Squirrel's reaction to going outside?

[Meeka]

Hello all! I'm new to the boards here, because I've recently acquired a healthy 3 month old squirrel who I've named Meeka. I'm not new to owning squirrels. I've raised a squirrel since he was a pinkie, and released him because he was showing signs of aggression and constantly biting. But Meeka, She's the friendliest, and sweetest squirrel I've ever had, and I'm scared of losing her. :Love_Icon

I wanted to ask some of you how do you handle your squirrels outside? When I step outside the door, Meeka suddenly turns into psycho coo-coo squirrel and tries to climb all over my legs (like an escape). I'm so scared to drop her and let her roam around (because I don't want her to run over to the neighbors yard with a big mean pit bull waiting to charge at her.)

Is this something regular? Do your squirrels do this? Do they come back to you? or do I need to have a treat in hand to coax her? LOL!

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

[Rhapsody]

We do not let our squirrels go out side to run free until they are 100% release for good....... and this is only done after they have gone through 30 days of soft release in an outside cage. IF you are wanting your squirrel to have out side time please do it in the safety of a large cage or a wooden release cage you have built from the ground up.... there are many examples on the forum.

[Meeka]

Oh, and here's a video I made of her today.. check out the ending.. Priceless!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8iDLXw2eak&feature=plcp

[Rhapsody]

You need to be the squirrel mommy and discipline her..... a little tap on the nose (with a firm NO) would have gotten the point across. :nono :nono

[Saverywood]

I have never had to "tap" any of my squirrels on the nose or elsewhere. I simply make a hissing sound or a "uh..un" voice and I get good results; the behavior stops immediately. Yep. Works for me everytime. :)

[Nancy in New York]

I have never had to "tap" any of my squirrels on the nose or elsewhere. I simply make a hissing sound or a "uh..un" voice and I get good results; the behavior stops immediately. Yep. Works for me everytime. :)

Oh I agree, no tappping...unless it's foot tapping 187326:D

[crazy4squirrels]

You need to work on a soft release. When you and Meeka are ready she should go into a nice safe large cage outside for about 4-6 weeks then open the door. There are members here in Florida that can help to do this with or for you.

[Meeka]

I'm sorry, maybe some of you have misunderstood me?

I am not planning on releasing her! I plan on keeping her as a pet for as long as she lets me!! I am just wondering if its a bad idea to let her play outside? Like for instance, I take her to a park to roam through a field?

And the peeing scenario, I kept tapping her on her forehead, and she just sits there and continues her pee. I am about to start on the water spray treatment.

[JLM27]

Some people use a harness and leash. when she gets in heat she will leave you. Also, you can't protect her from dogs or cars if you don't have her on a leash. Go and look at Bean's thread. His human takes him out everywhere but on a leash. She also is very protective of him when other people are around. I think willie Dugas has a harness and leash for one of his squirrels, too.

[SammysMom]

The act of going outside is going to bring about the "wilding up" process. Taking her outdoors is not going to be good for either of you.

[astra]

I'm sorry, maybe some of you have misunderstood me?

I am not planning on releasing her! I plan on keeping her as a pet for as long as she lets me!! I am just wondering if its a bad idea to let her play outside? Like for instance, I take her to a park to roam through a field?

And the peeing scenario, I kept tapping her on her forehead, and she just sits there and continues her pee. I am about to start on the water spray treatment.
being exposed to the outside smells, sounds, trees etc may cause her to wild up.
Although, some ppl do try to bring their non-releasable squirrels outside, it is not advised, because in the majority of situations that only awakens the squirrel's wild instincts.
As one member here wrote once - a squirrel is either indoors or outdoors. Yes, there are some who seem to be getting the best of both worlds, but it is very rare AND it is always the squirrel's decision. Never its humans.
Which means the squirrel was released but chose to come back.

