We Now Know What That Big Ball of Leaves In Your Tree Is in Minnesota

If you've wondered just what bird is nesting in that big ball of leaves in your trees right now in Minnesota, we've got news for you: it isn't a bird's nest at all.

You've probably seen them in trees in your yard or neighborhood throughout the Land of 10,000 Lakes but if it's not a bird's nest, then just what *is* that big ball of leaves? Is it a Mother Nature DIY project or what?

Now that our warm fall weather is finally in the rearview mirror and the colder, winter weather has settled in across the Bold North. And, as most trees have now shed their leaves for the season, I've noticed several of those big balls of leaves in trees in our neighborhood here in the North Star State. Maybe you noticed them in your yard or neighborhood as well.

I always just thought they were the nest of one of Minnesota's many native birds, like robins, blue jays, or one of the species of sparrows that call the Bold North home year-round. But, it turns out that is incorrect. Well, it's half incorrect.

That's because while those big balls of leaves scattered in trees across the Gopher State are, in fact, nests, they aren't made by birds. So just what are they? They're actually nests made by squirrels!

Get our free mobile app

Technically, these leafy nests are also called 'dreys.' And according to the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, they're fairly common this time of year in Minnesota, and throughout the winter, as well:

Dreys can be seen high in treetops. These are constructed of twigs and leaves, are spherical inside, and are typically lined with soft materials such as moss, shredded bark or pine needles. The entrance hole is usually located at the bottom of the drey facing the trunk to keep out rain.

The Minnesota Landscape Arboretum says squirrels native to Minnesota, like the red squirrel and the Eastern grey squirrel, are notorious drey-makers and tend to use those leafy homes for a year or two before abandoning them.

ALSO INTERESTING: Here's How to Watch Fox's New TV Drama Set in Minnesota 

And, unlike birds, who use nests only for incubating eggs and raising young chicks until the fledgling stage in the spring and summer, squirrels in Minnesota use their dreys for shelter and raising their young throughout the year.

This Mass Audobon story adds that some species of squirrels, like the Eastern grey squirrel, do still use dreys during the warmer months but prefer to spend the cold months, like we're experiencing now, in a more protected place, like a tree cavity.

Listen to Curt St. John and Samm Adams in the Morning
weekdays from 6 to 10 a.m. on Quick Country 96.5