Need squirrel help

[Krystee]

Two weeks ago a baby squirrel fell out of his nest and my dog found him. I grabbed him up before my dog could hurt him. The squirrel had a hurt back leg and couldn't move it very well. I started feeding him puppy formula and after a couple of days he began to move his leg better. I figured he was about 6 to 7 weeks old at that time. He took the formula for about a week and then all of a sudden refused it. I began to feed him some fruits and vegetables which he ate ok, but not with enthusiasm. I then introduced some nuts to him and he preferred them much more. I have moved him to his own cage and he has pretty much weaned himself off of me. His leg is completely healed and he is able to climb and jump around in his cage. He doesn't want to be held at all anymore. He can look out the window and watch his brothers and sisters and other squirrels playing outside. My question is if I were to turn him loose, would his mother and siblings take him back? I will keep him for as long as it takes, but I also know that he deserves to be free.

[stepnstone]

Krystee it would help if we could see a picture of him to try and determine just how old he really is. If he is just 6-7 weeks he's too young to be out on his own and his diet is definetly going to have to be changed.

[Krystee]

This picture is from today. It is hard to get a good picture of him now because all he wants to do now is attack my hand. I would welcome any suggestions on what to feed him, it seems all he is interested in is nuts.

[stepnstone]

Resized picture for better viewing...

[stepnstone]

I'm going to try and direct some other opinions to this thread but from what you've said that would put him at about 9 weeks and he looks older then that to me. If that is the case that he is older I would personally move him outside to start a soft release now.
Lets see if I can get other's to chime in...

[kcassidy]

I would put him outside for a few nights too and then let him go. He looks big enough to me. You might want to build or purchase a nest box and and let him sleep in it outside for a week and then open the cage.

Good job on helping him!

Kim

[Krystee]

I worry about putting him outside at this time of year. He is in the garage right now, but at night I cover his cage so that he will be warm. I have read that you shouldn't release them before 4 months old and never release them in the winter. If he is around 9 weeks, it would be winter by the time he is 4 months. Where I am, at night it is in the 40's and during the day 60's or 70's. I am pretty sure I understand the "soft release" process, but will you explain it to me so I know for sure? Also, please help me with feeding him the right things. Thank you for any help you can give.

[rocky63]

His age looks to be around 9 to 11 weeks old. He is not ready to be released yet. I would keep him for the winter if you can :dono If you can't please find a rehabber that can take him.
and try to get him on a good diet.

[copesullivan]

Okay... I am ABSOLUTELY a COMPLETE newbie here.... and I know ABSOLUTELY NOTHING about rehabing a baby squirrel.... but I wonder if the rehabers picked up on these couple sentences....


He can look out the window and watch his brothers and sisters and other squirrels playing outside. My question is if I were to turn him loose, would his mother and siblings take him back? I will keep him for as long as it takes, but I also know that he deserves to be free.

You all seem to agree that this baby is "older"... 9 - 11 weeks old. If there is still a ready and willing Mom who is taking care of this squirrel's siblings... (yes, Krystee did the RIGHT thing in taking this little fella in and nursing him/her to health till the leg healed)....

If there is still an active nest, with Mom intact and siblings intact.... would MOM be willing to "welcome" this baby back in and take him under her "wing" along with his/her siblings.....???

if Mom would do that, wouldn't it be best for Krystee to Soft Release this baby to his/her Mom and let the Mom take over (leaving a nest box/area if he/she is rejected) instead off wintering him/her over.... ???


AGAIN.... I'm a newbie here... NEVER rehabed a squirrel in my life.... just asking (with thoughts of what I've read in other threads).

:)

[HRT4SQRLS]

:wave123 Krystee
:Welcome to TSB

http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?t=32218

The link that I posted is the Healthy Diet for Pet Squirrels. Even though is says Pet squirrels it applies to all captive squirrels, especially those that are being kept for longer than usual (i.e. overwintering). Squirrels have very specific nutritional needs so it is important to follow the healthy diet.

I haven't released squirrels so I can't comment on whether your squirrel is ready for release or not. If you DO decide to overwinter him, you will need to follow the diet carefully so as to avoid Metabolic Bone Disease which is due to poor diet (inadequate calcium). Untreated MBD is fatal! Even with treatment (which is prolonged) often the squirrel is left with permanent disabilities that render them NR (non-releasable). Following the Healthy Diet will prepare your little guy and give him the best chance for survival when you do decide to release him.

In regard to copesullivan's question about whether his Mom would accept him back into the family-- the answer is probably no. Squirrels are quite territorial and his mom and siblings might actually view him as an intruder. :shakehead

[Saverywood]

:Welcome - Few more questions, if you don't mind...are your feeding the "brothers & sisters", Moma squirrel & other wilds right now? If so, what are you feeding them? Also, why do you think they will reject your squirrel? Often times juvies will stay all winter in the nest with Moma & learn "squirrel survival", like forging, predator crying, & nest building. There is alot of work involved in "over wintering" & my heart tells me Moma Squirrel knows best in how to care for her babies. Just my thoughts; I'm no expert, but I have released many & I still get to see them, feed them and of course :Love_Icon love them too. Good luck.

