Concern about their nesting box

[AverageJoe]

Released Sonny and Earl last month and they took residence in a nesting box we had provided in a nearby tree. We also gave strips of fleece blanket, and they had also gathered leaves and made themselves a good nest. They have seemed to have no real issues with the native squirrels in the area.

It must be mating season. We have seen several squirrels with wounds…hair pulled out, gashes on the head, and one with a big open wound on the neck (but really seems to be living life as if it doesn’t bother him), but our two young ones are unscathed so far. Ours do let us approach them and give them treats almost daily, and they appear to be in excellent health.

I provide food for them every morning to help them through the winter, and they continue to visit the bowl. Yesterday late afternoon I took treats out and Earl took a food block from me. Sonny wasn’t around, but that’s not unusual.

This morning (I take the food out before daybreak and I usually do not see them at that time as they are still asleep) during the food delivery, I look up at their box. Their blankets had been pulled out of the box. One was on top, the others were hanging on limbs below.

I grabbed a ladder and climbed up and looked inside. No squirrels. No signs of a fight…no hair nor blood.

The box has a locked lid so no animal can open it, and it has a shelf just inside the opening so nothing could reach in a grab them either.

We have wooded areas around our house and this box is directly behind us. We have noticed lately that they have been spending time in the woods to the side of our house. Could they have found a hole in a tree for a better nest site? Could they possibly be taking the little blankets to the new nest since nest-building supplies are limited (leaves and grasses)? Or is the fact these blankets have been pulled out the doings of an aggressive squirrel? We do have a pregnant female that we did see poke her head in that nest last week.

Any ideas as to what’s going on? The fact that they weren’t in the box this morning has me thinking that they might have a new home, or something happened during the night that drove them away. The blankets were not removed around dusk yesterday. Whatever happened occurred after that. A little disconcerting, and will remain a little worried until I see them again.

Any suggestions/info will be much appreciated.

[Spanky]

It's hard to know what may have happened... may I recommend you wrap the tree trunk with 20" or more of aluminum flashing to prevent raccoons from being able to climb into their nest tree. The tree ideally will have adjacent trees from which the squirrels can access the nest tree which will not be an option for a raccoon.

[AverageJoe]

It's hard to know what may have happened... may I recommend you wrap the tree trunk with 20" or more of aluminum flashing to prevent raccoons from being able to climb into their nest tree. The tree ideally will have adjacent trees from which the squirrels can access the nest tree which will not be an option for a raccoon.

Yes they can get to the nest via separate routes. I don’t think a coon could have gotten his paws in there to grab the blankets, unless they were able to partially crawl in the opening, but I do remain a bit skeptical about that.

[olorin19]

Most of my released squirrels have tended to spend the winter back in one of the nest boxes in my yard. Most of these have actually been spring releases, who typically move to the trees for the summer then return to their nest box when it gets cold.

Like you, I tend to get out there first thing in the morning and again before bedtime to make sure my guys are well fed. And like you, if I do not see somebody, I worry until I see them again. So, welcome to the parents of released squirrels club!

A few observations:

If possible, put out multiple nest boxes. Due to the way nest boxes are typically constructed so as to be safe from predators, whoever gets inside first on a given night is now in control. So if a wild decides to occupy the nest box before your guys claim it, then they are possibly out of luck for the night. I always have at least three nest boxes so my guys have backup accommodation available.

I have seen released squirrels decide to relocate and start moving fleece elsewhere. I have also seen wild squirrels gather nesting materials by pilfering a nest box. So this might be what is happening.

Sounds like you have two male siblings? This will help them control their nest box, as if either one gets there first, then it is theirs for the night.

During sufficiently cold weather, squirrels will let other squirrels bunk with them. I have had dominant male singletons who typically slept alone who would let in a wild squirrel on cold nights. When it gets really cold, I have seen as many as five squirrels emerge from the same nest box - like a clown car with squirrels! I have three nest boxes out now, all near one another. There are three wilds who typically sleep in one and another wild who typically sleeps in another. But on really cold nights, that one moves over to join the others.

About five years ago, I had a brother/sister Arya and Iggy who started out sharing a nest box upon release. Then Arya had three pups and Iggy moved to another nest box. Once the pups got older, it was often Arya and Iggy in one nest box then the three pups in another. When it got cold enough, all five slept together. Eventually two of the pups Frick and Frack ganged up on the third Lyle, who then became the shadow of Uncle Iggy for the next several years. Squirrel family dynamics!

[AverageJoe]

Just an update…saw both squirrels yesterday afternoon. Sonny was up in the top of a large oak and appeared to be working on a large nest. Earl was seen later in a tree near their box. When I went out to see him, he began to chatter and squeal, sounded rather sad. He would not come to me to het a treat.

