Squirrels are medium-sized rodents with fluffy tails. They live in trees throughout North America. They use leaves to build their nests in sheltered cavities in trees, attics, and chimneys. Squirrel nests in your home can become a nuisance and cause property damage. If you’ve ever cleared a squirrel nest off your property, you know how troublesome it can be and want to avoid doing it again. So, do squirrels come back to the same nest?
Do Squirrels Come Back to the Same Nest?
Yes, squirrels come back to the same nest annually. Squirrels are creatures of habit, and most squirrel species don’t stray far from their small territory or migrate. This fact is why squirrels usually return to their already built nests.
Squirrel nests, called dreys, are made of dry leaves, tree bark, and other insulating materials. The nests help keep them comfortable. Squirrels may build up to three nests in the same area to move their young around if they feel threatened.
Young squirrels may only have one litter per year, but adults usually breed twice a year when they have enough food.
If you don’t actively remove their nests, the squirrels will return to use their nests every year.
Where Do Squirrels Build Nests?
Tree squirrel nests are in natural areas like tree trunk hollows and tall branches. They prefer to build their nests in hardwood trees and oaks.
Ground squirrels dig into the ground and make their nests in underground burrows.
Sometimes squirrels build their nests in homes. They enter houses through small openings or gaps to build nests in places like roof eaves, chimneys, attics, and crawl spaces.
In any case, do squirrels come back to the same nest? Yes, squirrels will return to tree, ground, and house nests each year.
How To Prevent Squirrels From Building Nests
Squirrels nesting in your home can make noise, chew through electrical wires, and tear off the insulation to use it for their nests.
Preventing squirrels from building nests on your property is crucial. If they can’t construct a nest, they won’t return. Do squirrels come back to the same nest? Not if the nest has been removed or blocked off.
Inspect your home and look for small openings where squirrels can enter. These include door gaps, exhaust fans, and other opening squirrels that can fit through.
Once you identify the problem areas, use sheet metal, heavy-gauge half-inch wire mesh, or hardware cloth to seal off the openings. Check for squirrels first because you don’t want to trap them inside.
Another way to prevent squirrel nests is to remove trees and branches too close to your roof. Squirrels can use these trees to access your roof and enter your attic. Trim trees and tree limbs within 10 feet of your home to prevent squirrels from jumping onto the roof.
How Do I Get Rid of a Squirrel Nest?
The best way to get rid of squirrels nesting in your home is to hire a professional pest removal service to remove the squirrels humanely and permanently.
Before you try to remove a nest on your own, check the local laws to see if squirrels are protected in your state. If a squirrel is nesting on your property, you can trap it and release it in another area at least five miles away.
Do Squirrels Come Back to the Same Nest? Wrap Up
By now, you should know that squirrels do come back to the same nest every year.
They are creatures of habit and prefer to reuse their nest whenever they can instead of building a new nest. If you have an issue with squirrel nests, block off any openings to prevent squirrels from nesting in your home.