When a rehab turn into a forever squirrel

[Mason's mom]

Seems like Mason has no interest in being "wild". I read and researched every source I could find when Mason was brought home. Recap on how I ended up with him. My husband is in the lawn care business while cutting down a hollowed out dead tree the mother left and never came back to the nest. So we brought him home at about 2-3 weeks. So small, cold and hungry! I have done what I believed was best for him to beable to release that was always the goal. However Mason is not wilding up and has no desire to be outside. He has always been taken outside with me I wanted him to know the smells sounds early on. Maybe I've been wrong not sure. But moving forward he will be a house squirrel? He seems happier this way. He has a large cage in his own room and I go in daily for play time. He is an amazing little guy who is maturing and I want to keep him happy. Any suggestions on life long care welcome! Thanks :thumbsup:newb

[SammysMom]

How old is he? You may find that he hits his wild strie later than you expected him to, but certainly not all of them do, just MOST of them. Sammy is certainly an example of one who is a happy house-squirrel, but is the exception and not the rule. Be sure to read read read about diet and be sure to follow it religiously. It is imperative to a healthy squirrel!:grouphug

[Duckman]

I have only had 1 be deemed a NR, but this year I have had two. Felix was brought to me when he was 4 weeks old, and had been bitten by a cat. After almost losing him twice, he made a wonderful recovery. He started acting like he wanted to go out to the trees, so I put him in our release cage. 7 days later, after not coming out to eat once, I went in and he jumped to me and wouldn't get off. He decided he wasn't going to be a wild squirrel. 2 weeks ago, I took my 1 eye'd Fox Squirrel outside, to give her a summer outside. After 10 days, she still had that look of terror and only came out of her cage to eat 1 time in 10 days. She has been fine since I brought her back in (she ran on her wheel for 3 hours, that first night I brought her back in). Sometimes they just decide not to go. I would suggest waiting a couple months and try again, to see if Mason has changed his mind. If he still wants to be inside, grant him his wish, but let him be the one to decide. :Love_Icon

[Shewhosweptforest]

:Welcome Mason's mom :Love_Icon My Baby was free for 2 1/2 months...the summer...and she hated it and begged to come in....it'll be three years ago in Sept. that we brought her in for good...and we've and more importantly she's never regretted it.:grouphug Mason's lucky to have found someone who gave him the choice :thumbsup:thankyou

[farrelli]

Good food, good toys, big cage, lots of out of cage time, stuffies, tons of stimulation and love.

You don;t take him outside without a cage, right?

[Mason's mom]

He has a.huge cage loads of toys and stuffies. We have out of cage time daily and yes he has been outside with me out of his cage always on my shoulder usually hiding under my hair. He is very much loved and cared for and I do want this to be on his terms to leave or stay home? I am confused on the out of cage no out of cage time get different answers on that. Just want to keep him happy :wiggle and always do whats best for him. Never planned on him being a forever squirrel :/

[TubeDriver]

I have only had 1 be deemed a NR, but this year I have had two. Felix was brought to me when he was 4 weeks old, and had been bitten by a cat. After almost losing him twice, he made a wonderful recovery. He started acting like he wanted to go out to the trees, so I put him in our release cage. 7 days later, after not coming out to eat once, I went in and he jumped to me and wouldn't get off. He decided he wasn't going to be a wild squirrel. 2 weeks ago, I took my 1 eye'd Fox Squirrel outside, to give her a summer outside. After 10 days, she still had that look of terror and only came out of her cage to eat 1 time in 10 days. She has been fine since I brought her back in (she ran on her wheel for 3 hours, that first night I brought her back in). Sometimes they just decide not to go. I would suggest waiting a couple months and try again, to see if Mason has changed his mind. If he still wants to be inside, grant him his wish, but let him be the one to decide. :Love_Icon

Good post! :goodpost

[farrelli]

Most give as much out of cage time as possible. Many have their own rooms. You have to squirrel-proof though.

We strongly recommend no outside time. We've seen it go bad a million times. It also can make them start to wild up, and if they get a little wild, but not wild enough to leave, that's a bad combo.

[Duckman]

Remember that out of cage time and outside time are two different things. Even though Mason has decided to be an inside squirrel, most have a flight over fight reflex and him sitting on your shoulder will not change that. It only takes one time, where he is scared and runs (and runs, and runs......) and you could lose him. He doesn't have the wild skills and to have him run away afraid is almost a guaranteed death sentence. Granted, it sometimes works out, but why risk it, just to be able to have a squirrel on your shoulder, as you go get the mail? As an indoor squirrel, he is relying on you to make the smart decisions for him. That means you are the one responsible for his total well being. Food, entertainment, safety, well, you get the picture!

[Mason's mom]

Ok no outside time got it :) Mason does actually have a whole room, he isn't always out of hia cage though. If I'm leaving the house for a long period like work I will place him back in his cage with his favorite stuffie (friends are what we call them) and other stimulates just things to entertain him. Is a mirror a good idea? Its super cute when I grab a stuffie and say Oh this is moms friend and place ny hand on top of the animal Mason will run over and stick his nose under my hand while pushing his body in between my hand and his stuffie. Lol, love it! He's a special guy, and so loving 99% of the time. Being a male and testosterone levels rising seems to be what I'm thinking??? :secret Thanks for all the suggestion, he is my first and some website lead you in the wrong direction blessed to have had someone tell me about TSB!

[Duckman]

A glass mirror is a no no just because he can break it and severely injure himself. You could get a metal mirror, but squirrels aren't really like humans. I don't think they can recognize themselves in a mirror, but then I don't know everything about squirrels.

His going to investigate what is under your hand is normal behavior for squirrels. They always want whatever is in your hands, until they discover what it is, then make the decision again, if they want it or not.

You will notice when he is going into a rut. He will become more aggressive for a time (and might even get grumpy for a few weeks). This is normal. I had Rex fixed before I realized how dangerous any surgery can be. I don't know if I would have done it if I had known, but I think that is a decision for each person to make, not a group.

Keep us posted on Mason and just a suggestion. We love pictures!!! :grin3

[HRT4SQRLS]

Is a mirror a good idea?

I guess it could vary from one squirrel to the next but for my flyer a mirror is a VERY bad idea. I walked past the mirror closet door with my flyer on my shoulder. Well, let's just say that he was totally ticked off by the intruder on the house.
He launched off my shoulder and attacked that 'other' squirrel.
Yep, you guessed it ... BOINK ... SPLAT! :eek Since then, I'm real careful around mirrors. :tilt

[pappy1264]

If you want to give him outside time (it is good for them to be able to soak up some sun if possible), then get a cage on wheels you can move with him secure in it. Always stay near him when he is outside and make sure he can get to shade so he will not overheat (and NEVER take him out out hot weather. Morning sun is best before the high heat of the day has set in.)