Later in the evening, I saw 4 raccoons on one of my bird feeders. I am betting they were the culprits of pulling the blankets out of the box. One of them was rather small. I will be live-trapping them and relocating them starting tonight.

I’m concerned that the raccoons have stressed the squirrels and they no longer feel safe in their box and are moving on. I put the fleece back in the box yesterday just in case they give it another go. Supposed to be single digits this weekend. Gotta help them stay warm, but I would imagine they can handle themselves.

[AverageJoe]

Most of my released squirrels have tended to spend the winter back in one of the nest boxes in my yard. Most of these have actually been spring releases, who typically move to the trees for the summer then return to their nest box when it gets cold.

Like you, I tend to get out there first thing in the morning and again before bedtime to make sure my guys are well fed. And like you, if I do not see somebody, I worry until I see them again. So, welcome to the parents of released squirrels club!

A few observations:

If possible, put out multiple nest boxes. Due to the way nest boxes are typically constructed so as to be safe from predators, whoever gets inside first on a given night is now in control. So if a wild decides to occupy the nest box before your guys claim it, then they are possibly out of luck for the night. I always have at least three nest boxes so my guys have backup accommodation available.

I have seen released squirrels decide to relocate and start moving fleece elsewhere. I have also seen wild squirrels gather nesting materials by pilfering a nest box. So this might be what is happening.

Sounds like you have two male siblings? This will help them control their nest box, as if either one gets there first, then it is theirs for the night.

During sufficiently cold weather, squirrels will let other squirrels bunk with them. I have had dominant male singletons who typically slept alone who would let in a wild squirrel on cold nights. When it gets really cold, I have seen as many as five squirrels emerge from the same nest box - like a clown car with squirrels! I have three nest boxes out now, all near one another. There are three wilds who typically sleep in one and another wild who typically sleeps in another. But on really cold nights, that one moves over to join the others.

About five years ago, I had a brother/sister Arya and Iggy who started out sharing a nest box upon release. Then Arya had three pups and Iggy moved to another nest box. Once the pups got older, it was often Arya and Iggy in one nest box then the three pups in another. When it got cold enough, all five slept together. Eventually two of the pups Frick and Frack ganged up on the third Lyle, who then became the shadow of Uncle Iggy for the next several years. Squirrel family dynamics!

Thank you for your response.
These released are not siblings, but you couldn’t tell by their behavior.

I raised siblings from just days old early last year with a successful release in the backyard. It was great because for months they would come down to us and eat and play. They would jump on us while we were laying in the hammock. It was good times.

The sister, Lulu, ended up getting pregnant. She wilded up and quit coming up to us. About a month or two later, the boy, Scoob, began to wild up as well. We see them in the backyard, but they no longer come to us.

Late summer/early fall a friend from work had a tree fall over in a storm and he rescued a little fox squirrel. Knowing that we had raised squirrels, he asked if we could help so we took in Sonny. A week later, another friend from work called. His dog had dropped a baby squirrel in his living room. He asked if we would take it. That’s how we acquired Earl.

Each was about 5 to 6 weeks old when we got them. They did not get along at first. But within weeks, they became best friends. So they’re not siblings, but they get along wonderfully. Just wondering how this recent chain of events will affect them.

[olorin19]

Thanks for sharing.

I have never raised non-related squirrels, great that they bonded so well.

I have had a number of releases who have remained in my yard for years. And while I do not handle them, they are generally quite content to climb and perch on me, take nuts from my hands, etc. A few will even climb into the hood or pouch of my sweatshirt. I just let them determine what level of contact works for them. While most take nuts gently from my hand directly with their teeth, the odd one will grab with their claws instead - in which case for them I drop the nut in front of them to avoid getting scratched inadvertently.

Good luck!

[AverageJoe]

Thanks for sharing.

I have never raised non-related squirrels, great that they bonded so well.

I have had a number of releases who have remained in my yard for years. And while I do not handle them, they are generally quite content to climb and perch on me, take nuts from my hands, etc. A few will even climb into the hood or pouch of my sweatshirt. I just let them determine what level of contact works for them. While most take nuts gently from my hand directly with their teeth, the odd one will grab with their claws instead - in which case for them I drop the nut in front of them to avoid getting scratched inadvertently.

Good luck!

Thanks!

They didn’t get along at first…a fox and a gray

But we kept them separated, but changed their cage each day…so one would be where the other was every other day. We tried this to see if they would get accustomed to each other’s smell.

After about a week, you would have thought they were lifelong friends. Still get along great today!

[olorin19]

Thanks!

They didn’t get along at first…a fox and a gray

But we kept them separated, but changed their cage each day…so one would be where the other was every other day. We tried this to see if they would get accustomed to each other’s smell.

After about a week, you would have thought they were lifelong friends. Still get along great today!

I have only had eastern grey.

Clever idea on changing cages to get them used to each other's smell.