Do I Need to Separate Brother and Sister

[Mbreault88]

I know I have asked this before but I want multiple opinions. Should I separate two boys from there sister? They get along and play with each other. I just WORRY ABOUT THEM REPRODUCING. Please Help me out. Does anyone have brother and sister Squirrels?

[DarkLies212]

What kind of squirrels are they and how old are they?
Are you overwintering them?

[Mbreault88]

They are about 5 months old. And no I'm not wintering them. They are part of my Family. They are eastern gray and have adapted very nicely to my house.

[DarkLies212]

Their temperament changes around 6 months when puberty hits and you might want to consider releasing. Especially being raised together - they wont' really be as bonded to you and will start to get wild and very rough and aggressive. Not trying to be a Debbie Downer, but that's a squirrel for you. As much as you don't think it'll happen, 99 chances out of 100 it will. Just prepping you :hug

[Spanky]

Their temperament changes around 6 months when puberty hits and you might want to consider releasing. Especially being raised together - they wont' really be as bonded to you and will start to get wild and very rough and aggressive. Not trying to be a Debbie Downer, but that's a squirrel for you. As much as you don't think it'll happen, 99 chances out of 100 it will. Just prepping you :hug

:goodpost

If anyone understands how attached you can get to squirrels (especially babies that we raise), it is the folks on this board. Please just keep in mind that your babies simple may not remain satisfied to live their life in a house when nature has perfectly designed them to live 40 feet up in the trees. They may remain content to be captive squirrels, but most of the time they do not. And they can become very aggressive (and pose a danger) towards strangers as they mature, so be prepared for that possibility. So in the end, the squirrels always tell us if they desire to be free, but we have to listen.

If you are not going to release them, I am not sure how you keep them separated the rest of their lives? And honestly I don't think that would be fair to the squirrels. :injail

[lovesmice]

Inbreeding in the Domestic rodent world is a recognized form of breeding. Reputable breeders use it as a way to promote good traits and discontinue bad traits. It is only done when the lines have been well tracked, though, or rather should only be done. As far as the Wild rodent world (specifically squirrels), I only feed them, not rehab them, so my knowledge of them is limited. I have, however, searched this matter on here in the past, and found a thread where someone whose opinion I value very highly on all things squirrel, mentions it does indeed occur as a few TSB members found out the hard way. Obviously the lines cannot be tracked very far in Wilds so there is a risk any bad traits might be multiplied.

http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?46310-BREEDING-Let-s-(me)-avoid-it-AGE-etc&highlight=inbreeding
(TSB thread on siblings reproducing.)

http://www.afrma.org/breeding-inoutline.htm
(The different types of breeding in the Domestic rat/mouse world to include inbreeding in case you are interested.)