Shelters built or used by animals

A nest is a structure built by certain animals to hold their eggs or young. Although nests are most closely associated with birds, members of all classes of vertebrates and some invertebrates construct nests. They may be composed of organic material such as twigs, grass, and leaves, or may be a simple depression in the ground, or a hole in a rock, tree, or building. Human-made materials, such as string, plastic, cloth, or paper, may also be used. Nests can be found in all types of habitat.

thumb|Wooden beehives with active honey bees in a California almond orchard thumb|A honeycomb created inside a wooden beehive A beehive is an enclosed structure in which honey bees raise their young and produce honey as part of their seasonal cycle. Although the word beehive is used to describe the nest of any bee colony, scientific and professional literature distinguishes nest from hive. Nest is used to discuss colonies that house themselves in natural or artificial cavities or in structures that are hanging and exposed. The term hive is used to describe a man made structure created to house

basic unit around which ants organize their lifecycle

thumb|An eastern chipmunk at the entrance of its burrow A burrow is a hole or tunnel excavated into the ground by an animal to construct a space suitable for habitation or temporary refuge, or as a byproduct of locomotion. Burrows provide a form of shelter against predation and exposure to the elements, and can be found in nearly every biome and among various biological interaction types, including symbiosis and competition. Many animal species are known to form burrows. These species range from small amphipods, to very large vertebrate species such as the polar bear. Burrows can be constructe

man-made enclosure for animals to nest in

nest for bird eggs

rabbit burrow

A paleoburrow is an underground shelter excavated by extinct paleo-vertebrate megafauna that lived in the prehistoric era. Most paleoburrows are likely made by giant armadillos, pampatheres, and/or large ground sloths, depending on their size.'''''' Thousands of examples have been identified across South America, mostly in the Brazilian states of Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul.