What was the house for the squirrel made of. When the squirrel comes: we build a comfortable and beautiful house for the squirrel with our own hands

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A dacha located next to a park area or a forest area is an opportunity to meet small animals, admire them from the side, and, sometimes, even try to tame them. A rather frequent guest of the summer cottage is a squirrel. To tame her, you need to show ingenuity. However, the first thing to do when trying to tame a rodent is to build a house for it.

Building a house for a squirrel is not much different from making a birdhouse or bird feeder.

Making a house: choosing a place and material for creation

Since the squirrel is a thief rodent, the location of its house next to a person’s housing will not give any results, the squirrel will not settle in such a place. The most correct decision is to place the house on the edge of the site, away from people and fuss. It is desirable that the house does not stand out too much from the general interior, is at a safe height from the ground. These measures, when choosing the location of the house, will allow you to lure the squirrel into the house and gradually get used to your new home.

As practice shows, the material for the dwelling of a squirrel is not of fundamental importance. The small rodent responds equally well to both wooden houses and cardboard boxes, tin buckets, etc. However, the habit of building houses for smaller brothers from wood, as a rule, plays a decisive role in choosing the material for creating a house.

Perfect for making a house timber, mounting rail, etc. Of the tools, a screwdriver, a hacksaw for wood or an electric jigsaw, a round nozzle for cutting the entrance to the house, a pencil and a tape measure, a hammer are useful.

Manufacturing and installation of a squirrel house

All parts for the manufacture of the house are cut with a hacksaw or a jigsaw. Then, in its front part, a round hole is cut out, which will serve as the entrance to the house. Near the entrance make a small ledge, the so-called balcony. With it, the squirrel will be more comfortable getting in and out of the house. All parts of the house are fastened with nails or self-tapping screws. When installing the house, in no case should glue or any synthetic materials be used. They can harm the health of the squirrel and even lead to its death.

At the end of manufacturing, the squirrel housing must be fixed on a tree. The most correct way to fasten the house is to use fasteners or wire. It is not advisable to use nails or self-tapping screws to fix the house, they will hurt the tree. The house itself must be placed in the thick of foliage and branches so that the squirrels are far from the hustle and bustle. When mounting it at a high altitude, it is necessary to use insurance to prevent an accident.

Unusual ways to make a house for a squirrel

As a material suitable for making housing for squirrels, you can use an old uprooted stump. The easiest way to make housing is to cut a hole in the middle of the stump, which will be the place where the squirrel can organize housing. After that, a roof is fixed on top of the stump, housing for the rodent is ready.

Another way is to make a squirrel directly in a tree in case it is completely or part of it has died. In this case, it is necessary to cut a hollow in the middle of its trunk, grind the wood from the inside and protect the entrance to the house so that a cat or weasel cannot enter there. A roof, with this method of making a dwelling for a squirrel, is not needed.

If from the dacha to the forest is within easy reach, be sure to install a squirrel house on the site. Curious beauties will quickly accept suitable housing and get used to the new territory. And you enjoy country life with red-haired neighbors: watch their games, feed them - over time, squirrels will tame and become good friends.

Video idea: original house-feeder for squirrels

Why do squirrels need shelter?

Furry animals live alone, each needs its own shelter. In the forest, they equip hollows or build their own nests on trees, most often spruces. Their home is:

• protection from snowfalls and cold weather (in severe winter, fluffy animals do not show their noses from the nest for several days);
• a pantry with a variety of food supplies (nuts, mushrooms, seeds, berries are harvested by hardworking animals all summer, if there are no supplies, even in frosts, squirrels set off in search of food and often die);
• a place for the birth and hatching of cubs (squirrels are born twice a year: in spring and summer; bald, blind, helpless creatures - there are from 3 to 10 of them in a litter - live in their home for up to 3 months; until they grow up, a caring mother almost never leaves the shelter).

We fix the squirrel house on a tree

In a fierce cold, animals help each other, several of them settle in one nest. But in spring, each squirrel needs a separate dwelling to breed. In this case, the strongest survives, often the animals drive the lawful tenants out of the birdhouses and settle there. Therefore, the installation of a “birdhouse” for squirrels will not only please you and your loved ones, but will significantly help cute animals and birds.

