Baby Red Squirrel In The Rain.....

Baby Red Squirrel in the rain, just a few days out of the nest. Also known as "Bigfoot" .......

This little one has five brothers and sisters shown in the video below. Last October there were five squirrel kittens.

Video: Six Cute Red Squirrel Kittens

Red Squirrels Kittens Raised in a Screech Owl Nest Box

A mother Red Squirrel raised her five kittens in one of our Screech Owl nest boxes and rather than a nuisance this was a delight. The only regret was not having a camera set up inside. Unlike Gray Squirrels the little Reds don't seem to make a mess of the box and as they have vacated by mid-October the owls can have it back for late winter nesting. I grew rather fond of these little Red Squirrel kittens (that's what baby squirrels are called) and will have some really cute videos in the coming weeks. If you subscribe to the companion YouTube channel you will be sure and get the latest videos - they will be delightful - I guaranty it! Subscribe at: 

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Two of the five Red Squirrel Kittens - just like owlets they find their first glimpse of humans fascinating.

This cute one with the pointy ears spent its early days staring out at the big world out there to be explored.

Squirrel Mother and Child - Mother's Day Celebration

A mother squirrel out for a meal at the bird station with her newly weaned young one.
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Squirrel Romance in an Owl Nest Box - A Valentine's Day Story!

Hidden Camera Video of Amorous Squirrels Intent 

on "Occupying" our Screech Owl Nest Box

Squirrel in a Screech Owl Nest Box

What a Squirrel Nest Looks Like in an Owl Nest Box - 

No room for owls!

 A Squirrel Valentine's Day Story of epic proportions! We've all seen squirrels "carrying on" in public parks and in our backyards and thought - why don't they get a room?  We'll this is the story of two classy, but adventurous, young squirrels who dared to check into an Owl Nest Box to conduct their courtship ... introducing an element of excitement, danger and intrigue to their romance........

OK, now the backstory. I like squirrels, I really do, but I love Owls. Attracting and observing Eastern Screech Owls in a nest box and dealing with squirrels go hand in hand. We first put up an owl box in late 2010 and had Screech Owls in early 2011 with no squirrel problems. Late 2011 was a different story. When I went to prepare the owl nest box and set up the camera in December it was full of twig and leaves and obviously had served as a nest for a litter of squirrel kittens already. I cleaned it all out and put in fresh wood chips set up the camera and replaced the nest box in its original position. The very next day I notice a squirrel head sticking out of the nest box and turned on the camera. One has to be careful with the big brother approach - and to my amazement two squirrels were clearly intent on raising another family in the newly clean and renovated owl box. 

Squirrels in Florida breed twice a year and December/January is the second breeding season. They were determined to keep doing the nasty and would no doubt be filling up the owl box with twigs and raise another bunch of kittens - thereby precluding the breeding of Screech Owls. This forced me to move the owl box to under the gable end of a large shed in the backyard about 8 feet of the ground , not perfect, but the owls love it. It was safe from all climbing predators and squirrels. The squirrels had to consummate their relationship and build a nest in a nearby tree, but fortunately I was able to document their brief moment of adventurous passion in an owl nest box!

Squirrels Have Kittens!!

Mother Squirrel is Quite Upset

Mother Squirrel Taking a Break from nursing - she's full of milk

Did you know squirrel babies are called kittens? They are as cute. Our Florida squirrels have delivered their second litter of kittens this past two weeks and mother squirrel has obviously been nursing a large number of kits or "kittens" - sometimes up to 8. In Florida mature squirrels usually breed twice a year. They tend to finish up with the nest about the time the Screech Owls start to nest. Mother squirrel has a habit of making a lot of noise these days with the little kits or kittens in the nest in the trees. Doesn't take much to set them off and they tend to be more cautious and keep more to the woods than around the house - no doubt so that they can take care of the little ones.