Squirrels in Turkey

[tomcics]

Hello, this is probably not the right Forum topic but couldn't find another more suitable:

Someone in Istanbul, Turkey wrote to me asking me about 2 squirrels they have raised since they were babies. One is now 2 and one is 3. Anyways, they asked me if it would be OK to release them back into the wild (nature) now. I explained to them about release cages (don't think this is possible for them) and asked if they were healthy (sounds like they both were).

There is an English issue, so they asked me to post their concerns on TSB for them (when I mentioned TSB site to them).

They did state this in an answer to a question about how safe the area was they would be releasing them in:

'We have too many cats/dogs around. But only one park may have some squirrels. I used to live in London where it would be safe to release squirrels'

After receiving the follow-up on my questions, I was just going to reply 'you should probably not release them' but I had already promised to post their questions, so wondering if anyone has any other advise for them. I have no other information and not sure how pressed they are to release the squirrels and why now it came up, sounded like they just felt bad they were not in their natural world.

Thanks, for any replies. Tom

[tomcics]

Pic of the 2 squirrels there
http://i900.photobucket.com/albums/ac203/tomcics/0%202015%200%200%200/turkey%20squir_zpszobrl3un.jpg (http://s900.photobucket.com/user/tomcics/media/0%202015%200%200%200/turkey%20squir_zpszobrl3un.jpg.html)

[CritterMom]

OMG they are so cute. Send them to me!

It will be really cruel to just dump these babies at a park. They are as ready to survive that as a toddler would be if you did it. I have real problems with releasing squirrels at that age anyway - you are sending them forth to learn the ways of the wild at an age where most squirrels have already lived their lives and died. The young brain is built to learn things quickly - it is when they would normally be doing all that.

If they are feeling guilty about not having released them as babies, that ship has sailed. They DIDN'T, and doing it now may make them feel good but it sure won't be good for those two little cuties. Especially in a public park, where they will be running up to people - who up until now have been their friends...but they won't be anymore.

If they have to get rid of them it would be a lot better to find someone who wants them and try to rehome.

Or someone who will do a proper soft release, which with these guys may take many, many months, and needs to be done on the property they will be living after release...

[tomcics]

Thanks CritterMom

Once she answered it was not safe where she lived, I felt certain of my response and I am glad you pointed this out, so I can add it to my response. 'The young brain is built to learn things quickly - it is when they would normally be doing all that.'

The only other info I received (before I guessed they were Persian squirrels) was 'I don't know really what kind of squirrels they are but somebody bought them from Van (a city in Turkey). He's a very bad man, he was selling them so I bought them to save them.'

From that pic I posted, it looks like they have been well taken care of, so hopefully they continue to care for them.

Once again, appreciate the help/response.

[lovesmice]

There is an International Wildlife Rehabilitation site they can check into. Maybe tell them not to give away any personal information until they are sure of what would happen to the squirrels meaning not everyone is going to rehome them if it is determined they are NR.

http://www.wildlifeinternational.org/EN/public/emergency/emergencyrehab.html

It is very kind of you to try to help them. I hope it works out.

[tomcics]

There is an International Wildlife Rehabilitation site they can check into. Maybe tell them not to give away any personal information until they are sure of what would happen to the squirrels meaning not everyone is going to rehome them if it is determined they are NR.

http://www.wildlifeinternational.org/EN/public/emergency/emergencyrehab.html

It is very kind of you to try to help them. I hope it works out.

Thanks lovesmice, I got another response from person I will post shortly

[tomcics]

I think this person is well meaning (nice) but maybe naive. I sent them a reply not to release and this was the reply sent back:

'Of course I will look after them until day I die. But do you think if my parents buy a home in the South with garden, maybe I can let them to run around what do you think? Because friend of mine she lives in New Jersey and she feeds squirrels...they make home on top of friend's home and they never go, they run around and evening they come home.'

It sounds like person wants to keep squirrels but also allow them to be free in nature which unfortunately would probably not work out, since they would not survive outdoors well (as CritterMom pointed out) since they have no early learning experiences there.

[TubeDriver]

I would let her know that releasing these squirrel anywhere without a lengthy soft release period would put their lives at grave risk. We NEVER recommend allowing indoor squirrels to roam freely outside.

On the other hand, this new house with a garden might be a decent place to start the soft release process if that is needed? But at 3 years old, this squirrel has probably lived half it's life indoors and it would probably find it pretty hard to survive outside.





I think this person is well meaning (nice) but maybe naive. I sent them a reply not to release and this was the reply sent back:

'Of course I will look after them until day I die. But do you think if my parents buy a home in the South with garden, maybe I can let them to run around what do you think? Because friend of mine she lives in New Jersey and she feeds squirrels...they make home on top of friend's home and they never go, they run around and evening they come home.'

It sounds like person wants to keep squirrels but also allow them to be free in nature which unfortunately would probably not work out, since they would not survive outdoors well (as CritterMom pointed out) since they have no early learning experiences there.

[stosh2010]

TURKEY ?????????? Wow...................
Another country heard from......
what beautiful and healthy looking fuzz-heads.....

[tomcics]

I would let her know that releasing these squirrel anywhere without a lengthy soft release period would put their lives at grave risk. We NEVER recommend allowing indoor squirrels to roam freely outside.

On the other hand, this new house with a garden might be a decent place to start the soft release process if that is needed? But at 3 years old, this squirrel has probably lived half it's life indoors and it would probably find it pretty hard to survive outside.

Thanks TubeDriver for the input, passed some more info along to them

[tomcics]

TURKEY ?????????? Wow...................
Another country heard from......
what beautiful and healthy looking fuzz-heads.....

Thanks Stosh, the Persian squirrels are gorgeous and I seen a couple videos of people who have them living in their homes, I was blown a way by how friendly they were (but I don't know the situations of how they came to be in the home, as I don't understand the language). I seen one that was hilarious, a gentleman was dancing with some loud music as squirrel was running up and down his body in circles.

[CritterMom]

Remember Vas and Mia? These are little Mias.

[island rehabber]

Remember Vas and Mia? These are little Mias.

They sure are, and so gorgeous!!
I wonder...would it help to put these folks in touch with Vas? He is in Cyprus now but he knows his Persian squirrels....I see him on FB quite often.

[DarkLies212]

So pretty and shiny! I hope the hoomans make the right decision for these little fuzzies :Love_Icon