Best time of day to do a soft release

[christine126]

Does anyone have any advice on what time of day to do a soft release?

Thank You
Christine

[Jackie in Tampa]

If you have alot of locals that feed where you live, wait until 10:30am...most sqs will be done forging and ready for their nooner nap...
I usually release around then, it gives them space and time to venture.!

I try not to release on the weekends when people are home and grilling out, mowing yards etc..if you have neighbors like I do!
Nice:thumbsup perfect weather we are having too!
I have released several in the last couple weeks and may release Bruno on monday.
good luck little sqs!:Love_Icon

[pappy1264]

Another reason for doing it later morning (as morbid as this is) the hawks and such have usually had something to eat by then, so less likely to be watching your squirrels. I usually do between 10:30-11:OO am, that way, they have already had their breakfast before they venture off, too! Good lucky little ones!!!!

[djarenspace9]

I concur :D
Good tips from both Jackie and Pappy and I do the same.

To add my 2 cents I look at the extended weather forecast and make sure they are going to have 2-3 days of good weather ahead so they have a chance to get their bearings before there is rain or other inclement weather.

[christine126]

thanks guys, I got it. 10:30 to 11:am,not on a weekend, and 2 or 3 days good weather ahead. Good advice. I'm still reluctant since its my first time. Excited though, can't wait to see my babies running in the trees!:jump
Christine

[pappy1264]

Another thing, I like to make sure they have a good month living in the release cage outside, both day and night, before releasing. Gives them a chance to get used to smells, sights and sounds and also the locals can get used to them and vice versa, so hopefully they won't get chased off! Do you have a small release door you can open and then close back up at night in case they choose to go back in the cage?

[djarenspace9]

I made a small opening so a squirrel can get in and out but not a cat or other large animal.

That's what I leave open for at least a week after release and at night I check to see if anyone is sleeping in there and close it.

It gives them a chance to come home if they need to.

One of my released squirrels actually got in there during a period where I had left it open to visitors and had gotten hurt,
so he actually came home for help and I was able to heal him and get him back out again! He visits me every day about 10 times a day asking for a nut :D

[christine126]

Another thing, I like to make sure they have a good month living in the release cage outside, both day and night, before releasing. Gives them a chance to get used to smells, sights and sounds and also the locals can get used to them and vice versa, so hopefully they won't get chased off! Do you have a small release door you can open and then close back up at night in case they choose to go back in the cage?

I do have a small release door and they have been outside for over a month. I stopped covering their cage completely in the cooler nights. I only covered it when it dropped below 40. I have only the half with the nest-box covered at all other times so they could get used to the rain and have a constant shady spot. There only seems to be one local here! It seems curious and gets closer and closer but I haven't seen it go all the way to their cage. I'm thinking that it must be a female. I have purposefully not fed the wilds so as not to attract competition for territory. Wow, its a mind twister trying to foresee every possible scenario:thinking .But that's what good parents do!:Love_Icon