Squirrels stalking Keebler

[CorgiLover]

As I've mentioned before, Keebler stays in the outdoor enclosure all day now and we just bring her in after dark. Day before yesterday I went to check on her and noticed there was a female crawling along the side of the enclosure. She was chirping and swishing her tail at Keebler. I chased her away with a dishtowel.

Yesterday hubby looked out the window and said there was a HUGE squirrel on the top of the cage so I figured it was the same one. We snuck around the front of the house to the back and got as close as we could before he heard us and ran off. It was a male, no doubt about that. He wasn't swishing or chirping but definitely wanted IN the cage. And I'm not kidding when I say this squirrel was huge. He looked as big as some cats I have seen.

We keep food in there for Keebs; fruits, veggies and a few seeds. I don't know if he was after the food or her but I think the female the day before was behaving in a threatening manner. Surprisingly, Keebs didn't seem afraid. She was stretched out on a branch looking relaxed, not tense. I don't know if that is good or bad.

Does she need to be afraid of other squirrels?

[squirrel princess]

No she needs to whoop their tails http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/4/4_2_111v.gif (http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb001_ZSman000):jump





http://www.smileycentral.com/sig.jsp?pc=ZSzeb114&pp=ZSman000 (http://smiley.smileycentral.com/download/index.jhtml?partner=ZSzeb114_ZSman000&utm_id=7922)

[Buddy'sMom]

This was one of the hardest things we faced when we released Buddy -- convincing the other squirrels to "play nice" and take time to get to know and like our little darling. :)

The male no doubt was interested in the food, since Keebler is too young to be mating material yet and no threat to the hierarchy as a male would be. The female -- could be food or territory. It's good that they are getting to sniff each other out and get used to each other before she joins them. Putting some food for them OUTside her cage might lead them to associate her with a nice buffet. :D And less anxious to chase her away from her food.

When we let Buddy out there was a very large male patroling our yard. They went after each other the first few days. Mostly chasing. We tried not to interfere but shooed the other off if things looked too intense (to US :) ). They eventually hung out together. (but not before they each shortened the other's tail a bit, I'm afraid :shakehead we weren't happy about that, but it seemed to be squirrel-business-as-usual and no one got hurt. Sigh. It's very hard to watch, though -- take lots of deep breaths!)

:grouphug :Love_Icon :grouphug

[Jackie in Tampa]

:) I'm known to keep my babies longer than normal. With that , I feel that other sqs are a problem at first, so are hawks, cats, dogs, cars, other neighbors etc.. In the wild I watch the mothers do a soft release for over a month...they hang back and lounge around, but they are eagle eyen' their kids. You may not even be aware of their presence. I cannot give the lessons the way mother nature does, so I expose them to outdoor sounds....for awhile. Once they leave my house, I don't bring them back inside. But I have secure shelter with a roof and predator proof...they can see and hear me everyday...they are exposed to where they will be released, and will know where they are. I am comfortable with that. Alot of sqs climb on their cage, part of sq socialization...I guess. I am really a bad mommy, because I love ALL my baby releases and keep them as friends as long as they chose! I provide numerous boxes, vacancy depends on how fast and bad you want it... but I do bait the boxes with their stuff. I remove a small door for entry/exit...they make it or break it, so to speak. REleased 6 a month ago[?] and 3 still go home every night! 1 moved across the street [Fred is assisting daily] Rachel moved first night very close, and one is still in yard, but not sure where he actually sleeps.?
Keebler will brawl eventually:sanp3 ...it is territorial thing...Rachel was being pushy/bully and a couple put her in her place, she hides from Banana:)
Sounds like you are doing the right things. They are all different, and he'll decide, and you'll know. I always say "when they start to chew their way OUT, open the door.:)Good Luck.:grouphug
I have 5 year old releases that still visit. Pretty Cool:flash3

[CorgiLover]

Gosh, with the exception of noticing that some squirrels are bigger than others, I can't tell any of them apart. I sure hope I'll know which one is Keebler if I ever have to break up a brawl. :sanp3

[Buddy'sMom]

Gosh, with the exception of noticing that some squirrels are bigger than others, I can't tell any of them apart. I sure hope I'll know which one is Keebler if I ever have to break up a brawl. :sanp3
:crazy Keebler will be the one that jumps on your shoulder and hides in your collar. :D

(btw, that was the GOOD thing about Buddy's tail being scraggly at the end -- it was a good way to tell him apart from the others, especially after he grew less friendly and kept his distance more.)

[Mrs. Jack]

LOL be careful if you try to break up a brawl. I've done it a couple times without thinking, just waded right in the middle. um... ow? :D
Keebler's going to have to fit into the world of yard squirrels.. they do have a sort of set up of who runs the joint etc. I know you want Keebler to be #1 squirrel but, in the scheme of things it just may not happen. What I am thinking is that unless you see someone trying to reach through the bars and strangle Keebs, just let them all check each other out. If those squirrels begin to associate her with being swished by a dish towel or chased out of their territory, they might hold it against her. If they associate her with more food, bedding material and other cool delights, then they might think "yeah, we gotta keep on her good side!" and um.. when mating time comes I think you better just go out for a nice massage or something, because it's pretty intense to witness. and when they're mating, no one pays attention to you for anything :D even the ones that usually do.

[CorgiLover]

I know you want Keebler to be #1 squirrel but, in the scheme of things it just may not happen. What I am thinking is that unless you see someone trying to reach through the bars and strangle Keebs, just let them all check each other out. If those squirrels begin to associate her with being swished by a dish towel or chased out of their territory, they might hold it against her. If they associate her with more food, bedding material and other cool delights, then they might think "yeah, we gotta keep on her good side!"

Geez, this is like having another child!




... and um.. when mating time comes I think you better just go out for a nice massage or something, because it's pretty intense to witness. and when they're mating, no one pays attention to you for anything :D even the ones that usually do

LOL! I have seen squirrels mate and you are soo right. BUT ... my hubby saw it for the first time a couple of years ago and thought they were "fighting" and was like "whoa! Those guys are really tryin' to kill each other, look at 'em. Man, they ... huh? What the??? uhhhhh ... I don't think they're ... uh ... fightin'." *sheepish grin*

I just laughed. :rotfl

[atlantasquirrelgirl]

When you eventually release her, she is going to get chased. Hopefully, she'll know to run, and find her way back. Having a box already mounted for her will help prevent her from having to compete for a nest spot.

It's not uncommon to see some of these babies come back to Mom for some rest several days after release. It's a jungle out there.