Do Squirrels Go Back to the Same Nest Every Night?
A squirrel living in your attic usually does go back to the same nest every night. Squirrels can use more than one nest, but a dry, protected den is the best spot they can find, and an attic is about as good as it gets. A mother with young comes back to the same nest every night until her young are old enough to leave.
Why the Attic Wins Out
Squirrels in the wild use two kinds of homes. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s guide to Texas squirrels notes that hollow trees are preferred den sites and nurseries, and that squirrels build outside nests of twigs and leaves when a good den isn’t available. An attic works like the best hollow tree in the neighborhood. It’s dry and out of the wind and rain. Once a squirrel finds one, it has a strong reason to keep coming back.
Squirrels Can Keep More Than One Nest
Squirrels don’t always stick to one spot. They may have a leaf nest in a nearby tree along with their den, and they can move between them. That’s part of why an attic can go quiet for a night or two and then pick right back up. A quiet attic doesn’t mean the squirrels have moved out for good.
A Mother With Young Always Comes Back
When there’s a litter in the attic, the mother returns to that nest every night. TPWD notes that young gray squirrels stay in the nest for about six weeks, and young fox squirrels don’t leave their nest tree until they’re about ten weeks old. For that whole stretch, the attic nest is where she goes at the end of the day.
Why This Matters Before Anything Gets Sealed
Homeowners sometimes watch a squirrel leave in the morning and seal the hole while it’s out. If there’s another squirrel or a litter still inside, it’s now trapped, and a trapped squirrel will chew its way out, sometimes right through the ceiling. The squirrel that left also comes back and starts looking for a new way in.
How We Handle It
The Critter Team provides squirrel removal services that make sure every squirrel is out, including any young, before we seal the house. We close soft roof connections with 23 gauge aluminum fabricated on-site and secure vents with hardware cloth and custom metal fabrication, so the attic nest is no longer an option.
So Do Squirrels Go Back to the Same Nest Every Night?
A squirrel with a nest in your attic usually does, because an attic makes a better den than anything it can build outside. Squirrels can use more than one nest, so a quiet night doesn’t mean they’re gone, and a mother with young comes back every night until the litter is grown. Removing every squirrel and then sealing the attic is what breaks the pattern.