Ummmm, can I help you?
My first batch of squirrel photos I took in the new year featured this guy, who was helping another squirrel pad the nest in my backyard tree with mouthful after mouthful of leaves. It was a windy, cold, gray late afternoon… but that didn’t stop the busy little critters from making sure their homes stayed warm this winter. While his buddy was too hyper and fast for my camera to get many non-blurry pictures of him in the low light conditions, our friend here was more than happy to stop several times and mug for the camera…
I’m not mugging for the camera… I’m wondering what in the hell you’re doing watching me!
Seriously? You’re gonna follow me all the way up in this tree? Have you ever heard of private property?
Good, I think I lost the human!
Oh, for fuck’s sake!!!
Sorry mister leaf hauler, but you’re much too cute not to fully feature as this week’s Saturday Squirrel!
Have a great weekend everyone!
Evil Squirrel's Nest 
I think it’s almost a full-time job in the colder months to keep all those “holes plugged” in the official home nest with leaves – especially if you have a lot of windy days like we do here. Say – while I’m thinking about it – have you seen that little guy that became an overnight star on your blog a little while back? Hope he’s still around.
Pam
I have not. I’m hoping he just got grounded by his mom for leaving the nest until he grew up so I didn’t notice.
I hope so too……he may have been just a little youngish to be hanging around outside.
I’m thinking they don’t like to be watched because they don’t want you to know where they have their nest.
They have nothing to worry about… I stopped climbing trees when I became an adult!
I’m always amazed at the squirrel’s nests around here – massive constructions of leaves and twigs high up in the trees and moving every time the wind comes up!
I can’t believe they stay together so well all winter long. And I see so many of them built on limbs that extend over a street! Talk about living on the edge!
So cute! He’s keeping an eye on you, too. 🙂
Yes he is! Great thing about the last photo was that I clicked my tongue to get his attention, and sure enough, he looked right at me for that shot!
How accommodating of that little guy for cleaning up errant leaves. He’s welcome to swing by the Ranch for a plethora of some of the most cozy leaves this side of the Mississippi.
They could make a high rise squirrels nest out of all the leaves I have available. Not sure if that would fit into the city’s zoning regulations though…
Sure it is a male? One of them is probably not!
I never can tell barring explicit parts showing. But I think these two were building different nests. Squirrels rarely cohabitate except out of desperation… and I don’t think they pair into couples like humans do.
Aww, that is so cute! Off to make a nest 🙂
It’s fun to watch them build nests! And it isn’t just during the winter… I’ve seen it happen all year round!
I was going to say what franhunne4u said. The one working HER tail off is the female. The male is lazing around, eating acorns and wondering why she’s so slow… that OR he’s camera shy. Probably equal bets on which it is!
Perhaps he was just busy picking up more building supplies from Lowe’s. Yeah, that’s it…
VERY cute photos. 🙂
Thanks! I’d have had more good ones to save had it not been so cloudy!
Awwww, what a cutie! Because of all the evergreen trees blocking all the light and my view of sky and tree critters, I rarely get to see the squirrels working on their nests. And that’s a shame because they look adorable with a mouthful of leaves!
You’d think they’d like to builds nests in those evergreens. When I watched Wilson build his nest 5 years ago (Wow, it’s been that long!), it was in an evergreen tree at the park.
They probably have nice and toasty nests sheltered in the evergreen trees. I just can’t see them because the evergreen trees form big walls that block out the view. Being outside here is almost like being in a big room. I’m surrounded by beautiful, snow-covered mountains but I can’t see them unless I drive around to find an open area. Some days it makes me feel very claustrophobic. Today is one of those days!
And WHAT? No way Wilson was 5 years ago!
I can’t believe that either! A sure sign I’m getting really old that five years is like nothing…
Love these! Calendar worthy for sure.
I was quite happy they even came out given how gray it was outside! With some sunlight, they’d really be ready for the big time…
Those are amazing photos! I’ve never caught a moment like that! Great shooting.
It helps to have a tree right outside my window. Otherwise, you have to get outside to catch them nest building and risk scaring them off…
You should hear what he’s saying about you to his high-speed mate…
A bunch of high pitched gibberish, no doubt. Eh, I’ve been called worse…
Now that’s a mouthful!
I’ve seen them with even larger load than that before! Even nuts the size of tennis balls! They’re small, but never underestimate the cargo capacity of the squirrel mouth!
It’s like he’s posing and showing off how many leaves he can lift! Always happy to see a busy squirrel.
Did you give any of the squirrels nicknames?