sunshine

[acorniv]

I have the feeling the answer to this is so simple I'll be slapping my head in a minute, but:

How does one :sunshine a :smiley_vampire :squirrel1 ?

Miss Hickory is terrified of the outdoors, and I'm stumped.

I took her out for her first sunning since she became too active to control i my hands alone (it's been about a week and a half) this morning and she was frantic the whole time. We made it 10-15 minutes before pity over ruled our concern that she get her sun. She's about 8-9 weeks old and I've had her 3 weeks today. She got sun daily in the beginning and then it rained and then she got more active and so needs to be confined when outside until she is released.

Here is what I did, and maybe you can tell me what to try next:

Her cage, which she loves, is a crib covered in the usual screen - not so tall she can get injured in a fall, but room for a nice branch to romp on and all the squirrel ammenities. It has a plexi lid. It rolls out onto our deck and makes a perfect sunatorium and the weather today is ideal - bright and sunny but mild. I can cover it in places to give shade and a sense of security. So her immediate surroundings were familiar and well loved and she had places to duck into for safety. I covered the sides. I stayed within sight, some of the time right next to her.

I should mention that she is extremely sound sensitive to all indoor and outdoor noises. We live in a wooded neighborhood with lots of wildlife noises. I can't turn them off but I can wait for opportunities when they are relatively quiet to put her outside. I did this, It's a dance, because they sing when it is sunny and are quiet when it rains, but I managed to find a time when it ws relatively quiet. If you read my thread aboute her not eating well for several days This turned out to be a major part of it. She will not touch food if birds and squirrels are carrying on (we're in the middle of the house - not right next to the window). She really got back to eating once I figured out this sound thing. Typically she has a very light snack at breakfast ( 8:00 am ) and only takes a full meal after nature settles down about 10:30. This morning it rained and she ate at 8:00 because it was quiet. Don't know how atypical this is ( everyone else seems to have squirrels that let nothing get betwen them and breakfast) but should give you an idea of what upsets her, and how much.

the thing that comforts her is physical touch but alas, I no longer fit in a crib, so I can;t do that :D I did put her heated rice buddy in, but I'm not so sure Micro is a 'buddy' . Poor thing - he's a squirrel and she bullies him mercilessly:poke :nutkick :chair :squirrel1 :bash :D . I'm thinking I need to get him into a kinder rehab place , because at his current lodging he gets microwaved and whomped on and his goodies that we put in his paws always get stolen:D But he'll sit in the sun all day long if we ask, so he's not my curent problem :D

The one thing I have not tried is putting her in her itty bitty box that she started out in, because at least it is more confined, and might feel safer, due to smallness? It's a rubbermaid container with ample holes for ventilation. I'd have to watch it closely becasue being plastic it would heat up rapidly, I'd think

Ideas?

:thankyou in advance.

[webld4u2]

First, I wouldn't put her in a rubbermaid container. The humidity would build up quick.
Is it possible there was a cat, dog, or bird of prey nearby that maybe you just didn't see? Overall though, he just sounds skiddish and shy, and a mommy's boy:D . I have 2 of those right now.
DO you have a nesting box you can put in her crib? Then she would a safe place to go.
What does he stay in while inside? Sorry for all the questions, its possible I overlooked them in your post, but only trying to figure this out.:thinking

[Twirly Squirly Squirrel]

Oh acorniv, you are so funny! I think you have a vampire in disguise there! You are aware that vampires are able to take on animal form, right?:poke :rotfl Check with one of our rehabbers to see if there's a light that you can use for her indoors. For some reason, your Miss Hickory is chicken....still, she'll have to get used to the sunlight, and being outside, but if you're going to be merciful while she's still only a babe , maybe a light will help and 15 mins here and add a few a day?

[squirrelsrule&bunniestoo]

You can get a full spectrum light in the reptile section of the pet store. Make sure it is full spectrum and it will work fine.

[acorniv]

First, I wouldn't put her in a rubbermaid container. The humidity would build up quick.
Is it possible there was a cat, dog, or bird of prey nearby that maybe you just didn't see? Overall though, he just sounds skiddish and shy, and a mommy's boy:D . I have 2 of those right now.
DO you have a nesting box you can put in her crib? Then she would a safe place to go.
What does he stay in while inside? Sorry for all the questions, its possible I overlooked them in your post, but only trying to figure this out.:thinking

No - all good questions. She, BTW :D

The rubber maid thing worries me for the same reason. Okay, scratch that.