In the stores you will find a ready-made squirrel: from a simple structure to a multi-storey palace. When choosing, do not get carried away by brightness and catchiness. For animals, it is much more important how and from what housing is made.

Requirements for a squirrel

1. The material is only natural wood. Proteins live in natural conditions. Plastic and other artificial "non-breathing" structures will not work for them.
2. Interior walls cannot be processed. Notice traces of varnish, paint and other chemicals - do not buy. Animals will be afraid of non-native odors and will not settle in such living space.
3. Dimensions must be respected. Squirrels love cozy small nests, so a compact squirrel cage is preferable. The best parameters are as follows: height - no more than 55 cm, width - 40 cm, depth - 45 cm. The manhole hole should be round, with a diameter of 6-7 cm. In huge buildings - and there are few chances that tenants will appear there - squirrels will freeze.

Installation rules

Create "native" living conditions for nice new settlers. When installing a squirrel cage, observe the following rules:

• fasten it to a tree;
• height - at least 5 meters from the ground, then the squirrels will feel safe;
• it is better to turn the window to the south or east;
• consider the direction of the winds in your area - the hollow cannot be directed towards constant winds;
• put some moss or tow on the bottom - they will be useful to residents for sealing cracks;
• build a feeder next to the tree - so nimble friends will quickly get used to the new place.

Housing for squirrels can be created independently. The construction of the house will delight you and the children, and there will be a noticeable increase in enthusiasm when communicating with dear neighbors.

Tricks of making squirrels

1. Use any boards, even slabs.
2. The material must be dry.
3. With a board thickness of 2-2.5 cm, the design will last longer.
4. Boards for internal walls do not plan.
5. Strictly observe the dimensions: the width of the side panels is 30 cm, the front and back panels are 25 cm. The rest of the parameters are indicated above.
6. Do not pin the bottom outside, but insert it inside - it will not fall off for a long time.

There are two common ways to build a do-it-yourself squirrel house: from a board in the shape of a birdhouse and from a whole log.

How easy it is to build a house from a board

Creating a house on the advice of experienced builders will be simple and quick. Build a squirrel cage on two floors - the animals love to settle in families, and you will have more fun from a pleasant invasion.

Prepare materials for work. Get three meters of board 30 cm wide, 18 mm thick. Take a hacksaw and a square for cutting.

The house is built!

How to build a one-piece squirrel

Animals settle in log houses with pleasure: it is cozy there and, thanks to thick walls, very warm. Such squirrels will naturally fit into any design and merge with your garden. When purchasing a log, keep in mind that most of all squirrels love coniferous and oak hollows, they are reluctant to settle in birch and aspen hollows, and poplar ones completely bypass them. Use a log with a diameter of at least 40 cm.

Step-by-step construction of a house from a single log

1. build a roof - saw off a circle 4 cm thick;
2. cut a piece 40 cm long - this is a blank of a squirrel;
3. hollow out a cavity in the hemp of the sizes necessary for the living of animals, not forgetting to leave the thickness of the side walls and bottom about 3 cm;
4. cut a round hole on the side - a manhole;
5. nail the previously made cover on top;
6. if desired, arrange a porch - pin a snag or a thick branch.

A wonderful squirrel is ready! In the same way, a two-story log house is created.

Two-story apartment from a single piece of wood

1. saw off two circles 4 cm thick - the bottom of the first floor and the roof of the second;
2. prepare a piece of log 75 cm long;
3. hollow out holes 35 cm deep in it from the ends, not forgetting the wall thickness;
4. attach the bottom and roof;
5. cut two entry holes at the correct height.

You have built a luxurious apartment for a family of nimble animals!

How to take care of a house

Over time, all dwellings are inhabited by bacteria, an unpleasant smell appears, animals can get sick. So, caring for the squirrel is a thorough cleaning at the end of summer. Contact with harmful microorganisms is not worth it, put on rubber gloves before work.

