What is the Ball of Leaves in Your Trees in Colorado?

The leaves are beginning to change; soon they will be falling, and many of the trees in Colorado will be bare. It happens every fall and can be a tad depressing to see all the trees without their leaves for months. Some trees don't lose all their leaves, but most will. This will lead to raking them, blowing them, and cleaning them up in some form. As the leaves fall, you may notice that some get stuck near the top of your tree, and you might wonder why they aren't coming down or how they got stuck like that. It isn't random luck. What is the pile of leaves stuck in your tree in Colorado, and can you knock them down?

Ball of Leaves in Colorado Trees

Milaspage

When the last leaf falls off of a tree, you likely think it is the right time to go out and start raking, blowing, and cleaning them up. It might be frustrating to look up and see a ball of them high up in the tree and wonder if they will come down or why they are up there. This ball of leaves has a name. It is a drey, and it is home to squirrels. They gather dry leaves, twigs, moss, and other materials and use these as their home. They use it for resting, sleeping, and raising their young. While you might want to knock it down, you may want to hold off, because you would be ruining an animal's home and possibly harming or killing their young. Can you legally remove the nest, or would doing so result in consequences?

Can You Legally Remove a Squirrel Nest in Colorado?

Dgwildlife

When it comes to knocking down a drey, it isn't a simple yes or no. It is illegal to destroy or knock down any type of wildlife nest or den knowing it is active. Doing so could result in a $100 fine if caught. Now if the animal that lives in the nest, which in this case would be squirrel, and that animal is harming or damaging your property, then you are able to remove its home. Also, if you trap the squirrel, you can then move forward in removing its home. It is up to you how to best handle the situation, but most leave the nests alone, as they typically are over 20 to 45 feet up and in parts of the tree that are hard to reach.