Is nutmegs releasable?

[NutmegAndGinger]

Nutmeg is unable to grasp with his back left foot and doesn't have much of a grip with his back right foot. I know inside he's prone to falling off furniture and missing his mark when he's jumping from one thing or another. However, im sure that gripping trees would be a little easier than gripping furniture. he is also quite skiddish and not a cuddly/people friendly boy which I think would serve him well out in the wild. Out of him and his brother, he's definitely the "smart" one. He's always figuring things out and investigating =)

His best friend/brother Ginger would be good for release except he isn't afraid of anything. I'm afraid to release one and not the other because they are so attached to each other. I feel like they would die of heartbreak if separated.

Personally, I think ginger would be an amazing wild squirrel and nutmegs would be a happy house squirrel. But I'm having some doubts..

I don't want to release one and have them heartbroken and suffer because of it. We don't want to keep both of them locked up in our house and have 1 miserable because of it. But we also don't want to release both if they don't have a good chance of survival.

Any opinions are appreciated!

[Bravo]

Hi, I think you wrote in just recently. :Welcome

It does sound like Nutmeg may have a problem- would you be able to post a short video? No worries if not. Can you remind me approximately how old they are?

One option if there's a rehabber in your area is to consider a soft release. They would be in an outside cage with access to both food and a release area... purely a suggestion at this point.

[NutmegAndGinger]

No video that would show him running around/jumping =( I'll try to get one tomorrow when we let them out! I believe they're between 9-10 months.

We got them in September and I'm pretty sure they were about 2 months old at that time

[HRT4SQRLS]

I think a big concern would be WHERE you are going to release. With ideal conditions, Nutmeg might do fine. I have seen videos of hind end paralyzed squirrels climbing like crazy with just their arms.
I think it will depend on how much use Nutmeg has of his rear legs. I do agree that climbing a tree would be easier than grasping slippery furniture.

I can see the problem. I sure would hate to see them separated. :sadness I definitely would not want to release in a location where he couldn't be monitored and brought back in IF it didn't work out.

This is a tough one.

[Bravo]

No problem. So they're approx. 9 months... in another two they'll be fully mature. And these are foxers with a great track record...


Very healthy! They LOVE their blocks and vegies! They get a pecan every 3 days or so and fruit once or twice a week. We're very good with their diet and regularly change up their veges and blocks so they don't get too bored (they were having block issues a month or so ago until I ordered a different flavor for them..since then they've been great).

They're out of their cage a minimum of 1 hr/per day and they spend the whole time running around like crazy and ripping apart sticks and all of my furniture lol. They're healthy boys

You're in Florida... pretty good chance someone could meet up with you and work on a soft release. That would give them the chance to decide for themselves.

(edit :yeahthat HRT4SQRLS knows what she's talking about... )

[NutmegAndGinger]

They're actually greys =) I'll try to upload some pictures/videos tomorrow. It's hard to get updated ones as ginger really enjoys attacking my hands when they're out of the gloves!

Part of the problem is we live in an apartment where we are not allowed to have animals, so a release from us would have to be on someone else's property or via a rehabber. We'd be able to do it either at my father's or possibly at the barn we got married at (tons of fat and happy squirrels there lol). But my father's isn't the ideal place for them as he lives in front of a busy road.

Would it help to build another cage and try to separate them for awhile to see how they do, if nutmegs isn't releasable?

[Bravo]

whoops- Greys :grin3 Let's give it some thought. Others here may have more ideas, and we've got some time while they're still juveniles.

[NutmegAndGinger]

Sorry I wasn't able to get a video yesterday! My husband has the boys out now and will try to get one of nutmegs crawling and climbing. Hopefully I will be posting one tonight or tomorrow.

I'm stuck in my room since ginger keeps attacking me heh. It's so sad I can't play and love on him anymore, makes me want to cry! He's been pretty grumpy with my husband lately, hopefully he has a good night tonight!

[Bravo]

No worries. :great


Would it help to build another cage and try to separate them for awhile to see how they do, if nutmegs isn't releasable?

Definitely a good idea if it can be done- and it might become necessary if Ginger becomes more aggressive. Chances are good that they will become increasingly independent. Squirrels are generally solitary.


Part of the problem is we live in an apartment where we are not allowed to have animals, so a release from us would have to be on someone else's property or via a rehabber.

Understood. It may be possible to try a soft release, where- as HRT4SQRLS mentioned- they can become acclimated to the outdoors while still cared for. An experienced rehabber would be able to make good decisions for these two.

[NutmegAndGinger]

Okay, so I don't know how to post videos up here so I posted them to my instagram account: https://instagram.com/yesvirginia11/


I'll try to post some better videos of nutmegs climbing when they come out in a bit =)


Also, thank you Bravo and HRT4SQRLS for all the help so far! We wants our boys to be happy and safe regardless of what we need to do!

[Bravo]

Thanks for the vids posted so far- it does seem like Nugget is having some difficulty. Don't mean to be picky, if you could get some footage of him in a better light, we may have seen something similar. Otherwise they look like fine, healthy little dudes. :great

And if getting it posted is a pain, you're welcome to send to administrator@thesquirrelboard.com ... we'll look after it here.

[HRT4SQRLS]

I watched the videos several times. On the video of Nutmeg on the light colored wood table, I think I saw what you're referring to. It looked like he does a little bunny hop and maybe a little stiffness in the leg. Other than that, I think he looks good. He gets around very well.

This is my opinion but I don't think that little bunny hop is enough to make him a NR. As far as I'm concerned, I believe they adapt to their abilities and their limitations. Of course, a serious disability would make their survival in the trees unlikely but something like this shouldn't rob Nutmeg of a life in the trees.

I have heard of many 'less than perfect' squirrels that are living in the trees quite nicely. Someone told me recently of a 3 legged squirrel living in a park. If the proper release can be arranged for Nutmeg and Ginger, I think he will do fine.

[NutmegAndGinger]

Thank you!