Remove all debris, dirt and insulation materials, if applicable. You can wipe the bottom and walls with a damp cloth. Then lay down fresh bedding.

Summer with a house for charming squirrels will definitely be warm - your hearts will be warmed by the thought that you helped wildlife.

Belchatnik in a country house or cottage harmoniously combines with the decor of any site, as it can “dissolve” among the vegetation of the backyard territory. A do-it-yourself squirrel house is practical, durable and warm. If the summer cottage is located near the forest, then be sure to make a house for the squirrel with your own hands. The benefit of such a structure is that every day there will be an opportunity to admire how squirrels stay on the territory.

Why build a house

Squirrels live alone, and each animal needs a personal shelter. In their natural habitat, rodents settle in tree hollows (mainly spruce) or build nests on branches. If you want to settle a fluffy handsome man in a summer cottage, you need to equip a house. It performs such functions:

• protection of the animal from adverse weather conditions (in winter, squirrels are not shown for weeks);
• pantry for supplies - berries, nuts, seeds, mushrooms. Their animals are collected and stored in the summer (the animals leaving the dwelling in the winter often die);
• place of breeding (twice a year - in spring and summer). The cubs are blind and helpless, they need to be with their mother in a dry, warm, safe place for at least three months.

In winter, squirrels help each other to survive. Often they settle in one house with several individuals, but with the advent of spring, each rodent needs its own home, in which it will breed. There are real battles for a place: alien animals kick out their legitimate tenants in order to settle in a squirrel cage separately. With the onset of warm days, natural selection occurs when the strongest animals survive. Therefore, the installation of the house will not only please the human eye, but also help the fluffy life.

In a self-constructed house, squirrels can live year-round. They will feel comfortable, full, especially in winter, when there is no urgent need to look for food. You can observe their interesting behavior and feed nuts at a convenient opportunity. Contact and observation of small furry animals causes positive emotions in a person, relaxation occurs, this has been proven by psychologists.

Building Requirements

Squirrels are funny creatures. The animals are almost tame, especially in areas where they are often fed. Like all animals, squirrels have a developed instinct for self-preservation, especially in forests. The animals are very attentive, cautious, prudent, and therefore to settle them near their own summer cottage is not an easy task.

It is necessary to take into account all the nuances: the height of the house, the relationship of green spaces (when choosing a tree to fix the house on it, you need to take into account the natural similarity of what grows in the park area and in the place of the new habitat). Disguise is also needed (the future housing of the fluffy should be as similar as possible to a forest hollow).

The house for the squirrel is built from natural wood. When designing, the use of artificial, sealed, plastic building materials should not be allowed. From the inside, the squirrel is not revetted. The internal walls of the building should also be made of natural material; you should not treat them with varnish, paint and other chemicals. Synthetic smells will scare away the animal, and he will never live in such a squirrel.

It is necessary to observe the dimensions of the living area. Squirrels love to settle in small, cozy, warm houses. The squirrel needs to be compact. In large buildings, the risk of internal freezing of the walls is much increased. The squirrel will quickly leave such a house.

Construction dimensions

The main purpose of the squirrel cage is to provide living space for the animal and offspring. However, there is a nuance: each cub needs personal space, which can be provided by installing small partitions or building a multi-storey squirrel cage. If we talk about the optimal dimensions of a one-story house, then the squirrel cage needs a height of 50 cm, a depth of 45 cm, a width of up to 40 cm. You must also take into account the size of the hole for the manhole: the maximum diameter is 7 cm, it is better to choose a round shape.

For a multi-storey squirrel, a height of 30 cm is suitable for each tier. This will ensure a comfortable stay of the animal inside the home. The width of the building is 25 cm. It is not recommended to build a large squirrel cage. This has a direct impact on the comfort of the home and the desire of the squirrel to stay in it.

Necessary materials

The initial stage of building a squirrel house - material selection. It depends on the wishes of the owner of the summer cottage and the devices available on the farm. In building a dwelling, any improvised wooden materials are useful - from boards to slabs. Belchatniks can be from:

• edged board. The house is fastened with standard self-tapping screws, then insulated from the outside with moss. The building looks like a birdhouse, but according to its characteristics it is suitable for an animal to live in;
• solid wood. The dwelling outwardly looks like the natural place of residence of the little animal - a hollow.

