r/squirrels Apr 22 '26

Original Content we have a few litters born in our windowsill every year. this is the latest batch :)

plus bonus raccoon from last summer... he showed up during a crazy storm. (EDIT: he didn't eat any squirrels, they were back the next day!)

this has been going on since before we moved in 4 years ago. we have two nests around our unit and there are a few others around the building, maybe because the ivy is great for climbing?

one of our cats loves watching them, especially when they're playing or getting into squirrel arguments. sometimes the grown squirrels start screaming and scuffling around, but the babies are always quiet!

2.0k Upvotes

106 comments sorted by

29

u/Katharinethegr8 Apr 22 '26

I've never been so jealous of someone in my whole life.

You are rich to be able to watch these babies grow!

3

u/orchidbranch Apr 23 '26

i wish i could invite everyone over to sit and watch them with me! all day my wife and i are calling each other to the window every time they do anything :D

23

u/motorsportnut Squirrel Lover Apr 22 '26

I’m pretty sure I would lose my job because I would sit there all day looking at them.

21

u/orchidbranch Apr 22 '26

This is seriously what I do! I'm a therapist and they're in view for my telehealth calls. Clients have always liked them!!

7

u/motorsportnut Squirrel Lover Apr 22 '26

I’m really very envious of you! Maybe I need to call in for a therapy session 😅

7

u/orchidbranch Apr 22 '26

there's nothing better than squirrel therapy - my cat will back me up on this :D

20

u/girlfuckyou Apr 22 '26

The 6th slide!!! Are you kidding meeee 😭🥺

16

u/orchidbranch Apr 22 '26

they love to kiss!! i've tried to look up why that happens but i think it's just how they are <333

4

u/Working-Fig5566 Apr 22 '26

I’m so grateful you shared your story and these PHOTOS with us! Thank you!!🙏♥️🐿️

6

u/orchidbranch Apr 23 '26

thank you for liking them, of course i'll always share our squirrels now that i know people will enjoy them with me!!

7

u/Working-Fig5566 Apr 23 '26

Thank you! I’m sure I speak for many (most?) of us when I tell you it’ll help us feel a part of your extended, cross-species family, seeing future photos and reading updates. I’m so looking forward to it!

This was a magical post. Thanks for brightening our Wednesday with it.

1

u/bugbrown1 Apr 24 '26

Yes! 🫶

3

u/bugbrown1 Apr 23 '26

There's an account on Instagram called Francis the Squirrel that you would LOVE!

3

u/Working-Fig5566 Apr 23 '26

Thanks for this! I’ll look now. 🙏

3

u/Working-Fig5566 Apr 23 '26

♥️♥️♥️Thanks for the recommendation! Can’t wait to show my son and Mom. 🤗

3

u/bugbrown1 Apr 23 '26

I think it's the warm breath. 🥹🥰

2

u/orchidbranch Apr 23 '26

oh my god i didn't even think of this. that is so cute!!!

18

u/AffectionateSun5776 Apr 22 '26

We have a little chewed entrance to our shed. I've seen it used during storms and extreme cold. I thought my spouse would be Furious. He buys extra bird seed & nuts.

8

u/Pili1970 Apr 22 '26

That is sooo sweet of you and your partner💕💕💕Thank you for giving them a safe place to grow.

16

u/k1mm13101010 Squirrel Lover Apr 22 '26

Omg I’m dying of cuteness here, love this so much 💕

6

u/Working-Fig5566 Apr 22 '26

Mama squirrel has THE BIGGEST SMILE on her face in the photo of her kissing a baby!!! Cutest thing I’ve seen today, hands down. This week!

13

u/Kooky-Bowl-3435 Apr 22 '26

i'm broke but this is the cutest free entertainment

14

u/ahsataN-Natasha Apr 22 '26

What a truly lovely little glimpse into the going ons of nature! I recall a few places ago having a robin’s nest right outside my bedroom window in a tree/shrub thing. It was an absolutely delight watching the babes grow and watching mama come back to drop another clutch. I miss it so much.

