How Fast Are Squirrels? Top Speed and How It Compares to Other Rodents

In fact, most species of squirrels can run up to 20 miles per hour! They can hold this speed for up to four miles! They have small, yet powerful legs that can help them outrun a variety of wild animals. 

Squirrels can use their speed to catch prey and explore their natural environment. 

Why Are Squirrels So Fast?

There are over 200 species of squirrels in the world.

©Mircea Costina/Shutterstock.com

20 miles an hour is wildly quick for such a petite animal. There are many factors that play a role in how fast squirrels can run. For example, grass has high friction, allowing these rodents to get to greater speeds.

Smooth surfaces such as roadways and parking lots can cause them to move slower. As you can assume, their size plays a part too. The larger the squirrel, the faster they can move! The one situation where they may need to reach high speeds is when attempting to outrun a predator. 

Foxes and coyotes can easily catch up with a squirrel. Predatory birds and raccoons may have a harder time keeping up. If you’ve ever watched a squirrel hunt for food, you’ll notice they’re always looking around.

Because a lot of their predators are faster and larger than them, squirrels have to collect seeds, nuts, and mushrooms swiftly. Out of all the squirrels, the Eastern gray squirrel is the quickest topping out at just over 20 miles per hour! 

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Kirstin Harrington

Kirstin is a writer at A-Z Animals primarily covering animals, news topics, fun places, and helpful tips. Kirstin has been writing on a variety of topics for over five years. She has her real estate license, along with an associates degree in another field. A resident of Minnesota, Kirstin treats her two cats (Spook and Finlay) like the children they are. She never misses an opportunity to explore a thrift store with a coffee in hand, especially if it’s a cold autumn day!

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