Boards for the house

The material must be dry. The optimal thickness of a plank for arranging a squirrel is 20–25 mm: such a building lasts much longer. It is impossible to plan boards from the side where the inner wall of the dwelling is located. Please adhere to the recommended sizes.

It is better to insert the bottom inside, and fasten it from the outside: installation guarantees durability. For the construction of a squirrel house, a drawing is not needed, since the process is quite simple. The following materials are prepared in advance for work:

• board 3 meters long, 20 mm thick, 30 cm wide;
• sandpaper;
• hacksaw / jigsaw;
• self-tapping screws;
• square;
• glue.

First, individual parts are prepared. The length of the board is measured and sawn off 55 cm, this part will be the back wall of the squirrel house. On the same board, 5 cm above and below are marked to leave room for attaching to a tree. 2 parts are cut along the board, each 25x45 cm in size. Side walls will be obtained from them. A piece of 20x25 cm in size is sawn off for arranging a partition. The remaining boards will be the porch.

entrance hole

Doors are cut with a jigsaw, it is better to make round holes of the correct shape. A suitable size is 7 cm. A hole of this diameter will allow the squirrel to feel comfortable inside the house, and the heat will not go outside. Then the holes are carefully polished so that the animal does not get hurt.

Do-it-yourself construction assembly

After preparing the constituent parts, you need to assemble the squirrel house itself. All fragments are initially fastened with glue so that you can make sure in advance that the assembly is correct and that the shapes match, and determine whether the components fit correctly. Then you can finally fix the parts with standard self-tapping screws. When using ordinary nails for fastening, there is a risk that the animal will be injured.

The house for the squirrel is ready. After the final assembly, you can insulate the bottom by laying tow or forest moss. So, the manufacturer of the dwelling will give the fluffies the opportunity to remove small errors that appeared during the construction of the house on their own. Squirrels will provide housing maximum comfort.

In order for the squirrels to feel protected, the house should be fixed at a height of at least 5 m from the ground. The hole for the manhole turns towards the south or east. The hollow of the squirrel is not directed to the windy side. Build a feeder near the squirrel house, so the animals will quickly settle in a new place. A table or plywood are great options. You need to fix the house only to the tree.

Build a squirrel two-story house. A whole family will settle there, and the owner of the summer cottage will be happier from a pleasant invasion. Prepare materials for work: 3 meters of a board 30 cm wide and 18 mm thick, a hacksaw, a square for cutting. Prepare details:

Preparing parts for the house: round holes are cut with a jigsaw on the front, back wall, they are polished with sandpaper so that the squirrels do not catch on and get hurt on the chips. Cut out the entry hole. Now check the correct fit of the parts, glue. For final fixing, use self-tapping screws, not nails. The house has been built.

Log construction

Squirrel houses in the form of a natural hollow fit much better into the exterior of a suburban area, because their appearance merges with the natural environment. Structures of this type retain more thermoregulatory characteristics, they are practical, reliable, so that proteins will live in it for more than one year. The original squirrel from an old log looks great on a pine tree. If the owner of the plot has a log house, then by placing the structure nearby, you can constantly enjoy a harmonious picture, which is presented in a single style solution.

You need to choose a log made of coniferous wood or oak. Squirrels love these types of trees. In a birch or aspen log, the animal may not want to settle, poplar is not unambiguously suitable. Note: squirrels prefer (in descending order):

1. coniferous trees,
2. birch,
3. aspen.

Born climbers do not favor third and fourth places; they will settle in an aspen or birch house only in case of emergency. A house in the form of a natural hollow has advantages over other types of squirrel dwellings:

• a high level of adaptation of residents to the "apartments";
• thickened walls of the stump store heat well;
• simple design;
• the design of the squirrel will complement any garden decor;
• little time to build.

