Squirrels need winter residences, and they do make their own. What you usually see is a “cottage” made of twigs and leaves high up in the forks of tree branches. However, these don’t strike me as what I would want to live in over winter! So, inspired by what I’d seen at a wildlife rehab, I’ve been installing squirrel cabins at the front and back of my house.

The cabin out back (pictured in other squirrel posts on this blog, namely Gladys!) is there all year round, and has been in various incarnations since 2014. I started doing this out front because one night early in November 2021, a homeless squirrel tried to convert the sparrow house under the porch overhang into a home:

The formerly intact sparrow condo
oh no

So I took the sparrow condo down and repaired it for next spring, using metal portal protectors so that the same thing wouldn’t happen again.

But as “your wish is my command,” I also went to the SAQ and picked up a wine crate to build them a winter cabin. And ever since, I put it up when it gets cold, and take it down as soon as the babies (if there are babies) move out in spring.

How-to build a squirrel cabin:

Squirrels love to chew, so if you use a wine box (it’s only ⅜” thick), you have to structurally reinforce it. These 1) take the screws for all parts, including the bracket that keeps the cabin in place, and 2) provide strategic chewy parts for when they start interior decorating. (By the end of the season, they will have excavated right through the back of the cabin.)

Note: the orientation doesn’t matter, it could be tall or wide. I chose wide because up to four squirrels cram in there, and there might be babies in the spring.

You can also make a custom box of your own, it doesn’t have to be a wine crate (6-bottle size, $5), but as they trash the place, expect to rebuild it every year.

You absolutely need a board at the base. I also put a board at the back and top for them; this is the remnant of last year’s model.
You also need side shims. Use a drill and 1″ deck screws, and drill pilot holes in the wine crate.
These reused shims on the left and right side hold the front planks in place. Use screws on the bottom and top.
Using the same planks as last year
There is a slight gap at the top in this year’s model, because I didn’t want to have gaps between. If they want a bigger entrance, they’ll make it.
I added a “roof” that will provide a ridge and drip edge for rain.
Here the cabin is, ready to be installed.

Installing the cabin

Mount the cabin against an inside corner (the chimney is one such corner) or some other place sheltered from much wind and rain. It helps if it’s a sunny location. I would also mount it high, out of reach of predators (me, cats). If you don’t mount it on the house or another outbuilding, then install a backing board and mount it in a large tree.

The brick wall on which I install the cabin already had screw anchors, left over from the days of cable. You definitely need secure screws, so you might want to caulk the anchors if they start to jiggle. Imagine that the cabin-plus-squirrels will weigh at least 3 kg, or up to 8 lbs.

Install the brackets on the wall first, then put the cabin on top and screw the bracket to the box bottom. Use ¾” screws for the front edge and under the brace. You definitely don’t want the screws to poke through the interior board on the bottom. Ugh. Dreadful, dangerous, impossible to sleep comfortably. If you need, take the bottom face board off to make sure they’re secured without protruding.

This year’s cabin is already up on the wall, now that the leaves have fallen off the Virginia creeper. I thought it would be more of a struggle than it was, but the whole job was over in 10 minutes:

If you don’t mind a bit of mild repetition, I’ve blogged about the adventures of being Squirrel Landlady here.

Squirrel Cabin maintenance

A few more things before you go: You can start the insulation process for the squirrels by throwing in wood shavings, dead leaves, and (if you’re OK with synthetics) old fleeces or cushion stuffing when you install it in the fall. The squirrels will add to the collection, and over the winter, they will abuse the inside of the cabin. You will even hear them chewing the inside of their cabin through the walls of your house. Don’t panic! The vibrations are loud, but they’re not chewing right into your house! Though, if your siding does happen to be chewable, then put a metal siding barrier between the cabin and your wall.

Come spring, when the squirrels and/or babies move out (you’ll know if you have babies by the end of April), you’ll have to put on some insect repellent on your arms, take the cabin down, put on a pair of rubber gloves, and salvage the reusable parts (leaving them outdoors until autumn). Then burn the cabin, or put it into the garbage, because there will be squirrel lice. You can compost it if you have the facilities. They won’t transfer to you or even (probably) your pet. Just don’t bring it inside! Gross.