To release or Not to release...

[hladyv]

Hi all,

I have been facing the heart wrenching dilemma of whether or not to release my two babies. The main problem being that I am unable to do so myself as I had hoped. I do not have a good area where I may release them myself, so my only option would be to find someone who may be open to doing so. I know now is not the time, given the season... but I wanted to reach out for opinions for the near future I guess.

I am not at all convinced that releasing is the best answer 100% of the time for a healthy baby. Mind you, I use the term "baby" because they're my babies despite their age! They're both 1 year and 2.5 months old. I'm not sure if age is a deciding factor, is their an age where it is no longer recommended?

My biggest concern is whether they can truly be happier at home than they would be out in the wild? Do they actually bond and hold onto their bonds with their caregiver, or is it something we associate because we fall in love with them ourselves?

I left for a few days a few weeks ago & my husband said that they hadn't been as active as usual... anytime during the day he can walk up to the cage and talk to them and they are never as interested as when they hear my voice. He can be up before me in the mornings, yet they only stir when I wake and am up and about... I take these things as me being their person, obviously... but is there more to it? Maybe it's simply that they know that I am the one who let's them out for their free time every day, therefore they get more excited when they see/hear me and that's that...?

It breaks my heart to think of handing them over to someone else who can soft release them into the wild...With the thoughts that they may be scared & confused & wonder where I am... might they never get used to it?

I've read that some babies choose to stay home and rather not go out. I'd hate for that possibility yet not be the home that gets to continue to care for them.

Is it cruel to keep them? I honestly didn't plan to when these tiny, pink, furless, helpless babies became my responsibility. But the more time passed the harder to bare the thought became. They have a spacious wood cage my husband built for them. I've been planning on purchasing one of the larger metal wired cages from http://www.exoticnutrition.com/squirrelcages.html. They run around their cage excitedly, but do not seem to pace back and forth often. Only seem to rub their mouth on it after they've eaten. They're healthy, eating their HHBs, Harlan Teklad, Veggies & Boo Balls... & they play with their toys!... My little boy loves to cuddle and will lay in my hands, although he's quite big for them, contentedly. He loves kisses and belly rubs & never bites hard enough to even leave a scratch. Little girl is a nipper, but even she has never bit hard enough to cause any damage & she's been calming down & allowing for my to hold her and give her kisses too... Not quite fond of belly rubs unless she's sleepy or just in a sweet kind of mood.

They seem happy. Never try to get out of the small screened window when out. They sometimes sit and stiff the air coming in, but haven't tried to tear it open.

Part of me feels they deserve the trees and fresh air... but they also deserve a safe home, fresh & safe food, a warm bed & loving safekeeper!

Does the wild always win out? I want what's best for them. & I feel like I am putting too many human emotions where they possibly shouldn't be. I've always said my heart is too sensitive for this world... I care, love & hurt far too much for it to be normal/healthy. & I think I need some clarification from outside of myself.

Sorry this is so long... Thank you to those who even skim it <3

[Shewhosweptforest]

:shakehead Oh wow...I feel for you :dono officially..you should try and release....unofficially...it's not that easy :hug I feel your pain...I have a healthy girl who wanted to stay...and she's happy being a kept squirrel :grin3 she too will not tear at the screen...I have some that through problems can't be released and I feel they are truly happy:grouphug I've released some never to be seen again :( and I had one release who stayed very close...a daily visitor who would eat from my hand while sitting in my lap or on my arm...she was killed by a car ....just 10 mos after release :boohoo if I could go back in time :dono so what I'm saying is...it's up to you...they sound happy and well cared for...and if you're willing to make the huge commitment (hubby, too) then follow your heart and keep them....you will have to be careful....they're not legal. And you must be ready to find a soft release if they decide to be free...but, honestly, I don't think they will....my guys just got sweeter after the first year :Love_Icon I feel for you...it's such a heart wrenching decision ....I personally, am behind you either way:thumbsup You have to be the one to live with whatever you decide....and "no" you're not being silly putting such strong feelings with their actions. They really are one of the most loving, intuitive creatures on the planet :grouphug

[CritterMom]

I am bothered by their age. With winter coming, they will be pushing two years old. Now, yes, two year olds have been slowly acclimated to outdoors and soft released successfully. But really, these guys are at their best time for this as adolescents - maybe a few weeks older than mama would be letting them out of the nest (we keep them a little longer to compensate for not having a mama to show them the ropes. Developmentally, THAT is when they are hitting on all cylinders - evolutionarily it is when they are designed to do all of those things - learn about predators, learn to make a nest and find food. A two year old squirrel is older than most of the squirrels around - many do not make it to that age, and is completely lacking in those areas. In the VERY least, a two year old deserves a LONG soft release, ideally where they can return home if they need to.

[island rehabber]

hladyv, I am in the southeastern part of NY state so unless you are at the tippy-tip of Brooklyn or something, you're north of me and it's definitely too late to release anybody at this point.

It sounds as if you are leaning toward keeping these squirrels and, while I do not and have never approved of keeping healthy squirrels as pets, I am happy to give you whatever info I can to keep those squirrels healthy. If you, like me, are here in the NY metro area, the most challenging issue is veterinary care. Basically, there isn't any, even for us licensed rehabbers, except for certain vets miles & miles apart who charge exorbitant fees and require you to submit the animal thru a licensed rehabilitator.

So what I'm saying is, everything's fine until someone gets sick. You will need to find a way to stock up on the common squirrel meds such as Baytril, metro, etc. Then read read read, learn learn learn from the forums here about diet, symptoms of illnesses, proper housing, etc. And NEVER let neighbors know you have these guys. Pet squirrels have been seized in Manhattan and on Staten Island over the past 2 years and you do not want that to happen.

Just giving you the reality vs. the Disney :grin2.

[pjjere]

Tough decision. I feel for you. If you take the above advice (and I think you should), you have all winter to think about it. The screen worries me. I have read incidents here where longtime NR squirrels suddenly decide to claw through the screen and are gone, unprepared for life in the wild. As you probably already know it is a serious commitment as you alone will be the caregiver. It may put a hold on any vacations for a while... Anyway just a lot to think about but at the very least I would prepare to overwinter them. Good luck! :)

[farrelli]

If they're happy inside, get great care, great diet, lots of out of cage/play time, etc. I always like to see sqs stay indoors. Nature is just horrible. Having said that, I worry about having a male and female. What happens when they eventually breed?

[stepnstone]

hladyv, I am in the southeastern part of NY state so unless you are at the tippy-tip of Brooklyn or something, you're north of me and it's definitely too late to release anybody at this point.

It sounds as if you are leaning toward keeping these squirrels and, while I do not and have never approved of keeping healthy squirrels as pets, I am happy to give you whatever info I can to keep those squirrels healthy. If you, like me, are here in the NY metro area, the most challenging issue is veterinary care. Basically, there isn't any, even for us licensed rehabbers, except for certain vets miles & miles apart who charge exorbitant fees and require you to submit the animal thru a licensed rehabilitator.

So what I'm saying is, everything's fine until someone gets sick. You will need to find a way to stock up on the common squirrel meds such as Baytril, metro, etc. Then read read read, learn learn learn from the forums here about diet, symptoms of illnesses, proper housing, etc. And NEVER let neighbors know you have these guys. Pet squirrels have been seized in Manhattan and on Staten Island over the past 2 years and you do not want that to happen.

Just giving you the reality vs. the Disney :grin2.


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