Squirrels spend the night sleeping in nests — either a leafy “drey” wedged in tree branches or a den inside a tree hollow. Most squirrels are diurnal (active by day) and return to the same nest each night to stay warm and safe from predators. The exception is flying squirrels, which are nocturnal. If you hear scurrying overhead after dark, it’s more likely a different animal — or flying squirrels in your attic.
Key Takeaways
- Squirrels sleep at night in nests — leafy dreys in branches or dens in tree cavities.
- Most squirrels are diurnal (day-active) and return to the same nest nightly.
- Flying squirrels are the nocturnal exception — active and noisy at night.
- Daytime attic noise points to gray/red squirrels; nighttime noise suggests flying squirrels or another animal.
- A nest in your attic means they’ve made your insulation their “tree hollow.”
Where squirrels sleep
Squirrels build two kinds of homes, and they often keep both:
- Dreys — the round bundles of leaves, twigs, and bark you see lodged high in tree forks. A drey is lined with soft material and gives a squirrel a warm, hidden place to sleep and raise young.
- Tree dens (cavities) — hollows in tree trunks and large branches, often old woodpecker holes. Dens offer better protection from cold and storms, so squirrels favor them in winter.
At night, a squirrel curls up in its nest, tucks its tail around itself for warmth, and sleeps. They’re vulnerable to predators in the dark, so staying put and hidden is the safe strategy (University of Florida/IFAS: Squirrels).
Why most squirrels disappear at night
The common tree squirrels — gray, fox, and red squirrels — are diurnal, meaning they’re active during daylight and rest at night. They forage in the morning and late afternoon, then return to the nest before dark. So if your yard is full of squirrels by day and silent at night, that’s completely normal behavior.
The nocturnal exception: flying squirrels
Flying squirrels flip the schedule. They’re nocturnal, gliding between trees and foraging after dark, and they’re surprisingly common even where people rarely see them. They also readily move into attics. So persistent nighttime noise in the ceiling — light scampering, gliding thumps — often points to flying squirrels rather than the gray squirrels you see during the day.
What nighttime noises in your home really mean
The timing of the noise is a useful clue to what’s living above you:
- Daytime scurrying (dawn and late afternoon): gray, fox, or red squirrels, which are day-active.
- Nighttime scurrying or gliding: flying squirrels, or another nocturnal animal like mice, rats, or raccoons.
- Heavy, slow movement at night: likely a larger animal (raccoon or opossum), not a squirrel.
If something has moved into your attic, the noise pattern helps you identify it — and the fix is the same regardless of species: get them out and seal the entry points. See our guide to getting rid of squirrels, and if the noises are nocturnal and small, our signs and solutions for attic rodents apply too.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do squirrels go at night?
They return to their nests — either a leafy drey built in tree branches or a den inside a tree hollow — and sleep there through the night, curling up with their tail wrapped around them for warmth. They stay put to avoid nighttime predators.
Are squirrels active at night?
Most aren’t. Gray, fox, and red squirrels are diurnal (day-active) and sleep at night. The exception is flying squirrels, which are nocturnal — so nighttime activity usually means flying squirrels rather than the squirrels you see by day.
What is making noise in my attic at night?
If it’s at night, it’s likely flying squirrels, mice, rats, or a raccoon rather than day-active gray squirrels. The timing helps identify it: daytime noise suggests tree squirrels, nighttime noise suggests nocturnal animals. Either way, exclusion is the fix.
Do squirrels sleep in the same place every night?
Generally yes. Squirrels return to a familiar nest — and often maintain more than one — using the same drey or den night after night, especially a warm tree cavity in winter. An attic they’ve adopted becomes exactly that kind of regular nest.