrel sounds are used to communicate the following:

• Alarm calls (alerting other squirrels about a predator nearby)
• Communicating with predators
• Intimidation (telling other squirrels to back off)
• Mating calls
• Infants calling mother

1. Squirrels Sounds: Alarm Calls

Eastern gray squirrels make the following sounds as alarm calls:

• Kuk: a short, sharp sound that is similar to a dog bark but faster and shorter in duration.
• Quaa: a longer version of the ‘kuk’.
• Moan: tonal sound similar to a whistle.

Squirrels make ‘kuk’ and ‘quaa’ sounds in response to terrestrial predators like cats. Their moans are used in response to aerial predators like hawks. [3]

Squirrel Bark: Kuk

This sound is similar to a dog bark, but shorter in duration. Squirrels bark out a few ‘kuk-kuk’ sounds in succession.

American red squirrels and Eastern gray squirrels have been observed making rapid ‘kuk-kuk-kuk’barks. This tells other squirrels that there is imminent danger. [4]

They communicate a less-immediate danger by barking a drawn-out ‘ku-u-ku.’

Squirrel Screech: Quaa

The ‘quaa’ sounds like a longer version of the “kuk”.

When squirrels make a ‘quaa’ sound, they are alerting other squirrels that there is still a threat around, but that it is moving away.[5]

Squirrel Moan

Squirrels’ moans sound similar to a whistle and can be used to indicate ariel predators. A moan can also be used in combination with a ‘quaa’ sound and tail flicks.

Research has found that moans that are not accompanied by tail movements indicate an ariel predator approaching.

Moans accompanied by a whipping around of the tail (also known as tail flags) indicate a terrestrial predator, like a cat.[4]

Combined Sound: Quaa and Moan

A squirrel can make a ‘quaa’ sound followed by a moan when they don’t see the predator anymore.[5]

2. Squirrel Sounds: Communicating with predators

Squirrels make alarm calls to warn other nearby squirrels, but they also do it to let the predator know, that they have spotted them.

Research by biology professor Robert Lishak of Auburn University found that when squirrels start ‘kuking,’ cats give up on their hunt.[6]

It’s possible that the cats rely on the element of surprise while hunting and give up if this is lost.

3. Squirrels’ Intimidation Sound

Squirrels can be aggressive when it comes to food, unwilling to share it with other squirrels. They are known to use teeth-chattering sounds to intimidate other squirrels and keep them away from their food.

If a squirrel is at a bird or squirrel feeder and another squirrel moves closer, they can start making teeth-chattering sounds for intimidation.[6]

This rapid sound is similar to the sound of human teeth chattering when cold or in shock.

4. Squirrel Mating Calls

Male squirrels make a ‘muk-muk’ and low buzzing sound (like a stifled sneeze) as their mating call. This lets nearby females know that he wants to mate.

This sound is similar to infant squirrels’ calls. The intention is clear: let’s make babies.[5]

Fertile female eastern gray squirrels let out high-pitched advertising calls to help males find them during mating season.

5. Baby Squirrels Calling Their Mother

Infant squirrels, also known as squirrel kits, make a high-pitched ‘muk-muk’ and stifled sneeze sound when calling their mothers.

Female squirrels cover their kits with nesting material, like twigs, grass, and leaves, to keep them warm before setting out to forage for food. She returns to the nest to feed them.

If the mother has been gone for too long and the kits are hungry, they call her using this ‘muk-muk’ sound.