A solid squirrel is made from a log with a diameter of 40 cm or more. The diameter of a stump for building a squirrel house cannot be less than 40–45 cm. The following manipulations are carried out with a prepared tree:

A two-story log house is also being created. From a single piece of wood, 2 circles 4 cm thick are sawn off. This will be the bottom of the first floor and the roof of the second. A part 75 cm long is being prepared, in which holes 35 cm deep are hollowed out from the ends (it is worth leaving the walls thick). The bottom and roof are attached. Cut out 2 entry holes. The two-storey squirrel is ready, we got chic apartments for a family of nimble animals.

home care

Over time bacteria can form in the squirrel's house, provoking the appearance of unpleasant odors, as well as diseases of the animal. Caring for the home of fluffy rodents is not burdensome. Care involves cleaning at the end of summer. It is necessary to remove all pollution, insulating materials, garbage, husks that were used by squirrels. The walls and bottom can be wiped with a damp cloth, then let the house dry, lay a new bedding on the bottom.

As a result, the unpleasant smell should disappear, and with the advent of autumn, the squirrels will gladly settle in a useful garden building. Wear rubber gloves to avoid contact with pathogens.

Making bird feeders is a fairly common activity, but you can also please other inhabitants of the forest, such as squirrels. Creating such a design is not a difficult task. The same applies to its installation.

Requirements

A house for a squirrel is created based on the behavioral characteristics of these animals and several important rules. It can only be assembled from untreated wood. The ban on the use of varnishes, paints and even stains is explained by the fact that sharp and unusual odors repel squirrels.

Wood can be any format (logs or boards), but must be dried. A wet tree dries for a long time, and it is quite likely that a situation will arise that winter has already come, and the squirrel is not ready for use.

All walls of the house must be of sufficient thickness and additionally covered with dry insulation from the inside. Alternatively, it can be cloth napkins, moss or cotton rags. In addition, it is important to still sand the existing surfaces, otherwise the left chip will quickly lead to injury to the animal.

It is important that the inlet allows the squirrel to enter and exit its “home” without problems.

A correctly assembled squirrel cage allows the animals to survive even severe frosts, but at the same time recreates the conditions of their natural habitat, that is, a hollow, to the maximum.

It is not customary to fix the bottom of the house on self-tapping screws from the outside. Having picked up the required diameter, it is enough to place it correctly inside and prevent it from falling out. The squirrel cage should be compact in order to prevent hypothermia of the animals during the cold months.

Kinds

In general, two main varieties of squirrels can be distinguished. The first one resembles an ordinary house, and the projects for its creation depend only on the author's imagination. The basis of the design is assembled according to similar principles, and then a variety of decorative design and the creation of additional elements take place. Such squirrels will be discussed below.

The second type of house for a squirrel is a hollow, a house made of solid logs. Although it is much more difficult to implement it, a number of advantages justify it.

For example, the walls of the nest box are much thicker, which means that the animals inside are warmer. The design looks very natural in the forest landscape, and the squirrels themselves feel like they are in a natural hollow inside. The log used for the nest box must be absolutely dry - young saw cuts will need up to a month's stay in the fresh air. The roof of the house can be removed to be able to put food for animals inside.

General principles of creation

One of the main tasks when creating a do-it-yourself squirrel is to correctly calculate the dimensions of all parts and build drawings. By identifying the parameters of the walls and roof, you can use the ready-made numbers presented on the Internet. At the base house, the side walls are 45 by 25 centimeters, and the upper and lower walls are 55 by 30 centimeters.

There is also an internal partition, the length of which corresponds to 25 centimeters, and the width is 20 centimeters. It is worth doing it, since the animals settle in families, but each individual prefers to have a separate space. It is worth explaining that the result will be a simple house with a flat roof.

If you want to make the design more interesting - with a vaulted roof, you will have to independently calculate the angle of the vault and the parameters of the roof. In addition, the side walls should extend upward, forming corners that are responsible for complete sealing. It is better to pre-sand the wooden board, but not process it. The wall thickness should be in the range of 1.5 to 2 centimeters.

In general, a three-meter board 30 centimeters wide will be enough for all the work. For assembly, you will need familiar tools, usually available in the household. Most often, this is a pencil with a ruler, a hacksaw and a jigsaw, a screwdriver with self-tapping screws, sandpaper and, possibly, waterproof glue that does not have any smell.

