In September I often find sprays of oak leaves littering the woodland trails. I used to think they fell in windstorms but I’ve discovered a more common reason. In autumn it’s squirrels at work.

Gray squirrels build leaf nests high in the trees for shelter in winter, nests for their young, and for sleeping at night.  The outer layer is composed of leaves and twigs that make a water resistant blob about the size of a beach ball. The inside is lined with moss, grass, shredded bark and other soft vegetation. The entrance faces the trunk. 

Squirrel nests can be as much as 70 feet off the ground. Here’s what one looks like. 

To gather building materials, the squirrel gnaws near the branch tip — often an oak — until the spray of leaves comes loose.  If he isn’t careful to hold the twig, it falls. Oh well. The squirrel gnaws another one.  

You can tell when a spray of leaves is a squirrel’s handiwork.  The tip of the twig looks chiseled. Teeth made this mark!

Last week I found many leafy twigs on the trails in Pittsburgh.  After four days of cold rain the squirrels were making nest repairs.

As winter approaches you’ll find them, too. The squirrels are fortifying their nests and they don’t have much time. The leaves will be gone in November.

(photos by Kate St. John, Marcy Cunkelman and from Wikimedia Commons; caption has a link to the original)