Cesta
08-13-2016, 02:29 PM
I took in an approximately 4 month old squirrel to release for a fellow member about 2 1/2 months ago. She was scared to death of me and I was resigned to just holding onto her until I thought she was ready for release. She was raised without a cage, in close contact with her human family. She surprised me by quickly switching her loyalties to me. She still hates the cage, and constantly tries to escape-- but when she's out she just wants ME. She has NEVER bitten, not even close. Once she made an unhappy little noise when I put her in a pillowcase to take her back outside to her cage (I would have protested, too!!)
My question-- what should I do with her? In my mind she is way too sweet and almost innocent (putting human characteristics on a squirrel, I know, but I don't know how else to describe her.)
She's approximately 6 -7 months old now, and 'by the book' she should be well ready for release. But I know, instinctively, she's not. Are there squirrels who are never ready? Who just love people too much to want to leave? She has shown 0 signs of wilding up, and I've tried everything-- ignoring her, only interacting to feed, etc etc. She lives on the patio so her interaction with us is limited, anyway. It hasn't worked, and since she's a lonely only she's trying to form friendships with the cats/ dogs-- the only other animals she consistently sees on the patio. That's not good, either. So I end up giving in and loving on her again. (Also, when left alone, she reverts to a destructive habit of rubbing her face on the cage mesh until she rubs the fur off her cheeks and sometimes even bleeds. I tried revolution to make sure it wasn't mites or something-- but it didn't work and I really think it's a nervous habit that emerges when she's anxious for attention.)
She is just so, so sweet. I feel like I'm on a time clock, even though we live in central FL I hate to release after late September. Would it be best to just plan on over-wintering her unless something drastically changes in the next month? And give her the attention she so desperately wants for those months and then work on wilding her up again? I'm even tempted to give her a second cage in my room during the week, when my husband works out of town. And I NEVER, EVER bring them back in after they've moved to the patio cage. (The patio cage is one 'step'/ phase away from the outside RC, and where they all stay when they outgrow the indoor cages.)
Thoughts, please? I want to do what's best for her. Yes, I know I have a history of being extremely attached to my onlies, but that's been a selfish, anxious worry (my problem, not the squirrels.) This time, I'm not even particularly attached to her, I just feel sorry for her because, well... for all the reasons I already shared.
I'm hoping someone's been through this. If you have, I'd love to hear how you handled it.
:thankyou
My question-- what should I do with her? In my mind she is way too sweet and almost innocent (putting human characteristics on a squirrel, I know, but I don't know how else to describe her.)
She's approximately 6 -7 months old now, and 'by the book' she should be well ready for release. But I know, instinctively, she's not. Are there squirrels who are never ready? Who just love people too much to want to leave? She has shown 0 signs of wilding up, and I've tried everything-- ignoring her, only interacting to feed, etc etc. She lives on the patio so her interaction with us is limited, anyway. It hasn't worked, and since she's a lonely only she's trying to form friendships with the cats/ dogs-- the only other animals she consistently sees on the patio. That's not good, either. So I end up giving in and loving on her again. (Also, when left alone, she reverts to a destructive habit of rubbing her face on the cage mesh until she rubs the fur off her cheeks and sometimes even bleeds. I tried revolution to make sure it wasn't mites or something-- but it didn't work and I really think it's a nervous habit that emerges when she's anxious for attention.)
She is just so, so sweet. I feel like I'm on a time clock, even though we live in central FL I hate to release after late September. Would it be best to just plan on over-wintering her unless something drastically changes in the next month? And give her the attention she so desperately wants for those months and then work on wilding her up again? I'm even tempted to give her a second cage in my room during the week, when my husband works out of town. And I NEVER, EVER bring them back in after they've moved to the patio cage. (The patio cage is one 'step'/ phase away from the outside RC, and where they all stay when they outgrow the indoor cages.)
Thoughts, please? I want to do what's best for her. Yes, I know I have a history of being extremely attached to my onlies, but that's been a selfish, anxious worry (my problem, not the squirrels.) This time, I'm not even particularly attached to her, I just feel sorry for her because, well... for all the reasons I already shared.
I'm hoping someone's been through this. If you have, I'd love to hear how you handled it.
:thankyou