Introducing Spartacus (AKA Sparky, Sparkalito, Sparky-no-don't-chew-on-that!)

[TimDolbear]

We found him Aug 29th, he was less than a week old, he had fallen out of a nest 25' up. He was hurt badly and no parent was around, so we nursed him back to heath and he is now almost 6 months old.

He has been the sweetest little guy, absolutely the coolest pet! He is wilding up now so he spends his days outside (we roll his cage out) and nights in with us. Some days he is in the trees, other he stays in the cage. Others are coming around to investigate him which scares him but he is doing good. We are sad to see him go, but he will have a great life out in the trees!

http://www.eclecticarecordings.com/wftpserve/sparky/sparky%201%20week.jpg

http://www.eclecticarecordings.com/wftpserve/sparky/sparky-4weeks.jpg

http://www.eclecticarecordings.com/wftpserve/sparky/Sparky%206weeks.jpg

http://www.eclecticarecordings.com/wftpserve/sparky/sparky-2months-B.jpg

http://www.eclecticarecordings.com/wftpserve/sparky/sparky-3months.jpg

http://www.eclecticarecordings.com/wftpserve/sparky/sparky-5months-b.jpg

http://www.eclecticarecordings.com/wftpserve/sparky/Sparky%205months.jpg

[2ndHandRanchRescue]

Welcome! I just love when humans help the little fuzzers!! We all love photos and you have some great ones!! Did I say welcome? :Welcome

[NaturesGift]

O my what a looker!!:Welcome You did an awesome job!!

[island rehabber]

He looks great! And you raised him from a pinky -- DAM good job! :thumbsup:thumbsup

[NaturesGift]

He looks great! And you raised him from a pinky -- DAM good job! :thumbsup:thumbsup

And this is why I love you lol brutally honest:jump

[lilidukes]

:Welcome to TSB. Such a handsome boy. You have raised him with his best interests at heart. :alright.gif :alright.gif :alright.gif

[TimDolbear]

We love this little guy so much, its hard letting him go.

[Rescue04]

you did the right thing by releasing him!! i know it is hard....but it is best for him...he is so adorable!!

[UDoWhat]

Wow!!! I'm impressed! Great job. Spartacus is a beautiful boy. :Welcome to TBS. (Sparky-no-don't-chew-on-that :rotfl ) I've said that a 1000 times.

[djarenspace9]

What a cutie-pie!
I love the pic with him nestled in your nest....uh, I mean hair :D

[TimDolbear]

He slept behind Angela's neck all the time when he was young. So sweet.

[Scooterzmom]

What an absolute cutie pie! You did a super job and you're doing right by him... WTG TDB!!!! :thumbsup

[asweetdiversion]

Such a sweet Squirrel... I have to keep reminding myself that I am THANKFUL that I am squirrel-baby-poor right now and NOT JEALOUS that I don't have a little
( or big ) fuzzer running around my neck and cuddled all up in my hair. Now will someone tell my heart to feel that way too!!!

Welcome to the Squirrel Board Spartacus 130248

[asweetdiversion]

130249

I'm thankful to be squirrel poor right now...I'm thankful to be squirrel poor right now....I'm thankful to be squirrel poor right now....

[TimDolbear]

Visits at 2 and 3 days out, he comes back for food and love then he is off, back to his new squirrel life :)

http://www.eclecticarecordings.com/wftpserve/sparky/Sparky%202days%20out.jpg

http://www.eclecticarecordings.com/wftpserve/sparky/Sparly%203days%20out.jpg

http://www.eclecticarecordings.com/wftpserve/sparky/Sparky2daysout-tree.jpg

[island rehabber]

awwww.....he's got the best of both worlds. :thumbsup

[TimDolbear]

update and summery : Hey all, Ours, Sparky, is 6 months, and started wilding up 3 weeks ago, at first he did not want to go out side, but when we would take him out, into the trees he went, played for a half hour then back on us and into the house for the night. A couple weeks of that and then he spent 3 days in his cage outside watching the world, and other squirrels and learning the sounds, and we still took him out at 4pm to ventured into the big main tree, but back to his cage he would go at 5pm and into the house for the night with us. 3 days ago at 4 he went, he was ready and he chose, and was gone all night, he went from our 1 big tree to literally every tree with in 4 properties that we could see, marking every branch and running wild. LOL. Side note, if he is out there and does not want to come in, don't force him or go get him, let him come to you, the state of mind they get into is wild and you will get bit.

Anyway, Next morning at 10am he was back on and in his cage, since it has a small opening at the top for him (Its 6ft tall and on wheels). He and 2 new friends are in our yard now though out the day and come 5pm, they disappear. Next morning he is back for food and hangs out all day, back yard, front, on the roof, thru the trees... I am so happy he is going to have a squirrel's life, but yet so sad cause I miss him, and worried because he is still getting his street smarts and has to deal with every danger that is out there.


So, if yours is wilding up, try what we have, let him choose, to see him go and be so free and so happy, sad as it is for us, its worth it. I love my little guy!

More picture tomorrow!

[SquirrelsinSingapore]

SSSo adorable!!

