Just Released Baby and Nervous

[rrenner001]

I released Sandy today. Shes's between 13 and 14 weeks old and I've had her since she was a week old. We'd moved her cage outdoors a few days ago, and today we opened the door. She ran all around the trees for a while, then came back to me and practically begged for attention for awhile before heading back to the trees. One of the other squirrels in the area chased her across the street and I have not seen her this afternoon and I am worried about her.

Will she return to the open cage and sleep inher nest box for awhile? Can she find her way back acorss the street? Should we put the nesting box in one of the trees close by?

I did not realize how attached I had gotten to her! I am worried sick about the cats in the neighborhood as she probably does not have the squirrel-smarts of the ones raised in the wild. Before she was chased off she wandered around on the ground, but did jump into a tree when startled. It would just kill me if a cat got her.

I guess there is nothing more I can do at this point but keep an eye out for her, but if anyone has any advice I would appreciate it. Thanks!

[Momma Squirrel]

Not much for advice but I know when we released ours they came back to their boxes for at least a week, at night and even some times during the day. Once they got brave and found another next then they just hung around for awhile until they blended in with the rest of the population. Hope she makes it back across the street with no problem, that is what I would worry about. I think they have enough instinct in them to know to watch out for those bad cats. Keep us posted on if she comes home tonight, will keep our thoughts with you and our fingers crossed. It will be a really long time for you in waiting until she does show back up.

[rippie-n-lilgirlsmom]

we are in the same boat, as MS said possible they could come back it will be at dark if they do, keep an eye out then.

[rrenner]

Sandy made it back - she appeared inside her cage around dinnertime, just as someone here had suggested she might. We went for a walk and when we returned she was hanging on the screen outside the second-floor window where her cage used to be. I let her into the office (where we kept her cage) and now she won't leave me alone - she's much more affectionate tonight then she's ever been. She has always been more affectionate with me then with my husband or daughter, but tonight she's insatiable. Is this typical? She buries her head in my hands and keeps grabbing my hands and nibbling on them, then rolls around in my lap and is making a lot of chirping and squeaking noises. I think I am going to have to take her out to her cage and lock her in tonight to get her to sleep in the nestbox.

One of the stray cats we feed is hanging around so maybe it would be best if she was locked safely away for the evening. We have her cage mounted on 2 x 4's attached at one end to the roof of our garage and at the other end to a tree where we hope to place her nestbox so she's up away from the cats.

I feel better that she seems to know how to get home at least. It will be interestng to see if she comes and goes and if she remains as affectionate as she has been today since being released.

I hope that she learns to stay away from the cats!

[Momma Squirrel]

That is great news, I had a good feeling she would come back. They like that freedom at first because it is so new to them but when night time comes they want home and momma. Ours did this for at least a week or so and then finally didn't come back at night but was always in the yard and would come for the hand outs. It is such a great feeling to know that you are part of all that.

[cpietra16]

I would be careful about feeding the stray cat...your inviting danger. Trust me I love cats, I rescue many, but I also know when to stop feeding squirrels outside. Please be careful. A good idea to lock your baby in for the night.

[rrenner]

We've fed a couple of neighborhood strays for years, but as much as I love cats, I will be discouraging the two that currently hang around with a hose until Sandy seems safe! My love of Sandy overrides my love of the cats!

[Squerly]

I didn't say anything today because Sandy was already out and about, but I really don't think she is ready for release. INHO, she should be outside in her cage for 3 or 4 weeks prior to release. Also, I don't think that she is old enough yet for release. I know that release shouldn't be gaged upon only age and that a lot of squirrels are large enough for release at 14 weeks, but from what I am gathering from your posts, she just isn't large enough yet.

If she were my in my care, I think I would keep her outside for a few more weeks to get her acclimated, and then I would open her door.

But that's just my opinion. Somebody else may have something else to say.

[rrenner]

I thought 12 weeks was the age, but I am open to suggestions from other members! She looks about the same size as the other squirrels I see on my roof,see hanging around my house, but I don't want to let her go if it is too soon.

[Squerly]

I thought 12 weeks was the age, but I am open to suggestions from other members! She looks about the same size as the other squirrels I see on my roof,see hanging around my house, but I don't want to let her go if it is too soon.Once again, IMHO releasing squirrels based completely on their age is not wise. Some squirrels are larger at 12-14 weeks than others. They have to be able to contend with the larger squirrels and competition for food is a reality. I would size up the squirrel and error on the conservative side.

