Advice About Biting.....

[Jamey (eaties mom)]

Hello all, I have a one year and seven months male fox squirrel, that I bought at a pet store when he was only three weeks old. Yes, a pet store. He has been a big baby all this time, and recently he had a tail injury, and with advice from Leigh (THANKS AGAIN) and advice from Jackie through Leigh (THANK YOU AS WELL JACKIE) and his tail healed up nice,and my baby didn't loose much of it. He kept chewing and chewing at it. About a month,or so after my little Mr. Rosco P. Coletrain has starting biting, and biting to the point of mom should have went and got a couple stiches,but I didn't. The day he bit me, he was up on his shelf and all the sudden he started doing the "danger" chirp and wagging his tail so much it was banging against the wall. I looked around and didn't notice anything,but I talked to him telling him "everything was ok" He seemed to calm down and I gave him a cherry tomato,and he sat up eating it. About ten minutes later, he flew down off of his shelf, on to his cat tree, jumped on the bed and attacked me. We have played many times where he gets on his back,and kicks at me, and when he gets a bit to excited, the ACH ACH ANT gets his attention,but this time he was out for blood. I had to get a hold of him and lightly remove his teeth from my wrist, and he was like a little pitbull that kept coming back for more. At this point there was blood everywhere, and my feelings were hurt,more than anything,but when I got up to go to the bathroom to get bandages, he chased me the whole way as if trying to attack me. I wish I would have just picked him up, and showed him mom isnt afraid of him, but I closed the door. I called my boyfriend whom was working outside in the garage and just told him to get upstairs quick as I usually pass out when I see blood, and there was lots of it. Well all the sudden I hear him Yelling "Rosco it's just your dad< stop, stop biting your dad Rosco" and I hear the downstairs door close. I peak out, and Rosco is sitting by the steps like he was waiting I tell him to calm down it's just his mom, and I love him bunches, and he came at me again in attack mode and I barely make it downstairs. i totally get he is a wild animal, but he has NEVER went after anyone like this, and he's more bonded to me than my boyfriend. I bandaged up my wrist and give it a few minutes, and I came back upstairs with some goodies for him, and he was up on his shelf like nothing had happened, and was ok. About a week later, he was up on his shelf again, and all the sudden he got on his cat tree, and I coulod tell by his body he was in "attack" mode. I moved to grab a couple of his blankies, and when I moved, he came for me. I grabbed him up in his blankies and held him, he was shaking and chattering and I held him for about twenty minutes, all the while speaking softly to him, and looking in his eyes, and asked him to give mommy a kiss,he did, and I let him go. He went back up to his shelf, and stared at me for a few minutes, and I went to grab his blankies again, and as soon as I moved he started attacking, and he was shaking. This went on two more times, and I told him he would be locked in his bedroom if he did it to his mom again. Sure enough my little wrascle did it again and got me pretty good. I must mention a few days prior to this, my boyfriend had left the house due to a family member passing,for a couple of weeks, and Rosco is/was not used to this. He tolerates his dad, but had never bit him, and he my baby, and other than the play biting he has never ever showed aggression towards us. I also had used new soap, and bought a fabreeze plug in,and new candles. I have raised and relesased quite a few lil ones,but since I bought Mr. Rosco P. Coletrane at a pet store, he supposdly cant be released because he is "pappered" My main concern is the happiness of my lil boy, and if it comes to releaseing him, or keeping him hostage when he doesnt want to be, I will release even though it will break my heart to do so,but before it comes to that, I want to make sure I do anything and everything in my power to fix this. My friend his "aunt Jeannie" sent him some helicopters from Michigan, and I am in Indiana. It was almost fall when she sent them, and I was going to do research to figure out what type of helipocters they were,as in Indiana there were no helicopters on trees around this time<and she said she got them off a bush/tree. Well I brought the envelope upstairs and Mr. Coletrain got into them by his self before I had a chance to look up exactly what they were/are. We feed him the Henry's blocks we order from Leigh, and we follow the diet on the board. He does tend to get a few french frys sometimes. Im just trying to throw out as much info I can think of right now. Please feel free to ask any other questions, or any advice would help. He was a year and a half old before he started this, we already do the "ANT ANT ANT" We are looking into gettting a pair of gloves he only goes after the hands, and nothing else. What kind of gloves are best? We have been looking at welders gloves, and this sort of fishing glove to go under the weilding gloves because my lil guys teeth are no joke. PLEASE HELP GIVE US ADVICE ON HELPING TO GET MY BABY BACK!!! We will even be ok if his dad doesn't deal with him, just as long as one of us can. If release has to happen it will not be until spring as winter here is harsh, by then he will be 2 years old.....thanks sorry so long this is breaking my heart

