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DARRELL GAMMON
Magnolia, OH, USA
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Monitoring my bluebird nest boxes on my daughter’s 18 acres and found a flying squirrel family
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Flying Squirrel In Bluebird Box
I love flying squirrels!
Me too! Even if they are nest box competitors, they are still so cool and SUPER cute!!!
I love flying squirrels! So cute!
Unfortunately, I have had flying squirrels invade a bluebird nest with nestlings and eat their heads off and leave the carcasses, sad but they can be destructive animals, just the way nature is.
Hope you have some better luck with bluebirds! If you do not yet have a predator guard installed below the box, adding that might help. But perhaps you already have done so. Good luck.
I have a flying squirrel in my bluebird box here on Cape Cod. I’d like to leave it in case there are babies inside. I’d also like to remove the nest at some point! Suggestions??
Hi Karen, If a squirrel nest with young is found while checking nest boxes, it is best to wait until the nesting attempt is finished to clean out the box or move it. State laws protecting native mammals vary and typically do not allow for the removal of active nests without a permit, unless they are inside buildings. It takes about 60 days for an average litter to become independent and stop visiting the nest. Once the squirrels are gone, you can clean out and move the box if needed.
I disturbed not knowing the fly squirrel had recently given birth to several babies. I was able to put the nest back not touching the babies. The next day I knocked on the box noticed her head picked out. It’’s been a week birds are flying around and I’ve not seen any activity from within the box. I’m not comfortable tapping the box which might upset her if she is nesting her young.
Your thoughts and advice.
Thank you
Hi Betsy, our best advice would be to contact your state/province’s wildlife department for more information about the nesting period for the species of flying squirrel native to your area. Many states have laws in place to protect native mammals, especially during their breeding season. Once the estimated nesting period is over with for the squirrels, it’ll likely be fine to clear the box out of any nesting materials.
I wasn’t sure it was against the law to move ut out. It stay there all year.
I’m afraid it is going to get too fat to get out. It didn’t chew the opening I have metal around it. It went in the bluebird hole. It peeps out at me when I go out to the house. I’m afraid it might jump in my face if it’s not too fat. Last summer it got so hot I figure it wound die. It’s been there all year. 🙄
I went out to check my bluebird house and I saw what I thought was a mouse. It surprised me. When I tapped on the side of the box, it ran out and up the tree and quickly sailed to another tree nearby. I didn’t know we had any in the area. Now that I know it is there, I will leave it alone and see what happens. I live at Lake Martin in Alabama.