Can Squirrels Survive Terminal Velocity?

Terminal velocity is the fastest that an object will ever fall, no matter what height it is dropped from. Squirrels (unlike most other mammals) can survive impacts at their terminal velocity.

How much terminal velocity can a squirrel survive?

If we do the math (and having changed the units correctly), the result gives us 10.28 m/s, about 23 mph. The reason for this is because a squirrel has a large area/mass ratio. This means that gravity does not pull on it with too much force but relatively large aerodynamic resistance will be generated.

How far can a squirrel fall and survive?

Squirrels use their fluffy tails to balance when traveling throughout treetops and electrical lines. A squirrel's tail can also serve as a parachute to ease falls - squirrels can fall from heights of up to 100 feet without injuring themselves.