The use of glue is optional, so if it was not possible to find the right composition, then it is better to skip the gluing step altogether. Do not forget about the need to dry the finished structure in the fresh air for about a day.

It is worth mentioning that it is easy to make a second floor in a tall house. So the space can accommodate a large number of individuals in winter.

Procedure

To make a house for a squirrel, it is enough to follow a certain algorithm, and then the task will be completed in one day.

First, a project is created independently or taken on the Internet, after which drawings are prepared on its basis. At this stage, it is necessary to take into account the ratio of the dimensions of the important components of the structure, that is, the bottom, side walls and roof. Optionally, you can additionally create a back wall and shelves. Next, the material for the squirrel is determined. As mentioned above, a dried wooden board would be the best option.

It is better to draw the calculated details on a stencil first, and then transfer it to a tree using a pencil and a ruler. Having cut out the individual parts of the house, it is necessary to connect them using nails and self-tapping screws. The cracks in the basic version are sealed with forest moss. Finally, the finished feeder is attached to the trunk with a wire or several clamps. Of course, you can do it easier and just place a cardboard box or a plastic bottle on the tree. But in this case, you should be prepared that, firstly, squirrels are unlikely to like such a craft, and, secondly, its service life will be very limited.

The algorithm for creating a squirrel from solid hemp looks a little different. First, two circles of the same thickness are cut out, forming the roof of the second floor and the bottom of the first. Next, a part of the log is taken, which is approximately 75 centimeters, inside which it is necessary to hollow out the insides on both sides so that a couple of floors are obtained. Having fixed the roof and bottom, you can proceed to cutting the inlets.

decorative design

When decorating a house for a squirrel, it is important to avoid the use of paints, but it is allowed to use any interesting decorative elements that are attractive to the animal. For example, a decoration in the form of cones, attached with nails to the roof or walls of the structure, is suitable.

If the house was assembled from solid logs, then any part can be decorated using the technique of decorative woodcarving. The planks themselves, which have become the walls of the house, can first be decorated with scorched pictures. A good solution would be to separately arrange the entrance area - to create a kind of porch, reminiscent of a birdhouse area, so that it would be easier for squirrels to get inside.

How to attach to a tree?

It is necessary to fix the squirrel on the tree using wire or clamps. The use of nails is strongly discouraged, as this threatens to damage the structure. The tree on which the house will be placed must be evenly thick, stable and not swaying in the wind. If possible, it is recommended to hang a homemade product on coniferous trees or oak, which are the most attractive for squirrels. As for the height of the squirrel cage, it must be at least 5 meters, otherwise the squirrels will not be able to breed their offspring.

It is better to choose a well-lit south or east side, but only if they are not the most windy. If the structure is attached to its own garden plot, then you need to choose the most quiet and peaceful place, close to the forest. The entrance to the squirrel cage should look east, as the animals like it when the lighting comes from this side.

To attract animals to the house, you can place food on its porch or just plywood nearby.

Many residents of suburban areas located near forests are trying to evict wonderful fluffy inhabitants - squirrels - from their yards. If you do not understand such a desire and, on the contrary, you would like to tame these forest dwellers, then you can “domesticate” them to some extent and make them your neighbors. To do this, it is enough to create the necessary conditions for the proteins and then they will gladly settle in your area. All that is needed for furry animals is a large tree, food and a special squirrel house.

In specialized stores you can buy a ready-made squirrel, since the range of such “apartments” is enormous! What is not here: round pumpkin houses, Chinese huts and real high-rise hotels. However, for a squirrel, the colorful style does not matter, and the forest beauty may well neglect it, choosing not ready-made bright apartments for living, but the most ordinary house made of logs or boards that you can make yourself. Making a house for a squirrel with your own hands is not at all difficult. In any case, it is not too different from the birdhouse, except perhaps for its size and some internal features. We will tell you how to quickly make a squirrel cage, which, despite its simplicity, will soon acquire a cheerful tenant.

