female squirrel biting

[tambot1]

I have had my Nutter Butter for 2 1/2 years. She is special as she has no back legs and tail ( also missing a finger) so she cannot be released. I have raised her from the begining and never had any problems with her being aggressive until this week. A few days ago she started acting a little mean towards me with nipping and aggressive over food. I mean I have actually taken food from her mouth and she is fine until now. she is chattering her teeth, going crazy in her cage and when I put my hand up to the cage she will charge it and grunt. Her privates is swollen and she has had a "smell" to her for a few days. I actually noticed her pee a little darker than normal. It comes in phases, like I held her a few minutes ago and she licked my hand and loved me until she got still,chattered her teeth and drew blood. I am heart broken as we share many hours a day because of her condition and I have cared for her for 2 1/2 years with no problems like this. is she in heat or could there be somethign else. I want to cry because she is soo loving most of the time but she is like a littel devil right now...help.

[island rehabber]

Sounds like classic PMS.....if not the actual heat cycle itself. She WILL get over it, and will be her sweet self again. Give her space....don't push it with trying to get her to act normally. The darker pee is also a clear sign of her going into heat.

[tambot1]

Thank you. I am just sitting here in tears because she is sooo sweet usually and I miss our snuggle time. I usually wrap her tummy with bandages twice a day because it drags the ground without her back legs and it is really raw but I can't even take her out to do that. I bath her two - three times a week and she needs it right now but I can't even consider that. How long will she be like this because I am miserable and taking it very personal? She has been somewhat like this for about three-four days but today is the worst of all. All I keep hearing is her teeth chattering...with her condition I wonder about every kind of illness or her being in pain but you think this is pms. I guess I did not notice this last year because we had so many surgeries that she probably didn't pay attention to it nor did I but I am floored now..

[island rehabber]

. How long will she be like this because I am miserable and taking it very personal? She has been somewhat like this for about three-four days but today is the worst of all. All I keep hearing is her teeth chattering...with her condition I wonder about every kind of illness or her being in pain but you think this is pms. I guess I did not notice this last year because we had so many surgeries that she probably didn't pay attention to it nor did I but I am floored now..

OK mamma, first things first: you cannot take this personally! She is a wild creature first, and your baby second. She will follow the instincts that are built into her brain and you can't change them. But she's not doing this against you, she's just being a normal female squirrel as if she had no disabilities. :)

[tambot1]

My sweet nutter butter is back to herself just like you said she would. That was a terrible day. Thought she had turned on me forever..all is good. Thanks for the support!

[JLM27]

Whew! That was a scare! Rama Rota just did this to Stosh, but he is back to being a "soft boy".