Trooper
03-06-2012, 03:49 PM
Hi Forum: My 6 month old male eastern gray squirrel just came back from an escapade of 5 days on the cold outside, and his behavior has changed a bit since he returned home on his own.
Since most of his behavior now could be attributed to what he experienced on the outside (hunger, cold, wet, scared, loneliness, lack of affection) he has maintained one behavior that comes and goes: he likes to play with me and I can do just about anything I like to him (including pulling his nuts from his mouth when he is trying to stash them, grunts and all he never has bitten me [yet]).
On the other hand my wife who also adores him, is starting to get her feelings hurt since Trooper sometimes plays with her when he is playing with me, but sometimes he gives her nasty bites. I mean the teeth sinking types, and the last time he did, I was holding him when he bit my wife and I could feel his teeth grinding into her finger bones.
I have to state though, that she is more of a trooper than Trooper, because even though she is hurt (physically and emotionally), she continues to forgive him because she does understand that you can take a squirrel out of the wild, but you can't take the wild out of the squirrel.
So I am once again appealing to you most knowledgeable ones for advice on what can we do to make him like her more. In view of the several posts on this subject from the past, I thought of the following;
1) I am Trooper's designated human and so he will be jealous of my attention/affection, so I should never approach my wife while holding him?
2) While playing with Tropper (boxing and wrestling are his favorites) we should stay separate enough so he does not feel that my wife wants to "steal" me from him (although I am sure she would tell Trooper that he can have me!).
3) She should slowly try to play with Trooper alone, without me.
4) She should wear chainmail or kevlar gloves when playing.
5) She should bring food to him instead of me on a daily basis to encourage a tighter bond (she already does that across the cage with nuts, rosebuds/hips or veggies and they do well with each other).
6) I should give my wife a squirrel outfit for next Valentines day, serving a dual purpose for me and Trooper.
Joke aside, I would appreciate your opinions!
Thanks, Trooper's dad:wave123 :bowdown
Since most of his behavior now could be attributed to what he experienced on the outside (hunger, cold, wet, scared, loneliness, lack of affection) he has maintained one behavior that comes and goes: he likes to play with me and I can do just about anything I like to him (including pulling his nuts from his mouth when he is trying to stash them, grunts and all he never has bitten me [yet]).
On the other hand my wife who also adores him, is starting to get her feelings hurt since Trooper sometimes plays with her when he is playing with me, but sometimes he gives her nasty bites. I mean the teeth sinking types, and the last time he did, I was holding him when he bit my wife and I could feel his teeth grinding into her finger bones.
I have to state though, that she is more of a trooper than Trooper, because even though she is hurt (physically and emotionally), she continues to forgive him because she does understand that you can take a squirrel out of the wild, but you can't take the wild out of the squirrel.
So I am once again appealing to you most knowledgeable ones for advice on what can we do to make him like her more. In view of the several posts on this subject from the past, I thought of the following;
1) I am Trooper's designated human and so he will be jealous of my attention/affection, so I should never approach my wife while holding him?
2) While playing with Tropper (boxing and wrestling are his favorites) we should stay separate enough so he does not feel that my wife wants to "steal" me from him (although I am sure she would tell Trooper that he can have me!).
3) She should slowly try to play with Trooper alone, without me.
4) She should wear chainmail or kevlar gloves when playing.
5) She should bring food to him instead of me on a daily basis to encourage a tighter bond (she already does that across the cage with nuts, rosebuds/hips or veggies and they do well with each other).
6) I should give my wife a squirrel outfit for next Valentines day, serving a dual purpose for me and Trooper.
Joke aside, I would appreciate your opinions!
Thanks, Trooper's dad:wave123 :bowdown