2 Reasons You Should Never Touch A Mound of Leaves in an Illinois Tree

Have you ever noticed a big mound of leaves high up in a tree and thought, what the heck is that?

What Does a Squirrel Nest Look Like?

Up until a few years ago, anytime I saw a mound of leaves like this high in a tree I just assumed it was the nest of a large bird like a hawk or eagle...

Well, hat big mound of dry leaves is in fact a nest, but it doesn't belong to any kind of bird.

It's a squirrel nest, also called a drey, and although it may be unsightly, there is one big reason you should never touch or remove it.

Why You Should Never Remove Squirrel Nests From Trees

The first reason why you should leave a squirrel nest be is because it is more than likely protecting babies.

Squirrels in Illinois have two breeding seasons; the first one takes place in January/February, and the second in late spring/summer.

Since squirrel nests are most noticeable during the winter when trees are bare, and squirrels breed in January and February, there is a darn good chance that ugly nest is holding babies.

The second reason you should never remove a squirrel nest from a tree is because it is illegal to do so in Illinois!

An article from the Forest Preserve District of Will County says; "In Illinois, squirrels are protected by the Illinois Wildlife Code",  which basically means it is illegal to trap, tamper or harm squirrels in urban areas.

What to Do If Squirrels Are Causing Problems In Your Yard

If a squirrel nest or squirrels in general are wreaking havoc on your property, the best thing to do is call a wildlife control office or rehabilitation center so they can safely deal and locate the animals. You can find a list of wildlife control officers and rescues listed by counties in Illinois at wildlifeillinois.org.