[island rehabber]

I thought 12 weeks was the age, but I am open to suggestions from other members! She looks about the same size as the other squirrels I see on my roof,see hanging around my house, but I don't want to let her go if it is too soon.
rrenner I just posted this an another thread, but the rehabbers I know do not release until at least 14, preferably 16 weeks old. Studies have shown that the squirrel mamma watches over her kids carefully until at least 14 weeks old, so unless you're prepared to climb trees and do that, I would keep the baby outside but protected for another few weeks. :):peace

[rrenner001]

Thanks for the information! I'll be happy to keep her in her cage outside for at least two more weeks. I have a couple of questions for you: we keep her in an extra-large dog crate that we covered with mesh. She has a nest box in there and some things for climbing. Any ideas on keeping her from running out of the door when I open it to put food in? As it's a dog crate, it has a very large door. Also, I had been lining the bottom of the cage with newspaper and changing it every other day. I would let her out in the office when I changed it but I can't do that outside. I sit ok to leave the messed up old newspaper in the bottom or should I try to find a way to change it? Is there something better then newspaper that would not require changing so the chances of her getting out are smaller?
I was able to slip food in this morning because it was chilly and she was still in her nest box, although she came out as soon as I opened the door.
I just need some ideas of the best way to care for her when she'd living outdoors without having her escape. Her cage is up in the air and I have to be able to do stuff while on a ladder.
I'll post a couple of pictures we took of her yesterday so you can judge her size and check out the cage. Thanks!

[Gabe]

I don't know if this would work, it may be hard for you to see - tape a towel to the top of the crate, and roll it up, leaving it on top of the crate. When you are ready to open the door, let the towel unfold to the inside, creating a barrier. This may deter her especially if she can't see you. But she may be smart enough to figure it out after using it a few times. Maybe you could clean her cage everyother day.

[la dame à l'écureuil]

I am so glad to hear your Sandy is back and you are going to take the rehabber's advice not to release her for a few more weeks. I had a baby last spring who was very attached to me. At about 11 weeks he started roaming off my balcony but would always return in few minutes or an hour. He was so active and I wanted him to get socialised with the wild squirrels. I also hated to see him in his cage but he was getting so destructive playing loose in the house so I took him out several times a day onto the balcony. At about 13 weeks we went off on an adventure and never returned. I learned later that most rehabbers wait till 14 to 18 weeks for release and I wish I had known that then. I don't know what happened to him but there are lots of outdoor cats in my neighborhood. I think he might have had a better chance if I had been more cautious about letting him off the balcony and waited a few more weeks
Please don't underestimate the hunting prowess of cats!
And good luck with Sandy. I was so happy to hear she returned!

[susanw]

I don't know if this would work, it may be hard for you to see - tape a towel to the top of the crate, and roll it up, leaving it on top of the crate. When you are ready to open the door, let the towel unfold to the inside, creating a barrier. This may deter her especially if she can't see you. But she may be smart enough to figure it out after using it a few times. Maybe you could clean her cage everyother day.

We have used this method on a number of animals and it seems to work, I agree that she wasn't left outside in her cage long enough before being released. We normaly leave them out for 3 weeks and leave food around the area when we do release them until they fend for themselves.

[Luv2Spare]

I am so happy that your Sandy came back! I know you must have been sick thinking about it and now you can smile again!! :)

[rrenner001]

Thank you all for your responses! I will definitely try the towel idea today. I had thought about sticking a piece of tape or something over the hole in her nest box while she was in it to keep her in there while I cleaned the cage, but she pops out as soon as I open the cage door, and the door on the dog crate is so large it's impossible to open it much without giving her enough space to run out.

There are at least four squirrels hanging around her cage every day, so she is getting familiar with the locals and vice-versa. It's also cooled off here in Florida and she is getting more used to the weather.

I am attaching a couple of pictures - not the best quality - so you can see her cage and size! (You can also see we both have fluffy tails!)

[Luv2Spare]

Your in Tampa?? Hmmmm......I'm in T-ville! It has been unusually cooler here lately, down to 39F the other morning.

I'm now thinking a release in Florida (or any state with no snow) might be ALOT easier. I was going to wait until March but then my guys will be 4months old by then so..........sigh..........something else for me to think over.

Keep me posted on how often the come back to visit etc!!!!

Thanks for the pics!!!

[Critter_Queen]

Love the pics! :thumbsup In that last one, are you kinda scratchin' her lower back and the top of where her tail meets her back? It looks like what I do with Zeke that he LOVES...pushes back into my hand and makes er, er, er kinda sounds. :)

[rrenner001]

Yep, Sandy loves to be scratched, and especially loves a full-body massage. When she was little she'd curl into a ball in my hands when I did it. She's a little too big for that now but she tries, and yes, she makes all kinds of chirpy noises when I do! She also tried to groom my hands - never bites, but seems more like a grooming action.