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View Full Version : A squirrel whose afraid of heights??



sundogdayze
10-16-2011, 07:05 PM
So I had 4 babies, and with some help from you guys, they grew into healthy young adults. They are about 16 weeks now. The past few days they have been living in my backyard in a release cage, and today when I opened the cage, three of them heard the call of the wild and did the squirrel thing. I'm leaving the cage and nesting box out there, and will put food in it at my normal time this evening in case they want to eat or need shelter, but I already saw one of them trying to build his first little nest and I think they will be fine.

However, one of them, named Sagan, won't go more than 6 feet away from me. I stayed in the backyard almost all day, and he would go play and dig and stuff, then come right back to me. I had a few errands to run, left him in the cage with the door open, and when I came back an hour or so later, he was huddled in the nesting box, shaking. When he saw me he came flying out, jumped on me and started grunting.

I decided to bring him back inside, and I was walking towards the door when my dog (squirrel friendly) came bounding around the corner, which startled Sagan. He leaped off of me, and ran to the Magnolia tree nearby. He got about 15 feet up, and started making that terrified squirrel squall. I went to the tree, he was on a limb and wouldn't take his eyes off me. My husband came out with a ladder, climbed as high as he could, and Sagan inched back down the tree. As soon as he was within jumping range, he landed on me with the force of a jet. He began licking me and grunting again, and now he's back inside with me cause I don't want him to be petrified all night.

Now, some background on Sagan. When he was about 3 weeks old, he developed really bad diarrhea. You guys helped me get him through it, but his tail began to grow fur in a strange pattern, and he has always been slower to do things than the other 3. I'm wondering if maybe he developed slower? Is it normal for a 4 month old squirrel to be petrified of a tree? He is sitting on my shoulder now, he definitely thinks I am mama, and I'm with keeping him inside if he is unreleasable, but I just want to make sure. Ideas?

rusty's mom
10-16-2011, 07:23 PM
I don't think he was afraid of the tree just the newness of the entire situation. not all squirrels progress at the same rate just as humans don't. Give him time. He may even have to winter with you but when you go out take him along hold him out there.sit on the lounge read your book moms not afraid, take it slow.let him play with his nest mates. Some times these releases are my favorite because when they decide its time your worries aren't as bad. You'll be there to help if he needs it.:)

pappy1264
10-16-2011, 07:27 PM
More then likely, where you only had them outside a few days, he wasn't ready. Most give a full month outside in a release cage before releasing, but at least a couple weeks. It is a big change from being inside, and some just are more scared. Bean had issues her first day released, was afraid to go from one branch to another and kept going back and forth on the same branches, spent the day there and did go into the nest box on the tree, by the next day, she was doing fine. But they were outside for several weeks.

rusty's mom
10-20-2011, 03:41 PM
Update please. I was thinking of your little one.

stepnstone
10-20-2011, 04:49 PM
I agree with rusty's mom. :thumbsup
He's just not ready yet, but that's not saying he won't be... :tilt