Just released eastern grey & wondering if there is anything else we can do?

[escho]

Hello, We raised an eastern grey that fell out of our tree last September. We tried to reunite him with his family, but discovered that the mother was most probably a dead squirrel that the neighbor's dog had found. At any rate, Chester has been in his phone-booth sized cage, complete with nest box, in our kitchen all winter, and just spent the last month and a half on our screened porch (still in his cage). We've been waiting for the weather to warm up and for a good sunny day to release him. For the last few days, he's been "chirring" loudly out the window all morning, so we thought it was probably time. We closed him into his nest box, mounted it up on one of our back yard oak trees, and opened the door this afternoon. Unfortunately, Chester freaked out and took off. Is there anything else we can do at this point? We've left out his favorite green beans, sweet potato slices and acorns in a dish on the top of his nest box, and have called to him from in the back yard, but there isn't any sign of him. We all are feeling very heart sick and worried about the little guy.

Thanks for any advice you have to offer.

[island rehabber]

Release day freaky-deakies are not unusual. :D I saw another rehabber put her squirrels into a release pen one spring, and all four went up into the corners of the pen and stayed there the entire rest of the day. :shakehead :ohthedrama I think your boy will be ok. As it gets dark, watch for him....he will probably find his nest box by its scent and go right in. :thumbsup

[UDoWhat]

If he doesn't come back tonight he is most likely hiding in a tree or somewhere safe. Tomorrow he will find his box and the food you put out for him. Do not put the food on top or inside of his box because that could draw predators to his nestbox that could hurt or kill him. Raccoons are the biggest culprits of raiding squirrel nestboxes for food and will hurt the squirrel. I will pray for Chester .:Love_Icon He will be fine. Look for him early morning. Release days are so good and kind of sad all in one event.

Marty, Licensed Maryland Master Wildlife Rehabilitator

[Kristal]

They do have an excellent ability to build spatial maps in their heads. Hopefully he is not too panicked to work one out. I would think that an intermediate stage would smooth the transition, though. You could put out another next box and just leave the cage door open so that he can come and go while feeling safe for a week or more before closing up the cage or moving it away, for example.

[escho]

Thank you all for the kind words... he was awfully panicked when he took off, so I'm hoping that his spatial awareness wasn't too messed up. If I understand correctly, is the suggestion that we put his cage out near the tree that his nest box is now on, with another nest box in the cage in case he would rather be in his cage for a while? My husband took the limbs that have been in his cage all winter (which are definitely smelly from being urinated on) and leaned them up against the nest box' tree, as well as draping a tee shirt that was in his nest box over the top. We're hoping that all of that will generate enough scent for him to be able to find it.

He already had a lot of poly fill in his box in addition to the t-shirt, and we knew he shouldn't have the t-shirt once his box was outside, so we removed it after he took off and added a lot more polyfill.

I spent the evening, until after dark, sitting out near the box and talking to him like I usually do, hoping that he might hear my voice and come towards it, but no sign of him. :o( He's definitely imprinted on me, and slightly on the rest of our family -- always wanted me to scratch him behind the ears, even though I couldn't hold him or take him out of the cage.

We'll keep hoping! Thanks for the suggestions!

[escho]

...oops, not sure why that is a smiley in the last post...

[madtowntom]

I have released a number of squirrels in my back yard just as you described - not to worry - he will find his way back to his nest box and will entertain you for years to come - just as mind have!

[Kristal]

They do have a truly amazing sense of smell, so he will probably find his way back even if he was too upset to notice where he was going. They never travel at night in the wild, so you might as well just put a pin in it until the morning. Maybe he is close enough to hear you, but it is unlikely that he will move from his night time hiding spot.

I know that some people have not seen their released squirrels for months at a time, so try not to worry about it if he does not show up right away.

I guess that if it were me I would leave the cage out for a few days, now. They really like to orient themselves around familiar things.

And I was just thinking for the future. Maybe some of that panic could be avoided by opening the cage door and letting him find the new nest box at his own pace. They are sure cautious about exploring new surroundings and easily overloaded, from what I have seen.

[escho]

I have released a number of squirrels in my back yard just as you described - not to worry - he will find his way back to his nest box and will entertain you for years to come - just as mind have!

I hope so... raising him from a little 3 wk. old has been a wonderful experience for our whole family. No matter what happens, all of us are at least convinced that he needed to go free and that it was time. We would have let him go a few weeks ago, but we've been having non-stop thunderstorms, so couldn't bring ourselves to doing it in the rain. We have a 10 yr. old daughter and 7 yr. old son, and they both feel really good about their role in helping him. Frankly, I wonder if he isn't going to be hanging around wanting to come in when it gets cold again in the fall! I hope we get to see him again!:tilt

[UDoWhat]

I am sure you will see him again. If you put the cage out or even leave it near be very sure that no other predators can get in and trap him in the cage. I know I keep harping on this but I have seen and had squirrels that raccoons have raided their nestboxes and killed or seriously wounded them. They can and will kill squirrels before they can get out of the box. Especially if there is only one way out. The door that your squirrel can get in and out of should be no more than about 3x4 inches big or about as large as a medium apple. My outdoor cages have small "release doors" I installed just for this reason. Even at that snakes can get in. I know this is "heavy" conversation. I just want you to be aware of the dangers of night predators. Funny, I'm usually more fun than this. Sorry to be so dark. He is probably safe in the trees tonight and will return for food in the a.m.