[lumbergal]

I am interested in this answer as well. I also have an additional question about how late in the year can you soft release them. I have one that just started biting me and I am sitting here nursing a finger at the moment. Mine is a non-release grey squirrel that is about 16 months old. Her teeth were injured (I am assuming they were injured because she was in a tree that was cut down) resulting in no bottom teeth to help keep her top teeth ground down. No matter what chewing materials she had the top teeth grew backwards in her mouth-if I had let her go they would have grown straight back in to her throat. We have kept them trimmed for her. Well, long story short (and I do not understand this), she has sprouted bottom teeth. Do squirrels have "baby" teeth and "adult" teeth like we do? Are these her "adult" teeth. I would have thought she would have developed them way before now. They seem to be doing the trick and her top teeth are beginning to stay trim on their own. She has always been a sweetheart-she lays in my lap and I scratch her belly and ears like a dog...well all of the sudden she is getting aggressive just like this thread is describing and really attacking my furniture as well. She is a sweetheart one second and laying in my lap and then the next second it is like I am a threat to her. I do not want to keep her now that her teeth are better-I know that she is a wild creature - I only kept her to avoid a certain slow and painful death. I planned on releasing her in the spring, but with her behaviour I want to go ahead and move that up if possible. Is it too late in the year for a soft release? I have a wonderful outdoor area that she can take residence in and eventually work her way to squirrel civilization. It is in the 40's and sunshiney here. I am in the south-I believe we will have several more 50 and 60 degree days. THe nights are getting pretty chilly. Is it too late for her to go outside? I will probably have to move outdoors if she doesn't! lol! Would she still be able to develop any type of "winter coat". I would be a basket case if I released her and she somehow got sick. I would really appreciate everyone's input-like I said, I have a wonderful area for soft release and I am willing to do anything extra that may be needed in her situation for winter. She will be well fed by me and will not have to want for anything. THanks guys!

[Skul]

Kind of sounds territorial or hormonal.
If you do try gloves, keep your finger tips withdrawn a bit.
I doubt even welders gloves can stop a determined squirrel.:shakehead
At his age, he may very well be hearing the call of the wild.

It is possible the trend may pass in a week or two. (maybe 3-4.)

[JLM27]

Stashes of something in the bed or upholstery? This seems to be a common explanation. Do you have a new hand lotion in the house? You mentioned a new soap, could that be it?

[Jamey (eaties mom)]

He has stashed goodies before in the bed. His idea of staching is leaving the goodie out in the open, and puting his nose to it a time or two, and he makes the motion with his hands, when he runs away it's in clear view. lol but no at that point and time there was none. with my boyfriend gone out of town for those couple of weeks, and new candles, and plug in, and yes new bath soap, and shampoo he wasnt use to. I got rid of all that and went back to the same stuff. I had a nr pine/red squirrel with a heart problem that passed when she was almost a year, and she was territoral,and would bite the boyfriend, so she is the only other wrascle Ive kept indoors this long. I was told by dnr that I can't release beacuse he was breed in capitivy as I bought him in a pet store. I couldnt believe they sell these lil guys there, but like I said he has been the biggest baby, and never ever acted like that. I figured at some point he could act like that to his dad, as he is bonded to me way more,but from what ive read, most of these guys show or start to act aggressive before being a year old. Am I correct or no?? Like I said I want him to be happy and if we have to release it will break our heart,but I love my lil guy too much to keep him, if he wants to be free, but I dont know if it's a mood swing he's going through, or maybe all the change that happened around that time. I have read in some threads they "test" their moms could this be what he's doing?? ANy suggestions on things to try, or do?? Thank you for your response as we want to try everything.

