Many gardening enthusiasts and homeowners do not appreciate having squirrels in their green areas. The only way to protect the garden or the bird house is to provide these cute mammals with an area dedicated to them; a squirrel shelter, if well built, encourages them to stay in their living space without invading yours. Just like birds, a squirrel house must provide food and shelter.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Building the Squirrel House
Step 1. Get the tools you need
This is a simple joinery project that doesn't require any overly elaborate work. You need a saw (preferably a jigsaw), an electric screwdriver and screws (30-40 pieces). If you don't have an electric screwdriver, you can use nails and a hammer, however the screws make the structure more stable. Also have the following items on hand:
- Tape measure;
- Pencil and paper;
- First aid kit;
- Sand paper.
Step 2. Get some wooden planks
Scrap boards are perfect in this regard; you can consider using outdoor plywood, but squirrels may be able to damage it. You should use two 30x30cm or larger boards for the floor, roof and ledges; you also need two other 88x15 cm boards.
- The width of these last two boards was chosen on the basis of the average build of the squirrels; If larger species live in your garden (such as the red or gray squirrel), use wider boards, whose width should be between 15 and 25 cm.
- If you have taken waste wood, you do not have to comply with the dimensions described in this article.
Step 3. Create the front and back panels
The key detail to creating a good squirrel house is designing a slightly sloping roof; to make it you have to cut the front panel so that it is 2.5 cm shorter than the back one. Use the tape measure to make a mark at 45 cm on the first axis and one at 42.5 cm on the second; draw straight and visible lines with the pen along the width of the boards.
- Make an even cut along the line using the hacksaw; take your time because a good cut is definitely better than a quick and inaccurate one.
- Remember this is a squirrel refuge; if you wish, you could make it a little smaller but not bigger, because these animals love small spaces.
Step 4. Make the side walls
They must have the same width of the front and back panels, but require a slightly more complicated cut; one edge should be 45cm long, the other 42.5cm, and the top cut of each plank should be diagonal. Use the tape measure to take measurements and mark the reference points on the axes.
- Draw a line that joins the 45 cm mark with that of 42.5 cm; use a ruler to draw a straight segment.
- Take your time and cut the wood precisely, following the line you drew. The side walls should line up with the front and back walls.
Step 5. Open a doorway
You have to make the entrance to the squirrel house. Take one of the side panels and measure 7.5cm from the 45cm edge; from this point, drill a hole with a diameter of 7.5 cm - basically you have to remove the sharp edge of the side wall.
The opening doesn't have to be exactly 7.5cm wide, but make sure it doesn't go too far from this measurement; the diameter of the hole determines the species that can enter the house. Some people found possums in the shelter because they made a hole that was too big
Step 6. Connect the walls
Start by arranging them with your hands, making sure that the edges of the front and back panels are perfectly aligned with the side ones; when you are satisfied with the result, you need to fix the pieces following this order:
- First, place the front panel (42.5 cm) adjacent to the respective side wall and after adhering the respective edges, insert 4-7 screws (or nails) at regular distances to join the two pieces;
- At this point, join the back panel (the 45 cm one) to the free edge of the side wall you just fixed and, again, make sure that the screws or nails go through the side board before inserting into the thickness of the back one;
- Finally, assemble the second wall to the house, fixing each corner with at least 4-7 screws or nails.
- If you are using an electric screwdriver, take your time as working too fast can easily damage the wood.
- There should be a constant slope between the 45cm rear wall and the 42.5cm front wall.
Step 7. Join the floor
Use one of the 30x30cm boards to make the base for the squirrel's house. Place the structure you assembled earlier on the plank, aligning the 45 cm wall with the edge of the same; make sure that the structure is centered and trace the edges of the corners on the floor.
- Turn the whole thing upside down, start inserting the nails and screws in each corner, using about 3-4 pieces of hardware on each side.
- Check that the screws and nails penetrate the wood of the house walls, without coming out somewhere.
Step 8. Fill the shelter
Some people insert a wooden partition to make two floors. Squirrels like to play in small spaces, so make your home cozier by adding padding for cushions or fabric puppets. Dry moss is another perfect substrate that you can find in nature or in craft stores.
- Measure the interior space to create a partition; drill another 7.5cm diameter hole as you did earlier.
- Hold the partition and ask another person for help to secure this element with nails or screws; the helper has to insert the small parts through the external walls of the house to the thickness of the partition.
- Don't worry if there are gaps between the shelf and the walls; this element does not have to be as robust as the external structure.
Step 9. Secure the roof
Use the second 30x30 cm board, aligning its edge with the top of the 45 cm panel; hold the plank steady while inserting screws or nails. The roof should protrude over the front of the house.
Method 2 of 2: Install the Squirrel House
Step 1. Search the garden
Plan to spend a day watching squirrels activity. Make a mental note of the trees you see different animals running on and choose one of them to install the shelter on.
To encourage squirrels, choose a spot that is 3-9m above the ground; the higher the house is, the more likely it is that animals will occupy it
Step 2. Create an anchor
You need two large nails to make a stable support for the house. Use a long, safe ladder to get to where you want to install it; get help from a friend for safety reasons. Insert the first nail into the tree with a hammer, taking care to let it stick out for 2-3 cm. Take the second nail and insert it about 20 cm from the first along an imaginary line parallel to the ground; again, let it protrude 2-3 cm from the bark.
The house should hang between the two supports
Step 3. Wrap the shelter
You have to hang it on the tree by wrapping thick wire around the house and the tree itself; make sure the wire is very sturdy and can be tightened tightly. You can also tie the wire and then twist it with pliers, but it could be a bit of a dangerous procedure to perform at this height.
Go to the hardware store and ask for large gauge iron wire that can be twisted easily; the clerk will surely be able to help you
Step 4. Hang the shelter
Place it between the two nails you previously inserted into the tree; the house should snap together and you can secure it later with the wire.
Step 5. Insert some food
Squirrels will be easily attracted to a shelter like this one you made. They are mammals that love the same foods that birds eat and this is the reason that leads them to invade the feeders and houses you have built for the birds. You can use bird food or:
- Fruit (preferably berries);
- Sunflower seeds;
- Dried fruit;
- Pet food.
Warnings
- Be careful when hanging the house.
- Proceed with caution when using the nails.
