I think my Roxy just had babies

[Randy14]

Hi - Randy14 here....

I released Roxy (eastern fox)about two months ago when she was about 8 months old. I used her cage/loft as her release cage on our patio. I had her when she was about six weeks old (but could of been up to four weeks older, but not more than that). She built a nest in a tree (about 12 feet up) very close to her old cage and only about ten feet from my second story bedroom window. Based on her size several weeks ago, protruding dark nipples against her creamsicle colored belly, (and other unusual behavior) I was thinking she could be pregnant. Since this past Sunday I only seen her twice, and noticeably thinner when she was thirsty and hungry. It appears she's spending all her time in her nest. My perception is she had babies on Sunday, probably only two since this would be her first litter. Though close to my window, I cannot see nor have adequate access to peek into the nest to confirm that she gave birth. Though I could probably rig a latter, it might disturb the nest and could freak Roxy out, and definitely don't want to do that.
On Monday I hooked up a water bottle and tied an empty 6-oz tuna can for food close by her nest entrance. I witnessed her yesterday eating from it.

I read somewhere that tree squirrels were supposed to be at least 12 months old to be sexually active. Can a 10 to 11 month old fox squirrel give birth at this young age ? My other question is do female squirrels still recognize their young after leaving the nest ? If so, for how long ?

Many Thanks,
Randy14

[island rehabber]

Puberty for tree squirrels can be at 7 months old, so yes your girl could definitely be a mamma. They are very attentive moms, so the best thing you could do for her would be not to disturb her and the babies, but make sure she has easy access to good food and fresh water. :grin2

[Randy14]

Roxy's babies are doing fine. They're 6 1/2 weeks old now. Her nest was very close to our backyard in a bushy tree maybe 12 feet high. After going through the trouble of hooking up a feeder outside her nest, she moved to another nest in a very high palm tree close by after five weeks of giving birth. What I perceive happening is that the feeder was constantly raided by birds and other squirrels which probably bothered her and didn't give her enough privacy. I've since read elsewhere that this is not unusual. A squirrel will move her nest if she senses a security problem. Roxy comes by onto my patio where her old cage is twice a day, where I feed her nuts and seeds (sunflower & squash). I notice she also drinks a lot of water from her water bottle.

[SammysMom]

What a wonderful thing to share! So glad she and her little ones are doing so well...:Love_Icon

[island rehabber]

Randy14, we seriusly need pix of this beautiful girl and her babies, too. Now get clickin'!! :tap :grin2

[Randy14]

The problem in Roxy moving to a nest in a very high palm tree, I have no access to take pictures. I'm hoping by 10 - 24 days when the little ones are 8-10 weeks old I'll be able to take some photos. I assume they will still be too young to be able to crawl down a 30 foot palm tree. Mother Roxy will have to help them.......right ?

[redwuff]

Thanks for the beautiful pictures. I can see the special bond that you and Roxy share!

How exciting to see the cycle of life continue. Well done.

[Randy14]

Finally after about 14 weeks I was able to get close enough to get a descent photo of one of Roxy's babies. As it turns out she had a litter of three (Roxy's first). After five weeks since birth she moved the nest to a tall palm tree, and two weeks later one fell and died. When I came home from vacation on July 17th I was elated to see two little ones frolicking in the trees with mother. So I'm happy there are two where the siblings will develop 'social' skills. Roxy now has her nest close to where they were born in a tree in my backyard patio, and the two little ones still share it with her. (I submitted a photo but don't know why this and some other previous photos are rotated 90 degrees ?):dance

[Rhapsody]

Are any of these pictures, pics of the babies?

[Randy14]

They're definitely cute little ones. Unfortunately I couldn't get close enough to Roxy's nest to actually see the babies and take photos when they were that young. If I tried I was afraid to disturb the nest and didn't want to do that. It was Roxy's decision not to have her babies born in captivity. Sometimes its best to let nature take their course. We need to be patient to see the little ones. I made sure she had enough good food and water in close proximity.