House for squirrels - a large "birdhouse"

2. Making a house from a single piece of wood. As a result of construction, a house is obtained that looks like a natural "apartment" of a squirrel - a hollow.

House for a squirrel - imitation of a hollow

Edged boards

In order to build such a squirrel cage, you need to purchase an edged board. Three meters of board 18 mm thick and 30 cm wide are enough. To cut wood, you will need a square and a hacksaw.

The most preferred are multi-storey squirrels with internal partitions. We suggest you build a two-story house.

Cutting details for the house

First, we measure from a solid board along 55 cm - we cut out the first part. This will be the back side of the squirrel. We measure 5 cm from above and below the parts - this way we will get free parts with which the house will be attached to the tree. The front side of the building will be smaller in height - 45 cm.

We cut off two parts from the board - 45x25 cm - these will be the side walls of the squirrel cage. Let's not forget about the internal partition with dimensions of 25x20 cm.

Two small boards left after cutting can be used as an entrance porch.

We arrange "entrance doors"

On the back and front wall we make a hole - the entrance for fluffy lodgers. You can make them square, however, it is better to opt for a round hole. Too large "entrance doors" are useless - 7 - 8 cm will be enough. This size will allow the squirrels to feel comfortable and help maintain internal heat. Holes are cut with a jigsaw and carefully sanded with sandpaper so that the animals cannot catch on the chips and are not injured.

If you do not want the squirrel to freeze, make a hole in the wall of the house no more than 7-8 cm

Assembling the structure

Using glue, we fasten all the parts into one design. After making sure that all the elements fit correctly, we finally fix them with self-tapping screws (it is undesirable to use nails, since squirrels can get hurt by sharp edges).

After the house is assembled, put some moss or tow inside. This will allow the forest dwellers to independently close up all the cracks and errors in your construction in order to provide maximum comfort and warmth for their future offspring.

Solid wood house

Houses in the form of a forest hollow fit much better into the design of any site, as they are able to “get lost” among the trees and become almost one with your garden. Moreover, such structures are very warm (thanks to thick walls), durable and practical - squirrels settle in them with great pleasure. It is not difficult to make such a squirrel. You need to purchase a log from wood characteristic of your area. Squirrels love to settle in oak and coniferous hollows. Aspen and birch are not very favorite for them, but if you make a house out of poplar, then be prepared that squirrel families will generally bypass the building.

We will take a pine log with a diameter of at least 40 cm. We saw off a part of our log 4 cm thick - this is the future roof of the squirrel.

Next, we saw off a piece of log 40 cm high. From the top of the hemp, we hollow out the cavity necessary for the comfortable living of the squirrel. The main thing here is not to overdo it and leave the side walls and the bottom about 3 cm thick. On one side of the squirrel we cut out the inlet. The upper open part of the house is covered with a roof prepared earlier. As a porch, you can use any thick branch or snag.

Thus, a one-story house for a squirrel is made. The construction of multi-storey apartments is carried out a little differently. For him, we immediately cut out two pieces of a log 4 cm thick - this will be the bottom of the first floor and the roof of the second. We saw off a part of a log 75 cm high for the device of "apartments". From the upper and lower ends of the logs, we hollow out two cavities to a depth of about 35 cm, providing for the presence of side walls 3 cm thick. At the required height, we make two inlets to the first and second floors. We fix the roof and bottom.

We hang a house for a squirrel

They hang a house for squirrels only on trees. Animals will not want to settle in squirrel cages placed on artificial poles or supports. Choose a quiet, calm place on the south side of the tree - this will protect the animals from the cold wind. It is desirable that the entrance holes are directed to the east, since squirrels prefer this direction of light most of all. The minimum height from the house to the ground is 5 meters. Only such a height is safe enough for squirrels and will allow them to fearlessly raise their offspring.

House care

At the end of the summer, it is necessary to clean the house. Remove all dirt from it, replace the insulation materials with new ones. This will prevent the growth of bacteria that can cause an unpleasant smell from the squirrel, as well as diseases of the animals you have tamed.

House for a squirrel - creating conditions for the life of a fluffy animal