Recently released squirrel hasn't come back

[Bella's Mom]

I raised and recently released two gray squirrels. They are siblings. Nugget is the girl and Squirt is the boy. Twelve days ago the soft release process was completed and I opened the portal to freedom on their release cage. Nugget is doing really well. She is so happy in the trees! She generally stays around home, comes and goes from the RC throughout the day, and comes home every night to sleep in her nest box. Squirt has never come back to the RC to sleep and it's been eleven nights now. I haven't even seen him once in the yard or around anywhere since their release. I am so worried about him! I am home all day and night every day and watch the cage and the yard like a hawk! I love them so much and I am worried sick about Squirt. It poured rain today for the first time since their release and he didn't even come back then. Is this normal for a squirrel to not come back to the RC at all? I'm so terrified something has happened to him! I am literally being kept awake at night every night with stress and worry about him.

[megatronisabeast]

It is normal. Some squirrels run off and are content with living life in the wild. Male squirrels travel farther than females. This is especially true during mating seasons when the males are looking for females to breed with.

[SammysMom]

I have just begun releasing squirrels myself at home. It is so nerve wracking!!! However, I absolutely love seeing them go off on their own. Your little boy is likely out seeking his fortune. Males are more likely to go off and not look back than the girls. "Hunters v. Nesters"...
You haven't seen that anything happened to him, so know that you raised a good and strong little man who is now off being a squirrel.
Easier said than done for sure!!! :grouphug:Love_Icon:grouphug

[MArehabber]

I raised and recently released two gray squirrels. They are siblings. Nugget is the girl and Squirt is the boy. Twelve days ago the soft release process was completed and I opened the portal to freedom on their release cage. Nugget is doing really well. She is so happy in the trees! She generally stays around home, comes and goes from the RC throughout the day, and comes home every night to sleep in her nest box. Squirt has never come back to the RC to sleep and it's been eleven nights now. I haven't even seen him once in the yard or around anywhere since their release. I am so worried about him! I am home all day and night every day and watch the cage and the yard like a hawk! I love them so much and I am worried sick about Squirt. It poured rain today for the first time since their release and he didn't even come back then. Is this normal for a squirrel to not come back to the RC at all? I'm so terrified something has happened to him! I am literally being kept awake at night every night with stress and worry about him.

Yes, it's totally normal that some squirrels take off when they are released and others stick around. We usually have 1 or 2 that hang out in the release pen for days or even weeks (one stayed all winter!) and others that we never see again. I'm sure Squirt is fine and having a great time exploring the neighborhood trees! Try not to worry. . .I know exactly how you feel but it's a good think that he's off on his own being a wild squirrel :)

[Bella's Mom]

Thank you all so much for your responses! I really appreciate it! I had been so worried about my little man. But I am happy to report that a few of my family members have seen him and interacted with him (i.e fed him nuts). I have not seen him but he is apparently hanging out in my brother in law's yard (one street over) and also my mother in law's yard (down the street and around the corner). I didn't think he would go that far away but from your reassuring responses, I guess he would. I'm just so happy to know that it is normal for him to take off and not come back and I'm even happier to know he is doing ok. I just miss him so much! He was such a mama's boy when he lived in the house with me. His sister, Nugget, does not go very far from my backyard. She has made herself a nest in one of the trees in the backyard and she alternates between sleeping there and in her nest box that we put high up in the other tree. She comes running when I go outside and call her name, even if she's a couple yards away! It is so awesome and I'm so happy she comes home every night, and that I get to see her every day. It was so hard to release them because I love them so much and knew I would miss them terribly. But I know I did the right thing for them and I am so happy they are free, like they were born to be, making their own way in the world and living their little squirrely lives! Thank you all again so much for the reassurance!

[island rehabber]

Bella's Mom, you got the perfect answers from everyone above. :great I just wanted to add that the fact that "young male squirrels leave the neighborhood they were raised in" is SO common and SO normal that there is a technical name for it: "dispersal". Congratulations on raising two healthy, perfectly normal squirrels who are ready for their lives free in the trees. :grin3

[Bella's Mom]

Thank you so much, Island Rehabber! I really appreciate your reassurance also. "Dispersal" you say? That's interesting. I did not know that but am glad I do now. I'm just so happy to know that it is normal and that they're ok. I'm so happy for my precious, much loved babies, that they are happy, helthy, and getting to live their lives as wild squirrels now, as they were intended to. I'm so glad I rescued them and , as hard as it is, I would do it again in a heartbeat for any squirrel that needs rescuing! I have a 3 year old fox squirrel (named Bella) who is an NR. She is well cared for, as happy as she can be living in a hosue, and she is the love of my life! I love squirrels so much and it's so good to see I'm not the only one with a squirrel obsession! :) Thank you again so much for your help!

[Bill Cash]

Just released three very healthy and happy young , i call them my babies, greys yesterday. One little girl came back to the nest box last night , but the other two, a boy and girl, did not. There was an existing nest in the tree, a very large oak. I think they went into it. Is this normal? They all stayed, around, and in the tree yesterday.

[Mel1959]

Yes, that’s very normal. Have you provided a nest box up in the tree for them? Or several? I like to give them a ready made home in the trees when I release. Preferably one that has their scent already in it.

The girl that returned to the cage may continue to return to the cage each night or may join her siblings in the drey....or wherever they are.

[Bill Cash]

Yes, that’s very normal. Have you provided a nest box up in the tree for them? Or several? I like to give them a ready made home in the trees when I release. Preferably one that has their scent already in it.

The girl that returned to the cage may continue to return to the cage each night or may join her siblings in the drey....or wherever they are. Thanks for your response and help, Found this morning that both other squirrels stayed in existing nest. They are all three together now and roaming some in yard and other trees. Will moniter them tonigt and see how it goes. Other squirrels in area seem not to bother them. I have a nest box on crate they have been in. The one girl stayed in it last night. I intend to place the box in tree in a few days , unless they don't stay in it. Then Ill move it to tree for them if they want it. Hoping one or more of them will stay around for a while. Thanks again and for the info.

[Rock Monkey]

I raised and recently released two gray squirrels. They are siblings. Nugget is the girl and Squirt is the boy. Twelve days ago the soft release process was completed and I opened the portal to freedom on their release cage. Nugget is doing really well. She is so happy in the trees! She generally stays around home, comes and goes from the RC throughout the day, and comes home every night to sleep in her nest box. Squirt has never come back to the RC to sleep and it's been eleven nights now. I haven't even seen him once in the yard or around anywhere since their release. I am so worried about him! I am home all day and night every day and watch the cage and the yard like a hawk! I love them so much and I am worried sick about Squirt. It poured rain today for the first time since their release and he didn't even come back then. Is this normal for a squirrel to not come back to the RC at all? I'm so terrified something has happened to him! I am literally being kept awake at night every night with stress and worry about him.

Male squirrels have a tougher time of it. Female relatives will often drive of the male to prevent inbreeding. Likewise, dominant males will also drive off young juvenile males to reduce mating competition and food competition. Young males have to find and establish their own territory. So, as others have said, what you are experiencing is not unusual.