Marty, Licensed Maryland Master Wildlife Rehabilitator

[madtowntom]

So below (first 2 pics) is Lucy - my pet squirrel. We over wintered her 2 years ago. Hung her in a nest box just like you did. She stayed in the nest a couple of months, but soon as the trees leaved out she moved into my neighbors yard and built a large drey. We were kind of sad because she didn't come and visit as often - we only saw her about once a week. I keep 4 nest boxes in my yard year round - most of the time they are empty. We noticed Lucy hanging around one of the boxes this spring and shortly thereafter she moved in. The second picture is why - she had 3 babes this spring. She now comes up to the door begging for treats everyday. She is one of four squirrels that we released that still spend time in our yard everyday. I feel blessed to have pet squirrels in their natural setting.

[escho]

GOOD NEWS! Thank you all for "talking me out of the tree" last night. Sure enough, this morning Chester was on the base of his new oak tree. I sat and talked to him for a while, then was able to get about a foot from him. He kept popping his head around from different sides of the tree. Finally he climbed onto one of the original cage branches and let me scratch him. His teeth started chattering and I made the mistake of assuming he was cold rather than taking it as the warning it was, so he bit me -- won't make that mistake again! Anyway, our kids and my husband are thrilled that we have a happy ending. I think we won't put the cage out since he's found his nest box, and I appreciate the food-away-from-box warning, so I'll make a feeder elsewhere for him. His box was built according to forum directions with a 3" diameter hole and interior predator baffle. Do you think we should do anything else to protect him from snakes or raccoons?

THANK YOU all again! I'll post pictures later!
:thankyou
~Elise

[island rehabber]

oh, Lordy escho -- Squirrel 101: Teeth Chattering means human, run like hell! :nono you won't forget that lesson again. :rotfl

I'm so glad he's okay and it sounds like he's wilding up just fine. :thumbsup

[pappy1264]

Glad he showed! It is always so much harder on the parents! lol He may have thought you were going to try to recage him. Keep offering food, he may figure out he can have the best of all worlds (lovins' and freedom...and, most importantly, good nomnoms!!! lol)

[escho]

oh, Lordy escho -- Squirrel 101: Teeth Chattering means human, run like hell! :nono you won't forget that lesson again. :rotfl

I'm so glad he's okay and it sounds like he's wilding up just fine. :thumbsup

@island rehabber: You just made me laugh out loud!!! :o) I know, should have known better... that's what I get for anthropomorphizing him!

[UDoWhat]

Good morning and good job. Sorry about the bite. He was being ... well... a squirrel. I think the box is as protected as it can be. You have done a perfect job. Great work!:jump Perfect!

Marty (See I'm not always dark and gloomy) :rotfl

[SquirrelsinSingapore]

I feel blessed to have pet squirrels in their natural setting. :goodpost
And I just love that picture of Lucy laying there. Too Cute!
:Love_Icon lucy
good job to attention on details of box construction :thumbsup

:goodpost

[mugzeezma]

Good morning and good job. Sorry about the bite. He was being ... well... a squirrel. I think the box is as protected as it can be. You have done a perfect job. Great work!:jump Perfect!

Marty (See I'm not always dark and gloomy) :rotfl

YOU Marty? dark and gloomy? :rotfl
whateva

Finnagin gets locked up at night for the reasons you describe...at least for now.

He too ran off over night but came bounding back to me the next morning. He gets snacks and a warm nestbox with open door policy except at night...for now.

[UDoWhat]

YOU Marty? dark and gloomy? :rotfl
whateva

Finnagin gets locked up at night for the reasons you describe...at least for now.

He too ran off over night but came bounding back to me the next morning. He gets snacks and a warm nestbox with open door policy except at night...for now.
Thanks Mugz! Kinda felt that way with the" heavy" warnings. So glad all is good. So happy little Chester is safe and back home.

[Kristal]

http://freeemoticonsandsmileys.com/animated%20emoticons/Smile%20Animated%20Emoticons/happy%20dance.gif

[SquirrelsinSingapore]

Thanks Mugz! Kinda felt that way with the" heavy" warnings. So glad all is good. So happy little Chester is safe and back home.
Marty's call is real and valid. Its good to voice warnings early there may be many more reading this so its good for the community as well :) mjs

[escho]

You all are a wonderful resource -- thank you so much! What about feedings for Chester now that he's out? I'm continuing to put out his usual food (rodent block, veggies, little fruit, walnuts, acorns) and am wondering if I should gradually taper that off? Also, when winter comes, how do all of you help out your outside squirrels other than making sure they have lots of poly fill in their nest boxes? He does have his stuffed bunny in there as well -- every time we tried taking it out, he dragged it back in and likes to snuggle with it, so I'm inclined to leave it in there.

I'm wondering if part of why he's been aggressive towards me might be since I removed the t-shirt that was in his nest box -- he had a lot of nuts & yucky bits stored in there, and a lot of them came out with the t-shirt. Perhaps he smells that I'm the one that messed with his stash?

Yesterday he walked down a branch towards my husband and rode his shoulder across the yard to his nest box -- he's never done that with any of us. However, when I offered him a walnut, he got greedy and started clawing my hand as if trying to pull it into the box... wish I could tell exactly what he's thinking!

Marty, your info. is REALLY appreciated and not a downer at all -- THANK YOU!