Squirrel thread # 2 - squirrel nests

Visited my soon to be house in SO and there was a mess of cotton up in a tree. I assumed birds. Being a city girl, my new neighbor explained it was a squirrel nest. Who knew? My gut tells me we need to take it down, but I don’t want to hurt a squirrel family with babies— I will be horrified. What do they do in the nest? Do they raise their young there like birds? Does it need to go? 


Living here, you will see a lot more wildlife than squirrels.  We also have deer, fox, raccoons, opossum, mice, rats, feral cats, a wide variety of birds and insects, fish in our water ways, the occasional coyote, and even the rare bear sighting.  This is their home as least as much as it is ours.  Please don't remove the squirrel nest.  At best the squirrels will just build another one.  At worst the next one may be in your attic.


birdwatcher said:

Visited my soon to be house in SO and there was a mess of cotton up in a tree. I assumed birds. Being a city girl, my new neighbor explained it was a squirrel nest. Who knew? My gut tells me we need to take it down, but I don’t want to hurt a squirrel family with babies— I will be horrified. What do they do in the nest? Do they raise their young there like birds? Does it need to go? 

 As a former city kid, my scheduled tree pruning coincided with nesting season. I learned the hard way when I saw the workmen picking up some babies and putting them in a bucket. The nest was gone. I called a wildlife rehabber, who gave me instructions to watch for the mom but if she didn't return I had to keep them warm till she could take them in the morning. Off they went, and I picked them up several weeks later to return them to my yard, since they can't release wildlife on public property. I had to put up a squirrel box and put out food all winter. 

Save yourself and them a lot of trauma and wait till they move on.


Morganna said:

 As a former city kid, my scheduled tree pruning coincided with nesting season. I learned the hard way when I saw the workmen picking up some babies and putting them in a bucket. The nest was gone. I called a wildlife rehabber, who gave me instructions to watch for the mom but if she didn't return I had to keep them warm till she could take them in the morning. Off they went, and I picked them up several weeks later to return them to my yard, since they can't release wildlife on public property. I had to put up a squirrel box and put out food all winter. 

Save yourself and them a lot of trauma and wait till they move on.

 Thank you! How do you know when they have moved on and the nest is empty? It’s a big nest but high up and I can’t see inside it. I have a house full of rescue cats. I can’t hurt baby animals.  


birdwatcher said:

 Thank you! How do you know when they have moved on and the nest is empty? It’s a big nest but high up and I can’t see inside it. I have a house full of rescue cats. I can’t hurt baby animals.  

 Looks like October, November is a safe bet. I'll attach some info. I just found out that males also build their own nests. Kind of squirrel man caves. Our female nesters raise babies twice a year and the babies are in there for about 12 weeks so there is a short safe period in the fall. I had a cool bark plant structure outside my kitchen window and my favorite thing was to see a wide eyed squirrel or chipmunk looking into the kitchen.



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