The squirrel nest is called a Kobel. The animals build several hawks high up in the trees to protect themselves from natural enemies. To attract squirrels to your garden, you can build such a hutch yourself.

What is the purpose of the Kobel?

In the Kobel, the nest of the squirrel not only the young are brought to the world. The nest is also used for winter rest or when the small rodents want to rest. The squirrel's spherical nests are made of twigs and leaves. Inside they are softly padded with moss and grasses. As a rule, only one squirrel with its young fits in the goblet. For safety, each squirrel has more than one hutch. It can move immediately in case of danger or the like. On average, squirrels have between 2 and 8 nests at a time. During the day for resting squirrels usually use a shaded hutch, while for the night they prefer the sleeping hutch.

What does the squirrel's nest look like?

At first glance, a Kobel resembles a bird's nest, which is rounded in shape. Very important in the construction of the nest are the protection from moisture, cold and wind. For this reason, the squirrel builds the hutch thick and dense. In addition to leaves, the rodents also use grasses, mosses and feathers as well as soft material that they find in nature to cushion the burrow.

Who builds the squirrel nest?

Since squirrels are primarily solitary animals that only join together during mating season, both males and females build the squirrel's nest themselves for sleeping and resting. The situation is different for the hutch, where the young are born. This is built only by the female animals.

When do squirrels build the hutch?

Since the nest should provide the squirrel protection from the cold and extreme weather in the winter, he is necessarily built in front of it. From spring the Squirrels constantly building nests. This is also the time when the offspring is born. Therefore, such a kobel is also established as a nursery by the female animals.

How long does it take to build the nest?

The squirrel's nest is usually located in branch forks that extend from the main trunk of the tree at a height of 6 to 15 meters. For the construction the squirrel needs a period of 3 to 5 days.

How to build a squirrel nest

If you want to help squirrels build their nests, you can help the animals at Baum.

You can use a commercially available nesting box with at least 2 entrances and exits. You pad this with moss, thin branches, hay, straw and other soft materials. Hang the finished nest as high as possible on a tree. The height should be at least 5 m. This way you can protect the nest from cats and martens.

When hanging the nest, make sure that the back side faces north. If possible, do not attach the nest to a house wall or a smooth tree trunk.

How big should the nest be?

The squirrel nest you build should have a base of at least 26 x 26 cm and a height of 30 cm. It is important to have two entrances and exits so that the rodents can escape from enemies. At least one of the entrances must lead into the nest from below.

A Kobel that squirrels build themselves is usually spherical and has a diameter of 30 to 50 cm. The inner diameter is between 15 and 20 cm. In any case, the hutch is waterproof and protects against cold. The nest has two or more exits with a diameter of about 9 cm.

What is the optimal squirrel nest?

• Cottage should be unpainted and untreated material.
• Optimal are natural woods such as beech, maple and pine. The wood is breathable and moisture can escape well.
• In no case should the nest be impregnated.
• The base area is at least 26 x 26 cm. The height should not be less than 30 cm.
• The roof should rise above the ground, so that it can not rain inside.
• Flat roof is better because squirrels like to use it as a viewing platform.

When can the squirrel's nest no longer be used?

There are a number of reasons why squirrels do not return to their hutch.

• The nest was destroyed by a storm.
• An enemy has destroyed the nest or is in the immediate vicinity.
• The nest was soiled at birth.
• There is an infestation of parasites in the nest.
• The nest fell from the tree for various reasons.