They weave all around the tree!

Why are squirrels so busy?  Let’s find out!

The squirrel is an energetic builder that may make two types of homes.  A squirrel that finds a cavity in a tree will use it as a home.  Old holes made by woodpeckers are commonly used.  When suitable homes are not available, a squirrel will build a home called a dray.  In the dray, squirrels are safe from most enemies.

The squirrel builds a dray in the fork of a tree’s trucks, where it can't be shaken loose by strong winds.  The squirrel breaks off tree branches and drops them on the fork.  On top of the branches, the fuzzy-tailed animal places twigs and leaves.  The squirrel forms a round hollow in the center of the dray with an entrance on one side.

During the winter, squirrels live in their tree hole or dray.  In time of bad weather, the squirrel may stay inside for days!  In the summer, when it is very warm and squirrels are more active, the wild animal may build a loose, temporary dray for resting or hiding from enemies.

Tree-living squirrels occasionally come down onto the ground where they search for food among the grass or fallen leaves, but their main home is in the trees.  In fact, that’s where they are born!  Before the birth of her babies, a mother squirrel plucks soft fur from her belly to line the nest in the tree hole or dray.  The fur keeps the baby squirrels warm and cozy as they grow up in their tree home.