Release?

[Austinville]

As I'm working and just discovered the board, I'll make this short and hopefully sweet.

Two weeks ago my Siberians alerted me to a young squirrel just outside their yard. His fur was pasted to his little body. It looked like it had been carried around in a dogs mouth for a week, yet the fur was dry. Obviously he was dehydrated.

I bathed him in warm water and began feeding him to which he has responded quite well, so much so, he is weaned and eating walnuts, pine nuts and a mixed food created for mice/rats (my apologies if that is not what he is to be eating, but that's what one site I found suggested feeding him).

In any case, he is ADORABLE, and I believe ready for release. I would like suggestions as to the best location. I don't want to use my yard, because of the Siberians who still consider him a possible snack. I also live along a highway, so there is always the risk of being run over.

He is quite friendly with me, and loves to play.

I'm worried that he is too tame to be released.

Suggestions/comments, please.

Austinville

[Rhapsody]

First off --Thanks for taking this little one in and caring for him.
Could you post a pic of the squirrel so we can see how old he is?
We do not recommend the release of a squirrel until they are 4 mths
old and have spent 30 days outside in a release cage wilding up.

Release Link:
http://mothernaturesrescue.webs.com/release.htm

[Austinville]

This is Chippy - Taken May 2, so about a week ago.
234159

[msk5412]

Hi
I don't post much. I am permitted rehabber in Texas with specialization and training in squirrel rehab. That baby you have is too young to release. Look at the date he/she opened her eyes and call that a month old. Then release after you wild her up at four months old. Get her used to a squirrel box, and release her with the box. You have quite awhile. Not trying to be mean, but the coat looks kind of dull and I hope you are feeding her rodent chow or block. There are many threads here about that. She need to know how to open nuts on the own and that has to happen before four months. Focus on diet and detaching from her. You don't want her thinking people are her friend especially since she will be released elsewhere.
Mary

[Rhapsody]

That little one is way to young to be released......... they stay with momma in the wild until they are
at least 12 weeks old. Do as the other poster stated and go from the date the squirrel opened its eyes
and count that as 4 weeks, then count 4 months from that point then you can place the squirrels outside
in a release cage to allow the squirrels time to wild up before you release it into the wild and FREEDOM!!

Please let us know what kind of diet you are feeding.

Diet Link:
http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?44440-Healthy-Diet-for-Pet-Squirrels

Squirrel Block / HHB:
http://www.henryspets.com/

[farrelli]

Yeah, you might have two months left. Most people here don;t release until 14 weeks at the earliest.

Also, that diet needs to change if he's to do well. I'm rushed for time but here's the nutrition thread. Nuts and fruit are treats only, and no pine nuts.

http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?44440-Healthy-Diet-for-Pet-Squirrels

Is he still eating formula? I assume so. What kind are you/have been using?

[Austinville]

His eyes were open when I found him.

His fur was stuck to his body (It looked like something had carried him around for hours and then released him) Interestingly enough, last night I seen another in the same condition in the back yard. I don't believe this is from a dog. I'm beginning to wonder if it is some kind of insecticide or something as we live in farm country in Iowa.

I began by feeding him a mixture of applesauce, infant rice cereal, and puppy formula.

In the past two days, he has no interest in that and is eating pet mouse/rat food, walnuts, pine nuts (from the pine cone), various branches and buds and tonight ate spinach leaves.

I had no idea what to feed, so please don't judge that.

How old do you think he might be?

[Austinville]

Also, how do I begin to teach how to open nuts? Just put some whole ones in the cage?

[farrelli]

Don;t worry about nuts right now. He really shouldn;t have them. Formula and blocks until he's really eating hsi blocks, then veggies (no spinach), then some fruit and nut treats.

Go to the pet store tomorrow and get some Kaytee Forti-Diet blocks for mice/rats. Those are passable. Then, if you can, order these:

http://www.henryspets.com/squirrel-blocks-growth-formula/

A bag will last a month or more. Diet is THE, THE most important thing for indoor squirrels an this guy hasn't gotten a good base yet.

[Rhapsody]

I would place your little guy to be around 8 weeks old and ready to drinks lots of formula and eat plenty of hhb during the day to keep him healthy and strong. If he is being stubborn in drinking the formula try adding 1-2 tsp vanilla yogurt to the mix and use Esbilac powder puppy formula with probiotics in it when feeding.

After your little one is eating and accepting the hhb & formula on a regular basis you can add some vegetables, wild plants, branches, fruits and limited nuts to his diet slowly..... picking food items from the approved food list on the squirrels diet.
http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?44440-Healthy-Diet-for-Pet-Squirrels

You do not have to show your squirrel how to crack a shelled nut he will learn this on his own when he is a little older and wanting to gnaw on things to help keep his teeth trimmed down. I would offer him branches from safe trees (oak, hibiscus, rose bush, bottle bush tree, fruit trees), deer antlers, shelled almonds to chew on.

When you start to add food to his diet please place a glass water bottle in his cage as well.
And add some warm fleece in his cage for him to snuggle up in for naps and sleep time.

[SammysMom]

Where are you in Iowa? I may have someone who is experienced and could help you.

[Austinville]

Thank you.

I'll work on getting him to drink more formula. He is drinking water from his hanging bottle on the kennel door and this morning, ate quite a bit of pet mouse/rat food as well as enjoyed some freshly cut maple branches (he really loved the seed things).

