Instructions for Flying Squirrel Nesting Boxes

Cut the rough sawn softwood into six pieces: one 4-by-8-inches piece for the front wall, one 6-by-8-inches piece for the roof, two 5-by-9-inches pieces for the side walls, one 6-by-12-inches piece for the back wall and one 4-by-5-inches piece for the floor. Discard any excess wood.

Mark a point 2 1/2 inches from the short edge of the front wall piece and 2 inches from the long edge. Drill a 1-inch hole in the marked area. Larger holes might invite other animals to use the nest box.

Lay the back wall piece on your working surface. Place the long edge of one side wall on the long edge of the back wall. Place another side wall on the other long edge of the back wall. Adjust the placement so that you leave 1 inch on one end of the back wall and 2 inches on the other end. Hammer galvanized nails into the wood pieces to hold them together.

Place one long edge of the roof piece on the back piece, against the side pieces. Hammer the galvanized nails to hold the pieces together.

Place the front wall between the two side pieces, with the hole near the roof of the nest box. Use galvanized nails to keep it in place.

Slide the floor piece into the nest box, between the two side walls. From each side wall, drill two holes into the floor piece. Push nails into each hole to hold the floor piece in place. You will be able to remove the floor piece to clean and inspect the nest box.