Squirrel Time

Nature SQUIRREL TIME

STORY AND PHOTOS BY DEANNA FRAUTSCHI

Fox Squirrels are prolifi c in Central Illinois and the young from winter’s brood born in February or March are just entering the squirrel population. There are usually two to four in a brood with mom caring for them until they are 10 to 12 weeks old. The young are almost as big as mom by the time they leave the nest.

Although most are reared in nests made of leaves and twigs high up in trees, some fi nd other places, especially in winter, to rear their young. We have four Screech Owl boxes often taken over by nesting squirrels in the winter months. This year I was lucky enough to see mom coming and going as she cared for them in one of the boxes. Better yet, I got to view and photograph the two young ones before they left the box to live on their own.

The next cycle for raising young will happen in early Fall although it’s unlikely we will see our owl nest boxes used by squirrels because it’s warmer then and our screech owls are often using them.

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