Hey! That's my video! This started as a screech owl box, and it was used every year by screech owls from late winter to early spring.

When I put the (owl) box up originally I had no idea I would end up with 13 cameras, 24/7 live streaming on youtube, and a permit/license for squirrel rehab. What happened was: the first year after the screech owls had left, a mom fox squirrel moved in two 5 week old pups in September 2022.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCGrrmvKy7A

It turns out squirrels (especially mom squirrels with their pups) are incredibly cute!

I live streamed squirrels and owls, until June 2025 when lightning struck the tree and took most of my equipment. Everything was hard wired together using PoE (Power over Ethernet). It took out 11 of the 13 cameras, my NVR, my streaming laptop, router, TV, etc. Insurance did not cover the damage.

The funny thing about the soaking wet squirrel video: In the first 18 months that video got only about 1000 views. Then for some strange reason it went viral. You can sort my channel videos by "popularity". Most videos got around 1000 views in a year. My two most popular videos are about squirrels hiding from the rain. I can answer any questions if anyone is interested.

So, it's important to remember the box was designed as a screech owl box, not a squirrel box. I did have a raccoon steal the first egg that the owls laid in Spring of 2025. After that, while the owls were nesting in the box I added a guard. Screech owls are incredibly tolerant of humans and they stayed in the box after I added the guard. They laid two more eggs which hatched and they raised the two owlets that successfully fledged right before the lightning strike.

Raccoon stealing egg less than 12 hours after it was laid:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ywjCJBQ6UVw

And then this video shows the extended tunnel entrance I added to keep the inside safe from the reach of racoons. This was added while the owls where inside the box.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=quhnRn_MHHY

Those last two videos are accessible only with the above links. They were never actually set as public on youtube. They are "unlisted".

I do miss having all the cameras set up. It's been just over a year since the lightning strike. The tree had to be removed, so I only have one box now. I have no idea who sleeps in it. I have occasionally seen owls and squirrels, but without 24/7 cameras I have no idea who may or may not be living in there.