How hot is too hot to be outside?

[Baxied]

Hi, I have moved Sam to his pre-release cage on the covered deck but it is hotter than Hades here. I have been wheeling him outside every day but taking him back in around noon when it gets so hot. Today was to be his first day outside all day, but I am getting nervous. The cage is in the shade but it is 92 already and will be like this all week.

Should I just keep an eye on him? Do ya'll have any suggestions for cooling him off?

Also - when do the boys get their "fuzzy grapes"?:dono Sam got his about 3 weeks ago and I was wondering just how old he may be.

[Jackie in Tampa]

Fuzzy grapes come at all ages, I have had sibs that matured early while their bro was bare bellied...:dono
AS long as cage is in shade and he has had a couple weeks of outside time at short intervels...he should be ok, ugh...I know what you are saying, I am going thru the same thing...it's hot.
Yes keep an eye on him cking often...I use fans blowing on cage... there hasn't been a breeze during the day blow thru here in weeks.:shakehead
I add frozen veggie-cicles during the day too...frozen blueberries are sooo loved and califlower too!
Sammy loves ice cubes floating in his water when he's outside...talk about spoiled...but it is hotter than hades here.
Keep an eye on him, plenty of water and air flow... also a roof!:wave123

[4skwerlz]

I would acclimate him to this weather very slowly. We've had several squirrels die from being outside in the summer....they're used to air-conditioning, just like us. I would limit his time outside to just a few hours in the morning for now, then very gradually increase the time.

[squirrelsrule&bunniestoo]

Make sure they get PLENTY of water outside too, they will drink a lot when it is warm. Another thing I do with my guys when they are out and it is hot is mist them. You should have seen Miss. Crusty (baby squirrel recovering from mange) when I hosed the cage on Friday. I moved her and her buddy into another cage across the way while I cleaned and while I was hosing some spray went into the other cage. Well, Miss. Crusty decided she liked that and went running after the mist. So, I arched the hose so the spray would make like a shower mist and she LOVED it, she was splashing all around and running through. I didn't think squirrels liked water (the other guy stayed away), but she had a 16' by 8' by 8' high cage to go wherever she wanted to in and she choose the corner with the shower (maybe a 2' area). So, a mister bottle is definetely a good idea :D .

[Jackie in Tampa]

The dew point here today is 78*...that is so muggy, we have been advised to stay indoors...ugh!
I use mini sprinklers, irrigation system on the eves of my house and put mist'er heads on them...and the fans!!!!! blowing mist everywhere!
feels so awesome...the comparison from backyard to frontyard is drastic....and the sqs love it...Marley lays pancaked with little water drops all over him...precious:Love_Icon
The mist'ers only lower the temp a few degrees but it feels so much cooler:thumbsup
It's just getting daylight and the natives are restless already!:shakehead
Gotta fill the feeders before they come inside!:rotfl
LOts of water and careful monitoring!:wave123

[Baxied]

Jackie, it is unbelievably hot here already too. I put Sam back in his cage in the garage last night because he seemed like he couldn't settle down outside. When I put him back out at 6 this morning I broke a sweat just hauling him in his carrier up the deck stairs!

I watched him closely yesterday and he seemed to be okay. Whenever he got hot he would run through the pan of shallow water with ice in it and climb back up to a shelf and pancake for awhile.:) This morning I will go to Lowe's to see about getting some misters. I'll be interested to see if he likes it.

I think he is doing okay outside because he has ony been in the house for a couple of hours out of each day - once in the morning and once in the evening for crazy time in my bathroom. I am soooo going to miss his body surfing on the bath mats. He is such a cool little dude!!!

[muffinsquirrel]

'Holmes' makes a fan that is indoor/outdoor, 3 speed, oscilates, and has a mister built into it! They are WONDERFUL!!!! We even have one on our porch. Check Lowes for one - that's where we got ours last year.

muffinsquirrel

[virgo062]

I am soooo going to miss his body surfing on the bath mats. He is such a cool little dude!!!

Baxied I don't think you are going to have to worry about missing him...I don't think you are ever going to let him go:rotfl :rotfl Just Kidding:rotfl

[Baxied]

I know, I know, Virgo. You sound just like my husband.:rotfl

I don't think he will stay even a week outside in his release cage. He is ready to go now. I'm just waiting to see if his teeth straighten up.