Lit Sparkalito gets to choose wildlife and mummy's place!
He gets the best of both worlds!
Great work nursing and getting that squirrel out there where he is free and he belongs. Love your pictures especially Spartacus's on wood table. So keep them coming.

I know it's been hard to let him go, but you've did the correct thing. Visit your little fellor once in a while to see hows he's been doing. Great work!

:thumbsup

[TimDolbear]

more pics from his 3rd day out...

http://www.eclecticarecordings.com/wftpserve/sparky/sparky-3days-1.JPG

http://www.eclecticarecordings.com/wftpserve/sparky/sparky-3days-2.JPG


http://www.eclecticarecordings.com/wftpserve/sparky/sparky-3days-3.JPG


http://www.eclecticarecordings.com/wftpserve/sparky/sparky-3days-4.JPG

[pappy1264]

Awwwww, what a sweetie! Pinkie and Fonzi were released on August 14 of last year. Although Fonzi stayed for a while, I have not seen him for several months. But Pinkie lives in the woods behind my house, comes up to eat every day to the bird feeders.....and SHE HAS THREE BABIES! Yup, the circle of life, as they say. The babies run, but she will stay and wait for me to bring her her beloved pecans!

I am wintering over four, who are pretty close in age to your guy. Will be a while still since we have four feet of snow out there.....but their time will come. They have not really 'wilded' up, although Sammy and Precious choose to keep their distance in the cage (it is a walk in cage), although will take food from my hand. Diva is on me and off me.....Sebastion is on my body the second I start to come through the door! And he stashes all his treats on me (in my hair, in my clothes....even stuffed a cheerio in my ear! lol) He is going to be the toughest to pull away from.

I hope your guy will be like my Pinkie and 'just have a place nearby' but still comes home for dinner!

[TimDolbear]

Sparky is like Sebastian, or was... now we are around him outside but I can't let him on me since he wilded up 3 weeks back, and I was bit on 2 occasions badly, since I am the alpha male of the house, but Angela is his mama, so he is all about her. Tonight is his 5th night out, but tonight be nested in the tree right by his cage and not off far away. We are going to mount a box or condo for him in the tree and hope he takes to it.

We handed him a hand towel that he had in his bed in his cage and he dragged it to his new little nest, we will add some to his condo. That and cable and internet, he's a bizy guy.

It is mating season her in Central Texas, we saw proof of that today LOL, no sparky but others, and the males around are very territorial in our area and little sparky keeps getting chased/jumped/scared off... poor little guy.

Also if you are interested Angela has a blog about dealing with setting free these little guys, (she is a published writer so its better than my writtings here LOL) http://angeladolbear.blogspot.com/2011/02/heavy-and-hollow.html

[pappy1264]

I just signed up to follow it. She writes beautifully!

[Gina]

:Welcome Spartacus is sooo cute and now he gets to learn how to be a wild squirrel. It is so bitter sweet but he is a lucky one that you are in no hurry and he does not have to worry about food or shelter until he figures out how to make his own way. Keep those pictures coming we all love seeing these little fuzzers and hearing what they are up to:grouphug .

[TimDolbear]

7th night out: We add a deluxe apartment, in the sky!

Right above his nest, really it made a roof over the nest area in the tree 10' up. He slept nights 5 and 6 in that nest and we built and mounted the condo on day 6 and he slept under it. So we filled it with some towels from his cage with his scent on them, and some items from his cage he likes and a t-shirt Angela wore around to get her scent on... today, day 7, at 4:30 we go him to easily go into the condo, Angela handed him nut after nut and he set up house in it :jump

So he's right now is a sleep in it, we check on him and around 9pm there is a little nose popping out, as he is gazing out over his land. By the way we built it like a brick house! keep the rain and Texas Hail off his head. We made it outta pine, Sparky's favorite wood, and its mounted so well you can stand on it.

Here are some pics from when he was setting up house. Enjoy!


His cage on the patio, behind is his tree.
http://www.eclecticarecordings.com/wftpserve/sparky/Sparky-Highrise.jpg


http://www.eclecticarecordings.com/wftpserve/sparky/Sparky-newcondo-4.jpg

http://www.eclecticarecordings.com/wftpserve/sparky/Sparky-newcondo1.jpg

http://www.eclecticarecordings.com/wftpserve/sparky/Sparky-newcondo2.jpg

http://www.eclecticarecordings.com/wftpserve/sparky/Sparky-newcondo3.jpg

[Jester]

He looks so happy, almost like he's smiling in all the pics.. he's a lucky squirrel to have so much love and so much freedom at the same time! :thumbsup

[Rescue04]

i am sure you are doing what is best for sparky. does not always mean it is the easiest!! your heart will catch up.

[island rehabber]

Sparky's got it made! Good job, folks :bowdown
Now he can go chew anything he wants :rotfl

[Kelly Brady]

Sparky is adorable with a capital A:thumbsup

You have made a been an angel to your Sparky.:grouphug

[SquirrelsinSingapore]

Fantastic job

Bet Sparkilitos is loving life down there
Cage looks spacious, I even liked the woody condominium house with a roof and window overlooking his terroritory
Sparkilitos is so fortunate to have a squirrel mum love him like that and provide such a wonderful pro-squirrel environment mjs

:thumbsup, 5 Stars!!
:sd

[TimDolbear]

Thanks all! And its day 9 and he is doing better and better, no more running away cry'n when other squirrels come near, he even chased one yesterday. Seems to be understanding the playfulness of the community.