It's also important to understand that squirrels are wild animals.
They are not domesticated.
Therefore, you should be prepared to release her if she starts showing signs of wanting to go.
But most importantly - it should always be a squirrel's choice, whether s/he wants to stay or go.
Forcing a wild animal to stay indoors regardless of what that animal might want is not loving it.
Maybe, the most loving thing to do would be to let her choose: offer her release, and if she comes back to you - great!
But what if she will want trees and freedom more? - then you will have given her the best possible gift you could .

[Nancy in New York]

And the peeing scenario, I kept tapping her on her forehead, and she just sits there and continues her pee. I am about to start on the water spray treatment.

Your squirrel will continue to pee wherever she wants.
She is a squirrel.
Do not use a water sprayer on her, she is not meant to be domesticated, as much as YOU may want her to be.
She is a wild animal, and she will wild up.
You cannot train her as much as you may want to.....you can't.
We just had a member today asking to rehome her squirrel that bit her boyfriend.
We had another member who gave their squirrel brain damage because she popped him on the head for biting.
They will bite.
You have a pit bull that actually lives next door to you and you let your squirrel out to play?

[Meeka]

Your squirrel will continue to pee wherever she wants.
She is a squirrel.
Do not use a water sprayer on her, she is not meant to be domesticated, as much as YOU may want her to be.
She is a wild animal, and she will wild up.
You cannot train her as much as you may want to.....you can't.
We just had a member today asking to rehome her squirrel that bit her boyfriend.
We had another member who gave their squirrel brain damage because she popped him on the head for biting.
They will bite.
You have a pit bull that actually lives next door to you and you let your squirrel out to play?

I have realized that LIGHTLY tapping her on the head is not going to work, so that's why I am going to try the Water sprayer. It's all about trial and error and NO squirrel is the same. If I see no effect, then I'll try the kitty litter. I've heard success stories from both, so I'll have to see her progress.

Yes, the pit bull lives next door. No, I was not going to deliberately put her down and let her scram next door, that is what I'm afraid of.

I only asked this question because I wanted to sometimes bring her to a park to play, or hang out at my aunts with her (she loves squirrels too).
It was only when I stepped out of my door, and she went nuts trying to run all over me. I had to pin her down on my chest to get in the car safely.

[astra]

It's all about trial and error and NO squirrel is the same. .
"trial and error" has been done through decades of wildlife rehab.
There is no need to invent a wheel, so to say - it's already been done.
Yes, squirrel personalities may vary, but their WILD NATURE is the same.

Squirrels are wild animals - they cannot be trained like dogs or cats.
Sometimes, some of them MAY tend to pee on one spot MOST of the time, but still - generally, you will NEVER ensure that it pees and poops in one spot only (or stops biting, or stops scratching or stops being a squirrel).

Using water spray is wrong! As any other such means of "training."
Don't know what you are referring to as "success," but if someone "succeeded" at breaking their squirrel's spirit into convenient submission by teaching it to fear and act out of fear - that's not success.

A wild animal is always a wild animal.

If you need a creature whom you want to adjust and make conform to what's convenient for you - then, perhaps, you need to reconsider the reasons for having one. EVen with domestics - people who start getting upset because cats are being cats (and scratch), or dogs are being dogs (and bark occasionally) - should not be having cats and dogs.

If a squirrel's being a squirrel is inconvenient for you - then, maybe, it will best for both of you if you to rethink having a squirrel.

Sorry if my post comes out blunt - do not mean for it to be that way, but having seen animals "adjusted" to people's convenience and forced into submission by having their spirit broken, I feel this needs to be said.

Animals should be accepted for who they are (just like people)

Wild animals are NOT pets, even if some people decide to profit by snatching them from the wild

Humans do NOT own animals.
THrough rehab humans are entrusted with care for orphaned and injured animals.
Only "entrusted" because a wild animal is free and belongs in the wild

Forcing an animal into submission to do things that are contrary to that animal's nature through intimidation, physical force, and other such ways is abuse

[Nancy in New York]

Two years ago, a member questioned her choice to "save" a ground squirrel that she had rescued
Her words stayed with me forever.

This person personifies compassion, understanding and the real meaning of rehabilitating.
A person who respects life, and knows that not all life is quality.

