Releasing Daisy and Philip

[Monipenny]

Raised Daisy through the winter, had been doing the soft release since mid-late April with in and outdoor time due to weather until it warmed up. I had hoped by now she would have been a free squirrel, not coming back to her cage by now. By the beginning of June she had spent two different nights in the trees, then stayed in her cage at night until this past Sunday. Since Sunday night she had slept in the trees, we were doing good, 5 nights in a row. Last night we had a terrible thunderstorm in the middle of the night. I got up, opened the back door of the garage to see if she was anywhere near and frightened, I would have brought her in but did not see her.

This morning when I checked she was in her cage. The storm frightened her back home. She jumped on me and stayed on me, I brought her inside and she is right at home. Daisy has not wild up....yet. I can't tell if she would rather stay inside because she loves the best of both worlds. I don't know what to do with her. I could keep her, a part of me wants to especially after reading all the tragedies of outside squirrels lately, not to mention all the ones I see laying in the streets, breaks my heart. I need the release cage to release Philip who is not used to other squirrels, he squeals and cries when one comes near him, so releasing them together is an issue. I am planning to put Philip in the release cage today though I am leaving tomorrow, thoughts on this?

[farrelli]

I think she's had her chance and made her choice. Some squirrels just want to be at home, and I think they might even have a better life at home, if given all the stimulation they require.

[Monipenny]

I changed my mind about putting Philip in the release cage today to avoid any major changes while my husband and I are going to be leaving tomorrow for a week. Our daughter is going to be taking care of the squirrels in my absent. I brought the cage inside as it was also Daisy's inside temp. home. When we get back I am going to take Daisy out and put her into another one inside the house and put Philip in this cage and outside to start his soft release. In the mean time I may take Daisy outside then and see what she decides, I am only concerned that she may try to return to the RC while Philip is in it. I brought her outside today twice to see if she would take off to the trees but she stayed right with me or on her cage until I walked towards her cage she made a long leap to me, she would have landed on my face, I had to duck and she landed grabbing onto the back side of a patio chair and then jumped on me.

[MollyBear361]

Poor girl hasn't found or made her a nest yet. I wouldn't release her outside without a RC to come back to if that's what she needs. She obviously hasn't made or found a drey for herself. I'm no expert, just my humble opinion. Maybe she just needs more time to wild up being how it sounds like she was pretty much raised as a single ton. Or maybe she just would rather be with you. Lucky duck.

[kastillo]

You could put her a nest box up in the trees and encourage her to use it. That way, she wouldn't have to make/find her own drey till she was ready. If you have the time, you could start by letting her use it in her cage, and when she was used to sleeping in it, mount it in a tree, and lead her over to it. Usually when they catch their own scent in there, they know it's home.

[Squirrel Girls Mom]

You could put her a nest box up in the trees and encourage her to use it. That way, she wouldn't have to make/find her own drey till she was ready. If you have the time, you could start by letting her use it in her cage, and when she was used to sleeping in it, mount it in a tree, and lead her over to it. Usually when they catch their own scent in there, they know it's home.

:goodpost :thumbsup

[Shewhosweptforest]

You could do all these things .....all good suggestions :dono Baby had her nest box in the inside cage, then in the release cage...we moved it to the trees:shakehead nothing worked she was just clingy and pitiful:dono I couldn't take it anymore and she was so happy and relaxed in the house....and I ve never regretted the choice:Love_Icon For whatever reason some are just happier staying.. .Baby was with two other squirrels...which were siblings..they moved on...she didnt:Love_Icon I'm glad....I can't imagine my life without her :grouphug

[Unikorngrrl]

OH my goodness! You've got a dream come true on your hands. A baby that doesn't want to leave home!! Wallow in it!! :thumbsup

[Monipenny]

I don't know where she was sleeping in the trees, but she stayed out for 5 nights, would she not have been sleeping in a nest in the trees? I can't imagine her sleeping out on a limb. I have a wooden nest box in the RC, but instead of putting it in a tree was going to keep it for Philip on his turn. When I get home, I will hold off on releasing Philip and put Daisy back out and see what happens. I think she would have taken to the outside fine if it were not for the rain storm.

I have Lily the 3 legged squirrel, those 2 were initially raised together though not siblings until I had to separate them because Daisy would take her blocks and treats since lily doesn't eat as fast. Like all of you, I will miss my babies like crazy when they go, not Lily of course, she's a keeper. I have to give Daisy another chance for her freedom.

[TubeDriver]

I don't know where she was sleeping in the trees, but she stayed out for 5 nights, would she not have been sleeping in a nest in the trees? I can't imagine her sleeping out on a limb. I have a wooden nest box in the RC, but instead of putting it in a tree was going to keep it for Philip on his turn. When I get home, I will hold off on releasing Philip and put Daisy back out and see what happens. I think she would have taken to the outside fine if it were not for the rain storm.

I have Lily the 3 legged squirrel, those 2 were initially raised together though not siblings until I had to separate them because Daisy would take her blocks and treats since lily doesn't eat as fast. Like all of you, I will miss my babies like crazy when they go, not Lily of course, she's a keeper. I have to give Daisy another chance for her freedom.


Maybe she is just a late bloomer and it will just take a little extra time for her to "wild" up?