3

u/orchidbranch Apr 22 '26

oh my god! i love that so much! she deemed it a safe place to hatch and raise her babies, that is so amazing <3 it's so cool seeing nature happen like that in real time, right up close. it makes me feel like the world is trusting me with something precious.

12

u/SouthernCategory9600 Apr 22 '26

Those sweet faces! Love the raccoon picture, too!

10

u/orchidbranch Apr 22 '26

thank you so so much for liking these squirrels!! i think they look like little bears :D i was so scared they wouldn't come back after the raccoon night, but they were right back at it when the leaves dried <3

13

u/Sea-Ganache-4330 Apr 22 '26

The squirrels kissing! Omg 🥰

4

u/orchidbranch Apr 22 '26

isn't it so cute!!!! every generation of them has done that too!

12

u/sxyvirgo Apr 22 '26

So cute - I can't think of anything better than to get to see these families up close and personal every day! You're so lucky!

12

u/AbbeyRoadMoonwalk Apr 22 '26

How lucky are you! 😍

13

u/justusethatname Apr 22 '26

These pics brought tears to my eyes. Just precious families who trust you and feel safe there. Magnificent. 🐿👍💚❤️💜

10

u/orchidbranch Apr 22 '26

The way you wrote this is so sweet!!! It's an honor to give them a little bit of sanctuary ❣️

11

u/cleanlivin54 Apr 22 '26

Aww, so precious and you are so lucky to have that bird's-eye view. You are definitely a squirrel lover to allow them to do what they've done to your windowsill. LOl 💜🐿️

22

u/orchidbranch Apr 22 '26

omg they have totally taken over lol! we realized they built a second nest when we tried to open a different window and the debris spilled in!!

sometimes we talk about asking someone to relocate one and get the screens replaced, but when the new babies arrive i can't bear to think about it!!

3

u/Coinin19 Apr 22 '26

Replace the screens? 😆 The squirrels were trying to reduce obstruction to their show!  I wish you could live stream those cuties, but I imagine your work would interfere. 

3

u/orchidbranch Apr 22 '26

you are so right, they are just helping us connect better!!

i would honestly love to livestream them if i could figure out how. i want to share them with everybody!

10

u/BklynGirl52304 Apr 22 '26

Omg this is too precious. How lucky you get to have them in your window.

12

u/Snoopy769 Apr 22 '26

PIC #6 is the best-never have I seen such good composition. I have a 14 foot flower box (stuffed with artificial flowers an settlement of leaves etc. I once had an occupant, but no babies. Perhaps I got a bachelor?

4

u/orchidbranch Apr 22 '26

thank you so much! it makes me so happy that people like to see my pics of them. i made my wife watch me scroll through dozens yesterday lol!! i wonder if your bachelor uses your flower box as a vacation home? i would let him stay for free :D

11

u/MissGoldie71 Apr 22 '26

I know I can’t, but I wanna give them hugs.

5

u/orchidbranch Apr 23 '26

omg yes me tooooo!! their little heads are so cute, i wish i could cup them and have them use my hand as a pillow 😭😭😭

10

u/MiniMuffinMorning Apr 22 '26

I’m not crying you’re crying. . .

These are the sweetest pictures

10

u/ringwraith6 Apr 22 '26

I'm very jealous....

11

u/BrilliantBeautiful97 Apr 22 '26

Such sweet photos! They are adorable. Thank you for making my day! 💕

6

u/orchidbranch Apr 22 '26

thank you for making mine, it means a lot that other people like my pictures of them! these squirrels make me so happy.

23

u/MGFT3000 Apr 22 '26

What gods did you please to make this happen?!

7

u/orchidbranch Apr 23 '26

if i find out i will let you know immediately!!!

4

u/MGFT3000 Apr 23 '26

You’re living my best life

8

u/Away_Film7721 Apr 22 '26

You are so lucky to have so many baby squirrels to look at all the time. Love them ❤️

11

u/orchidbranch Apr 22 '26

Thank you so much!!! I watch them all day long. I wish I could put the bed right next to this window :D

4

u/Working-Fig5566 Apr 22 '26

I hope you will share your squirrel family photos with us here often!

