Why do they Squeak and Pounce?

[DYNO14]

I wish I would have found this forum 9 months ago. I was fortunate to find "Baby" unharmed and in good health at about 3 months old. "Baby" was suitable for a boy or a girl. The first thing I did was to call my vet. I took her over and they gave her an IV to hydrate her. No formula needed. She had nice long, big, sharp teeth. Slept in my pocket and never attempted to bite me. Very sweet now and we play for hours. Lots of toys and those get beat up.

I trained her not to bit me by stopping when she got rough and making a quick aaa noise. I can't duplicate it. It worked because she stopped also and ran away and then came back to play nice.

Now, I can't hold her. She squeaks and runs off. What does the squeaking noise mean? Is she mimicking me or do they make the noise when they don't like something? I can pet her. Scratch her shoulders, back, rub her belly almost, support her butt with one hand and pet her with the other but, I can't pick her up anymore. She has never been aggressive towards me but will sorta charge and pounce at others or the small dog I have on occasion. Never is she lose. Too many predators to get her.

I hope I am posting correctly. This is my first post.

[NaturesGift]

Sadly most squirrels don't stay in that "pick me up" stage. They are not cats or dogs. They are free spirits!! And although he/she may approve of a good scratching now and again he/she is changing

Your babies hormones are kicking in. Have you considered release?

What's Baby's diet like? Did baby never get formula?

The diet is very important b.c if it's wrong that can also change how thy act.

Any pics?

M

[Tickle's Mom]

NG is right. Tickle squeaked because she was in pain from MBD. NOT saying that's what is going on but.......pain and/or discomfort is a possibility.

[Tickle's Mom]

And I almost forgot -
Glad you found us.

[Best Life]

Hi DYN014 - So glad you found TSB! I only foster orphan squirrels until they are old enough to be released back into the wild, so I'll leave the questions/answers to the experts. The more you can share about your little one, the better they can assist you. Everyone here is so nice, and there is a LOT of helpful information.

Just curious...is Baby a Gray Squirrel? Flyer? Did you get her as a pet or did you find her somewhere? She sounds adorable, and very sweet. Pictures are not required, of course, but MUCH appreciated. Can't get enough of that good stuff!!

[DYNO14]

No. Baby never had formula. This is probably all wrong. The vet had me feed her peanut butter to get her protein level up. I've raised various wildlife pets. After reading I quickly ordered her some of the cubes from a website I see all through the forums. Growth and the rodent blocks. She has her tree limbs to climb and chew on. A hammock, hanging hut, a bark hanging toy with a bell, some toys an she's trained on wee wee pads to potty. Spoiled little girl.

Her diet has been a daily variety of fresh asparagus, broccoli, corn on the cob, 1 leaf of spinach once in a while(won't touch the hard corn) apples, oranges, cantaloupe, mushrooms, blueberries, avocado, (doesn't like tomatoes) green grapes, mango, peaches, pecans, walnuts, acorns, sun flower seeds, almonds, (all natural no salt) Although a good variety but not as heavy on the vegetables as I should have been. I have read where I have fallen short on some of her nutrition. The vet said mostly grain. That's what I did. That all changes asap. New diet started today. She always has fresh water.

I've learned so much already here.

I tried to release her last summer. She wouldn't have it. I left her cage open outside and when I went out to check on her she raced to me and burried herself in my neck/hair. I have a lot of cats here now and I'm terrified to release her here. I've took her outside with me and she would jump in the tree and run as fast as she could back to me, climb up my leg and into my shirt. Now I can't attempt that here because of all the cats.

So they don't like to be held when they get older? I can support her butt while almost holding her but to pick her up, shes not crazy about that.

Her teeth are good. I bought some really hard limbs of various trees for her to chew on.

She lives in a 8' tall cage. 8' wide and 8' in depth. I wanted her to have plenty of exercise so I had a nice big cage made for her. She has a jungle in there with her large tree branches. Bottom to the top. On the sides to the top of her house.

I kick everyone out of the house and I leave the door open to her cage. She will not leave it. I come in and she jumps on me and we have a whole conversation.

Last year I left her door open and the window open. She wouldn't leave.

One noise she doesn't make is the barking I've heard them do.

I do have lots of pictures. I'll try to upload some.

[DYNO14]

Thank you everyone for your warm welcome. As soon as I can learn how to add pictures I will. Looking for that now.

These are some recent pics in her holding cleaned her home.

[DYNO14]

Should have been pics in her spare/holding cage while I cleaned her home.

[DYNO14]

She only pounced as we approached winter as she scurried along hiding all of her acorns. No signs of MBA from everything I researched. Seems like she just doesn't want me to pick her up.

[NaturesGift]

wow your vet seriously had you feed her peanutbutter The poor baby!

yea getting rodent block is a GREAT Idea as well as tweaking her diet. I wouldnt give her any sunflower seeds/peanuts..cashews.

Only "True" nuts and till we rule out MBD I would only let her have 2 a day in the evening so she gets all the good stuff first.

Try going outside and getting tree buds... as well as a variety of greens besides spinach. Differnt romaines.

Dandelion leaves... Clover plants... YUM!

She may not have been ready then. And if its MBD shes not ready now.

If its hormones she may be ready and you will see more signs as spring comes upon us.

But for now lets get her healthy..MBD kills.