November 6, 2011 - Tree Home
Welcome to the Nature Notebook.

After the leaves drop from deciduous trees in autumn, large clumps of leaves and twigs become easily visible in treetops. One to two feet in diameter, these squirrel nests will remain throughout the winter high in treetops or in the forks of branches. Summer nests of gray squirrels are rather loose affairs that provide a bit of shelter but allow air flow for natural air conditioning. Winter nests, however, are a bit more elaborate. Outer layers are constructed of interwoven twigs and leaves wrapped around an inner chamber of softer materials. Bark stripped from nearby trees, leaves, moss, fur and grass line the chamber and help make it resistant to winter winds. Old nests disintegrate over time, but are sometimes remodeled into new ones. In late winter, squirrels will move to dens in hollow trees to raise their young.

This is PPL's naturalist, Jon Beam, with the Nature Notebook for WVIA.