releasing?

[TareChiMama]

My baby squirrel will be four months old on approximately December 7th.

My question is that I live in Vermont, USA, where it is very cold in the winter, and so I was looking for advice regarding releasing her? I have not yet had this conundrum with the other squirrels I have raised. :osnap

:thankyou

[iluvbabysquirrels]

AWWWW she is ADORABLE!!! but on your problem, are you planning on putting a nesting box outsiide when u release her? if soo you probably wont have to worry about it becaause the box is like a jacket for them and they can produce their own body heat soon (maybe). what age are u planning on releasing her?

[Rhapsody]

Squirrel are NOT to be released until they are 4 months old - thats the age we place then out side in a release cage to start them on their
one month of soft release to help acclimate to the wild before turning them loose..... to FREEDOM!!

How to Properly Release:
http://mothernaturesrescue.webs.com/release.htm

[TareChiMama]

Oh I definitely don't plan on releasing her until 4 months old...
I'm just wondering what to do when it gets to that point in December and it is super cold outside. I mean, I know the squirrels in the wild can obviously stand the cold, and I would definitely have her in the release cage for the 30-60 days, but even then I guess I wasn't sure how they handled the drastic temp change from indoors to outdoors.
Like, should I have her spend some outdoor time with me on a leash or in my jacket, etc. just to get her used to it while she's still inside? lol. Sorry, I just don't know what to do and I never thought of any of this until now! :dono

[Rhapsody]

A lot of us just let them winter inside the house with us until Spring comes...... do you have a bigger cage that can stay in the house or garage?

[Pierre]

I had a similar scenario last year with a single baby boy. I overwintered him because at the time I could have released him, he would have had no leaves on the trees for protection from predators or to make a nest, no food around to stash, and no family to live with.

I'd really look into overwintering your baby. :grouphug

[SammysMom]

Too chilly for that little guy in December in VT. Looks like you might have a wintertime border:crazy

[island rehabber]

Squirrel are NOT to be released until they are 4 months old - thats the age we place then out side in a release cage to start them on their
one month of soft release to help acclimate to the wild before turning them loose..... to FREEDOM!!

I've actually been successfully releasing at 12+ weeks for spring kids and 14+ for fall kids, for many years now. I only keep them in the pre-release enclosures for a week or so, often less. Just presenting another point of view: it can be done, if you are vigilant and support the squirrels after release with extra foods for awhile. My feeling is that once they get the hang of being Outside at Night, they start pacing and fretting in the release cage just like they did at home. Why prolong it? :peace

[Scooterzmom]

This little one will have to overwinter with you or else it would be like a death sentence to put her out there in December in VT. Not to countradict you IR - sorry if this seems that way :( - but I think Vermont gets colder than NY in December. Has to do with higher altitude and the mountain air currents. Also... The thing is, because she's had no mom to teach her, she doesn't know how to build a nest properly, doesn't know how to forage for food, doesn't have anyone to cuddle up with on the coldest nights. As pointed out in previous posts, there aren't any leaves to make a proper nest with anyway and there is precious little food available even for the wild ones with experience... not to mention how the wilds wil try to protect their territory to begin with. So, no... just my own opinion but... I would not release that little one until spring.

Look at it this way... you have a little furry love-bug to keep you company all through winter :)