? on how to do a soft release

[blessedbeingmom]

Well, I think it is time to start thinking about the release process for Miss Suzy. (By the way, her finger is now completely straight & completely healed up! :D ) Right now she is in a cage we bought from Henry's. She has been on the back porch for a couple of weeks now, just to get used to the temps & outside sounds, etc. We don't really have any trees there though, and will be releasing her in our side yard, where we have a lot of trees.

We borrowed a release cage from a friend who released a squirrel last year, and she got it from someone else who has released squirrels in the past. It is a little bit smaller than recommended but should do the job. My only concern is that the small door is near the bottom and someone said it should be near the top. I think they wouldn't mind if we put another door up higher though. Why should it be higher?

My husband has placed this cage under some trees where there is some undergrowth too to provide a bit of "hiding" of the cage. It is under a pecan tree. There are other trees nearby so it is always in the shade. We plan to put a nest box in the tree nearby, once my husband builds it.

We were considering putting some nuts or rodent block near her cage, to draw the other squirrels to see her & get to know her a bit while she is still in her cage. Is this a good idea or not? How does one start the release process? We want this to be as soft & gentle as possible, yet we will eventually have to give this cage back too. However, my husband plans to leave a small opening in the Henry's cage & leave it outside in case Miss Suzy ever wants a place to get away.

Thanks for any advice! :)

Oh and I failed to mention, but she is sixteen weeks old now. :) We only give her one a day, but she can crack open any kind of nut including walnuts. ;)

Tricia

[skarabrae]

I'm not 100% sure because I've never done a soft release myself, but I would want the release door to be up high so that they are further away from any predators while they are orienting themselves to the wild.

Good luck! Mine are going in their release cage this weekend too :jump

I'm INCREDIBLY nervous!! :D

ETA: I don't know about the squirrels socializing before the little ones are out of their cages, but my gut says it might not be a good idea. Hopefully the experts will chime in.

[Milo's Mom]

I do not think that you need to place items outside of the RC to "attract" other squirrels, as you will also be attracting other animals...some of which may be predators. Squirrels have a great sense of smell and they will smell the food that you place in the RC for her.

However, when I am in the release process I do toss yesterday's leftover squirrel food around the yard and in the flower beds versus just throwing it away...it is fine and not spoiled and other squirrels do enjoy it.

I would put the portal at the top of the cage. Squirrels like to be as high as possible and if they are running from a predator their first defense is their incredible ability to climb and glide through the trees. So having the portal at the top would allow them to climb to safety, which is something that is natural to them. Having it at the top would also prevent other critters from easily climbing into the RC.