Having a backyard bird feeder means having squirrels too. This time of year, the female gray squirrels become fertile for a short period of time making for active chases around the yard.
Gestation is 44 days and only the female will raise the 2-4 babies in her tree-top den of leaves or in a tree cavity. After birth, the babies are fully independent at 12 weeks so there can often be a temporary surge in the size of the squirrel population when they join the adults at the feeders.
In other nesting news, the Decorah Iowa Eagle Cam female is about ready to lay her first egg. You can watch the action here.
