One of the best parts about living in California is that while other places around the country deal with ugly bald trees, many of the trees in the state keep their leaves and look beautiful all year. It doesn't get cold enough in most of the state to force them to change colors and fall. There are areas of the state where this does happen, which you may notice when driving to the mountains, or perhaps further away from the beaches and metros, and making your way into towns at higher elevations or inland. For the trees that do lose their leaves in California, you may notice a ball of leaves stuck in the top of the tree, but it likely isn't what you think.

Ball of Leaves in California Trees

Credit: Milaspage
Credit: Milaspage
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While you may not always be able to see them, there is typically a ball of leaves sitting near the top of trees in your yard. This time of year, as the leaves thin out, you might spot a few of them. These are not leaves bundled together randomly or a massive bird's nest, but they are a nest of sorts. These are squirrel nests and they are called a drey. They are made up of twigs and leaves and may be an abandoned bird nest as well, that a squirrel took over and enclosed. This is where they sleep, stay warm, and have their babies. They are there all year but are more visible in the fall and winter. 

Can You Knock Down Squirrel Nests in California?

Credit: Seneca Riggins, Townsquare Media
Credit: Seneca Riggins, Townsquare Media
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With some thinking these are leaves that gathered randomly and are taking up room in their tree, before you knock it down, you may want to be aware of some things. First off, that drey is a squirrel's home. How would you like someone to randomly destroy your home? It would make life inconvenient and you'd likely be upset and left in the cold this fall and winter, just like a squirrel. Second, and most importantly, it is against California law to destroy a squirrel's drey. Keep this in mind when trimming branches or knocking down a tree. The law only applies if the drey is actively being used. For more details, you can click the link above. 

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It may come as a surprise, but not as many people know these balls of leaves belong to squirrels as you would think. They are well hidden and not as common to spot in California. With so many living in the major cities in the state, they may never have seen a drey before. For those that do see these balls of leaves though, make sure to leave them alone, and appreciate your fury squirrely neighbors.

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