8 week old got loose and is now scared and biting

[ques96]

My 8 wk old was taking his FV and I was changing out syringes. He got inpatient and started climbing all over me and slid down my leg. Before I knew it he was on the floor and scarred to death. He has not been off of me when he is out of his cage since I have had him. He starting running and as I picked him up he bit the snot out of me and tried to escape but I couldn't let go until I had him back in his cage. When I got him back in his cage he just kept growling at me so I left him alone with dim lighting so that he could calm down. I went back in about 2 hours later and he is still growling and not happy with me. He didn't finish his feeding and is due to eat again at 10:00pm. Will he calm down and become sweet again and if not how do I feed him? He is still taking the nipple and is too young to wean and way too young for him to release.

[SammysMom]

Can you get him into a "burrito" of fleece? If he is secure and hungry it should be fine. He should be better after relaxing overnight. :grouphug :Love_Icon :grouphug

[Nancy in New York]

I would quiety sit with him for a while just talking.
Gradually offer him to smell the back of your hand, see if he will approach it.
Does he ever play with you with anything?
If so, see if you can coax him into a little bit of light play.
Is he eating any solids yet? Perhaps offer, through the cage bars, something yummy.
If he eats it, don't try to pick him up, let him eat it in peace.
Just keep talking the way that you usually talk to him.
Keep everything calm and dim when you go to him.

[ques96]

I have been sitting by his cage for a while now and talking softly to him and he seems to be calming down. No more growling and his is tilting his head and listening to me. He is even coming a little closer. I will try the burrito method for sure if he is still upset when feed time rolls around. Thank you :-)

[ques96]

He is on fv and HHBs but no other solids yet because he is not really eating the blocks just nibbling. I am sort of a strict mom and want him to love blocks before any other solid. I may try a little sugar water just to make up with him. Yes we play alot and he usually gives all kinds of kisses but I don' t think I will try to get any kisses at the moment. I like my nose way too much! LOL

[ques96]

Just wanted to update. He did take his feeding last night but we did it from his cage instead of holding him. He again ate this morning but as soon as he was done he wanted nothing else to do with us. We recently transitioned him to a bigger cage from a smaller bird cage and it seems like since we have done this he is becoming more distant and not greeting me at the door to get out a play. Did I rush things putting him in a bigger cage too soon? He seemed to need more room to climb and play but now I am wondering if this was too early and had a negative effect. Between the bigger cage and the getting loose incident it seems he went from being a clingy baby wanting to be loved on to Mr. Independant and "I don't need you unless it is time to eat".

[SammysMom]

He may come back around and he may just be growing into a real squirrel. He is far to young for release, but sort of giving him his space and the option of attention is probably the best thing for him. He is a releasable squirrel, correct?

[ques96]

I am not sure yet if he is releasable. When he first came to us his right eye was open and bright and he would turn his head so he could see out of that one. The left eye had not opened and seemed very sunken like there was not even an eye ball in there so I thought at first he was born without it. After a few days of being with me getting him warm, rehydrated, and eating properly I gave him a bath and was able to look him over very well. The left eye acutally had started filling out so I was curious as to what was going on. Further inspection revealed that there seemed to be sap on that side and that is why his left eye was not open when my son found him and he must have been so dehydrated that the eye was sunken? :dono We have since been able to get the sap off and the eye open. It is clear and not clouded but his still favors his left eye while playing and looking at us. I would love for him to be able to be a free squirrel but until I know for sure if he has vision in that eye and could make it out there I hesitate to say he is releasable.

[SammysMom]

I do understand your hesitation, but if it was closed by sap it is likely okay and he just became accustomed to using one eye while it was still closed. Hopefully he is destined for the trees, especially if he is already becoming more of a wild squirrel. It certainy sounds like you are doing a great job with him. I hope the little ingrate returns to his lovey self for his remaining time with you!:Love_Icon :shakehead :Love_Icon

[ques96]

We are going 1 day at a time with him. Release is quite a while away so we will evaluate him on a daily basis. If all is well when he is old enough we will release. If he seem to have any issues we will be a forever home. Either way he is a treasure and I love him to pieces. I wouldn't give up a minute of it except for maybe the throbbing joint in my little finger after his bite last night LOL:Love_Icon

[SammysMom]

Oh believe me I am way too familiar with those throbbing bite sites...lol I have a part of my index finger that has no feeling...:shakehead after well over a year mind you!:sanp3

But I would not give up a moment of my time with Sammy or a drop of shed blood for all the tea in China!!!:Love_Icon :Love_Icon :Love_Icon

[ques96]

I do want to apologize I swear I posted this thread under non life threatening help needed. I don't want to take away from the life threatening help needed posts.:o

[Nancy in New York]

I do want to apologize I swear I posted this thread under non life threatening help needed. I don't want to take away from the life threatening help needed posts.:o

I'll switch it to non life threatening. :thumbsup

[ques96]

Thank you Nancy.:thankyou

[ques96]

Well my baby has returned to the sweet boy he was before our scare. He is wrestling and playing and giving all kinds of kisses. He is even nibbling a little more on his HHBs! I am so glad he decided to stay a baby for a while longer :-) Thank you TSB members for all your help. I will post some new pictures soon.

[Jackie in Tampa]

we need pics!!!:poke :D

[SammysMom]

:jump :wahoo :jump

[Shewhosweptforest]

:goodbad. Glad your sweet baby is back:grouphug If I have to make Baby do something she doesn't want to do...she will snub me....not exaggerating ....so he may have just been frightened, but he remembered "hey your the momma " :crybaby. Looking forward to pics :D Also thankful he found you :grouphug :Love_Icon :squirrel1

[ques96]

Pictures tomorrow I promise just too tired tonight. :-) Night all.

[ques96]

Pictures at play after final feeding last night. Normally he goes right to sleep after bed time feeding but he was full of himself last night. Finally had to be a mean mom and do lights out at 11:00pm.
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[SammysMom]

Oh he is as cute as can be!!!:Love_Icon :Love_Icon :Love_Icon

[newsquirrelmommy]

He is adorable:Love_Icon

[Shewhosweptforest]

:thankyou :crazy Loved the pics he is so precious and I love his home:thumbsup fit for a little Prince :Love_Icon :Squirrel:Love_Icon

[ques96]

He for SURE thinks he is a prince:crazy He has such a personality. He loves to play hide and seek in the fleece and he is obsessed with my rings. He is definitely a little handful. I work full time during the day so my 19 year old son that found him feeds him while I am at work and I am such a worrier that If I have not gotten a text around 45 minutes after feeding time with how much he ate and potty details I panic. Yep my life revolves around this little man.

[Shewhosweptforest]

:Welcome to the World of Squirrels:jump They bounce into your life and its never the same:) in a good way:thumbsup I'm glad your son is there to help you:Love_Icon that makes it a lot easier :Love_Icon :Squirrel :Love_Icon

[ques96]

Yes my son is great help! He also told me that it is a good thing that he is there because he (Do Da aka Rocky the squirrel) need a male influence so that I don't make him a girly squirrel. :rotfl

[Shewhosweptforest]

Yes my son is great help! He also told me that it is a good thing that he is there because he (Do Da aka Rocky the squirrel) need a male influence so that I don't make him a girly squirrel. :rotfl
:jump :rolf:jump

Oh my!! Remind him he turned out pretty good:nono :jump It is good to have someone else handle him daily...so if there's ever an emergency there'll be someone around for Do Da that he trusts:thumbsup I have my hubby:)

[Shewhosweptforest]

:grouphug ques:grouphug :Love_Icon :squirrel1 :Love_Icon