Help with aggression

[Vkramer]

Hello! I am new to the Squirrel Board and this is my first post. I have owned multiple species of squirrels over the years and recently bought a baby rock squirrel from a breeder. She was a sweetheart for the first couple months. Now, at four months old, she has become highly aggressive. She recently sent me to the ER with a bite right down to the bone in my hand. She started coming after me when I would reach into her cage, even just to feed her. I am at a total loss of what to do. I've never had an animal act like this. All of my previous squirrels have given me a little bite here and there, but not anything like this. Any thoughts, suggestions or tips would be greatly appreciated.

[stepnstone]

Hello! I am new to the Squirrel Board and this is my first post. I have owned multiple species of squirrels over the years and recently bought a baby rock squirrel from a breeder. She was a sweetheart for the first couple months. Now, at four months old, she has become highly aggressive. She recently sent me to the ER with a bite right down to the bone in my hand. She started coming after me when I would reach into her cage, even just to feed her. I am at a total loss of what to do. I've never had an animal act like this. All of my previous squirrels have given me a little bite here and there, but not anything like this. Any thoughts, suggestions or tips would be greatly appreciated.

:wave123Vkramer :Welcome to TSB!
Yeah, them bites to the bone do hurt! Squirrel "nips" are just warnings, sinking the teeth bites are all out angry and pissed!

The first thing that comes to mind is she has a hidden stash in there, they do get aggressive protecting it even if you can't see it. With her out of the cage... that's the first thing I would look for and clean out whatever (hidden) food you find.

Another hand attacking reason is different scents. Lotions, perfume, colognes, even a change in soaps or hair shampoo can set them off. Have you changed any of these things lately?

[Vkramer]

I don't recall having any different scents that could've triggered this. She had also started becoming aggressive when I would have her out of her cage and I would be walking back to it to put her back in. She would get mad and nail me then too.