Sciuridae
 Sciurus niger
(fox squirrel)

Image Caption:
A fox squirrel collects a plastic bag, wadding it and carrying it through the trees to its drey (leaf nest) to use as bedding.  Effective dreys protect squirrel litters, insulate and shelter squirrels from harsh weather, and conceal them from predators (Steele & Koprowski, 2001), so squirrels maintain their dreys by occasionally adding material.  Usually squirrels collect leaves or pine boughs, but plastic probably works too.

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Fox Squirrel (Sciurus niger rufiventer) Collecting a Plastic Bag for Nesting Material
Works Cited:

Steele, M. A. & Koprowski, J. L.  (2001).  North American Tree Squirrels.  Washington and London: Smithsonian.
Image Location: United States, South Dakota, Brookings
Image Date: 2009FEB12
Image Species: Sciurus niger rufiventer
(EXIF Information is accurate, stamped in UTC).

Web Page and Pictures By Peter Leitheiser
Updated: 2009FEB25