When Do Squirrels Have Babies

An Alpharetta homeowner called us one sunny March afternoon after her landscaper discovered something unexpected. While trimming bushes along the roofline, he noticed a squirrel racing back and forth between an oak tree and a gap in the soffit, carrying something in her mouth. When he looked more closely, he realized she was carrying a baby squirrel — tiny, pink, and hairless. She was moving her litter, and the gap in the soffit was her nursery.

The homeowner hadn't even known she had squirrels in her attic. She'd heard some faint scratching a few weeks earlier but assumed it was a branch rubbing the roof. Now she had a mother squirrel with newborns in her attic — and she needed to know: how long would they be there? Could she wait them out? Was it safe to remove them?

The Georgia Squirrel Breeding Calendar

Georgia's Eastern gray squirrel breeds twice per year. Here's the detailed timeline:

First breeding cycle:

• December–January: Mating occurs. Males actively chase females through trees and across rooftops.
• February–March: After a 44-day gestation period, females give birth to their first litter. Litter size averages 3–5 babies.
• March–May: Babies develop in the nest. Born blind, hairless, and about the size of a human thumb. Eyes open around week 4–5. By week 10–12, they're fully mobile.

Second breeding cycle:

• June–July: Mating occurs for the second litter.
• August–September: Second litter is born.
• September–November: Babies develop following the same 10–12 week timeline. By late November, they're independent.

Why Baby Season Matters for Removal

Babies can't leave on their own. For the first 8–10 weeks of life, baby squirrels are physically incapable of leaving the nest.

Sealing entry points traps babies inside. The mother will cause massive damage trying to chew her way back in.

The mother won't abandon her babies. Despite internet advice, mother squirrels do not abandon their young if they detect human scent.

The Reunion Technique for Baby Squirrels

When babies are too young for standard exclusion, we use a reunion technique:

1. Baby removal. Our technician carefully removes the babies from the nest and places them in a warm, ventilated box.
2. Box placement. The box is placed near the base of the tree closest to the entry point.
3. Mother exclusion. A one-way device is installed at the attic entry point.
4. Reunion. When the mother exits and can't re-enter, she hears her babies calling from the box. Her maternal instinct drives her to collect them and carry them to an alternative den site.
5. Monitoring. We check the box after 24 hours. In the vast majority of cases, the mother has retrieved all babies within 4–8 hours.

The Damage Timeline: Why Waiting Is Expensive

Weeks 1–3: Mother squirrel continues chewing and nesting. Damage is still relatively contained.

Weeks 4–6: Babies begin producing their own waste. Contamination zone expands. Mother may create secondary entry holes.

Weeks 7–10: Juvenile squirrels begin exploring the attic, spreading contamination across a wider area.

Weeks 10–12: Juveniles are independent and may begin using the attic as their own territory. What started as one squirrel is now a family of 4–6.

The cost difference: Early removal (weeks 1–3) with reunion technique: typically $400–$800. Waiting until week 12+: often $1,500–$3,000+ including removal, extensive exclusion, and attic restoration.

Prevention During Baby Season

• Schedule a [wildlife inspection](/blog/are-you-letting-pests-walk-right-in-why-you-need-a-professional-wildlife-home-inspection-today/) in early winter (November–December).
• Trim tree branches to at least 8 feet from your roofline.
• Inspect your roofline visually after storms.
• Listen for early signs. If you hear any scurrying or scratching in your attic during January or February, call immediately — before babies arrive.

The Outdoors Group: Metro Atlanta's Squirrel Removal Experts

We've been handling squirrel baby season in Metro Atlanta since 2009. Our technicians know exactly how to assess baby age, choose the right removal strategy, perform reunion techniques, and execute permanent exclusion.

The Alpharetta homeowner? We used the reunion technique to relocate the mother and her three babies to a large oak tree in her backyard. The mother moved them within six hours. We sealed seven entry points on the home and she hasn't had a squirrel issue since.

Call (770) 545-4388 or schedule your free inspection online. If there are babies in your attic, the sooner we know, the easier and less expensive the solution.