Eastern Gray Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis)

Cognitively non-human animals do amazing things! Think about the architecture of the nest this grey squirrel is building. I watched her in awe for an hour and half one morning. Branches were being intertwined, twigs were twisted and turned. Everything seemed to have an exact place in this messy ball. When the beginning of the nest was to her liking, she began collecting damp leaves from the ground and running back to the construction site. She weaved them into the basic structure, carefully filling any gaps and lining the first inner layer. I could see her tossing and turning in the nest as to try it out, to make sure every leaf and twig was in the right place. Eventually I wasn't able to see through the nest anymore, but she kept on working on her new home, running in and out. Most likely she was then gathering materials such as moss, pine needles and grass that make the nest comfortable and warm. Sometimes the interior of the nest is also lined with finer materials like animal hair or feathers to create a comfy and safe place for these master builders.

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