[virgo062]

Jamey if there is a way to "train" a wild squirrel I don't know it...I wish I had taken a picture of the blood bath from this mornings play with Knothead :( It was so bad I had to wash my clothes :( I have three bandaids on it's not normally this bad :( But Knothead is a wild animal and he is not releaseable which is not his fault...I chose to keep him and now I accept him as he is...It's funny his name is eaties:rotfl :rotfl

[Kristal]

Foxers develop more slowly, btw. Jo Shmo has a lot of experience with them, I think. What does pappered mean? And did you report that pet store? They should lose their license because if they are doing that, they must be doing a lot of other assinine and irresponsible things with their "stock".

[PDXErik]

Ok, I couldn't read the block of text. Paragraphs rock!

So, my advice about biting is this: Try to grind your teeth, that way, it really digs in. My parrot taught me that.

Also, get the extremeties, something you can get into your mouth rather than biting on something.

[Skul]

PDX, I'm at a loss. :rofl4:rotfl

Anyway, stop worrying so much.
Sounds hormonal.
Perfectly normal.
Yes, you have to put up with it.
I know release isn't something that's on the table, but, you may have to consider it.

[Jamey (eaties mom)]

in Indiana it's LEGAL for a pet store to sell any type of wild animal if they have the right permits. Where I found Mr. Coletrane, they also sell skunks, raccons,and squirrels, once you buy a wild animal from them, they copy your license and you have 5 days to get in conmtact with dnr they send you out info about cage requirements, etc. Then they come out to your home once a year to inspect, and re new your permit. Supposdly these wild animals are born in capitivy. When I got my lil boy, at 3 weeks, this pet store was letting him go more than 13 hours at night without being fed, he was so dehyrated that the vet said i shouldn't get my hopes up about him making it, his sister was sold to a family the day before, and the vet called the pet store and offered to treat Rosco's sister for free seeing the condition my boy was in. The owner wasnt in, but a kid who worked there told the vet that the family who bought Rosco's sister had called in wanting their money back as she has passed with in 24 hours of them buying her. The pet store also told me to feed Rosco with a bottle, and cut the tip off and basically hold his head back,and pour the milky into his mouth and if he asperiated it was normal and ok. I told him tha I have taken care of quite a few babies and asperiation was not ok and can lead to getting milky into their lungs, and phumeouia (sp) and he acted like he didn't care. My boy had to be put on antibotics because of it. I just happened to walk into the store, and seen people feeding my lil man, and I asked and they said he was for sale, and I snatched him up that day. I will keep him biting and all, I dislike the bites, but I just want what is best for him. I am also a little worried releasing him at 2 years old. When we open windows to get freash air in, he doesnt want anything to do with it, and will hide, or get as far from the window as he can. Like I said, I just want the best thing for him, and I am hoping and praying he decides to stay with his mom, because I love him, and will put up with him bites and all. My life revolves around this lil guy, as I know for a fact all of you know. your wrascle is named Eaties?? lol Mine was Sweetie Heart, and of course I talked baby talk to her, and it got shortened to Eatie. lol

[astra]

I am sorry you are going through this... i have no words of wisdom here, except just repeating what everyone has said so far...
But having a name 'eates' might, on some subliminal metaphysical level have something to do with his tendency to 'eat' (or bite)... sounds like he wasn't always biting, but he wasn't always "Eatie" either... I am actually not joking at all, this is a news to me, myself, because a couple of months ago I read an interesting article and watched a documentary about suspected correlation between names and personalities... Can he go back to "sweetie"?:)

However, I am appalled at that pet store! How can they keep their license if they abuse poor animals like that?... (because that is abuse and it traumatizes animals that later might result in personality issues of varying degrees). There is another thread here about an absolutely beautiful sweet squirrel (not in NA) who, too, was bought at a pet store, was mistreated there, of course, and it took much, much love, patience and care, and again much love, patience and care to help her become a playful squirrel again, although, her self-destructive tendencies recurred a couple of times...

