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.

Screech Owl Nest Box and Squirrels

Screech Owl and Squirrel  (link to original pictures)

Here is an interesting story out of Texas (link to original story).  First off, that's a very unusual looking Screech Owl Nest Box, seems a bit deep. This is why we can't keep our nest boxes on trees or within reach of squirrels in trees. They will relentlessly attempt to take over the nest box. When its time to lay eggs and guard the owlets this Screech Owl is going to have a tough time defending this nest from many potential intruders.  I wish the owls all the best!