I appreciate your help. I am in north central Iowa, 45 miles west of Waterloo.

[farrelli]

What kind of pet mouse/rat food are you feeding? Make sure it's not made of seeds and corn.

[sdreamcatcher]

He is adorable! He looks like my Chippy (Chipper) who is also a fox squirrel :).

Definitely follow the nutrition advice given here. Make absolute sure you hand him off to someone trusted on this forum. Someone here probably has other babies his age to release with him, which greatly improves his chances of survival. It took me forever to find someone in my area to take my 7 releases, because my neighborhood is also unsafe, and we have horrible "rehab" centers here who would have euthanized them, but it was worth the wait; they have a much better life where they live now.

[sdreamcatcher]

Where are you in Iowa? I may have someone who is experienced and could help you.

Does SR&BT still rehab? I know she LOVES foxers; she wanted to take Butchie if I had been closer he (and Joey) would have been squirrelnapped as babies :grin3

[Austinville]

I placed Chippy in a larger cage and he didn't like it. Today I put him back in his smaller cage and he is eating better, thankfully.

I'm wondering if it also had to do with not taking him to work with me (where we have florescent lights) and that the amount of light he was getting also changed his appetite. As soon as I put him back in the smaller cage, he began eating better and is more active again.

Thanks for the help and know that I have gotten better food and am trying the yogurt to entice him.

[czarina]

Squirrels don't like change so changing cages probably threw him off. But as he grows he will need bigger and bigger caging so he has room to exercise.

Please, please, listen to theaadvice about release, as they don't have much of a chance if it isn't done properly.

Did you bring the other squirrel in, too? Maybe it is a sibling.

I am new here, also, but these folks really know their squirrels, and are here to help, not judge.

They will do amazing things to help squirrels, so you have come to the right place.

WELCOME!

[Negerto30]

You have to change his diet to all the items others are mentioning or he'll die.

[farrelli]

Are you not following the healthy diet guide?

http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?44440-Healthy-Diet-for-Pet-Squirrels

Diet really is THE most important thing. Many people feed a crappy diet and think that everything is great, and then all of a sudden the squirrel is dead, paralyzed, or seizing. Or they get released to their doom outside. I really hope you're following the proper diet. Formula and/or proper blocks are the cornerstone of a healthy life.

[Austinville]

Are you not following the healthy diet guide?

http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?44440-Healthy-Diet-for-Pet-Squirrels

Diet really is THE most important thing. Many people feed a crappy diet and think that everything is great, and then all of a sudden the squirrel is dead, paralyzed, or seizing. Or they get released to their doom outside. I really hope you're following the proper diet. Formula and/or proper blocks are the cornerstone of a healthy life.

On the advice given here, I have purchased rodent block and am providing veggies, lettuces, and other foods as per the guidelines on the link I was provided both in your post, as well as in previous post(s).

Had I known the bigger cage would upset his world, I would not have changed it.

As for the questions regarding someone who has an experience, I have made attempts to contact people in my area, without success. My only other option is to do the best I can. With the help provided here, I hope to be successful in his release - after following the release guidelines that have been provided.

I can answer questions on most aspects of Siberian Huskies, and try to do so to those in need and belong to one of the largest Husky forums on the web. So, when I needed questions answered, I turned to the web for assistance, and found this forum. And your help has been greatly appreciated. I would not have picked Chippy up from the yard - let nature take its' course, had I not hoped for success. I have no plans to selfishly keep him from the wild.

It is easy to come across differently through a keyboard.

[farrelli]

I'm glad you're following the guide. What kind of blocks did you get? Some are pure garbage.

[Austinville]

I'm glad you're following the guide. What kind of blocks did you get? Some are pure garbage.

I don't have the bag here at work, so I'm not sure of the brand. I'm sure it's not top of the line - but I had a choice between a treat/food mix that looked basically like bird seed and this one which is a more 'pellet' shaped food (the size of your small finger). He seems to like it and until I can get something better, it will have to work.

I'll provide you with the name once I get home and check it.

I'm amazed at how getting him back into the smaller crate has perked him up. He's eating his formula much better, and is totally enjoying the maple seeds from the tree (the spinning maple seed things). He's back to playing instead of napping and scolds me if he wants out to exercise.

[farrelli]

How big is the current cage and the one you tried to move to? People move squirrels to bigger cages as necessary and it obviously can be made to work. Moving a bit of their bedding into it and allowing them to visit beforehand are a couple ways. You might allow him to visit it during his free run time.

[Austinville]

How big is the current cage and the one you tried to move to? People move squirrels to bigger cages as necessary and it obviously can be made to work. Moving a bit of their bedding into it and allowing them to visit beforehand are a couple ways. You might allow him to visit it during his free run time.

I'm leaving him in the smaller crate. It's probably 2 foot long, 1 foot tall and 1 1/2 foot wide. He has his blanket in there. I tried to give him leaves for his bed, but he was not impressed. I'll try again though as he needs to learn about 'wild' beds.

He isn't doing well. Won't take his formula, even with the yogurt in it. Refusing the block, even crushed. It's almost as if his mouth hurts him, which could be as he tore down his water bottle two days ago.

[farrelli]

What kind of formula? Did you find the the of blocks you're using? Would you like us to see if there's someone near you who could take care of him?

Check his teeth and the roof of his mouth for damage.