Why do you rarely see baby squirrels?

You rarely see baby squirrels because they are born and raised in hidden, protected nests and stay there for many weeks before venturing out, and when they do emerge they are already almost adult-sized. Eastern gray squirrels and other tree squirrels build nests called dreys made of leaves, twigs, and bark high in trees or in tree cavities, attics, and wall spaces where they are concealed from predators and humans. Babies, called kittens or kits, are born hairless, blind, and completely helpless weighing only half an ounce, and the mother keeps them hidden in the nest for about 8 to 10 weeks, nursing and protecting them constantly. During this time they do not leave the nest at all. When they finally emerge, they are about 10 to 12 weeks old, fully furred, have open eyes, and are about three quarters the size of adults, so they look like small adults rather than tiny babies and are easily mistaken for adults. Additionally, mother squirrels are very secretive and move babies between nests if disturbed, further reducing sightings. In northern areas squirrels have only one litter per year in spring, so the window for babies is short. So you rarely see truly tiny baby squirrels because they are hidden, vulnerable, and stay out of sight until they are almost grown.