Non-aggression Question

[Lulu2010]

Ok. Didn't want to thread jack so I started my own. I was reading the thread about the aggression and if normal or not and started thinking. Lulu is almost a year and 4 months old. I raised her since 3 weeks old and intended to release but she had so many problems (won't get into all that) and she never "wilded" up in my opinion. I have raised a good number of squirrels through fostering for a rehabber and she was NEVER anything like the other babies. I think she was thrown out of the nest due to developmental delays. She is healthy now and eats a good diet, etc. But, to my knowledge she has not been in heat yet. Is that bad? Or could I have missed it? She has never become aggressive with me in any way whether over food or if she gets something that is not hers and I have to take it away from her or out of her mouth. Did I just "luck out" with her sweetness? I still rock her to sleep many nights. I don't know if it is just me, but sometimes when I read other peoples threads, it makes me a little paranoid about Lulu. I love her soooooooo much I worry about her all the time. Just wondering why she never has went into heat yet and if her sweet behavior (she is not/nor ever has been aggressive) could be normal for her or if something could be wrong. Just want some opinions if anyone has any. Thanks and sorry so long. :)

[astra]

i think, you just "lucked out".
I would not worry as long as she is healthy and fine otherwise.
In fact, I would consider myself very blessed to have a squirrel that is so sweet.

This also might be due to developmental delays (beware, maybe her "squirrelly" temperament is in your future after all :D), but still, would not consider it as anything serious.

I would just enjoy her as much as I could.

There are exceptions to every rule.
NIN's Jeffrey was a red squirrel and reds are so-o-o difficult (check out Jo Shmoe's little red rockers), but Nancy's sweet little Jeffrey was a true angel, a love bug and a socialite. And he did not have any developmental delays.

So, I'd say, it's all good as long as she is healthy and active and loving.

[Lulu2010]

Sorry, forgot to add... Someone was saying that new smells could spark some aggression in squirrels, I guess because they may feel that they don't know you, but Lulu has nearly always seen me with my hair up, no perfumes, hair products, or makeup (sorry I just don't have the time to get dolled up anymore). But on the very rare occasion that I do all of the above, she doesn't have any problems with recognizing me. I can wear a giant winter coat that she had never seen that makes noise when you move in it and she acts like it is normal. That was one part from the other thread that got the wheel in my head turning. Do all squirrels respond differently to new things such as smells, appearance, etc? I am just curious. Thanks if anyone can share any experiences or thoughts.
Lulu really makes me crazy when I think something is wrong with her. I don't want her differences to be a sign that she is sick or something. Thanks again. :)

[Lulu2010]

i think, you just "lucked out".
I would not worry as long as she is healthy and fine otherwise.
In fact, I would consider myself very blessed to have a squirrel that is so sweet.

This also might be due to developmental delays (beware, maybe her "squirrelly" temperament is in your future after all :D), but still, would not consider it as anything serious.

I would just enjoy her as much as I could.

There are exceptions to every rule.
NIN's Jeffrey was a red squirrel and reds are so-o-o difficult (check out Jo Shmoe's little red rockers), but Nancy's sweet little Jeffrey was a true angel, a love bug and a socialite. And he did not have any developmental delays.

So, I'd say, it's all good as long as she is healthy and active and loving.

Thanks. I will check them out. Maybe that will ease my worry to read about another that is unusual. I spend so much time every day with Lulu and definitely thank the Lord for the special squirrel girl he has brought into my life. I just feel sometimes that it's too good to be true, I guess. I get so worried. I have never been so bonded to another animal like I am with her. She is kind of like one of those cats that some people have that you can just do whatever you want to that cat and he just doesn't care. Lulu is like that with me. Just a few minutes ago I called her out for her bedtime snack (an almond slice) and she sat in my hands curled up eating it while I was kissing her nose, paws and eyes (we get mushy sometimes, LOL). She doesn't care at all. :)

[astra]

Sorry, forgot to add... Someone was saying that new smells could spark some aggression in squirrels, I guess because they may feel that they don't know you, but Lulu has nearly always seen me with my hair up, no perfumes, hair products, or makeup (sorry I just don't have the time to get dolled up anymore). But on the very rare occasion that I do all of the above, she doesn't have any problems with recognizing me. I can wear a giant winter coat that she had never seen that makes noise when you move in it and she acts like it is normal. That was one part from the other thread that got the wheel in my head turning. Do all squirrels respond differently to new things such as smells, appearance, etc? I am just curious. Thanks if anyone can share any experiences or thoughts.
Lulu really makes me crazy when I think something is wrong with her. I don't want her differences to be a sign that she is sick or something. Thanks again. :)
again it is all very individual.
Some get very ticked off by the slightest change, others are more easy going. Again, maybe, because she did have some developmental delays, her wild instincts are not as pronounced and hence, her reactions are not as marked.
I noticed that overall, in most cases, developmental delays, whether past or current (because some of them do catch up), always seem to result in a more mellow disposition overall.

I am sure, other people will share their thoughts and experience.

