text: where do squirels sleep and where do they go in the winter?   squirrel is the common name for rodents of the family sciuridae (from greek skia "shadow" and oura "tail" i.e. "tail that casts a shadow"). in everyday speech in the english-speaking world it usually refers to members of the genera sciurus and tamiasciurus. these typical members of the family are tree squirrels with large bushy tails, and are indigenous to europe, asia and the americas. similar genera are found in africa. however, the sciuridae also include flying squirrels, and ground squirrels such as the chipmunks, prairie dogs, and woodchucks. the unrelated family anomaluridae also have "squirrel" in their common name, though they are usually referred to as "scaly-tailed flying squirrels". the word squirrel comes from the old french esqurial, which itself comes from the vulgar latin word scuriolus (squirrel).  this link has quite a bit of info on squirrels. i used to live in wisconsin and squirrels generally slept in trees or holes in different things. they don't go anywhere for winter. we would watch them run around through the snow and our dogs used to love to chase them in the snow.