Winter shelter

[RobR]

Here's my question: I'm trying to discourage a squirrel from nesting in my shed for the winter. I'd like to provide a shelter for it as an alternative. I'm in Simcoe County, in Ontario. Do I need to elevate the shelter to keep it from picking up too much cold from the ground, and so that the critter can get in once the snow has built up?

Thanks in advance.

[olorin19]

You definitely need to elevate the shelter.

There is a forum devoted to cages, nest boxes, etc. with lots of pictures:

https://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/...ials-and-ideas

The nest box should have a predator baffle so that nobody can reach inside to where the squirrel is sleeping, etc. Lots of different ways to do that - again, check the forum. If you look at the photo of the open nest box (which would normally be closed), the squirrel would enter through that 3x3 hole near the top then find themselves on a shelf. On the far corner away from that opening is another 3x3 opening to reach the lower section with the fleece.

Also, you will want nesting material inside for them to keep warm. I use lots of pieces of fleece, while other use dry leaves. (Some have had problems with fleece getting damp. In my experience, if thie nest box is fairly weatherproof, everything inside stays warm and dry. I have removed and replaced fleece in the summer and found it generally to be in good shape.)

Ideally, the nest box should be up a tree, but you have to work with what you have. I have actually placed nest boxes on green metal posts. I apply many coats of vegetable oil to the wood so it last many years - just gets darker but wood remains solid. I use doormats on the top as roofing material.

My nest boxes are admittedly crude, but they work. (I go to Home Depot and get a single 12' 1x12 cut into the correct lengths, buy a doormat and the hardware, then manage the rest with a few hand tools at home.

Again, go to the forum, as there are many more clever ideas there for those more handy than me!

I have had wild squirrels move into nest boxes on a post set against my hedge. The one by my back door (open just to show how it is put together) has been used by previous releases. Arya actually gave birth to two of her five litters in that nest box - the other three litters in other nest boxes in my yard.)