[Jamey (eaties mom)]

Astra, my nr red was named Eatie. She passed away from a heart valve problem. The lil one that is biting is named Mr. Sheriff Rosco P. Coletrane. I thought he needed something of a title hence his name. lol Yes, this pet store isnt nice I have ,made reports to dnr about it. I was in there as couple months ago, to find another baby foxer around 3 weeks of age, and I tried to buy it, and someone had already came in and put a "deposit" on it, and they told me to check back a few days later in case the people didn't come to buy him, and they did. I even offered them above and beyond what they were asking for the little guy. I was also worried about the supply and demand thing. If they think someone is going to come in, and buy up all these babies, they will get more in. From what I can tell they get two foxers in twice a year. and they also sell albino skunks, albino raccons, regular skunks, raccons, and flyers, and fox squirrels. only thing is, they seem to sell the baby foxers young, and don't give people the right info. He told me when Rosco started eating soild food, just to feed him cat food. Yes cat food. they also tried to tell me what good "pets" squirrels make, and I told them that these are wild animals ment to be wild, and to let any baby of anything go more than 13 hours without milk is abuse, and just plain wrong.

[astra]

Astra, my nr red was named Eatie. She passed away from a heart valve problem. The lil one that is biting is named Mr. Sheriff Rosco P. Coletrane. I thought he needed something of a title hence his name. lol Yes, this pet store isnt nice I have ,made reports to dnr about it. I was in there as couple months ago, to find another baby foxer around 3 weeks of age, and I tried to buy it, and someone had already came in and put a "deposit" on it, and they told me to check back a few days later in case the people didn't come to buy him, and they did. I even offered them above and beyond what they were asking for the little guy. I was also worried about the supply and demand thing. If they think someone is going to come in, and buy up all these babies, they will get more in. From what I can tell they get two foxers in twice a year. and they also sell albino skunks, albino raccons, regular skunks, raccons, and flyers, and fox squirrels. only thing is, they seem to sell the baby foxers young, and don't give people the right info. He told me when Rosco started eating soild food, just to feed him cat food. Yes cat food. they also tried to tell me what good "pets" squirrels make, and I told them that these are wild animals ment to be wild, and to let any baby of anything go more than 13 hours without milk is abuse, and just plain wrong.
Ok, now I got the names straight (I thought those were all your biting little guy's names:) ) Coltrane - is that after John Coltrane, jazz musician?...
But about that pet store... Gosh, I felt sick reading about it... cat food! 13 hours without food!... what if they had to eat pet food and go without it for 13 hours?... And all those babies separated from their mothers...
So good that you reported them, is there a way to follow up on that?...
Poor animals!

[Jamey (eaties mom)]

Im not sure, because they still have babies in there, so I don't know if anything has changed. I'm still trying to look into it, I thought it was just awful as well, and to know his sister died for something other than being taken care of properly breaks my heart. And for them to tell people that these wild animals make good "pets" is beyond me. As for his name, it's actually off of the Dukes Of Hazzard. The crazy sheriff that was always doing crazy things, is Mr. Rosco P. Coletrane. lol I figured he needed something like a title, and when you say it all together he puffs up, and acts all important. lol ego that boy has. lol

[astra]

Im not sure, because they still have babies in there, so I don't know if anything has changed. I'm still trying to look into it, I thought it was just awful as well, and to know his sister died for something other than being taken care of properly breaks my heart. And for them to tell people that these wild animals make good "pets" is beyond me. As for his name, it's actually off of the Dukes Of Hazzard. The crazy sheriff that was always doing crazy things, is Mr. Rosco P. Coletrane. lol I figured he needed something like a title, and when you say it all together he puffs up, and acts all important. lol ego that boy has. lol
:D :D :D

[Kristal]

in Indiana it's LEGAL for a pet store to sell any type of wild animal if they have the right permits. ....When I got my lil boy, at 3 weeks, this pet store was letting him go more than 13 hours at night without being fed, he was so dehyrated that the vet said i shouldn't get my hopes up about him making it, his sister was sold to a family the day before, and the vet called the pet store and offered to treat Rosco's sister for free seeing the condition my boy was in. The owner wasnt in, but a kid who worked there told the vet that the family who bought Rosco's sister had called in wanting their money back as she has passed with in 24 hours of them buying her. The pet store also told me to feed Rosco with a bottle, and cut the tip off and basically hold his head back,and pour the milky into his mouth and if he asperiated it was normal and ok. I told him tha I have taken care of quite a few babies and asperiation was not ok and can lead to getting milky into their lungs, and phumeouia (sp) and he acted like he didn't care.

