Releasing question (help)

[Zoe's Keeper]

Hello Everyone, and thank you in advance for your help.

Well, as the name states I am little Zoe's keeper (Brenda) and have been since she was just 2 or 3 weeks old. She is now a big 13 weeks old and she is in the first stages of release as she is now outside in her cage all day and night. Oh sorry I guess I should say that she is a grey squirrel. I own 2 flying squirrels which are my baby's and I am there forever home they are brothers and are 6 years old now.
OK anyway, back on track and to the questions. Zoe's mom still lives in the front and back trees in my yard, she has nests in both. Zoe fell out out of the one, that's how I ended up as her keeper and yes I tried to give her back but mom wouldn't get her so here we are. Mom doesn't remember this is her baby so she wants to defend her territory and today as I was giving Zoe her out of cage time to learn her area and climb the trees, here comes mom and the fight was on. They got into it twice and the last one left Zoe falling all the way down the tree and hitting the ground. Don't worry because thank goodness she is just fine and didn't seem to upset about it at all. Mom finally left because I was out there scolding her and Zoe went on playing. Do I need to worry about mom hurting her? Since she is a single is it right that she will need a little extra back up from me? and if so how do I do it in moms territory?

I know that was a lot of info so thanks again for your help.

[gardenjewel]

How long has she been in the release cage? I wouldn't let her out to play until she is ready to go for good. A singleton is harder to release. My little Hewitt took three months on the outside after a month in a release cage before he started acting like a real squirrel. He didn't get into any fights though....I think in part because by the time I released him all the other squirrels in the yard new him. I did keep him out of trouble quite a bit. Females may be different though...
Im thinking she should be at least 4 months before you even think about opening the cage door.
julia

[Spanky]

Does mom and the other babies still share a nest; is she still looking after the other babies from the litter?

What I have observed is that mommies with babies are extremely territorial. Even the sweetest of my squirrels (a release) will turn into a Ninja Super-Protector when she (Sandy) has babies. About the only other squirrel they'll let around their territory might be a neighboring mommy that they are familiar (but not the neighbor's babies!).

If you are committed to releasing in same area, you may want to consider waiting until mom has parted ways with the other babies and she's not quite so aggressive about defending the area from intruders.

:thumbsup

[Zoe's Keeper]

I'm not sure if she has any other baby's I haven't seen any but I do know she's most likely pregnant again because I saw her mating.
Zoe has been in the outside cage for 2 weeks now and is SO restless and all she wants is OUT. I have to be very fast at feeding LOL. I am not opposed to releasing her somewhere else if it means she is safer but how do I care for her then?

[gardenjewel]

I think I would still release her there unless you have someone else with a really big release cage in a safe area. She could run into the same situation anywhere, and on your property she has you to help her. What size is her release cage?
My best answer would be to keep her in the release cage longer if possible. She may have gotten really restless because of breeding going on around her. She probably wont get any more relaxed in another two to four weeks in a release cage But she might calm down a little when breeding is done, and in that time she will develop a little more mentally. This may not be the right answer....hopefully someone else will have more advice
I give a nut on one side of the cage, when they are really involved in eating it I slip the food in.
julia

[Spanky]

I was thinking Zoe had some siblings that were still with mom, sorry.

Like GJ said, a few more weeks in the release cage would help the yard squirrels get to know Zoe. Assuming the release cage has a small opening (to prevent animals like racoons from getting in) Zoe should retreat to the RC if she is really threatened by a more dominant squirrel. I hate it when the releases get bullied by the wilds, but it is all part of the process and I have never had one, in my admittedly limited experience, get seriously injured in these skirmishes. :dono

[gardenjewel]

Why I say to keep her in the release cage until around 4 months old, is from what Ive read around here and other places, a squirrel isn't well developed enough mentally to be released optimally before 4 months old. So longer in the release cage will allow her to develop enough to learn to better avoid the bullys in the yard. This may not be possible in your case....she wont develop right twirling around in a small cage. And as spanky says experience will also help her learn and having a place to retreat to will help.....along with her hoomin to watch out for her!!

[gardenjewel]

Well I searched the forum a bit and it seems a lot of people release at around 13 weeks with a week in the release cage....so I was just being a worry wart. She will probably be fine, but another week might help!

