Squirrels With "nesting" Material?

[flicrat]

Several times recently I have watched three squirrels at a time come scampering through the sycamore tree down to the grass, where they have - at breakneck speed!- collected mouthfuls of leaves and dashed back up into the fir tree next to the sycamore. This is repeated three or four times, passing and repassing each other, until it all goes quiet again. Are they lining the drey? They never chooses leaves from the soil, only the grass, but I would think they are still fairly damp.

[cupid04]

We have three grey squirrels that regularly visit our garden. We even had one indoors last summer when the patio door was open. That was fun trying to get it out without frightening it and keeping the cat out of the way! Never seen a squirrels nest though.

[EcclesCake]

I often see the squirrels in my garden relining their drey.

Quite an effective way of tidying the garden it seems....

I just pray I don't have too many litters this year, four last year was far too many.

[flicrat]

Cupid you can see them in deciduous trees when the leaves drop - at which point, presumably, the squirrels make another for the winter in a fir tree. This leaf collecting behaviour is almost like changing the bedding.They all huddle together for warmth, I believe.

[ladybirder]

Well they have two litters a year according to this link and the first is Feb/March so keep your eyes peeled for babies flicrat:-)
http://www.melton.gov.uk/environment_and_planning/pest_control/squirrels.aspx

[flicrat]

Thanks Ecclescake. Good to know it happens elsewhere and there is an explanation!

[flicrat]

I will ladybird, but I don't think I see them till they are reasonable size, so could just be small ones. They don't seem to hibernate as I learnt in school, but perhaps in the 40s it was red squirrels we were told about.

[ladybirder]

Possibly flicrat, I remember seeing reds in the New Forest in the 60's but the greys were also well established by then as well. The greys empty some of my seed feeders before the Goldfinches get there which annoys the hell out of me. But they are useful in the park, the dog has a great time chasing them:-)

[coccinelle]

I have red squirrels in my garden and they're often out and about in winter. However, I don't see them when there's snow on the ground.

[RATTER15]

Coccineal, I think that's because they don't like their nuts getting cold in the snow. :-/

[coccinelle]

Ratter, LOL!

[flicrat]

Ratter, who does?! LOL I last saw red squirrels in Thetford Chase in the late 60s, Ladybirder, but they are around in the Lake District still. An elderly couple in Glos used to tell me they saw red squirrels there in the late 80s. Looking down on a grey squirrel today ( I live on the second floor) it had a very russety wide streak along its back, so you could se why they might have got confused. Coccinelle, perhaps that reinforces that hibernation is for the reds.

[flicrat]

Coccinelle, I should also have said that the grey squirrels are out in the trees in snow, though I am not sure if they are on the ground too. I watched one bounding through the branches, scattering snow and causing mini avalanches after a heavy snowstorm.Great to watch!