# Squirrel Nest, ages thereof

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/squirrel-nest-ages-thereof/462522>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [September 7, 2008, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/squirrel-nest-ages-thereof/462522 "2008-09-07T19:18:54Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\
**Post date:** [September 7, 2008, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/squirrel-nest-ages-thereof/462522/1 "2008-09-07T19:18:54Z")

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Here I am in Maryland. In September.

There is a squirrel nest in the maple tree behind the house. Is it most likely a nest from earlier in the year and so now disused? Or are they fixing to settle in for winter?

Common old black and gray squirrels.

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**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\
**Post date:** [September 7, 2008, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/squirrel-nest-ages-thereof/462522/2 "2008-09-07T19:46:26Z")

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It won’t have much use this time of year, and Squirrels don’t store nuts in these nests. Usually the nests are lined with grass and moss and are to keep out the winter cold, but squirrels don’t hibernate, so I’d say you are looking at a remnant. However, squirrels will go back to these and if they were made well, they will redecorate the interior and have at it again for another season.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\
**Post date:** [September 7, 2008, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/squirrel-nest-ages-thereof/462522/3 "2008-09-07T20:37:28Z")

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Thank you.

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**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\
**Post date:** [September 7, 2008, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/squirrel-nest-ages-thereof/462522/4 "2008-09-07T21:59:20Z")

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[useless trivia]The proper name for a squirrel’s nest is a drey.[/useless trivia]

[Eastern gray squirrels](http://www.wildlifeonline.me.uk/squirrels.html#refugia) (the kind you have) breed twice a year, so the dreys (it’s common for a single squirrel to have multiple dreys) are actually “in use” all year.

CMC +fnord!