That Strange Ball of Leaves in Your Utah Tree Isn’t a Birds’ Nest

During the winter, several places in Utah receive a lot of snow. You may not see many wild animals roaming around during the winter, but if you look up in the tree outside of your house, you might see something very interesting. We all know what a bird's nest looks like, but what does in mean if you see a big ball of leaves?

If you own a home in Utah, the time for spring cleaning will be here before you know it. Spring is a great time to spruce up you yards, and do a little landscaping. There's a good chance that you still have a few leaves to rake up around your property. Most trees lose all of their leaves during the fall, and if you look up at the bare branches and see a big ball of leaves, it may leave you scratching your head.

At first, you might be tempted to try to remove the leaves, so that you can rake them up, but the best idea is to leave them be. If you think it's a bird's nest, think again.

WHAT IS THAT HUGE BALL OF LEAVES UP IN YOUR TREE?

According to Town Lift, the state have Utah is home to three native squirrel species. The American Red Squirrel, Rock Squirrel, and Albert's Squirrel are all native the Utah. The ball of leaves that you see in your tree is a squirrel's nest, and you shouldn't tear it down.

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Squirrels are actually celebrated in Utah. The Natural History Museum of Utah is dedicated to researching squirrels to learn more about how squirrels live, and how they are adapting to a changing environment. If you're a squirrel lover, it's worth checking out.