Suburban Wildlife Myths: Desired Real Estate – The Nuthouse In The Hollow Tree

Squirrels are fascinating creatures, once you can get past the thought of them consuming your garden produce, shimmering up your bird feeder to steal seed, or digging up your potted plants to roll around in the dirt, cooling off after running about in the hot sun. Take a moment to learn more about this wild neighbor. You may surprise yourself and find their antics entertaining – a front row seat at the circus or comedy show!

There are several types of squirrels indigenous to Connecticut. The Gray Squirrel, which is the most prevalent, prefers upland hardwood forests, although it is a common site in suburban and urban areas. The Red Squirrel is less prevalent, partially due to loss of habitat; this mammal requires hardwood coniferous forests, which limits its distribution in Connecticut. The Northern Flying Squirrel is found in higher elevations in the northwestern part of the state and the Southern Flying Squirrel is found throughout Connecticut, but since flying squirrels are nocturnal, human interaction is not a regular occurrence with these last two species of squirrels.

The Gray Squirrel’s nest, called a drey, is often found in a tree cavity, or it may be constructed of leaves suspended in the treetops. The Red Squirrel is about half the size of its gray relative, and it will not only nest in tree cavities and leaf nests, but it will also nest in ground burrows. And although Flying Squirrels will nest in tree cavities too, they have also been known to take up residence in bird houses when the real estate is available.

Squirrels in general are pretty good climbers and jumpers, but they also have unique characteristics. We have all witnessed them scurrying around burying nuts – and while you may laugh, they have a reasonably good retention rate – and recover approximately 85% of the nuts they hide! And, it is not odd for a Grey Squirrel to be seen hanging by its tail in order to grasp a specific red berry that is just out of reach, or using its tail as an umbrella to keep the rain away. But, by far the more fascinating of the species, the flying squirrel, is equipped with loose folds of skin between its front and hind legs which give it the appearance of flying as it leaps and glides through the air – in fact, flying squirrels may glide more than 150 feet from a height of 60 feet!

It is the characteristics shared by all four species of indigenous squirrels that presents a problem during spring and summer. Mama squirrels usually have two (sometimes three) litters of  2-5 babies per season, beginning mid-March, during prime time for tree cutting, which often results in the separation of babies from their Mama. Homeowners can help by being aware of the animal nesting season and scheduling arborists accordingly, to contribute to the preservation of our wildlife.

What can you do if baby squirrels are separated from their Mama and their nest?

The first thing to know is that where there is one squirrel, there are usually additional litter mates in the area. Secondly, it is possible to reunite Mama with her babies – but this is where it gets a little tricky.  Remember, the Gray and Red Squirrels are active during the day (diurnal), and the Northern and Southern Flying Squirrels are active at night (nocturnal). Therefore, the reuniting strategies have to fit the species! Since the average person is not exposed to baby squirrels every day, often a licensed rehabber is your best resource in these instances, as they can usually differentiate between the species.

In addition, it is important to know whether the babies feel warm or cool to the touch when you find them. This can help you to determine whether the babies were casualties of the tree cutting, or were already on the ground due to other circumstances. Warmth is always a good thing with baby mammals; cool can signify that they fell from the nest quite a while ago. This can mean that they are dehydrated and that Mama is not returning to the nest. 

If you do find a baby mammal that is cool to the touch, put it in a small box in a quiet place, wrapped softly in fleece (terrycloth can cause tiny tender nails to catch), and place it next to a heat source. A plastic bag within a plastic bag (to prevent leakage) filled with warm water works well – make sure it is not too hot and that there is a layer of fleece between the animal and the heat source, so you do not burn the animal. Do not feed the animal, and contact your local state certified wildlife rehabber for assistance.

How can you reunite baby squirrels with their Mama?

In the scenario where you have a litter of Gray or Red Squirrels, place them near the nesting site during the daytime hours, but not during tree cutting. It is common for the diurnal (daytime) squirrels to nap from noon to three in the afternoon, the hottest part of the day, so it is critical to keep the babies warm, but out of the hot sun.

The Northern and Southern Flying Squirrels should be placed by the nesting tree at night, because their Mama will not appear during daylight hours.

If the squirrels are old enough to be moving around, it might be necessary to place a lightweight basket (holes big enough to see through but small enough to prevent little necks from getting caught) over the potential orphans, to keep them together until Mama locates her missing litter, and lifts the basket to rescue them.

Remember to keep everyone away from the animals – including children and pets. The area must be noise free (no tree cutting) when attempting to reunite – and it is important that you watch from a distance. The Mama will not return with people in the vicinity.

If you are unsure of what to do, or if the attempt to reunite Mama with her litter does not work within a few hours, your best option is to contact your local rehabber. 

To find a rehabber in your area, visit The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) website for a listing of CT state rehabbers.