Those living in Thurgoona and Splitters Creek are being urged to welcome squirrel gliders into their backyards by installing nest boxes in the trees.

Thurgoona Park’s Paul Frauenfelder has already volunteered to house one of the nest boxes in a bid to increase the animal’s numbers.

“The area I live in is perfect for the nests, as well as many other areas around Albury,” he said.

“Thurgoona is a hotspot and the more we can encourage people to put these boxes in, the more we can get squirrel gliders flying around like they used to.”

Mr Frauenfelder hopes his young sons, aged five and three, will have the opportunity to see and learn about the native animal.

“They can watch them grow and increase in numbers and in 10 years’ time the boys can see a whole tribe of them,” he said.

Squirrel glider urban nest box project co-ordinator Sam Niedra said the nest boxes, made by Thurgoona Men’s Shed, replicated the tree hollows that were ideal habitats for the animals.

“Trees form hollows when they are about 100 years of age and across the landscape there are a lot less larger trees,” he said.

“We are putting the boxes in trees that aren’t of age yet but in 30 to 40 years’ time they will be.

“The nest boxes keep the species alive in the interim and it’s not a Band-Aid affect, it’s part of the solution to make sure they survive.”

Thurgoona and Splitters Creek are the ideal locations for nest boxes because there are more trees for the animals to glide between.

Without the trees and nests, the squirrel glider is at risk of being attacked by cats and foxes.

Anybody interested in housing a nest box can download a form at alburyconservationco.org.au or pick one up at Thurgoona Plaza Newsagency or the community centre.