Okay, these people are HORRIBLE. If the government will not do anything about it, I would contact PETA. NO KIDDING. I do not agree with a lot of their stances (such as exterminating the pit bull terrier breed as well as other "fighting breeds"), but they really do make some noise. They should lose their business. Absolutely.

[PDXErik]

Please use your Enter key.

It seems you have some good stuff to say, but if you don't break it down into sections, some valuable people (me included) may just pass right over your posts as they are difficult to read.

Long thoughts tend to say a lot of things and sometimes, long thoughts are important.

Like when someone has problems with malocclusion. Those can be pretty long. Or diarrhea, there are a LOT of things that can cause that. Sometimes, one will have a question about cage size, time of year, over-wintering, peeing, etc. All valid questions. That need to be answered.

I've seen a few posts about "I just got this squirrel and I don't know what to do". Well, this is the place to ask.

I have actually had to type quite a lot in order to make a point, and this paragraph is part of it because if this does not look like a brick of letters, then my point hasn't been made yet.

Breaking your thoughts into pieces makes it easier to read, more unerstandable, and more likely to get results.

================

Here's the same post without paragraphing

================

Please use your Enter key. It seems you have some good stuff to say, but if you don't break it down into sections, some valuable people (me included) may just pass right over yuor posts as they are difficult to read.Long thoughts tend to say a lot of things and sometimes, long thoughts are important. Like when someone has problems with malocclusion. Those can be pretty long. Or diarrhea, there are a LOT of things that can cause that. Sometimes, one will have a question about cage size, time of year, over-wintering, peeing, etc. All valid questions. That need to be answered. I've seen a few posts about "I just got this squirrel and I don't know what to do". Well, this is the place to ask. I have actually had to type quite a lot in order to make a point, and this paragraph is part of it because if this does not look like a brick of letters, then my point hasn't been made yet. Breaking your thoughts into pieces makes it easier to read, more unerstandable, and more likely to get results.

================

See how it changes things? It's easier to read and comes through better.

[Jamey (eaties mom)]

Okay, I have been making paragraphs,but when they post, it turns into a block, so I am going to try two enters. lol

How would I get a hold of PETA? Rosco's vet had retired, and he had even made a report of how young he was and the condition he was in. He didn't even think Rosco would make it for a while, as his sister did pass. I was in there a couple months back, and this store had another baby foxer in for sale, and I offered 75 above what they were asking,as someone had put a "deposit" on the little guy, and they told me to check back at the first f the week, to see if they came to pick him up, and they did.

What worries me is they told me to get a bottle you would feed a puppy/kitten with,cut the nipple off, and pour it down their throats, and I already knew better than this and asked about aperation, and they said thats "normal" and they told me to feed them CAT FOOD, YES CAT FOOD, when he got old enough to eat solids. I knew a heack of a lot better than that, but what about the people who dont. It worries me how many of these babies are suffering, and dieing because they are followind the wrong advice from the pet store.

I told them about this board, and also told them wild animals should not be pets, and its wromg for them to tell people that come into this store that. They also sell albino skunks, and raccons, and regular raccons, and skunks. I have only seen 2 foxers in there. I dont know what they tell the people who buy the raccons, and skunks, or if they give them what advice about their care. They did say if people bought them and they got to be a handful, they can bring them back to the store. As to what happens to them at that point I am not sure, I have seen full grown skunks in there for sale.

[Jamey (eaties mom)]

WOO HOO two enters worked for the paragraphs!!! lol

[astra]

You could probably start by going to peta.org and Contact Us

[CritterMom]

OK, so aggression... This will work but you MUST be 100% consistent with him.