[Krystee]

No, I'm not feeding the other squirrels other than some bread here and there and they get the bird's seed that falls to the ground.
I did go to the pet store today and bought a salt and mineral block and also rodent food that is fortified with vitamins and minerals and has dried fruits and veggies in it. I hope that is good because I could not find the Henry's blocks or any other rodent blocks anywhere.
My question was if mom and siblings would take him back in. After two weeks I don't know if she would accept him back. I don't want to do anything that will hurt him so I will probably just keep him through the winter and then do a soft release in the spring. I would like some help with explaining what I need to do then.
Thank you for all your help and any other help would be greatly appreciated.

[Krystee]

Okay, so I think I might have messed up. The squirrel that I have been raising for the last 3 months was getting stir crazy in his cage. We would let him out every once in a while in the garage, but he got to the point where he would get so excited that his play would get really rough. Yesterday it was in the 70's so I decided to take his cage outside and let him get used to being outdoors. After a couple of hours I decided to open the cage door and let him play for a little while. Well, he went up a tall pine tree and acted like he couldn't climb down. He would go from limb to limb, but never would go down the tree. We tried coaxing him down by calling him and cracking pecans (which he knew the sound of). He would start down but then acted like he got scared and wouldn't come down. He spent the whole night on a tree limb last night and today and he is still on a tree limb tonight. Problem is that it is supposed to get cold again tomorrow and I am worried that he is going to freeze or starve to death. We have left his cage outdoors with lots of food for him. Is there anything else that I need to do to help him?

[SammysMom]

Get a ladder! Can you get to him with one?

[Krystee]

I don't think there is a tall enough ladder. We talked to a wildlife person today and they said when he gets hungry enough he will come down and if he gets cold enough he will find an abandoned nest to get in. She told us to just leave him alone.

[astra]

he is too young to be on his own
he should be inside for quite a few weeks ahead

[Krystee]

He is over 4 months old. He was already about 1 month old when we got him.

[SammysMom]

If you got a ladder that didn't quite reach him, but got you up higher, he would maybe come to you.

[Krystee]

My husband just tried to climb a tree beside the tree he is in. He got pretty close but the squirrel still wouldn't come down. Of course it is dark outside. He would go back and forth on the limb like he wanted to come down. I am at a loss as to how to get him to come down.

[pappy1264]

Climb up the ladder, hold a long branch up to him to climb onto.

[Nancy in New York]

Climb up the ladder, hold a long branch up to him to climb onto.

Good idea, and also bring a pillow case, I would put the squirrel in that so he doesn't scratch the heck out of you...........if you can get him. Run fast to the release cage, and put him in.......pillow case and all.
I swear someone did this here on the board, and it worked great!

[pappy1264]

Good idea on the pillow case!!!

[Krystee]

I think he is so scared that he wouldn't try to get away. I will try the long branch idea, I don't know if he will get on it. Thank you for all the advice.

[pappy1264]

Tap an in shell walnut (even if he can't open one) against the branch you are holding, to help convince him to climb on it.

[SammysMom]

How high up is he?

[Krystee]

Probably about 20 foot.

[Nancy in New York]

When he's in his cage what does he normally sleep in?
Can you bring that up the ladder, and hold it out to him so he can go in?

[Krystee]

He has a towel and a fabric barn that he sleeps in. I'll try that. At this point, I will try anything. I am so sad for him. I blame myself but I knew he deserved to be free. He was so miserable cramped up in his cage all the time. I wanted to try the soft release where he would leave his nest but then come back to it, I really didn't think that he would go up a tree and not come down.

[Nancy in New York]

He has a towel and a fabric barn that he sleeps in. I'll try that. At this point, I will try anything. I am so sad for him. I blame myself but I knew he deserved to be free. He was so miserable cramped up in his cage all the time. I wanted to try the soft release where he would leave his nest but then come back to it, I really didn't think that he would go up a tree and not come down.

Just try to be a little patient with him when you are up there. Talk softly, hold your hand out if you can without falling....and just say his name quietly.
I feel so bad for both of you. :(

[SammysMom]

How long a ladder do you have?

[Krystee]

I went outside this morning to try to raise his barn that he slept in up to him. Another squirrel came around and started chasing him. He came all the way down to the ground, sat there a moment, I started walking to him, and he shot back up the tree! I don't think he wants to be caught. My husband went out today and put his cage up off the ground and in the trees. At least if he needs to he will have a place to crawl into to get out of the weather and get a drink and some food. I hope he does okay, but he pretty much told me this morning that he wants to be free. Who am I to question that? Thanks to all of you for your help. I have learned a lot.