Hand raised babies now released to the wild

[Kateshreve]

I have been finding a lot of conflicting information regarding what to feed my now wild squirrels. They're roughly 5 months old. They get almonds, lots of veggies, fresh fruits, and they eat a lot of the vegetation on the farm. I also got some of Harry's squirrel blocks, but they really aren't too interested in them. Peas are their FAVORITE! I want to make sure my babies are as healthy as possible. They have absolutely stolen my heart and I'd like to keep them around as long as possible!

[Rhapsody]

What you are feeding you released squirrels sounds good to me...... keep up the good work. :)

[stosh2010]

Have you mounted some wooden nest boxes--high up in some near-by trees..? ( with critter guards)

[Kateshreve]

Have you mounted some wooden nest boxes--high up in some near-by trees..? ( with critter guards)




Oh yes, I even painted it to match my house lol. They ditched it long ago and built their own nests. It makes me sad because the box is safer/sturdier. They still lay on top of it when they're being lazy bums but unless the weather is really bad, they stay in their nests. I'm glad they're independent in a sense but I'm also sad that they're growing up and don't need mom anymore 😞

[Rebecca817]

I have been finding a lot of conflicting information regarding what to feed my now wild squirrels. They're roughly 5 months old. They get almonds, lots of veggies, fresh fruits, and they eat a lot of the vegetation on the farm. I also got some of Harry's squirrel blocks, but they really aren't too interested in them. Peas are their FAVORITE! I want to make sure my babies are as healthy as possible. They have absolutely stolen my heart and I'd like to keep them around as long as possible!

I'm feeding my squirrel the same thing (pecans instead of almonds) but I'm also giving her mealworms.

[stosh2010]

Another thing I did to keep my released brothers (Claro & Oscuro :oscuro ) around --was to assemble a Breakfast Bar from a downed lemon tree trunk and built an elevated walkway around two sides of my house, 8 feet off the ground, to keep them off the side walk...It worked well and even the wilds came to eat.

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[Lighten-Up]

Stosh2010,
Thank you for the info and photos. I have been pondering making an elevated walkway around my home for the last month, so I greatly appreciated the encouragement. :-)

Kateshreve,
Consider adding fresh coconut on occasion. Either the thick older meat chunks, or the thinner wet young coconut meat, which I give attached to a piece of its shell. My squirrels, both the soon to be released ones and the wild ones love the coconut as a treat. There is a certain substance in coconut that is very helpful to squirrels.

[Cesta]

Oh yes, I even painted it to match my house lol. They ditched it long ago and built their own nests. It makes me sad because the box is safer/sturdier. They still lay on top of it when they're being lazy bums but unless the weather is really bad, they stay in their nests. I'm glad they're independent in a sense but I'm also sad that they're growing up and don't need mom anymore 😞

I have nest boxes mounted outside-- pretty much one for every couple squirrels I release. Only one stayed occupied by the same squirrel for any amount of time. Now they're filled with flyers. :Love_Icon (For those of you who have followed the crazy number of flyers who have made their way into my house, I finally realized I have a HUGE colony and they are living in my nest boxes!) H4S helped me figure out how to keep them off the ground-- they have water up high now and we've had no more dog/ flyer encounters, thank God.

And my squirrels come out to see me and eat every night. Feed them and they will come! :grin2 They hang out on our patio screen, in the palm trees-- our back yard is very secluded so I don't worry about them. (too much :grin3)

[Coralreefer]

If you want to give your releases nutritious snacks that rival the blocks they wont touch now that they are wild I'd suggest

ZuPreem Fruit Blend for large Birds.

A pretty darn good rehabber I know suggested this to me.
They use it instead of squirrel blocks for regular food for non releasables.
I have found wilds will eat them up too because of their fruit flavor unlike the blocks which they won't touch.

So if you want your babies to have a leg up on the rest of the squirrels foraging for what they can get their paws on this would do it. :grin2

[Cesta]

If you want to give your releases nutritious snacks that rival the blocks they wont touch now that they are wild I'd suggest

ZuPreem Fruit Blend for large Birds.

A pretty darn good rehabber I know suggested this to me.
They use it instead of squirrel blocks for regular food for non releasables.
I have found wilds will eat them up too because of their fruit flavor unlike the blocks which they won't touch.

So if you want your babies to have a leg up on the rest of the squirrels foraging for what they can get their paws on this would do it. :grin2

Hi neighbor! Long time no see! Is this a pet store item? I've been trying to keep up with making HHB's and boo balls for my releases but now the whole squirrel neighborhood is onto me! My wilds will eat the homemade HHB's because I make them with extra stuff they like-- nut butters, oatmeal, etc...
The bird food sounds easier and cheaper. :grin3
Thanks!

[Cesta]

Another thing I did to keep my released brothers (Claro & Oscuro :oscuro ) around --was to assemble a Breakfast Bar from a downed lemon tree trunk and built an elevated walkway around two sides of my house, 8 feet off the ground, to keep them off the side walk...It worked well and even the wilds came to eat.

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Hi Stosh,
I usually just lurk on your threads, but wanted to thank you for all your great ideas. The dedication you and RamaMama have to your squirrels is an inspiration to me, and lots of other TSBers, I'm sure.
In my next life I want to be a Costa Rican squirrel and live at YOUR house.:grin3

[Coralreefer]

Hi neighbor! Long time no see! Is this a pet store item? I've been trying to keep up with making HHB's and boo balls for my releases but now the whole squirrel neighborhood is onto me! My wilds will eat the homemade HHB's because I make them with extra stuff they like-- nut butters, oatmeal, etc...
The bird food sounds easier and cheaper. :grin3
Thanks!

Howdy!

Yes you can get it in any pet store.
You can find it about $5 cheaper at feed stores or online as well but any Pet Supermarket has it.
They love the taste. Never had a wild turn them down.

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[Coralreefer]

Another thing I did to keep my released brothers (Claro & Oscuro :oscuro ) around --was to assemble a Breakfast Bar from a downed lemon tree trunk and built an elevated walkway around two sides of my house, 8 feet off the ground, to keep them off the side walk...It worked well and even the wilds came to eat.

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A breakfast bar? :rotfl
You've got a resort going there.
Do you have openings in early September?
Pee Wee would like to schedule a weekend Costa Rican getaway.

[Cesta]

Hi neighbor! Long time no see! Is this a pet store item? I've been trying to keep up with making HHB's and boo balls for my releases but now the whole squirrel neighborhood is onto me! My wilds will eat the homemade HHB's because I make them with extra stuff they like-- nut butters, oatmeal, etc...
The bird food sounds easier and cheaper. :grin3
Thanks!

I found this at Amazon... Is it the right product?
Is $15 a decent price for a 3.5# bag?

amazon.com/ZuPreem-Fruit-Blend-Large-3-5-Pound/dp/B002KL4VK2/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1471282663&sr=8-3&keywords=zupreem+fruit+blend

[Coralreefer]

I found this at Amazon... Is it the right product?
Is $15 a decent price for a 3.5# bag?

amazon.com/ZuPreem-Fruit-Blend-Large-3-5-Pound/dp/B002KL4VK2/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1471282663&sr=8-3&keywords=zupreem+fruit+blend


yes that's it!

It's around $17.50 in the pet store.
There is a feed store in Ybor city that sells it for $13.00 if you're ever in that area.