Idea's

[RamiS]

Hi Everyone,

I want to get some advise on a couple of things, First, I would like Idea's on how to better help squirrels that live around my place for winter, it gets really cold here; for the past few months I have been leaving out henry blocks (high protein) and every night they are gone, sometimes I stand close and watch them eat its so much fun, I have built a nest box and planning on hanging it on the big tree in front of my building, and also I have bought a bird feeder that will go next to it. anymore Ideas? I am trying to get them to add more weight for the winter.

Secondly, I have an indoor squirrel that is 1 year old, I have tried to release, but he as expected choose inside simply because he has the freedom of the place and the attention and love of everyone living in it :grin2 but I am trying to always keep him busy and active with new ideas and toys, any suggestions in that area.

Thank you all so much..

[Gardentoes11]

I can't really help with the wild squirrel questions, but I just got this toy for my Jasper Hans this week, & he loves it! Posted in a thread a day or 2 ago: http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?51789-Found-a-toy-that-my-squirrel-LOVES-to-play-with!!

[RamiS]

Idea's? ANYONE!

[sqrl luv]

I supply small pieces of fleece and the non shredding batting for them to put in their nests. It is fun to watch them grab up the pieces and carrying them away. We also have heated dog water bowls that we keep out all winter. Squirrels do need water during the winter. I throw out all my scraps of fruits and veggies for them as well and they gobble them up. We have up 5 nesting boxes and fill those with scraps of fleece too! We take care of our wild squirrels all year long! I'm glad to see someone else interested in helping them. Winter is hard on these babies.

[RamiS]

thanks for all the great ideas :grin3 do you think they will share one nest box? there are three here on the tree beside my place!

[RamiS]

I live in an apartment, and I usually always put a small bowl of water on the first branch of the tree every morning, so I am not sure how to do the heated dog water bowls since they need to be connected to electricity?

[Rocky1]

Dry leaves for January/February
Put aside some completely dried leaves in a trash bag and then put the leaves out where the squirrels can get them in February or late January. Late winter seems to be when they run low on nesting material, and a time when food might run low for them.

[Rocky1]

Deluxe Nest Box
If crafty, consider hand-making a deluxe next box.

-Use an untreated type of wood that is on the squirrel nutrition pdf like Poplar. http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?44440-Healthy-Diet-for-Pet-Squirrels
-Ensure that there is a guard in place so that predators like hawks cannot reach in effectively.
-I like the idea of a box within a box to provide insulation from the cold in the winter and the heat in the summer. Along these lines, I like the make the outer "box" a hollow log so that it blends right in with the tree, hopefully invisible to anyone who might not like having a box in the tree.
-Of course, secure the box to the tree extra well with wind and in a good location, with any storms or natural disasters (your area typically gets) in mind. Areas I would pick would be away from electrical lines where the tree trimmers might focus, and on a branch that's unlikely to break off from wind or weight.