First, you keep referring to "his shelf." That is normally where this starts, right? I bet it is above your eye level.

At least until you get a handle on his behavior, you need to prevent him from getting on this shelf. Take it down, block it off - doesn't matter. He can have a lower one, but not this high one. Many animals develop height agression for all kinds of reasons.

Second, get a pair of welding gloves or whatever it takes to prevent him from biting, and the instant - and I mean the INSTANT you see his agressive behevior start, pick him up, go to his cage, put him in, thrun around, and walk out of the room - and stay out. If he rushes the cage when you are with him, again, turn and walk out. They crave your attention and if a specific behavior makes you disappear, it will stop - IS and only if you are 100% consistant and do it every time. No drama, not nastiness, just pick up and restrain so he can't get away, into cage, and LEAVE. I call it shunning and I do it with my parrots, too. The most important thing is to do it IMMEDIATELY so they relate the nastiness to the shunning. That is why the welding gloves - you need to be confident enough to snatch that bad furry butt up and shove it in the cage!

[Kristal]

Please use your Enter key.


Hehe, it does help, but only Erik has bad enough manners to mention it ;p I hate it when people make wall-of-text postings, too, but I would not say so in such a polite venue as this :) Don't worry, Erik, you know that everyone loves you ;p

Also, that place sounds like a torture chamber for animals. If you want some help contacting PETA or the appropriate authorities, I would be willing. Poor, poor critters. They probably killed their breeding pair of foxers or you would see more squirrels in there. It's disgusting.

[Jamey (eaties mom)]

Critter mom, THANK YOU!!! We will try taking down his shelf for now. And yes, its an eight foot shelf that is hung across the top of the door way. He climbs up his cat tree, and we have a thick throw blanket hung on the wall, and he climbs up the blanket onto his shelf. Even if we are standing up, he is still way higher than we are. He likes to lay up ther, or take goodies up there to eat. And for the most part, he was up there staring at me (mom) and then flew down and got me, then chased me into the bathroom. I wish I would have snatched his lil fuzzer butt up instead of run downstairs. lol SO we will remove the shelf, or hang it a lot lower for right now, and see if that helps, and he will be on lock down, and we will leave the room for a while.

I think one of the mistakes we have done with him,is basically let him run free, until it's his bed time. He will get out in the moring,and run around all day, and usually put himself to bed in his room (cage) at night when he is ready. There are some nights, I have to put him in, but for the most part he's had run of the place when he wants. And we haven't really had a problem with that routine, or anything other than his crazy attack mode for a few days. So now we are making sure he gets more time in his room (cage)

As far as this pet store, when I first got Rosco, I took him to a very right away, as I knew with them asperiating him and saying asperation is "normal" I knew he would need antibotics right away, and sure enough he did. The other part was the vet couldn't believe how young they were selling these guys, and how dehyrated he was. When I drove past the store a couple months ago, and seen a sign that said "fox squirrel for sale" I stopped in, and they had a lil boy whom appeared to be around 3 to 4 weeks of age, and he didn't look as bad as my boy did. When I asked the girl how they fed him at night she told me one of the workers take him home and feed him at night until the people came and picked him up.......

When I got my boy, they had told me they left him at the store throught out the night,and they feed him at closing around 7:30, and when they came into open the store the next day, they would feed him,and whatever other baby animals needed it......

When the vet, and I spoke to fish and wildlife, they said as long as a store keeps their permits updated, it would be hard to prove these lil guys werent taken care of. And when they asked the owner where the baby squirrels come from, he said that a lady breeds them from out of town. AS we looked into how a Indiana wildlife permits work for stores, if they have a permit to sell wildlife, LEGALLY they can go into the wild and STEAL babies from a wild animal if the baby animal is under a certain age. A person cant do this, but if someone has a permit to SELL them they can. The owner claims he is getting all his wild life from a breeder. :(

[PDXErik]

Hehe, it does help, but only Erik has bad enough manners to mention it

:O

No way, I didn't say it in a mean way, if I had bad manners, I'd have said something mean! (and also not conversed over PM 6 or so times to try and help out :P)

Gosh, just like you Canadians to be mean.