We are very happy for him! :D

[TimDolbear]

2 weeks out, he is doing great, adjusting quickly, getting better climbing and being alert. He is all over the place, like the rest of the community, but still comes right to us and sits with us and hangs out on us. So sweet.


http://www.eclecticarecordings.com/wftpserve/sparky/2weeksout-1.jpg

http://www.eclecticarecordings.com/wftpserve/sparky/2weeksout-2.jpg

http://www.eclecticarecordings.com/wftpserve/sparky/2weeksout-3.jpg

http://www.eclecticarecordings.com/wftpserve/sparky/2weeksout-4.jpg

http://www.eclecticarecordings.com/wftpserve/sparky/2weeksout-5.jpg

http://www.eclecticarecordings.com/wftpserve/sparky/2weeksout-6.jpg

[SquirrelsinSingapore]

2 weeks out, he is doing great, adjusting quickly, getting better climbing and being alert. He is all over the place, like the rest of the community, but still comes right to us and sits with us and hangs out on us. So sweet.



Of course.

You guys are his family n part of his growing up :)

Its so sweet

[2ndHandRanchRescue]

Great photos! Don't you just love when they sit and watch you from their homes! Its good to be a squirrel with a human made home and good grub!

[TimDolbear]

Hey all!

Sparky is doing great! We are past the 4 week mark! We still see him every day, he hangs with us a lot, and is so sweet! But he also has learned his way around the community.

He now has built a nest up and out of the way, hidden, he does not like the fact that anyone knows its there or that he is there. Instincts have really kicked in. He also no longer runs scared from other Squirrels, but now chases them. He no longer as of 5 days ago goes into his condo in the tree we made for him, but he still eats and drinks from his large cage he grew up in all the time, hanging out on top of it and looking out over his yard. Interesting, other squirrels will coming into the yard and even a couple will go into his big cage and eat, and he is fine with it. Strange. They run of course if we step outside. We see him all over the area, he really gets around.

Here are some pics from today, he was very playful and hung out eating Almonds and wrestling with us for a couple hours.


http://www.eclecticarecordings.com/wftpserve/sparky/4weeksout-1.jpg

http://www.eclecticarecordings.com/wftpserve/sparky/4weeksout-2.jpg

http://www.eclecticarecordings.com/wftpserve/sparky/4weeksout-3.jpg

http://www.eclecticarecordings.com/wftpserve/sparky/4weeksout-4.jpg

[gs1]

:D that's one handsome, happy squirrel ... looks amazing ...and great name too ....:D :thumbsup

[Busysqrl]

Those are such wonderful pictures. He's got the best of both worlds, freedom and humans who care for and feed him. What a life :jump Beautiful little guy:thumbsup

[pinkymom]

FANTASTIC PICS OF SPARKY. HE LOOKS VERY HAPPY. GREAT JOB! I JUST HOPE MY PINKY COMES TO VISIT TOO. I WORRY HE WON'T BE ABLE TO FIND HIS WAY BACK. HE JUST TOOK OFF SO FAST. WELL, I HOPE HE FINDS SOME NICE FRIENDS....AND A GOOD GIRLFRIEND.
REGARDS,
PINKYMOM

[pinkymom]

OUR PINKY LOOKED JUST LIKE YOURS WHEN HE WAS BROUGHT TO US. HE WAS LESS THAN A WEEK OLD TOO. I WORRIED HE WOULD TURN OUT TO BE A RAT...INSTEAD OF A SQUIRREL HA, HA

[TimDolbear]

LOL thats awesome! when we found Sparky we were like, "whats that? its an alien."

[SquirrelsinSingapore]

:goodpost :goodpost He made it 4 weeks! We are so proud of Little Sparkalito :D

Thanks for picking it up, providing an upbringing. The whole thing is just fantastic

:Squirrel
Run free! Sparky!

Great pictures BTW
:thumbsup

[TimDolbear]

Hey all, long time.... Sparky has been out on his own for 11+weeks. Since Feb 17th. He is about 9months old.

He is getting his adult fur, as you can see from the picture, all but the last inch of his tail. He is doing great, we still see him every other day, but he comes to his cage and eats almost everyday. We aren't handle him much now becasue it is mating season and we don't want our sent on him. Plus he is in squirrel mode all the time. He will sit on us and eat, smiling away. :D

http://www.eclecticarecordings.com/wftpserve/sparky/Sparky-050711.jpg

[scoobysnack]

This is great!

[Tickle's Mom]

:wott SPARKY :wott

:grouphug :grouphug :grouphug

[TimDolbear]

Hey all, for all us Just release Squirrel care providers...

Please read this thread about Typhus and what we went through here :)

http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?p=645732#post645732

[UDoWhat]

Great job on the release.:peace I read your thread on your typhus illness. I hope all is well now. It is rare but very real and very scary.:shakehead

Marty