Squirrels – Nesting Habits

Q: Do squirrels return to the nest they have built year after year? Do ‘new’ squirrels ever move in to take over the nest? Should we remove the nests?

A: Yes, gray squirrels do reuse their nests. However, since wild squirrels are not likely to live more than a couple of years, new families move into unoccupied nests regularly. If a nest is lost during a storm, squirrels are quick to find another spot to build a new home. Removing the nest won’t do much good to control their numbers. Squirrel populations rise and fall naturally. There is little a homeowner can do to affect their numbers.