Activity

[Pennyorf]

I have 2 approx. 15 wk old brother and sister and they are all over everything and try to eat everything, furniture, lamps, etc.

They get into everything especially things that they are not supposed to and jump and leap and climb until I'm dizzy from chasing them. I don't want them to get injured so I always have my eyes open and arms ready.

The boy is starting to play very rough though he is still very friendly and loving. They both are becoming food aggressive, not towards me, but towards my hubby and definitely the dog. They both show aggression to dog and sometimes hubby without food involved now that I think about it. More so to the dog.

This aggressive behavior is new and so is the rough playing. Is this due to their age? At what age do they settle down a bit? Are they hormonal?

[Sissy]

Sounds to me like they are wilding up. They become aggressive toward certain people and things around this age. This is why squirrels do not make good pets unless they are non releasable. Even then it's a toss up. I have had squirrels that would literally attack anyone else that came into their territory. (My rehab room). I have even had some attack me even after I had hand raised them since pinkies. It's just their natural instincts kicking in. Please do not expose them to the dog if at all possible. Because if they are ever released they will not be afraid of dogs or other domestic animals and it may lead to an early death. Hope this helps some.

[astra]

Please do not expose them to the dog if at all possible. Because if they are ever released they will not be afraid of dogs or other domestic animals and it may lead to an early death. Hope this helps some.
:goodpost squirrel should not be aggressive with dogs. They should be running for their lives if they see one, like they do in parks.
If they are not afraid of dogs, the first dog they will see after release will kill them.

In addition, this is another reason why squirrels and domestic pets like cats and dogs should be kept completely separated: http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?t=28790

[Pennyorf]

I was hoping to hear from the successful squammy's that have very happy 7 month olds to over several year old squirrels and would like to hear their experiences.

Although I am not opposed to release, I am not ready and my squirrels are still very, very attached to me. They cling to me, play on me and run to me when they see me.

They may be "wilding up" a bit but still drink formula, eat Henry's block, veggies and some nuts and want to be on me or in my hands all the time when they are not being juvenile delinquents.:rotfl :nono :rotfl

As far as the dog is concerned, we do keep them from each other as much as possible but he has lived here for ten years and I'm not going to kick him out of his habitat. He wants nothing to do with the squirrels but if he gets close to the squirrels on accident, the boy squirrel will get at him. They are not used to each other and don't care for each other but for some reason Brodi, the boy squirrel, thinks that he is the master of the house or the alpha male.mjs

[Skul]

:wave123 Penny.
You might think about the reality.
The little ones want to be free, and be squirrels.
Those of us here on TSB have been through this many times.
Its not easy.
You just have to make you're mind up, and do it.
Please be observent, and let us know how it works out.
Your information may very well help others.

[Pennyorf]

Hi Skul,

I'm trying to be realistic and have been reading more about releasing grey squirrels. The article I just read said that they shouldn't be released until they are about 5 to 6 months old and gave some good advice about how to do a slow release.

My babies are not yet 4 months old and still look so small when they are on the floor. They look big when they are face level but on the ground still look teeny to me.

My back yard directly abuts up to a 23 acre preserve filled with two mating eagles, hawks, osprey, coons, wild bores, coyotes, opossums, armadillo, and some squirrels believe it or not. Their are NO pine trees, just palms of all sorts. There is major brush on the ground and the wild squirrels never leave their trees because the cant run on the ground floor. The coverage hides the bunnies and snakes from the predatory birds.

I'm more than a little nervous about letting them go into this environment.:dono :shakehead

[Pennyorf]

No oak trees either. Just a bunch of palm trees of different species and all kinds of thick shrubs that are impossible to walk through and two lakes.

[Pennyorf]

To continue on my last post, I never knew we had squirrels in the preserve before because they keep themselves so well hidden. I only realized it last week when I recognized their sounds and I wouldn't have if my own squirrels didn't teach me those sounds. We have seen the coyotes, the eagles (daily), the osprey, bores, hawks, snakes, rabbits, coons, opposum, etc but never a squirrel until recently my husband got a glimpse first and then me today. First time ever. I watched and noticed it would never go on the ground and it can't because the brush is sooo thick. It has no place to run around on the ground floor but runs around in the palms but so do the coons. I see the coons in the palms all the time on a daily basis.

[madtowntom]

Penny - based on the description of the wild life in your "neighborhood" I certainly understand your reservations about releasing your babies. Have you considered alternate release sites once they get older?

Regarding aggressiveness - I have never met a squirrel that wasn't occasionally aggressive. Food aggression is pretty standard behavior once they reach a certain age. I am over-wintering 3 squirrels this year (I live in Wisconsin) ranging in age from 16-24 weeks old. The only reason I did not release the oldest this fall is because he is ridiculously imprinted. I have been raising squirrels for quite a few years now and I have never had one like this guy who just wants to sit in my lap and get petted all the time - and it is not just me he will do the same with any human, so I am going to have a real challenge wilding him up this spring, but I will do it because I think squirrels are happier when they are running around in trees not in houses with humans. Despite how tame he is, I still make sure I get my hands away from him quickly when I give him a nut because he has twice bitten me hard enough to draw blood. I also make sure I give the 2 younger squirrels nuts first so they can go and hide because once I give the oldest a nut rather than eat it he holds it in his mouth and attacks the younger squirrels if they are anywhere near him. So yes it is perfectly normal behavior for squirrels to be aggressive.

I have released 25 or so squirrels in my back yard over the last 5 years. I had a small female that I released this past spring after over -wintering her. I was worried because she was rather small and was a favorite, but she seemed fairly aggressive so I thought she could take care of herself. As it turns out she basically chased all of the other squirrels out of my yard and now dominates the neighborhood even though she is smaller than most of the other squirrels, so being aggressive is a good thing in the squirrel world:rotfl !

[Sissy]

I know how easily squirrels can capture our hearts and we all want what is best for them. I am terrified every time I release my babies knowing they are going into a new world with tons of danger. But I also see the happiness in their faces once they are running free in the trees. One day free in the trees in better than a life in a cage. I think it should always be the squirrels choice if they want to be pets or wild. Given the chance, 99% will take freedom. Regardless of how heartbreaking it is to us. It is easy project how we feel and our feelings onto the squirrel thinking its what they really want. But in reality, they just want to be free and be a squirrel.

[pappy1264]

I agree, if you feel it is unsafe in your area (sorry for not knowing, but where did he come from if not your direct area. Perhaps if he was found elsewhere, he could be released back there?) I have only had one of all the babies I have done who wants nothing to do with outside (Peanut). Even ones I had for close to a year, once outside, they were so happy and although it did hurt me to the core, I knew it was where they belonged. Most of them have come back (after being gone almost 3 mos). They know me, but are more wild. It makes me happy to know they are doing what they are meant to be doing (but I won't lie, I am happy they still come to visit and eat!) If you think it is too dangerous, perhaps there is someone closer to you, but in a little better setting for release could do a soft release for you?

I have dogs (3, up until a couple months ago, had 4, but sadly Sable has gone to rainbow bridge.) I keep my squirrels in a room seperated from the dogs. Yes, they can smell them but they don't have any interaction, even through the cage. I would suggest not letting your dog in the area your squirrel is in. It is not a good thing for a squirrel to go after a dog if it is being released at some point, as stated, it could be a death sentence for that squirrel. That being said, if the dog stops going near the squirrel (and so you know, the squirrel is protecting what it sees as 'his property') the squirrel should in time regain its fear of dogs.

I know this is hard, and can tell you really want to do what is right for this guy.