Winter Critters

Unlike other mammals, squirrels do not hibernate in the winter. They spend more time in their dens, and they may even share a den with another squirrel to keep themselves warm. When they do go outside, you may be wondering how squirrels stay warm. Squirrels pack on an extra layer of fat as the weather gets colder so they can survive the snowy months!

Throughout the fall, squirrels pack away food all over the yard, and possibly in your home so they have reserves to come back to. Minnesota is cold in the winter, so it would be hard for squirrels to survive without their food reserves!

During winter, bats hibernate. They could hibernate in caves, the forest, or in your home. Bats will pick a home with the right temperature and humidity levels to keep themselves from freezing. Bats may stay in hibernation for multiple months!

Like squirrels, mice do not hibernate in the winter. They spend their time gathering food and looking for cozy shelter.  They also spend their time looking for a good spot to have their babies. Mice may have their nests in nature, or they could make their home in your walls, attic, or basement.

Mice are attracted to your home in the winter because they can sense the warmth inside as the temperatures drop. If you have any cracks along the windows or doors, they will find them and sneak inside.

Raccoons spend most of the cold months in their den, but they don’t spend the whole winter there. Every few weeks, they will come out for food and water. Raccoons will make their dens in a variety of environments, including your attic. Raccoons may also den together, and if they decide to do that in your home, it makes quite a mess!

Voles do not hibernate. They spend a lot of the winter looking for food under the snow. Voles look like small brown mice, and they can live outdoors in conditions as low as freezing! Voles are not as likely to be in your home as other rodents might, but they do occasionally still get into your home.

Rats do not handle cold weather very well, so when the temperatures drop, they are on the hunt for warmth. They often find comfortable temperatures in buildings, including your home. It’s important to monitor your rat population in your home throughout the winter because they multiply quickly.

As their name suggests, chimney swifts are most commonly found in chimneys. They almost exclusively nest in the dark and protected structures in groups, and it’s even been reported that up to a thousand birds have roosted in a single chimney before. Luckily, chimney swifts migrate south during winter, but if you are using your fireplace before they migrate, they could be injured.

Snakes hibernate through winter. They will burrow below the frost line to keep themselves safe from freezing to death. You likely won’t see any snakes during the winter in Minnesota, but if you do stumble across one, the team at can help.

Opossums struggle to get through the winter. They do not hibernate, and they do not share a den with other opossums. To keep themselves safe from predators, they have to change their next location every few weeks. Because they’re always looking for a warm place to stay, they may take up residence in your crawlspace.

In the cold winter months, flying squirrels put on a thick coat. Flying squirrels also nest together during the cold months to help keep themselves warm. Flying squirrels may choose to nest in your attic during the winter.

Chipmunks spend most of their cold Minnesota days hibernating in their den. They do not sleep through the entire winter; they wake up every few days to eat from their stockpile and go to the bathroom. You likely won’t see any chipmunks over the winter months, but if you happen to find one in your home, our team can take care of it.

Birds do not hibernate. They keep warm by fluffing up their feathers, which makes pockets of insulating air. Birds may struggle to find food in the winter, and they may try to sneak into your attic to escape the frigid temperatures.

Moles are quite active throughout the winter. They are busy digging and eating. Because moles like to dig through the ground for worms and bugs, you won’t likely find them in your home. If you do, we can help remove them.

Gophers create pockets under the snow which can be quite damaging to your lawn. Unfortunately, it’s hard to know they’re there until Spring arrives. If you do decide to treat your gopher problem during winter, it will greatly help your lawn.

Most insects hibernate in the winter. However, you may still have some creepy crawlies in your home over the cold months. It’s common for residents to find spiders in their homes through all the seasons.

Ants do not hibernate, so you may be wondering what ants do in the winter. Ants will find their way inside your home to keep warm, or they may dig down into the soil to keep out of the elements.

Bees do not hibernate through the winter. They store heat in their hive. As the temperatures drop below 55 degrees, the bees start to gather in their hive for winter. Bees are cold-blooded, so a warm hive is essential to their survival. Shivering and wing flapping create heat—the center of their cluster is about 90 degrees, which keeps the Queen bee safe. You likely won’t find bees in your home during the winter months, but if you do, we recommend you call a professional.

Similar to wasps, hornets hibernate through the winter. Keep an eye out for their nests in your basement, attic, and crawlspace. If you find one, they will likely be sleepy and lethargic.

Wasps make their nests in warm, quiet places, which could be in your [MARKET] home. They hibernate through the winter, so they are easy to take care of if you do find one as they will be sleepy and slow-moving.

Another stinging insect you may come across in your home through the winter is a yellow jacket. They will be hibernating but keep an eye out for their nests.