Belle came home with a bloody nose

[fischern]

I released Belle about 2 weeks ago. At first, she refused to leave and ran right back into her cage after I had tempted her out with a snow pea, then she got progressively more curious and confident and left for 4 days without a sighting. Then she returned for a few days until I moved her indoor cage inside her outdoor cage (indoor cage was accessible via a removed window pane) and she hung around all day Friday, had breakfast on Saturday, and then was gone again. She showed up for breakfast this morning, seeming a little more wild/skittish and when I got home from work this afternoon she was in her nest box on my deck and being very friendly. I noticed that she has dried blood around her nostrils but she hasn't come out of her nest box for me to fully examine her. The blood is dried and from what I can see through the 'round the corner' hole in the nest box nothing else is bleeding. She was moving quite normally this morning. Is is something I should be very concerned about? or is it like a kid that might have bumped or scratched (or picked!) her nose? I have put some ClindaCare (anitbiotic that I used to treat her 'clicking' when she was a baby) in her water just in case. Anything in particular that I should look for? Thanks all you GREAT squirrel people, you're the best!

[Buddy'sMom]

:grouphug :grouphug

I'll let the rehabbers respond on the specifics, but just wanted to let you know that Buddy came home a bit battered and bruised several times -- and ready for a little TLC and rest from the squirrel world. I hope that's all she needs and then she'll be ready to try again. :) :thumbsup

[Secret Squirrel]

Some of my kidz had a few run in's too...partically missing tail, small scratches or nips from a dominate squirrel.
Just keep an eye on her.....if she seems normal than I wouldn't do anything. They got to fight for dominance....and usually involves a fall or two....that may be the cause for the bloody nose.
I think the neighborhood wild kids are just jealious....:D

[TexanSquirrel]

:grouphug

[4skwerlz]

She's the "new squirrel on the block" and will have to fight for territory. This is breeding season as well, so most of my wild guys are bloody and beaten up right now. If all she got was a bloody nose, she's doing okay! Try not to worry too much! :shakehead

[susanw]

I would watch her for a couple of days, just to make sure she is acting normal. Hope she is ok!

[atlantasquirrelgirl]

She probably has some larger dominant squirrels giving her a hard time. They could potentially chase her out of the yard altogether. You may want to give her some time to rest before letting her back out in the population again.

[fischern]

Thanks for all the support. Here's an update: Belle would not immediately come out of her nestbox this morning (maybe she was just 'sleeping in'!) but with the temptation of some avacado she did and let me hold her. I checked her legs and body for anything unusual - nothing. So I guess she just had a wild day with the 'wild ones'. It's so tricky to let her go, I waver between wanting her to be completely free and still having my little pet squirrel! She's just so sweet and fun...
Thanks to all you great squirrel people for helping me to help Belle.

p.s. As far as letting her back out into the population, she has her nest box on my deck with food and water nearby as well as her outdoor cage with 2 access holes (just big enough for my fist to fit through). Should I have a way to close her in her outdoor cage?

[atlantasquirrelgirl]

Sounds to me like she's scared, and wants to be close to home right now. Other board members had similar experiences, where babies come back after a bad day, and become homebodies for a while because they feel safe around their caretakers.

I'm not sure I really understand the setup of her box, but it sounds like it is not even 5 feet off the ground. Just be certain that nothing (raccoon or cat) can swipe at her in her box.

She'll eventually get her nerve up and venture out again. So long as she's hanging out in the box, just make sure she's safe. In my opinion, I would only lock her in the cage if she was injured and her safety was at stake because of it (or if something could get in at her while she's sleeping).