There very well could be almost anything in the woods off my deck. This was the first 'luxury' subdivison in my county. That's a laugh now, but back then it meant a natural lay of the land, large lots and lots of trees, plus buried lines. It's pretty animal friendly. As land was stripmined for new subdivisions, everything came here. We're like an island with high density wildlife. If you can name it, short of deer and racoons, it has been in my house ( uninvited, mind you) We even once had a bear in my front yard, and we're nowhere near anything like bear territory ( theory was a sexualy maturing male was run off by his group). We've also got neighbor cats that formally live 2 doors down, but insist they live here ( no, we don't feed them or in any way encourage them - our own cats hate them, and it's an ongoing frustration).

Before I put her out, I put my two cats in the back of the house and canvassed for the neighbor fauna and made enough ruckus moving the crib/cage out that any wild things should have left. DD was in her bedroom with MH during this.

I don't really think MH saw anything but I have no dobt she knows they are out there. She can hear them. She can see them at tiems when she's indoors. She likes to be taken to the back door so she can scold out the window first thing every morning. She sleeps with her cage side covered, so it's not what she sees - it's what she hears.

I put her out the back because it is quieter and sunnier than the front. The front is where I feed all the wild birds and squirrels, so they stay on that side. The house is a ranch style, with windows on front and back, so you could see right through it if you wanted.

She was in her regular cage which is on wheels, and which she loves and feels secure in. It is outfited with a kleenex box she can ( and does) hide in as well as her slipper which she also hides in. I can make her a nesting box easily but not for a few days.

She is indeed skittish by nature. The squirrels in my neighborhood are all like this - the ones in my friend's neighborhood are all brassy. I've chalked up to genetic disposition (?) because the brassy group also has plenty of prey to worry about. MH was born by a lake an hour from here, so is not related to the squirrels here, but she is built like them and responds to sound like they do. I have the opportunity to watch both groups weekly, because my friend is my son's bagpipe instructor and we sit on her deck while they do lessons. She has two cats her squirrels delight in taunting, whereas my squirrels woudl never do that to my cats, even the big lug who doesn't now the meaning of chase and only caught one thing in her whole life - a snake with a mouth full of lizard that she probably tripped over. Naturally she brought this duo indoors :get_em ..

As for her being a momma's girl - that is for sure - she thinks the only place to sleep is on me ( right now she is mad because I made her go to bed in her slipper). Are some not? :thinking

Does this help? I like the nesting box idea, and I think I've got something suitable all made save for a doorway. I can hang it up high in her cage.

Thanks!

[Buddy'sMom]

It needs to be a FULL SPECTRUM light (apparently the kind people buy for reptiles; check the pet store; also perhaps Big Lots if there is one near you). This would be a good temporary solution for you. Miss H can get her light rays without being stressed by the great outdoors quite yet. It would be easy enough to shine a light into her crib for a while each day, until she's more comfortable going outside (it may be a bit early for that -- usually they are still tucked inside a nest with mom at her age).

BTW - the sunshine needs to be direct. Windows (and plexiglass) don't permit the right kind of rays to penetrate.

[acorniv]

Oh acorniv, you are so funny! I think you have a vampire in disguise there! You are aware that vampires are able to take on animal form, right?:poke :rotfl ?

:eek:

:rotfl

I've read that full spectrum lights aren't as good as natural? Is there a consensus on this? And gosh - eventually she has to get out there - so I prefer the idea of increasing a few minutes each day of the real sun.

Poor thing - she is a little scaredy, and we don't know if it's her inborn temperament or something happened on the way to getting rescue ( she was physically unscathed, but who knows what she heard or saw). She often sleeps with her eyes open (do others?). I have never had another squirre, but I definately seem to be dealing with the Princess and the Pea here.

I'm certainly not going to force her to cope - I know how that backfires. But I can condition her slowly. I cured my dd of extreme shyness that was identified when she was just 3 days old ( would not look at me!) so I have the patience to work with her.

Is that what most of you would do?

