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LindaR
07-11-2014, 07:37 PM
Hello all I have been rehabbing a squirrel since may 6th named Sam. He was approximately 3 to 4 weeks old at the time I received him. He was set for release earlier this week. everything seemed to be going well. However, Sam appears to have an attachment to me that worries me for his safety. He will play and forage on the ground but will come close to me, follow me, and just a few moments ago scratched at my back door to either get my attention or come in. I went out to see if I could distract him with food but he ran up my leg and pounced into my arms and began purring. I am extremely worried and concerned as to whether he is released and if he is at high risk. We do have a lot of hawks in this area and stray cats. He is not responding to when my dogs bark but will not allow anyone else to handle him etc... PLEASE HELP I need to know if I should close up his released door for his safety and make other arrangements for his release.

stepnstone
07-11-2014, 07:57 PM
Hello all I have been rehabbing a squirrel since may 6th named Sam. He was approximately 3 to 4 weeks old at the time I received him. He was set for release earlier this week. everything seemed to be going well. However, Sam appears to have an attachment to me that worries me for his safety. He will play and forage on the ground but will come close to me, follow me, and just a few moments ago scratched at my back door to either get my attention or come in. I went out to see if I could distract him with food but he ran up my leg and pounced into my arms and began purring. I am extremely worried and concerned as to whether he is released and if he is at high risk. We do have a lot of hawks in this area and stray cats. He is not responding to when my dogs bark but will not allow anyone else to handle him etc... PLEASE HELP I need to know if I should close up his released door for his safety and make other arrangements for his release.

So your saying he's only approx 3-1/2 months if that?? That's young for release.
How long was he outside in a release cage before you let him out?

LindaR
07-11-2014, 07:59 PM
he was in his release cage for about 4 weeks. but we just opened the release door on Tuesday.

stepnstone
07-11-2014, 08:04 PM
he was in his release cage for about 4 weeks. but we just opened the release door on Tuesday.

My opinion, if I'm guessing his age right, you put him out in a release cage
way too soon. He needed more time and definitely more time to wild up.

LindaR
07-11-2014, 08:07 PM
should I close the release door then? I would hate if anything happened to him. I have dealt with sick babies but never one healthy enough to be released until now. So this is very new to me. I really really appreciate your responses :) I feel so much better knowing someone can help :)

SammysMom
07-11-2014, 08:08 PM
Yeah, if it is possible, I would take him back in and let him be a baby for a while longer. Do you still have a cage for him that you could do this?

stepnstone
07-11-2014, 08:12 PM
Yeah, if it is possible, I would take him back in and let him be a baby for a while longer. Do you still have a cage for him that you could do this?

:yeahthat I totally agree!
He is not ready.

LindaR
07-11-2014, 08:14 PM
Hi Sammysmom! I do not have a cage inside available. Sam gets around his release cage very well and has a nesting box he sleeps in etc... He very shelter from bad weather etc... WHere I live it is hard to have a structure that large but my husband built it according to a post on release cages here in the forum. The only difference is that it rests on one side against the back of my home. So he is sheltered nicely from wind and storms. the rest of the cage is mesh. I have 4 rehabing kittens occupying the cage Sam had indoors. When is release recommended. I was informed 12 weeks. is that accurate? or does it vary?

SammysMom
07-11-2014, 08:21 PM
16 - 20 weeks is really better. It is harder with a singleton. Let him stay in the release cage though. I know you are doing a great job! He is just still a baby who wants his mama (YOU!)

pappy1264
07-11-2014, 08:26 PM
Oh, twelve weeks is very young, esp. for a single. I would give him another month, if you can, as 16 weeks that is the minimum I have ever released and those were two. Have you been handling him/going in his cage while he has been in it?

LindaR
07-11-2014, 08:30 PM
HE will jump on me but I try not to interact with him and sometimes have to divert his attention with a treat to sneak out. The cage doesnt have a feeding door but has a two door entrance to avoid accident escape.

island rehabber
07-11-2014, 08:48 PM
I agree with all above -- lock him back up in the release cage for his own safety and let him wild up a bit.
I have released at 12 weeks, yes, but only when the squirrel was part of a group and its cagemates were a bit older. They stuck together and I saw them together weeks later, so the bigger kids were watching out for their siblings. A single baby at 12 weeks is clueless at best -- definitely not ready for prime time. :tilt

LindaR
07-11-2014, 09:01 PM
Thank you all so very very much!!! I don't think I could have forgiven myself if anything happened that I was at fault to. I love squirrels with a passion :Love_Icon You are all the best of the best!! True angels :grouphug:Love_Icon:thumbsup:innocent:hugh XOXOXOXOXOXOXO

stepnstone
07-11-2014, 09:38 PM
A single baby at 12 weeks is clueless at best -- definitely not ready for prime time. :tilt

Seems like all I get is the singletons and they definitely take/need more time.
I don't even think about putting them in the RC until they are at least 16 weeks
and even then unless they show me different they stay in the RC another 4 weeks.
By the time I open the portal, I'm the last thing they want to interact with.