[astra]

Thanks. I will check them out. Maybe that will ease my worry to read about another that is unusual. I spend so much time every day with Lulu and definitely thank the Lord for the special squirrel girl he has brought into my life. I just feel sometimes that it's too good to be true, I guess. I get so worried. I have never been so bonded to another animal like I am with her. She is kind of like one of those cats that some people have that you can just do whatever you want to that cat and he just doesn't care. Lulu is like that with me. Just a few minutes ago I called her out for her bedtime snack (an almond slice) and she sat in my hands curled up eating it while I was kissing her nose, paws and eyes (we get mushy sometimes, LOL). She doesn't care at all. :)
oh, Jeffrey was very, very special in every way. He was such an exception to everything a red squirrel is known for. He was such the sweetest little guy.

But Jo's little reds whom she is overwintering - oh boy!:D Those are true reds, especially, some of them (don't remember the names as there are five).
I think, you can find them in the Nursery forum under Mayday babies (or smth like that).
Nancy's Jeffrey is in Red Squirrel forum. A very unusual red.:Love_Icon

[astra]

Just a few minutes ago I called her out for her bedtime snack (an almond slice) and she sat in my hands curled up eating it while I was kissing her nose, paws and eyes (we get mushy sometimes, LOL). She doesn't care at all. :)
Oh my! how blessed and lucky are you! I am sure a lot of people would be so happy if their squirrel let them kiss his/her nose without taking half of their own nose or something:D

[mpetys]

Yes, it does sound like Lulu may be that rare squirrel that is the exception. But I think even with those rare squirrels, all it would take is the right situation to make a change or they may have an occasional aggressive behaviour as they mature even more. What I mean is that, my MonkeyButt was that wonderful exception. He was bonded to both myself and my husband. Almost instantly, he turned against my husband. All it took was another squirrel being loose in the same room and that squirrel, while friendly, leaping toward my husband and MonkeyButt. MonkeyButt jumped to my shoulder with his teeth chattering. Luckily, I did not get bit that day but in the following week, my husband got bit very badly several times. MonkeyButt was done with him!

Another sweetheart of a squirrel is my Davey. Lovable, kissable, we have special games he plays. He was a happy squirrel. Until I introduced Tina to his cage. Don't get me wrong. He loved Tina, adored her. But he became very protective of her and cage aggressive. It was not good. The change in his personality was heartbreaking. He was no longer the happy, go lucky little boy. So I separated the two and it took about 3 months before he slipped back into his old self.

I guess what I am saying is to try to avoid MAJOR change that can be upsetting as that has been what has triggered my sweet, loveable squirrels into aggressive behaviour. While MonkeyButt still has issues with my husband (my husband no longer trusts MonkeyButt and fears getting bit again), I feel that Davey has completely reverted back to his old, sweet self. Of course, during his aggressive period, he bit me badly on the thumbnail and I now have permanent nerve damage to the thumb. My souvenier of a lesson learned the hard way.

I hope Lulu always stays the sweet girl she is now.

[Jackie in Tampa]

Hi Lulu:wave123
I have a few NR females..a variety fer sure!
I know that a few of them skipped their first heat cycle...
I have noted some have that first cycle as early as 10 months...and some as late as 1.5 y/o.
Not all are aggressive, some can be sweet too.
Every sq is different...
but in general sqs are wild animals and we do expect them to show aggression, as it is normal.

Me too, I can slobber on some of my sqs...kisses for hours..
love me some fuzz butts!
{I don't rehab siberian tigers for this reason...}:rotfl

where's the pics!!!!!

http://www.all-creatures.org/anan/tiger_walking.gif

[Lulu2010]

Astra- Thanks for the input. She absolutely loves all the kisses she gets. She is quite the special girl. Gonna search out those threads when I get home and can sit in front of the computer.

Mpetys- Thanks so much for sharing your experiences. I would never want to accidently change her. I did have a rat get loose a while back and she would get into Lulu's cage. Lulu was afraid and would hide from her. We resolved the issue, but while it was going on, when I had Lulu out, all she wanted to do was hide in my shirt. Glad she didnt get aggressive out of defense.

[Lulu2010]

Hi Lulu:wave123
I have a few NR females..a variety fer sure!
I know that a few of them skipped their first heat cycle...
I have noted some have that first cycle as early as 10 months...and some as late as 1.5 y/o.
Not all are aggressive, some can be sweet too.
Every sq is different...
but in general sqs are wild animals and we do expect them to show aggression, as it is normal.

Me too, I can slobber on some of my sqs...kisses for hours..
love me some fuzz butts!
{I don't rehab siberian tigers for this reason...}:rotfl

where's the pics!!!!!

http://www.all-creatures.org/anan/tiger_walking.gif

Thanks for the info Jackie! I was worrying that she had not had her first heat. Hopefully she will soon. In the event that she doesnt have one over the next several months, would there be room for concern then or no?
Yeah, if you love giving kisses I would steer clear of the siberian tigers too. Lol.
I have taken sooo many pics lately but they are all on my phone (which is still kinda new). Gotta get my husband to get them on the computer so I can post some. I have some really good ones, even videos. :thumbsup