Squirrel needs a new home.

[AliciaintheSC]

I got a call through our rehab hotline about a squirrel girl. These people found her as a pinky and have raised her and kept her for 2 years. They cannot keep her any longer and was thinking of just letting her go outside. I advised her not to do that, since she has been a pet for this long and has lost part of her tail (not sure how short, couldn't get a straight answer).

She is great toward her owner, but attacks anyone else. This is the reason she cannot keep her anymore. Does anyone here have experience and a home that could help her?

Have no idea what kind of diet she has been on. The lady just said outside stuff and lots of nuts, which is probably why the lady described her as a pudgy baby. lol

She lives in Easley, SC.

If you can help, let me know and I will send you a pm with her contact information.

[stepnstone]

I got a call through our rehab hotline about a squirrel girl. These people found her as a pinky and have raised her and kept her for 2 years. They cannot keep her any longer and was thinking of just letting her go outside. I advised her not to do that, since she has been a pet for this long and has lost part of her tail (not sure how short, couldn't get a straight answer).

She is great toward her owner, but attacks anyone else. This is the reason she cannot keep her anymore. Does anyone here have experience and a home that could help her?

Have no idea what kind of diet she has been on. The lady just said outside stuff and lots of nuts, which is probably why the lady described her as a pudgy baby. lol

She lives in Easley, SC.

If you can help, let me know and I will send you a pm with her contact information.

She could still be releasable. I had a "pet" squirrel 4 years that self released (not ideal) has been out there for over a year. Wilded up just fine. I see her now quite often and she's a happy healthy wild and doing her squirrely thing.

[SammysMom]

She could still be releasable. I had a "pet" squirrel 4 years that self released (not ideal) has been out there for over a year. Wilded up just fine. I see her now quite often and she's a happy healthy wild and doing her squirrely thing.

:goodpost

[AliciaintheSC]

I figured you might be able to with time, unless that tail is just too short. But, won't it be nicer if she has a rehabber doing it slowly, rather than just tossing her out the back door after all this time? I am not trying to be argumentative, but it seems rather cruel to just let her throw her out.

[stepnstone]

I figured you might be able to with time, unless that tail is just too short. But, won't it be nicer if she has a rehabber doing it slowly, rather than just tossing her out the back door after all this time? I am not trying to be argumentative, but it seems rather cruel to just let her throw her out.

Excuse me... http://www.sherv.net/cm/emo/word/wtf-question-mark-sign-smiley-emoticon.gif
I would never suggest "to just let her throw her out." and don't see anywhere in my post that would suggest such a thing! Mine releasing herself was an unfortunate accident and my post was simply to point out that even after four years of pampered care and love they (many) can and do wild up to live their intended lives.
And yes! I am insulted to have such a comment directed at me!

[SammysMom]

Oh good grief...I did NOT mean she should do it, but that maybe we can or she can, try to find a rehabber in her area. This will need to be an ultra-soft release for sure. It is just impossible to rehome a squirrel when they don't like anyone but their family. I hate to see these stories. It is testament to people handing them over to a rehabber in the first place.
JBtartel might be able to help with a release. I will ask her.

[AliciaintheSC]

Oh my gosh, you guys. It was just a question, why so harsh? I usually have such a warm welcome here......

Yes, your post did seem to me that you were suggesting that. When you said yours "self released (not ideal)", I thought you WERE suggesting she just let it go, since this isn't an "ideal" situation.

And by rehoming, I was thinking someone on here would be more experienced than I am about releasing in these situations.

Sorry, I upset you all.........I will figure this out on my own. Have a nice 4th!

[SammysMom]

Did you read my post? I said maybe we can help find someone to do a soft release. Are you no longer interested? I certainly wasn't meaning to be harsh. Maybe the summer heat is getting to all of us, but let's calm down, have an iced tea and help the squirrel. :thumbsup

[AliciaintheSC]

Did you read my post? I said maybe we can help find someone to do a soft release. Are you no longer interested? I certainly wasn't meaning to be harsh. Maybe the summer heat is getting to all of us, but let's calm down, have an iced tea and help the squirrel. :thumbsup

Yes, I read your post and the post before it.....And, yes, they were harsh considering I am trying to ask for help and asking a question about something I have no experience with. This is why you don't see me posting on here often......too afraid of this happening. I have rehabbed many a squirrel, but no pets.

After calling several people, I AM the rehabber in her area that is willing to help. No one else seems willing to touch a pet squirrel and have told her she has to keep it or euthanize. After hearing that she was told that, I begged for her phone number to see if I could help find a rehabber for her. She has tried the orgs around here, but I promised her you guys would help. The rest is in the thread.....

I am TRYING to get her help! But, you did say it was impossible to rehome........so, I assumed that was my answer. My release cage is full, right now and in desperate need of repairs when these are gone. But, if she will hold on to this baby for a week or two, I can probably try to put her out there before I do the repairs. But, I would rather someone with more experience handle this. So, if someone can help me without making me feel like scum of the earth........I would be glad to take it. Otherwise, you can just delete this post (tried to, but can't figure out how) and I will do what I can.

[SammysMom]

Honestly, there was not meant to be anything harsh about what I said. I know you are the rehabber and was simply commiserating with your plight of a "rehome" squirrel. We WILL help, but seriously, I am not being at all accusatory or rude in anything that I said here.
I have already gotten a possible offer of help from a member who isn't too far from you, but we need to see if anyone else can do it because it is someone who also doesn't have adult release experience.
If I sounded at all rude, it was not directed at you, but possibly my annoyance at someone taking on a squirrel and then realizing it is too much after making it part of their family.
Okay, let's start over... Hi Alicia, I'm Gayle and I would love to help you if possible. :grin3 Being friendly is much better than either of us crabbing or cranking at one another so let's just see that we are on the same team and get that squirrel some help!