When people get in these releasable animals and decide to keep them....I think back to her post about this little squirrel....and the anquish she felt about her decision to try to help him.

She respected his life!



Hi everyone!

I wanted to come back to this thread to let everyone know that I still have my little guy (though he's not so little anymore). I'm doing the very best I can to take of him, but not a day goes by that I don't question myself, thinking I've done the wrong thing. Maybe I should have respected nature and accepted that not all baby squirrels are destined to make it. Some days I think he would have been better off not surviving, than being kept prisoner. I've tried really hard to bond with him and care for him, but he just looks at me like the scary lady who captured him and put him in a box. In his squirrel mind, his life wasn't saved. He became prey.

The last few days I've really been struggling with this, as he seems to be getting more agitated with age. He wants to be free, and to be a squirrel running around outside, which he can't be.....

.....I had thought that more space would have helped him, but he just wants to hide now, and seems to have become more fearful.

I'm one of those softies who wants to save every bird with a broken wing, and think I'm helping, when maybe I'm not. I just want what is best for him, whatever that may be.

Kathy

[Saverywood]

Yeah, just keep "tapping" her on the forehead until she gets brain damage; that will teach her to go pee, eh? Use that spray bottle & maybe the next time you get close enough...she will claw you in the face. You're the teacher.

[Nemehoto]

You can't really train a squirrel without altering it's hard wired nature which is not worth it as it "breaks something spiritually inside the squirrel, you can just express that you don't like what they are doing at the moment. I only use tapping when my guys are playing too rough (kind of like a mommy squirrel "slapping" them when they get too rough) My guys pee and poop where they want to. (that's why vacuum cleaners and paper towels were invented.) I cover my valuable furniture with clothing and my bed with an old blanket during out of cage time to reduce accidents... so I do laundry more often... it's the cost of being OWNED BY A SQUIRREL. (in my case 2 of them)

If you don't want your computer peed on, then set the boundary for the squirrel not to be on it at all. If she gets on it, pick her up and set her back and say no, they will eventually get the idea that it is your "nest box". I have yet to keep them from playing with the video camera or the digital one, but I don't insist on them not being there, I just fuss when they chew on it. Chewing is reduced but they can sit on it. If I made it clear that I don't want them on it at all they could easy confuse that to mean I don't want them on my head or my shoulders.

Don't use a water spray bottle, that is a disaster waiting to happen. Never work with any animal using fear. (Believe you me, using a spray bottle is using fear) Doing something consistently, be quick with the praise if they do something right (like saying no and she hesitates or turns aside praise her immediately) will reinforce the positive behavior (this is moms not yours).

Squirrels aren't dogs or cats, any behavior modifications you want must be made within their nature and understanding their nature. Squirrels are possessive, they understand possessiveness, but you must be consistent. You don't want something peed on then make it totally off limits because they will just let loose when ever the urge hits them. I don't care about my drapes in my room or valances, they are 30 years old, stained and could use replacing anyway so if they tear them up being squirrels so be it.

My guys have very limited training and nothing I have trained them with has been outside of their nature. They know "come here" with an outstretched arm with my hand held palm up means to come to me. I don't discipline them if they don't come I just reward them if they do come. (they come more often than not) They understand "Ah-Ah" or "No" in a firm voice means what they are doing is wrong. I praise them immediately if they stop. They know "shhh" and "Easy" in a reassuring tone means if Mom is doing something they are afraid of or that hurts. I means I not mad at them or trying to hurt them. (Biff had bad urine burn for about a week and needed bathing, medicating, and undies put on to help him heal and stop his sister from sucking on him) and they know "gently" in a firm voice means they are biting too hard. Other than that they are squirrels being squirrels.

Wild animals do not understand our language or human reasoning, they only understand their own. If you wish for a "pet" squirrel. It will never be a cat or a dog. It will be an animal that accepts you on their own terms as long as you teach them in their own terms not yours. Any alterations you make to their behavior and understanding of their world you must be responsible for. All animals understand "territory" you can make things off limits, but you can't make them understand they can do one thing but not another in that territory, unlike domestic animals that have had centuries of alterations to their instincts and behavior to understand these differences.

