Wildlife

Wild Red Squirrel Nest Box Welfare

Red squirrel nest boxes provide supplementary nest sites in areas where natural tree cavities are scarce, supporting individual welfare.

Key Facts

Red squirrels use dreys (leaf and bark nests) in tree canopies for shelter and breeding
Nest boxes placed at 3-5 metres height in conifers are readily adopted
Nest box monitoring provides welfare data including breeding success and health status
Boxes must be cleaned annually to prevent parasite build-up affecting squirrel welfare
Nest box programmes are most effective in areas free from grey squirrel competition

Welfare Considerations

Red squirrel nest boxes provide welfare benefits through alternative shelter and breeding sites where natural dreys are unavailable or unsuitable. Monitoring nest box use provides welfare data that informs conservation management. Annual box cleaning prevents health problems from parasite accumulation in frequently-used boxes.

What You Can Do

Support red squirrel conservation organisations with nest box programmes
Contribute to nest box monitoring schemes recording red squirrel breeding success
Advocate for grey squirrel management in red squirrel conservation areas