Best Time To Cut Down Squirrel Nest Tree

[GFirda]

Hi! I'm new to the board. I have a question about when is the best time to cut down a huge oak tree that has had a squirrel nest in the trunk for many years, I live in upstate New York. The tree is about 120 feet tall and 3 feet or more in diameter, about 20 feet above the ground it forks. About 15 years ago it started to split at the fork to within about 5 feet from the ground. I hired Davies Tree Co. to pull it back together and they inserted 3 huge stainless steel rods horizontally through the trunk with nuts and washers to hold it together. The squirrels have a nest down inside the trunk and access it at the top of the split. The split looks like it's starting again and if it splits it's going to crush my house. I noticed this morning that this year's second litter (4 of them) are just starting to come out of the nest. Should I wait until about early November to give them some time to grow up or is that too late for them to find a new place to live before winter? Winter's are brutal here, minus 20's not uncommon. I also thought about January before she's ready to mate again but don't know if I could find someone to cut it down that time of year. I want to do what's best for them but the tree has to go. Thanks for your advice!

[TubeDriver]

I would definitely wait as long as possible. You could also talk to the tree removal service and ask that they allow any squirrels remaining in the tree to be allowed to leave when the tree is removed. Might it be possible to remove the side of the split that threatens your house and leave the other side intact? Putting up a few nest boxes in nearby trees might also be helpful for the young ones that lost their home. Thanks for thinking about the squirrels. This is a tough situation but I understand that you can't allow the tree to fall on your house.



Hi! I'm new to the board. I have a question about when is the best time to cut down a huge oak tree that has had a squirrel nest in the trunk for many years, I live in upstate New York. The tree is about 120 feet tall and 3 feet or more in diameter, about 20 feet above the ground it forks. About 15 years ago it started to split at the fork to within about 5 feet from the ground. I hired Davies Tree Co. to pull it back together and they inserted 3 huge stainless steel rods horizontally through the trunk with nuts and washers to hold it together. The squirrels have a nest down inside the trunk and access it at the top of the split. The split looks like it's starting again and if it splits it's going to crush my house. I noticed this morning that this year's second litter (4 of them) are just starting to come out of the nest. Should I wait until about early November to give them some time to grow up or is that too late for them to find a new place to live before winter? Winter's are brutal here, minus 20's not uncommon. I also thought about January before she's ready to mate again but don't know if I could find someone to cut it down that time of year. I want to do what's best for them but the tree has to go. Thanks for your advice!