6 mo old pine squirrle released today!

[Squarl]

I am nervous that he's too friendly. I worry that he'll jump on a neighbor, freak out over food and bite.... I considered taking him to a rehabber but then decided to try it here 1st. I can probably catch him if needed.

I kept him in a release cage for 2 weeks. He was rubbing his face an causing hair loss. We will have 2 weeks of dry cool weather... so today was the day. I opened the door.

He stays on the ground alot and in the open. Is this normal? Should I lock the cage at night if He returns?
He jumped on me earlier this AM when he 1st came out, I went to work... He hadn't jumped on me yet this afternoon.... So I'm hoping he'll wild up.

[cava]

I understand your worry. But what a big day for him! I'll bet he loves being out of the cage.

Yes, you're supposed to shut the cage up before bed.

I have been reading that they wild up fast. Was he friendly toward the neighbors when he lived inside?

It's hardwired in his brain to know what to do out there.

[Spanky]

I am nervous that he's too friendly. I worry that he'll jump on a neighbor, freak out over food and bite.... I considered taking him to a rehabber but then decided to try it here 1st. I can probably catch him if needed.

I kept him in a release cage for 2 weeks. He was rubbing his face an causing hair loss. We will have 2 weeks of dry cool weather... so today was the day. I opened the door.

He stays on the ground alot and in the open. Is this normal? Should I lock the cage at night if He returns?
He jumped on me earlier this AM when he 1st came out, I went to work... He hadn't jumped on me yet this afternoon.... So I'm hoping he'll wild up.

We usually leave them in the release cage longer than 2 weeks and that may be why they have not wild up more.

If the release cage opening is small and squirrel size (3 inches) then you will not need to close up. But if it is a larger opening, like something a racoon can get through then yes, definitely close it up.

If you could share more about the release cage and the release area, you will get more meaningful feedback.

[Squarl]

If you could share more about the release cage and the release area, you will get more meaningful feedback.


It's a wire cage. I was thinking about bending out a small area of the wire, just big enough for him to squeeze threw. The door is cracked just enough for him to get in and out supported by key chain clips. The sun is going down now, I'm waiting for him to come back.

I knew I was suppose to leave him in there longer but with the nice weather and him rubbing his face... I figured would be ok. It generally snows almost every halloween here so yea. Really He Should have been released months ago.

I seen him chasing another squirrle. I assume they were fighting. He's still around, the other one is gone, I think He won?

I seen him and fed him a monkey biscuit about 30 mins ago. He ran to the neighbors yard and hasn't been back. It's nearly dark now. Should I worry if He doesn't go to his cage? Should I call him?

[Squarl]

He's back :D He came to the porch to see me Then went in his cage right when it got dark. I shut the door for tonight. I'll let him out in the morning.

[Spanky]

They will typically return to the cage for several nights; in my experience the males return for a longer period than females (who are more industrious and start getting about finding / building a drey to call their own within a day or two).

As far as winning a battle, he likely was merely aggravating an adult that had little time or patience for what was likely playtime antics, but you never really know.

So over the next few days or weeks be diligent in checking the cage in the evening and closing it up when/ if he comes back. And it is best to somehow rig the cage door so larger animals are not able to enter for the inevitable evening when her does not return but you want to leave the cage open overnight so he could get inside in the middle of the night should he come back while preventing larger animals from being able to enter.

[DaSquirrelMom]

Yes, if they come back to the cage at dusk, lock the cage door if there is any chance a raccoon can reach into their nest box and grab them. Unlock it in the morning. Once they get their own nest built, they will stop coming back to the release cage at dusk. Some are slower than others to completely move out, but this usually occurs within 2-5 days. I did have one that took over a week, but he did eventually stop coming back to the release cage at dusk. '

Your squirrel's chance of survival this winter will greatly increase by providing him with daily food in multiple places. Red squirrels are very territorial and they fight with all other squirrels. They are different than gray or fox squirrels who can coexist easily with other squirrels.

[Squarl]

He hasn't left the cage yet. I opened it at dawn. I gave him biscuits, blocks, and milk. He ate well then jumped back into his nest box. He looks fine I thought he'd jump out.

It is cold this morning, 45 degrees now, the high will be 65. Could he just be cold? I put more fluffy sheds off fabric directly into the box, he stuck his head out then went back in. I shut the cage door so he'll stay safe. Should I be worried? I've tried getting him out twice now.

[cava]

When you say you shut the cage door, does he also have a small, squirrel sized hole to leave and enter the cage from?

[Squarl]

Does he also have a small, squirrel sized hole to leave?

No, yet, nothing in or out. I'll make one tomorrow. He did eventually want out.

He was scratching at the Windows an door today. Is that normal?

I'm waiting for him to go back to the cage now. The door is cracked open just enough for him right now.

[Squarl]

He never returned to his cage last night. I checked a few times last night. I haven't seen him yet today. He still has untouched biscuits in his cage. I'm going to leave biscuits around the yard, see if any are missing while I'm at work.

How long do they typically disappear for?

[Nancy in New York]

He was scratching at the Windows an door today. Is that normal?



Was he scratching at the windows and door on the release cage?

[DaSquirrelMom]

He never returned to his cage last night. I checked a few times last night. I haven't seen him yet today. He still has untouched biscuits in his cage. I'm going to leave biscuits around the yard, see if any are missing while I'm at work.

How long do they typically disappear for?
Once red squirrels move out of the release cage, they can disappear for many days or forever (unlike the gray squirrels I've released who hang around for the free food). If there are many squirrels near your house, he may not come back to your home. The red squirrel who currently claims your backyard as his/her territory may be chasing him away. He may also leave your backyard to claim himself a territory (fight with other red squirrels until he "wins" a territory). They also prefer to not live among larger gray and fox squirrels.

If there are not many pine trees in your yard, he won't live there. Red squirrels eat 50% pine seeds/cones and have an innate need to build a cashe of them before winter.

[Squarl]

Was he scratching at the windows and door on the release cage?

My house

[Nancy in New York]

My house

Oh dear, do you think he wanted to come back inside? :(

[Squarl]

Oh dear, do you think he wanted to come back inside? :(


Yes he did. When I opened the door he ran in jumped on me. I got some pear from the fridge and he ate it on my shoulder. We walked outside. He ate the pear an seemed fine. He drank from his cage, hung out a while, then ran off.

He also was standing at the front door the 1st day chirping... But didn't claw at the door or Windows or anything. When I walked out that time he didn't run in. I sat outside with him till he took off. He went to the cage that night.

If He really wanted in I would have let him in over winter, then tried again in spring.

I think He did come back while I was at work. I came home at dusk and didn't see him. But, earlier I left biscuits by the door and apple slice on the porch. The biscuits are missing and the Apple was left on my chair with very fimmilar teeth marks :D So, I'm pretty sure he stopped by. All the biscuits are missing from his cage as well.

[Squarl]

I finally seen him today :)

I got off around noon and he's spent most of the day with me so far. He's been up in the trees above my porch chewing a walnut (I think?) for over an hour now.

My sister, niece, and brother in law stopped by earlier. Me and him were on the porch when they pulled up. He ran off into the trees. That made me very happy. We all hung out outside. He never came down, even when I called him. They left a little while ago.

I feel much better about him jummping on the neighbors now :-D