Will other squirrels adopt young ones

[JBD]

Ok I'm new to the board. Not new to rehabing baby squirrels.

But a few weeks ago a tree fell, dead rotten tree with a squirrel den inside. But momma didn't come back and it was before me or my cat. So Ive been raising him. He is doing good, very active.
Right now I have him in a rabbit cage.

But here is the thing. I found another active squirrel den in a tree in the front yard also. Do you think that if I let him go into the den would the mom squirrel adopt him or reject him? I've seen other babys peeking out of the den.

But the one Ive been raising he has a bushy tall. Bottom teeth came in a couple weeks ago and top teeth are coming in. Eventually my goal is to let him go back into the wild.

So is there any advice? I've try to google but came up empty on the adoption process of another squirrel.:thankyou

[Anne]

JBD, I Think your rescue is too old for another momma to adopt him. I had a squirrel in captivity that adopted a baby, but the baby was almost exactly the same age and size. Most squirrels will kill a strange baby. IMHO the rescue is much better off with you inside.

[virgo062]

Anne is correct (welcome back Anne) Mommies are very protective of their young and normally will not accept a stranger. Your stuck with him :) You may as well tell us what his name is and with pictures and get ready for heartbreak when the time comes to release. Releasing a single squirrel is harder than sending multiples out in the wild. It will take a little longer than usual for him to adapt to the wild and will probably come back forever for food and water. CHA CHING :)

[JBD]

Ok I was wondering about that. The ones I've seen in the den look to be about the same age range. But I guess I'll just continue doing what I'm doing then.

I haven't really named him. Don't want to really because that will make him like a pet and will be hard to eventually get him back into the wild. But night times have been cool so I've been bringing him indoors. But durring the day I put him out... to let him get used to sights and sounds. Hopefully instinct will kick in. Right now I guess he is along the line of 7-9 weeks old. Not fully weaned but is nibbling on food. I see about taking some pics of the little one later.

He seems to be attached to me mostly... since I was the first thing he seen when he open up his eyes. But he tolerates the rest of the family good.

[virgo062]

[QUOTE=JBD]Hopefully instinct will kick in. QUOTE]

Oh they will and you will be glad to let "noname" loose when that time comes.

Oops I didn't just give him a name did I?:rotfl :rotfl :rotfl. Well heck you may as well post a picture now:rotfl :rotfl :rotfl

[island rehabber]

Everyone's right who responded here: please don't put the little one with a strange adult. We have already had an incident this past week where an adult pet squirrel killed a baby who was put in with her.....:nono

There is lots of excellent info here on TSB about nutrition and healthy diets. Make sure your little guy is getting all the nutrients he needs, to prepare him for the wild. He will be at a disadvantage, unfortunately, because he is alone and won't have a "gang" to hang with after release, so if you can contact a local rehabilitator who has other squirrels his age it would be great to release them together.

[JBD]

[QUOTE=JBD]Hopefully instinct will kick in. QUOTE]

Oh they will and you will be glad to let "noname" loose when that time comes.

Oops I didn't just give him a name did I?:rotfl :rotfl :rotfl. Well heck you may as well post a picture now:rotfl :rotfl :rotfl


Thats the thing about it... got to find the camera. Can't remember where I had put it last.

[virgo062]

We can't wait to see noname :)

[JBD]

Ok here is Noname but then again like the name charlie so I guess call him that. Lets see if I got it right this time. Deleted the last couple of post bc the pictures were huge. Anyway that black thing is a tobagan(Spell?--Winter hat) aka as his safety blanket/pouch.

[virgo062]

Well my goodness Charlie you are quite the looker. :Welcome . You can still be released even though we all will fall in love with you at first sight

[JBD]

I know its hard not to get attached to these lil buggers. I started bringing him outdoors about the time his eyes open. Even though they really dont start wondering around till about 2-3 months old. Slowly but surely he gets wilder by the day. Hopefully when that day comes he can find some friends to hangout with. I know there are alot of squirrels around here. Most of the trees around here have old or active dreys and dens. There has been times where I've counted about 10-15 different squirrels around here.

[JBD]

Charlie's wild side really kicking in. He has been a good squirrel for the most part but last few days he been acting up. Wanting to get a little bitey.

Barks/chirps at times if you mess with his cage. Like to run in a hide and seek fashion. He spent his first night outdoors last night. Outside yesterday enjoying a few drinks watching him in the grass. Anyway he got away for a minute and was up a tree. He ran up and down really excited. Came down about 30 mins or so but I nailed his safety blanket on the tree. He got into that after enjoying the tree. Well I got up early noticed the the hat still sagging so he was in it. Well seen him eventually come out this morning and started looking for food. Walked up to him which he jump onto my shoulders.

He is getting a mean streak and wild but still wants his bottle.:D