Mommy squirrels teach their babies what is safe and what isn't. What is good to eat and what isn't, and social behavior in nature. Use that knowledge to interact with your squirrel. It is not a piece of clay to be molded into what you want, it is a stone that can be polished, and smoothed, but will crack or break if stressed, but it is what it is.

[SammysMom]

Mommy squirrels teach their babies what is safe and what isn't. What is good to eat and what isn't, and social behavior in nature. Use that knowledge to interact with your squirrel. It is not a piece of clay to be molded into what you want, it is a stone that can be polished, and smoothed, but will crack or break if stressed, but it is what it is.

These are really awesome words! :thumbsup

[Nancy in New York]

You can't really train a squirrel without altering it's hard wired nature which is not worth it as it "breaks something spiritually inside the squirrel, you can just express that you don't like what they are doing at the moment. I only use tapping when my guys are playing too rough (kind of like a mommy squirrel "slapping" them when they get too rough) My guys pee and poop where they want to. (that's why vacuum cleaners and paper towels were invented.) I cover my valuable furniture with clothing and my bed with an old blanket during out of cage time to reduce accidents... so I do laundry more often... it's the cost of being OWNED BY A SQUIRREL. (in my case 2 of them)

If you don't want your computer peed on, then set the boundary for the squirrel not to be on it at all. If she gets on it, pick her up and set her back and say no, they will eventually get the idea that it is your "nest box". I have yet to keep them from playing with the video camera or the digital one, but I don't insist on them not being there, I just fuss when they chew on it. Chewing is reduced but they can sit on it. If I made it clear that I don't want them on it at all they could easy confuse that to mean I don't want them on my head or my shoulders.

Don't use a water spray bottle, that is a disaster waiting to happen. Never work with any animal using fear. (Believe you me, using a spray bottle is using fear) Doing something consistently, be quick with the praise if they do something right (like saying no and she hesitates or turns aside praise her immediately) will reinforce the positive behavior (this is moms not yours).

Squirrels aren't dogs or cats, any behavior modifications you want must be made within their nature and understanding their nature. Squirrels are possessive, they understand possessiveness, but you must be consistent. You don't want something peed on then make it totally off limits because they will just let loose when ever the urge hits them. I don't care about my drapes in my room or valances, they are 30 years old, stained and could use replacing anyway so if they tear them up being squirrels so be it.

My guys have very limited training and nothing I have trained them with has been outside of their nature. They know "come here" with an outstretched arm with my hand held palm up means to come to me. I don't discipline them if they don't come I just reward them if they do come. (they come more often than not) They understand "Ah-Ah" or "No" in a firm voice means what they are doing is wrong. I praise them immediately if they stop. They know "shhh" and "Easy" in a reassuring tone means if Mom is doing something they are afraid of or that hurts. I means I not mad at them or trying to hurt them. (Biff had bad urine burn for about a week and needed bathing, medicating, and undies put on to help him heal and stop his sister from sucking on him) and they know "gently" in a firm voice means they are biting too hard. Other than that they are squirrels being squirrels.

Wild animals do not understand our language or human reasoning, they only understand their own. If you wish for a "pet" squirrel. It will never be a cat or a dog. It will be an animal that accepts you on their own terms as long as you teach them in their own terms not yours. Any alterations you make to their behavior and understanding of their world you must be responsible for. All animals understand "territory" you can make things off limits, but you can't make them understand they can do one thing but not another in that territory, unlike domestic animals that have had centuries of alterations to their instincts and behavior to understand these differences.

Mommy squirrels teach their babies what is safe and what isn't. What is good to eat and what isn't, and social behavior in nature. Use that knowledge to interact with your squirrel. It is not a piece of clay to be molded into what you want, it is a stone that can be polished, and smoothed, but will crack or break if stressed, but it is what it is.

Beautifully put..now I will be using your words as well....:thumbsup :grouphug