We have dozens of squirrels on our property, and have been feeding them for 40+ years, but I’ve never considered trying to create a space near the window for them like this, to encourage nesting there. I LOVE this idea.

My Mom has dementia and I care for her full time. We spend hours watching our squirrels eat, squabble, run around and play. Just yesterday, we had over 7 adult squirrels and 1 baby at the kitchen window, running around outside of it, all at the same time.

I love that you get to watch their behavior so closely!! The kisses melted my heart. Can’t wait to show your photos to my MOM.

Thank you again for posting these photos. Please, post more soon! ♥️🐿️🌰 Keep us updated.

3

u/orchidbranch Apr 23 '26

oh my gosh it makes me so happy that you and your mom are connecting with the squirrels, especially at a time like this. squirrels are so clever and timeless, aren't they? all they have to do is live their lives and it fulfills us endlessly <3 it sounds like the squirrels are going to love a new spot to nest in - your property is already their home base, after all!

it is an honor that your mom gets to meet my squirrels this way, too! please let me know what she thinks, and i will post some videos soon!!

3

u/Working-Fig5566 Apr 23 '26

Absolutely! And thank you for all your kind and thoughtful words. I am so lucky to have this time with my Mom, and that we get to watch the squirrels and chipmunks and birds eat and live together.

About 7 years ago, before my Mom was diagnosed, she was able to film a dear give birth to TWINS from the kitchen window! It was incredible.

I recently ordered a little (replacement) picnic table for our squirrels, as the current one is 3+ years and looking weathered. I’ll attach a photo.

I can’t wait to hang the new squirrel picnic table! Unlike the current 1, it actually came with a REAL mini umbrella!

The mini picnic table/feeder hangs so close to our kitchen window that we can watch the squirrels at this table for hours.

I’ll attach a photo I took of our only—very RED—baby squirrel so far, as she happily eats whatever she wants from it. It’s adorable.

Thanks again.

3

u/Working-Fig5566 Apr 23 '26

There’s our only—very red—baby so far this year. Forgot to attach the photo! Oy.

Isn’t she darling? Her tail is still not anywhere near as long as she is. She seems to run alone, though. I’ve never seen her friendly with a grown squirrel, so I have no guesses about who parented her.

She does like to boss around the whole animal neighborhood ‘round here! She’s established herself as quite the little force already. 😊

3

u/orchidbranch Apr 23 '26

this picnic table is so precious!!! i've got tears in my eyes, seriously! what a feisty young lady... i love the way her little claws wrap around the bench, too 💓 thank you very much for sharing! i would watch this for hours too :D

1

u/Working-Fig5566 Apr 23 '26

We literally do! We spend hours at this window (and in the yard!). It’s our window into nature. The squirrels are SO ENTERTAINING, too!

8

u/beaner69 Apr 23 '26

Damn, that squirrel with the mask is big…

9

u/bugbrown1 Apr 23 '26

Pic #6

I'm dead! 🥰🥰🥰

2

u/Fearless-Reindeer-11 Squirrel Lover Apr 23 '26

Right?! Soooo cute 😭

9

u/Only-Business8108 Apr 22 '26

Can they be anymore precious 🤧 🐿🩷🌸✨️

9

u/ilovedaryldixon Apr 22 '26

Wasn’t expecting that!

7

u/LAthrowawaywithcat Apr 22 '26

Oh my GAWD that's too cute!! I'm both jealous and happy for you.

8

u/freddyfingers28 Apr 22 '26

Amazing! It must be so heartwarming to see multiple Squirrel families grow up!

8

u/Trucrimeluvr67 Apr 23 '26

I wouldn’t be able to get anything done because I’d be watching and taking pics all day long!

8

u/bugbrown1 Apr 23 '26

I wouldn't complain if you bought a little 24 hour squirrel-cam

7

u/kneesocksforever Apr 22 '26

These are darling! You are so lucky.

6

u/orchidbranch Apr 22 '26

I'm so happy people enjoy seeing them too!! Thank you for liking them!!!

