In Minnesota, squirrel dreys are responsible for big leaf balls in trees.

Big leaf balls in Minnesota trees aren't hawk nests; they're actually formed by squirrels. Squirrels collect leaves and twigs to create insulated nests called "dreys." The misconception arises because some squirrel dreys resemble the nests of raptors like hawks. Red-tailed hawks, a common Minnesota bird, also construct nests in trees, which can be confused with squirrel dreys.

May 11, 2024
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