(btw, canuck, see the paragraphs???? ^^ : P) I'M GLAD I COULD HELP, JAMEY!

(also, screw PETA, they kill as many animals as they claim to "save")


the instant - and I mean the INSTANT you see his agressive behevior start, pick him up, go to his cage, put him in, thrun around, and walk out of the room - and stay out.

Good advice, my situation isn't as easy and my girl's cage is above eye level. A couple times, and I mean breaking skin time, she got aggressive, I held my finger in there. Nope, you wanted it, you got it. Yeah, it hurt, nope she didn't get it out until she was very uncomfortable having my finger in her mouth.

These days, she goes for the "NO YOU WON'T" and goes to bite, but it's very tender, very hesitative. (this is a display of both of our learning experience, I love my little girl, don't worry)

[Jackie in Tampa]

this maybe way off...but!:peace

sometimes we cannot change things/people/laws etc...
but if you ask nicely at the pet store , to put up a flyer with TSB logo and info, and the owners of pet shop will display it, that alone can make a difference...
I hope this works {my flyer} I cannot figure out how to..*sigh*

[Kristal]

:O

No way, I didn't say it in a mean way, if I had bad manners, I'd have said something mean! (and also not conversed over PM 6 or so times to try and help out :P)

Gosh, just like you Canadians to be mean.

(btw, canuck, see the paragraphs???? ^^ : P) I'M GLAD I COULD HELP, JAMEY!

(also, screw PETA, they kill as many animals as they claim to "save")



Good advice, my situation isn't as easy and my girl's cage is above eye level. A couple times, and I mean breaking skin time, she got aggressive, I held my finger in there. Nope, you wanted it, you got it. Yeah, it hurt, nope she didn't get it out until she was very uncomfortable having my finger in her mouth.


Wow, Erik, you are just.... a manly man! Imma have to keep that in mind for the future! ;)

I agree about PETA. They are hypocritical and fairly awful... but they are noisy, too.

And you are right about us Canadians. We are incorrigible. Why you should see me on some other online forums...:shakehead

[PDXErik]

Wow, Erik, you are just.... a manly man! Imma have to keep that in mind for the future! ;)

I agree about PETA. They are hypocritical and fairly awful... but they are noisy, too.

And you are right about us Canadians. We are incorrigible. Why you should see me on some other online forums...:shakehead

Oh, ya, eh. I <3 incorrigible.

[PDXErik]

I have enough experience with girls, I can take a bite, but you better mean it.

[Jamey (eaties mom)]

THANK YOU Jackie, once again. lol I had mentioned the squirrel board to the owner of the pet store, and he kinda blew me off. But since you gave me a link, I will try printing a lot of flyers out and take them to the store, and hopefully it will save some lil fuzzers. He still says asperation is ok, and normal, and when they get older to feed cat food. It made me crazy to think how many lil fuzzers have passed away from being told by the owner of a pet store how to take care of these lil ones :( BUT maybe if I offer to print them out, and keep enough up there, that when they send these lil ones home, people will be able to get the right info. :)

As for my Mr. Sheriff Rosco P. Coletrane, when he bit me, he got me on the wrist/ hand area, and it was so bad, I should have went and got stiches. Now I will have a nasty scar. But hey, what are moms for. lol He has always nipped when playing, and I will tell him, "spiderman (his other nickname) we are just playing, don't bite mommy so hard" and he will be easy.

When he did the bad bite, he had never ever did anything like that, and we werent plalying or anything. He just kinda came flying down at me in attack mode, and wouldn't stop. Then when I called my boyfriend, he bit him so hard, he has slight nerve damage now in his hand. (what are dads for?) Then I ran downstairs, and he chased after me, and I let him stay upstairs alone for about 20 minutes, then I came back up, I brought goodies, and he acted like nothing happened.


Then a few days later, I bought him a new wrascle (stuffie) and he tried to bite me again, but I said "OUCH" loud and he quit. SO we are going to move his shelf down,and try the putting his lil butt in his room, and leave the room and see how that works out.