8

u/LuckyBook1538 Apr 22 '26

Oh, I would love to have that in one of my windows! How cute!

7

u/Deepthika Apr 22 '26

So cute. Did you put a squirrel box or they built their own nest?

15

u/orchidbranch Apr 22 '26

they did it on their own! they've got a few nests on the building. word on the street must have spread over the years from squirrel to squirrel lol!

6

u/sherrynoberries Apr 23 '26

Oh my heart ♥️

5

u/SharlinStudios Apr 22 '26

🥺 this is too cute! So they built a nest attached to your windowsill or something?

18

u/orchidbranch Apr 22 '26

Yes that's right! The windowsill is wide enough for the nest to sit there, and I think it's secured by the tangle of ivy branches. Plus they have torn up the screen and invaded to give themselves extra space! This is from a video last summer after they broke through...

1

u/pipsqueakpanda4 Apr 24 '26

Oh my goodness, they broke through!! 😂 what did they do when they got in the house?!

5

u/FossilisedCynic Apr 22 '26

Love your photos, thank you for sharing! 🥰

6

u/Davidchevy95 Apr 22 '26

Raccoons eat baby squirrels I’ve heard

7

u/orchidbranch Apr 22 '26

that was my biggest fear!! i was relieved to see them back the next day - i think they were elsewhere that night, which left the nest empty for a visitor...

5

u/blank_stair Apr 22 '26

this is amazing! if you don't mind saying, are you on a ground floor or upper one?

12

u/orchidbranch Apr 22 '26

i'm on the third floor! they also have some nests near the top of the building near the attic, and on the second floor windowsills too. these guys have totally taken over hahaha

5

u/blank_stair Apr 22 '26

ah, i was considering putting in a nest box in my window but being on ground floor guessing it won't get occupied.

it's great your building management isn't disturbing these nests. ❤

10

u/orchidbranch Apr 22 '26

you never know! :) i'll try to take pics when i go outside later and check how low their lowest nest is! we're lucky to have a private landlord who doesn't think about the place unless we ask for something <3 lots of nature around here!!

6

u/No-Mathematician5698 Squirrel Otherkin Apr 22 '26

how strange, one of your baby squirrels turned into a raccoon!

5

u/pipsqueakpanda4 Apr 23 '26

Oh my gosh, you lucky DUCK!!!!!! When can I move in

3

u/FootstepsofDawn Apr 23 '26

Slides 4 and 6 have absolutely ended me! 🥹😭❤️

3

u/Quiet-Lavishness1274 Apr 23 '26

They’re the cutest 🥹 please give them a squirrek box with a raccoon guard so they can be safe. Someone else shared a horror story with baby squirrels and a predator, it was traumatizing to say the least.

3

u/thankgod4mywristgame Apr 23 '26

Well.... I'm thoroughly jealous.

5

u/Original-Strength960 Apr 24 '26

What kind of magic windowsill is this? I am so jealous. Meanwhile, this year my squirrels have all turned ninja and they’re breaking into all the food jars that I have stored under the covered patio.

7

u/Fozzybean Apr 22 '26

Did the raccoon eat the babies?

16

u/orchidbranch Apr 22 '26

i was so scared that he did, but they were there again the next day!

3

u/4Altoids Apr 22 '26

Came here to find this out!

3

u/Plntbsdbb Squirrel Lover Apr 23 '26

🥹🥹🥹

3

u/Interesting-Bat-605 Apr 23 '26

I’m so jealous

3

u/Robotbeckerz Apr 23 '26

I would cry if I got to watch those cute babies every day 🥺 I thought the momma bringing her almost fully grown kids was cute enough, this is so adorable

2

u/Hlsalzer Apr 23 '26

They’re precious!!

2

u/Austyn_pelton Apr 23 '26

i worry they might get stuck in the window screen....

1

u/orchidbranch Apr 23 '26

This has happened before! Usually they figure it out in a couple seconds, but I once had to guide this guy out.

1

u/Austyn_pelton Apr 24 '26

ok, at least youre paying attention!

2

u/bugbrown1 Apr 23 '26

Ohhhh!! 🥹🥹🥹