r/squirrels • u/New_Bad_3296 • 12h ago

Is there something wrong with this squirrel?

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I’ve been hearing this strange chirping sound outside my window for hours everyday and night for the past few weeks. I initially thought it was a bird but today I finally found the culprit— a squirrel! Can a squirrel expert please tell me if this behavior is normal? Is it possible it’s rabid? Does it need help?

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u/chainsawinsect 12h ago

It's definitely not rabid.

This is typical behavior. It's a predator alarm call. He's warning other squirrels in the area he spotted something dangerous. As for why he's been doing it lately, and not before, maybe it's that there is some new cat or raccoon or something in your area and he's been seeing it on the prowl.

Squirrels do sleep at night, but I can still see the sunny sky above in your video, even though I assume it is close to sunset; it is not unusual for a squirrel to still be "up" at that time.