Thank you all so much for the advice, as I stated before, we are willing to do anything and everything, even if it means loosing a finger, or walking around with battle wounds. Hopefully he settles down, or it was a phase, or mood, or hormones and he We love him so very much as I know you all love your fuzzers.

If you can think of anything else, let us know, and I will print out thos flyfers and get them to the pet store asap :)

[CritterMom]

No more bringing him a goodie after he bites, either! You want to be sure you don't inadvertently REWARD bad behavior. Humans do this all the time, both with their animals and with their children!

No drama, either - that is a form of reward. So don't yell, don't scold. Eithe spin and walk out and leave him, or pick him up, deposit him in his cage and then leave.

My parrots taught me this. In the very seldom occasion that one bites me - and it almost never happens, I treat them almost like an inanimate object. Grab, place in cage, leave. They KNOW they are being dissed and they HATE it. I have yet to find a means of discipline that works as well as this does - shunning.

[Jamey (eaties mom)]

Thank you Critter mom. I don't have kids, so I need help in the displine area. I think I have let my fuzzer run he show, as long as he don't attack, and bite, and now he has, this is a learning experience. So if I go up to his cage, and he is grunting, and swatting, do I walk out of the room then, or just ingore him??

I will not give no more goodies when he does something bad. That day I wish I would have snatched his lil furry butt up instead of letting him run me off downstairs.

We did gte the wielding gloves, and he attacked me because he was scared of them. He also peed down my arm when he bit the gloves. I put him in his room, and while I was walking away, he was peaking and watching every move I made, so I can tell thats going to help.

DO you have any advie on how to get him used to the gloves?? I showed them to him, and explained what I was doing before I put them on and got him out, but he is still scared of them......

[CritterMom]

Mr. P. swats at me if he is really excited playing with his stuffies in his cage sometimes, and as SOON as he does it, I walk out.

Lay the gloves on the floor or somewhere that he can see them from his cage, and when he has out time, let him investigate them off of your hands. They are SO curious, and they are new - he will HAVE to check them out.

[island rehabber]

OK -- first of all I'm with Erix -- guess I've got adult ADD because when I see a big paragraph my eyes glaze over :rotfl.
Anyway: check that cat tree and shelf area for secret nut stashes. THAT will make a nice squirrel go nuts every time. If you see nuts up there, get him in a nother room and CLEAN IT OUT.
He may be going through a sexually maturing phase and that will make both males and females nasty as hell.

LUMBERGAL: you absolutely can release your squirrel now, in Tennessee. I have released 12 so far this month -- the last being two days ago, and this is New York and it's in the low 40's at night, at best. They are all doing GREAT -- fat and fluffy. Let your girl have what she wants before you lose a few fingers. :D

[Kristal]

OK -- first of all I'm with Erix -- guess I've got adult ADD because when I see a big paragraph my eyes glaze over :rotfl.
Anyway: check that cat tree and shelf area for secret nut stashes. THAT will make a nice squirrel go nuts every time. If you see nuts up there, get him in a nother room and CLEAN IT OUT.
He may be going through a sexually maturing phase and that will make both males and females nasty as hell.

LUMBERGAL: you absolutely can release your squirrel now, in Tennessee. I have released 12 so far this month -- the last being two days ago, and this is New York and it's in the low 40's at night, at best. They are all doing GREAT -- fat and fluffy. Let your girl have what she wants before you lose a few fingers. :D


I was confused about this, so I looked at a NY webcam:
http://www.bryantpark.org/plan-your-visit/webcam.html

Yep, you still have green leaves. Check us out:
http://www.montrealcam.com/en-placecartier.html
Our trees here have definitely lost most of their leaves. :(

[island rehabber]

I was confused about this, so I looked at a NY webcam:
http://www.bryantpark.org/plan-your-visit/webcam.html

Yep, you still have green leaves. Check us out:
http://www.montrealcam.com/en-placecartier.html
Our trees here have definitely lost most of their leaves. :(

Bryant Park! My old 'hood for 18 yrs :Love_Icon
I sat under those sycamore maples almost every day at lunch hour....yep, they are still green :)