It’s tough to catch squirrels bathing, but not because it’s a particularly uncommon practice. They’re simply too fast for most of us to notice. The best method to see how squirrels bathe is to sit inside and observe your backyard.

Silky Terrier Dog Breed Playing Aro... Silky Terrier Dog Breed Playing Around

Rather than showering in water, squirrels prefer to take a dust bath to clean their coats and keep parasites at bay. Squirrels roll in the soil, twisting and tumbling in circles to clean their coats of dirt, loose hairs, and excess oils. Squirrels have dense coats that take a long time to dry if they are washed with water. They will roll in the dirt until their fur is covered in powdered dust if they come to a location where the earth is dry and sandy.

Unless you’re specifically seeking squirrels dust bathing, you’re unlikely to find them. They’re shy, wary mammals with all the jitteriness a prey animal should have. I’ve observed squirrels bathe in my garden, but it took several weeks of silent observation before they felt comfortable enough with the atmosphere to let their guard down.

It can appear unusual if you do not even know exactly what you’re gazing at. Squirrels roll in the ground, head first, then feet, then head first again, twisting and tumbling in circles. Some people move so quickly that they appear to be in distress, but there’s no reason to be concerned. They’re simply keeping their coats clean and parasite-free.

Dust bathing is a widespread practice among mammals, particularly tiny rodents. This is how squirrels, chinchillas, degus, hamsters, and some rat species bathe. Dust cleaning eliminates dirt, stray hairs, and extra oils off a squirrel’s coat in a very similar manner as water does, except without the threat of over-wetting.

Squirrels’ coats are extraordinarily dense and take a long time to dry. Because they are such small animals, prolonged moisture can cause hypothermia and death. When out in the wild, when food may be sparse and predators abound, it’s simply not worth the risk.