Squirrels can be bizarre little creatures. Unlike other animals within the rodent family, squirrels are much loved.
These animals spend their days, looking for food, protecting their young, nesting in all types of locations, and communicating with each other.
Because they cannot speak as humans can, squirrels use actions and make noises to communicate. One such noise is a barking noise.
But what does this mean? This article explores the question of ‘why is that squirrel barking at me’
Barking is one way that squirrels communicate with each other, with other animals, and with humans. A squirrel will bark if it notices a predator in the area. This barking is how squirrels sound the alarm warning others of the predator. Barking can also be a warning to predators to keep away from a squirrel’s territory or to let the predator know that it is seen.
Table of Contents
Squirrel barking at me, why this happens:
Knowing and understanding why squirrels bark at you can save you from a potentially dangerous situation. Here are the main reasons why a squirrel may bark at you:
To warn other squirrels of a predator (you):
Many squirrel sounds are simply the animal alerting other squirrels of predators in the area, squirrels help each other out.
When one sees a predator in the area it will make a barking sound as a warning of danger to other squirrels close by.
An attempt to ward off a predator:
Barking sounds are also made as an attempt to ward off a predator, if the animal is barking at you it likely perceives you as a predator.
The barking acts as a signal to the predator that the squirrel sees it and is aware that it is being stalked. This takes away the predator’s element of surprise.
Protection of territory:
A squirrel may try to ward you off to keep itself safe and it may also bark in an effort to keep you away from its territory.
These animals are quite territorial, they will not take too well to you encroaching in their space. The barking is a warning to you to keep out of their space.
What noise does a squirrel make when scared?
Squirrels make noises similar to crying when they’re distressed and scared. In addition, this crying noise is another way that squirrels can warn other squirrels of predators in the area.
The crying noises may also be accompanied by squirrels wagging their tails.
If the animal is hurt, the same crying noises can be heard from the squirrel. That being said, not all squirrels will cry for the same reasons all the time.
Squirrels may also cry when they are fighting over food.
How do you know when a squirrel is mad?
Squirrels are generally very docile animals, they likely won’t get mad at you unless you are trespassing in their territory, are getting too close to their young or are acting as though you may attack it.
This usually causes the animal to become aggressive.
Another instance where a squirrel may seem mad is if the animal has rabies. Rabies causes animals to change behaviour completely, become aggressive and to not fear humans or predators.
Rabies infects the central nervous system of the squirrel and causes them to behave abnormally.
Why is a squirrel making weird noises?
Squirrels make a variety of noises, these noises can go from little squeaks to grunts and barks. Here are some squirrel noises and what they usually mean:
Rattles and screeching: Both of these sounds are made by squirrels in an effort to defend their territory from predators or from other squirrels.
Barking and buzzing: These sounds are simillar to an alarm, the barking and buzzing is a warning to other squirrels about a predator in the area.
Kuk-Kuk-kuk, quaa: These are types of warning sounds that squirrels make.
Seet: This sound is made when squirrels notice terrestrial predators in the area.
Seet-bark: These sounds are made by squirrels when they notice aerial predators in the area.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, the main reasons why a squirrel may be barking at you may be because the animal sees you as a predator and is trying to warn other squirrels in the area about you, if you’re trespassing in their territory and they’re trying to get you to back off, or if the animal wants to alert you that it sees you.
If you enjoyed this article then you may also be interested in other squirrel related articles. Here are some articles that you may be interested in: Pet squirrel getting aggressive, why and what to do, Do squirrels eat other squirrels?, Do squirrels fight?, Do squirrels eat their dead?