[Shewhosweptforest]

:Love_Icon Thank you for helping this poor girl :sadness She's going to be very confused at first...then hopefully she'll wild up :sadness It breaks my heart, too....when people bring them into their lives....and then decide it's inconvenient :shakehead I think of my sweet girl and how she'd feel :sadness Oh well...this happens more often than we like :( So I'm glad she found her way to you....thank you :bowdown :Love_Icon

[SammysMom]

:Love_Icon Thank you for helping this poor girl :sadness She's going to be very confused at first...then hopefully she'll wild up :sadness It breaks my heart, too....when people bring them into their lives....and then decide it's inconvenient :shakehead I think of my sweet girl and how she'd feel :sadness Oh well...this happens more often than we like :( So I'm glad she found her way to you....thank you :bowdown :Love_Icon

:bowdownSweeper:bowdown
You managed to say what I was trying to say in a much nicer way as always!

[SammysMom]

Alicia, do you have any feel for how long the person can keep her? I sort of want to know what kind of press we are up against.

[Duckman]

We have many that have been kept for years, only to wild up and go outside. Felix (the cat bit squirrel) was just released last weekend, after being in the house for a year and a half (fully his choice). It took longer for him to wild up, but he is doing fine and loves the trees (it brought quite a few tears to my eyes, seeing him running up and down the trees, but it was always his choice). It would help if this one has other squirrels wilding up with him though, so I would really recommend a rehabber to do the process and realize it could take upwards to 6 months to be able to be released.

[AliciaintheSC]

Hi Alicia, I'm Gayle and I would love to help you if possible. :grin3 Being friendly is much better than either of us crabbing or cranking at one another so let's just see that we are on the same team and get that squirrel some help!

Sounds like a plan to me! :w00t

I don't know how long she can hang onto it. I did tell her not to do anything until she talked to me (or someone else), first. I got the feel that it should be sooner rather than later. But, I don't think it has to be done today or anything.

[AliciaintheSC]

it could take upwards to 6 months to be able to be released.

Do you think it will still take that long if she is no longer with the family she loves so much? Might she wild up much faster to get away from the strangers, maybe?

[Duckman]

No, our experience is that it is dependent on the individual squirrel. Some get neurotic and won't come out for weeks, except to eat. Those are the ones who take the longest. Others will wild up in just a few short weeks. This is why i am hoping that a rehabber might be found to do this right. It will be an incredibly sad disaster for this squirrel to be forced to the wild before she is ready. There are exceptions, like Steps girl, but those are very rare.


Do you think it will still take that long if she is no longer with the family she loves so much? Might she wild up much faster to get away from the strangers, maybe?

[pjjere]

We could help with a soft release. The problem is we are in SE SC (20 mi N of Savannah, Ga.). This is an incredibly busy time of year for us and I don't see any way we can even meet halfway re transportation. The good news is we have a nice release cage set up and ready to go and are planning to release the two little ones we have now in early September. Just thought i would offer at least a nice place for this fuzzbutt to have a shot at a life in the trees. Thanks for helping! :)

[Nancy in New York]

Just thought i would offer at least a nice place for this fuzzbutt to have a shot at a life in the trees. Thanks for helping! :)

Just a little correction here, you don't only have a nice place, you have the most gorgeous, wooded, secluded place I have ever seen!
Any squirrel would be in heaven being released at your home! Thank you for the generous offer too!
AliciaintheSC thank you for helping this little one! :hug

[AliciaintheSC]

We could help with a soft release. The problem is we are in SE SC (20 mi N of Savannah, Ga.). This is an incredibly busy time of year for us and I don't see any way we can even meet halfway re transportation. The good news is we have a nice release cage set up and ready to go and are planning to release the two little ones we have now in early September. Just thought i would offer at least a nice place for this fuzzbutt to have a shot at a life in the trees. Thanks for helping! :)

It is too busy for us to drive that far, right now, too. BUT........we are heading to Florida for a quick visit to see my Grandmother Aug 22. We usually drive right past the Savannah area.

What if.........I had this lady bring the squirrel to me. Maybe, she would even be willing to keep her a little longer. If not, I can keep her in an indoor cage (my outdoor ones are full) and then bring her to you on my way to Florida? I am sure we can squeeze in a small carrier in a van full of 7 people and all their luggage. lol If not, I can probably strap one of the kids to the top and she can have their seat. :grin2

Would that be possible?

[pjjere]

That could work! We are only about 15 mi from I-95 and have everything ready to go. Just keep me posted and I'll keep checking in here. :)

[Radagast]

I live in New Jersey and have a female grey squirrel that I will not be releasing because I decided it would probably kill her (long story). My husband is a great carpenter and builds wonderful habitats. She could share a bedroom (not the same cage) with my Mystique. I would love to help her warm up to us. I would not release her. She sounds like she has a similar story to my Mystique. I started a thread about Mystique here. http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?50795-Meet-Mystiique-I-will-not-be-releasing-her-so-please-tell-me-your-stories Let me know if I can help.

[AliciaintheSC]

:grouphug She has a home! I found someone local that has a release cage and lots of land available to her. Networking is awesome!!!

Thanks to everybody that tried to help and those that offered homes!

[pjjere]

Great news! Thanks for helping facilitate this rescue!