We're expecting our last litter for this year on Tuesday--just put the nest box in yesterday. In the spring when the temps were still pretty low when the early litters were born, we had trouble with the first kits to get out of the nest box having trouble getting back in. Tried Maggie's suggestion of providing a step outside the box but our kits seem to be not as smart as hers or something and didn't use it. So some mornings we'd find a kit out and alone in a corner. We tried taking the nest box out so at least they'd all be together and didn't lose any but noticed that they stayed huddled together in a corner most of the time. It wasn't so much of a problem during the warm summer months but it's apt to be chilly at night here by the time these kits start coming out. So we adapted the nest box, cutting the front board in half and fastening the top half with screws so we can just take it off when they start coming out. I hoped that would be enough barrier to keep the nest material in but low enough so the wanderers could return readily. Just wanted to check if this seems reasonable or if there is some reason not to do it that hasn't occurred to us.