[SammysMom]

Welcome! I think you would be far better off letting her stay until she is at least 16 weeks. That is the youngest most people put them out into a release cage. It is a matter of maturity. Think of a 13 year old kid who thinks they are old enough and even may look almost old enough, to be on their own. Their body may be, but their decision making is in no way ready for real life. For a little squirrel, a week is really almost the equivalent of a year in human teenager-years. Giving her a few more weeks is a gift that she may not appear to appreciate, but that may well save her life.:grouphug

[Zoe's Keeper]

Her cage is 3 feet tall by 2 feet wide is that ok for her? I guess I will keep her in a bit longer if that is best, is it still alright to let her come in the house to play? or do I just leave her out there in the cage all the time? Thank you all, for your help. Dang raising her was so much easier then letting her go. :grin3

[CritterMom]

What type of squirrel is she? I know your area is more wooded, but I also don't think you have the eastern gray squirrels that everyone on here assumes you have...

[SammysMom]

IMO you could bring her back in and keep her with you for 2 - 3 weeks and then put her out for a few weeks in the release cage before opening the portal. I tend to be conservative with release age, but with a single it is even more important to let them mature for longer before release.
I can only say how I feel, but it wouldn't hurt to let her get a bit more mature.

[SammysMom]

What type of squirrel is she? I know your area is more wooded, but I also don't think you have the eastern gray squirrels that everyone on here assumes you have...

She is a grey squirrel...:grin3

[CritterMom]

I just saw that. I didn't think they HAD gray squirrels in AZ. Only in the cooler, mountainous areas I guess...

[SammysMom]

There are other grey squirrels in your yard, right?

[Zoe's Keeper]

We have a lot of Grey's where I live, up in the mountains at 5500 ft. We have all kinds of critters, skunk's, raccoon's, coyotes, elk, bears and mountain loins just to name a few. I had a friend a few weeks back that lost her small dog to a coyote, dang thing came right up and snatched it right in front of her eyes, it was so sad.

[SammysMom]

We have a lot of Grey's where I live, up in the mountains at 5500 ft. We have all kinds of critters, skunk's, raccoon's, coyotes, elk, bears and mountain loins just to name a few. I had a friend a few weeks back that lost her small dog to a coyote, dang thing came right up and snatched it right in front of her eyes, it was so sad.

These are all very good reasons to keep that girl in until her squirrelly senses are mature and ready to be vigilant so as not to become someone's lunch or dinner...:grouphug
I envy you all of that wildlife!:Love_Icon

[gardenjewel]

good, I wasn't nuts for thinking 4 months would be a better release time.

I think it would be great to bring her in the house to play and burn off some squirrelly energy.....instead of letting her play outside. Much safer. This will slow her release down, but still allow her outside in her cage.
Julia

[Nancy in New York]

Well I searched the forum a bit and it seems a lot of people release at around 13 weeks with a week in the release cage....so I was just being a worry wart. She will probably be fine, but another week might help!

I have to disagree with the 13 weeks.
Most people wait a minimum of at least 4 months for release.
We have to remember these little ones are compromised with not being raised by their mother,
so they are already at a disadvantage by not learning from her.
Give them more time, and you can never go wrong. :thumbsup

[gardenjewel]

Me too....I have always waited at least 4 months. I worried when I told her 13 weeks was to early that I was wrong. I am glad you agree! I was second guessing my original advice.
Thanks a bunch

[Zoe's Keeper]

OK then, it is done, upon everyone's great advice Zoe is back inside for at least another 3 weeks to a month and then we will see where we stand and where mom is. :tap I don't mind that at all because I feel in love the first time I shooed the birds away and picked her up. She has become my friend and play buddy as she has grown and we for sure have a bond. I do want her to be back in the wild but I also want her ready for it, well as ready as I (the human) can get her.
So thanks for all the great advice. :blowkiss

[SammysMom]

Oh I am so glad... Enjoy that little one while you can! :grouphug:Love_Icon:grouphug

[Nancy in New York]

Me too....I have always waited at least 4 months. I worried when I told her 13 weeks was to early that I was wrong. I am glad you agree! I was second guessing my original advice.
Thanks a bunch

I think you may have read that, but I hope we told whomever was thinking about releasing a 13 weeks old to wait.
It can get confusing sometimes reading different opinions. BUT why push them out the door.
I also keep them on formula as long as they take it. I had a group last year that still took it at 7 months!
Soooooooooooo, the rehabber that was going to release for me, had to warm a bowl of formula every morning, before and AFTER RELEASE. :rolf

[sandycheeks]

I agree with everyone on the 4 months at least before release. Also we gave our Sandy formula for a long time I'm not even sure how long but it was definitely a few months after release. By that time we had gone with the goats milk with yogurt and whipping cream. She loved it and took it until she was maybe 6 months old.

[Nancy in New York]

I agree with everyone on the 4 months at least before release. Also we gave our Sandy formula for a long time I'm not even sure how long but it was definitely a few months after release. By that time we had gone with the goats milk with yogurt and whipping cream. She loved it and took it until she was maybe 6 months old.
I LOVE when they LOVE their formula! :thumbsup