The Scout...

A Pileated woodpecker pair successfully used this dead tree to raise a chick earlier this year. 'Feeding Junior'. Since they vacated, the cavity has been pretty much ignored. That is until this Gray Squirrel showed up. Gray Squirrels typically give birth twice a year, the second round in late summer, August or September. And although it never gets too awfully cold here in North Central FL, momma squirrels try to find nice warm places for their babes to spend the winter. Often they will build 'communal' nests high up in oak trees so that all of that squirrel body heat can keep everyone warm. They've been known to commandeer empty bird nest boxes for the same purpose. I'm guessing that this squirrel is a 'scout' and will report back to the 'scurry' (a group of unrelated squirrels) or 'drey' (if related), letting them know of the vacancy.   m