December 23 Duluth Backyard Squirrel Watching

I didn't travel far today, and so watched gray squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis) stealing compost from the back yard. With a high temp today of 38 degrees Fahrenheit, the precipitation fell as rain instead of snow. With hardly any snow cover (more grass than snow in Duluth), I wondered if 38 and rain was more hospitable to these small mammals than -10 and snow. I've read that with a foot of snow insulation, ground temperatures remain above freezing for squirrels and other tunneling mammals. However, with the compost pile and fallen birdseed readily accessible, I have a hunch that Duluth squirrels prefer 38 degrees and a wet coat.