[acorniv]

It needs to be a FULL SPECTRUM light (apparently the kind people buy for reptiles; check the pet store; also perhaps Big Lots if there is one near you). This would be a good temporary solution for you. Miss H can get her light rays without being stressed by the great outdoors quite yet. It would be easy enough to shine a light into her crib for a while each day, until she's more comfortable going outside (it may be a bit early for that -- usually they are still tucked inside a nest with mom at her age).

BTW - the sunshine needs to be direct. Windows (and plexiglass) don't permit the right kind of rays to penetrate.

:osnap so the plexi top isn't a good idea......

I understand about full spectrum lights, so won't substitute. We have Big Lots everywhere. I go right by one today, so will check there. :thumbsup These little squirlies sure know how to yank that wallet open, don't they?

I was wondering about the amount of sun babies get - but I've been reading here about squirrels having problems when they are not much older than MH, so was thinking I should be proactive. It's nice not to feel I have to stress her out, just to give her her D's.

Thanks, to evreyone!:thankyou :thankyou

[TexanSquirrel]

Glad she's got such a good mommy!

[acorniv]

Glad she's got such a good mommy!

blush <:flash3> blush Thanks, Texan Squirrel. Not sure about that yet, but my :Love_Icon 's in the right place. Still have a lot to learn.

The amazing thing is how much of what squirrels teach me is applicable to other things. 20 years ago my parrot nearly died of a calcium deficiency, which cost me $1000's plus untold stress and worry. He spent 9 months in a heavy Elizabethian collar, unable to stand on a limb, or anything else - it was like traction. He could barely feed himself. It takes 9 months to rebuild calcium stores, and you can't rush it.

I have always had trouble absorbing minerals myself, as does my dd. I have sought all sorts of help and never once never seen sunlight mentioned. I am one of those very pale people (Dutch/English) who avoids sun and still has to have moles removed.

I may try lying under a full spectrum light like a reptile myself, :rotfl I can see a whole row of us - parrots, dd, squirrel, and me, stretched out under thsoe reptile lights:jump

[Critter_Queen]

I don't know how old of a squirrel we're talking but if it would still be in the nest, she will get most of what she needs from the Esbilac. The sun is needed not only for mental health (which sounds like the opposite effect would happen if you put her outside now) but also to help the body produce its own vitamin D so that she can absorb the calcium in her diet. The Esbilac should provide both of those needed nutrients. :thumbsup

A full spectrum light is the best if you can't get her outside regularly when she's about 9-10 weeks of age. Until then, I wouldn't worry too much. :)

[Gabe]

It is natural for a squirrel to freeze and be afraid when they are placed outside in a new environment. Almost everyone here that has released a squirrel has seen it happen, and the rest have read about it. There is always a period of adjustment. In the natural world that squirrel would be dead if it just started walking around the yard and not showing fear. The correct instinct is there, do not fight it, or try to make it go away but instead encourage it.

[TexanSquirrel]

I may try lying under a full spectrum light like a reptile myself, :rotfl I can see a whole row of us - parrots, dd, squirrel, and me, stretched out under thsoe reptile lights:jump


:rotfl :rotfl :rotfl

[acorniv]

That is good to know about esbilac, Critter Queen. Thanks.
She is coming on 9 weeks now, and beginning to wean. And having a big growth spurt too. She had a rough spot with the formula for several days that has resolved itself, and what an appetite she has now! She now looks like a fully filled in chubbo. So, whereas she is weaning, she's actually taking in more esbilac than ever before - just adding solids to it. She gets a wide variety of calcium and other nutrient rich foods.

Buddy's Mom suggested Big Lots and sure enough - full Spectrum lights are one of their specials this week, so I bought one. If anyone else does, they are 19.99 and 29.99 and make sure you pick through the 29.99 ones and get one with two bulbs - some only had one - don't know why. Anyway, a BIG thanks Buddy's Mom!:thumbsup I love the light it gives - can't wait to use it myself - perfect fo rwoodcarving - can never get good enough light for that.

Gabe, I understand fear is a survival tool. I want her to be skittish - to some extent. But being Butterfly McQueen won't kleep her safe anymore than being Eivel Kneivil will. Hopefully we'll help her learn to strike a balance.

I knew the minute I took her out that wasn't the answer, because obviously she felt unsafe. I knew you'd all have great answers - as always.

:thankyou :thankyou :thankyou :thankyou