Releasing my 2 babies

[kendradfw]

I have 3 babies, but I will only be releasing 2 due to one having neuro issues.
Sandy is my neuro baby, since I saved them, I knew she was special. I believe she has some type of damage from the fall. She has tremors, and doesn't have good balance. She misjudges jumping and gets picked on by her sisters.
They are 13 weeks old, and have always developed a little on the slow side, but I feel confident that the 2 girls I'm releasing are finally at a point in their lives I can move forward with getting them back in the wild. However, I live in a neighborhood that literally has no trees, and A LOT of dogs, and I never see any squirrels. I don't know what I should be doing. I'm so jealous of all of you who live on some land who can release your babies and watch them grow over time.
:sadness I'm absolutely heartbroken to release them, and If I could have it my way, we would all live happily ever after in my house for ever, but that just isn't realistic, or fair to them.

[HRT4SQRLS]

Kendra, at 13 weeks they are still a little young for release. If you were releasing in your yard you could put them in a release cage for a month and let them start getting used to the outside but because you can't release there I would keep them at least 3-4 weeks longer.

I would start looking for options for release. Do you have family that might be able to release on their property? You could have the name of this thread changed to indicate your need for a rehabber to release. Something like HELP NEEDED for RELEASE in DFW or something like that.

Your babies are precious. We don't have fox squirrels where I live but others have indicated that fox squirrels do mature slower than grey squirrels. Good luck to you.

[kendradfw]

I'm perfectly fine keeping them for however long is needed. No family really has land except my grandma but she has like 5 dogs, and nothing survives her yard.

[sassysquirrel]

I will see if I can find someone that might be able to help with release. Most of my contacts have moved from the Dallas area or are no longer rehabbing.

I think there is a Dallas Rehab Center (not sure of the name). Also, don't know anything about them.

Be very careful when trying to get someone to take them. Make sure they are reputable, know what they are doing and will not be euthanized.

That pic is just sooooo cute.

[kendradfw]

The girls are 15 weeks old now, and Im starting to have problems with Banana, she has major attitude problems. When I go to put them up from free range, she turns into well, a jerk. She screams and growls at me, If I didn't know any better, I swear I would guess she's about to bite me, and I honestly wouldn't put it past her. Sandy has a spot on her ear from one of the other two where they bit her and left a tiiiiny little sliver out of it, I'm guessing it was Banana. Banana is constantly yanking food from her hands and chasing her down to take her food when there is plenty to go around. I'll take it back from her and hand her a piece from the food bowl and shell thrown it down and go after Sandy again. I love my girls but I don't want Sandy tormented, she's my baby. Sandy has neuro issues, and I'm having a hard time trying to decide if it would be better for her to keep Hammy too or to go ahead and release Banana and Hammy together and just keep Sandy as a singleton for the rest of her life. Hammy and Sandy both seem perfectly happy with the lives I have provided for them, they get at least 1.5-2 hours of free range every day, and a good diet, and plenty of things to chew on and climb on.

[Mel1959]

That's a tough one Kendra. I'm not very knowledgeable about whether it's better to release Hammy and Banana together or if Banana would do fine released on her own. Also, whether it would be better for Sandy to have a sibling if you kept Hammy. I hope someone who has some experience with this will chime in. You can always start a new thread asking your release question. Good luck and let us know what you decide.

[nikkidlr]

I have 3 babies, but I will only be releasing 2 due to one having neuro issues.
Sandy is my neuro baby, since I saved them, I knew she was special. I believe she has some type of damage from the fall. She has tremors, and doesn't have good balance. She misjudges jumping and gets picked on by her sisters.
They are 13 weeks old, and have always developed a little on the slow side, but I feel confident that the 2 girls I'm releasing are finally at a point in their lives I can move forward with getting them back in the wild. However, I live in a neighborhood that literally has no trees, and A LOT of dogs, and I never see any squirrels. I don't know what I should be doing. I'm so jealous of all of you who live on some land who can release your babies and watch them grow over time.
:sadness I'm absolutely heartbroken to release them, and If I could have it my way, we would all live happily ever after in my house for ever, but that just isn't realistic, or fair to them.


Aww this is crazy but I have a squirrel with the same problems. We've rescued about 6 squirrels within the past 8-10yrs but this is the only one we weren't able to release for the same issue, he has tremors. I hope Sandy is well :) best wishes!

[Lighten-Up]

I sympathize with all your concerns.

I'm reading this, and I'm not sure I understand why you would want to keep Hammy? Did I miss something? Hammy is perfectly fine right? So my guess is that over time, he/she would not be happy being kept, once he wilds up; which it seems that Banana is starting to do.

You of course, are the one in the situation, so you will have to go with your own gut instincts, but from what I'm hearing from you, Banana and Hammy are perfectly whole squirrels who will love a life in the trees, free. But the neuro must of course be kept.

I had to overwinter two girls, at about the age of yours, mine started to get really nasty with me and each other, I got growled at, lunged at, and they got nasty with each each other over food primarily. "This is MY FOOD" was the biggest deal going on. That was mid winter, I had to keep them for months...so we weathered this, and they did settle out, in my case, they stopped being nasty with me, but I also had to learn somethings about them and be different around them, and so it was obvious that it was a great thing to get them out of the house, into the RC, and into the wild backyard. They were destined to be wild, and they knew it.

It is my hope that you will find a perfect person who can release them in a great location. No location is perfect, as I've noticed that those who live in neighborhoods, have car and street and pet issues, those who live in the wilderness have hawk/predator issues. The best place is one that matches their needs/trees and food, and has minimal negative issues. You have invested so much in them, they deserve the best chance at a free life. I know someone will be able to help.

I wish you could have your wish of releasing them nearby. Do you have any intention of raising more squirrels if the opportunity presented itself? You mentioned that you would love to release them and watch over them, maybe that thought is a suggestion that you look for property to live on that would allow that for your next set of babies? Maybe this was a nudge to show you that is something you might enjoy? I don't know your situation, just offering thoughts.