Attacking issues

[jillybean]

Hi everyone! Recently Ricky has been attacking my mom, literally. He never attacks me like he does her, but today he ran over to her on a chair and jumped on her shoulder, then bit her finger, jumped up to her face and bit her lip. I don't understand why he's doing this. She has helped me care for him before while I was working. So as punishment, I put him in his cage till he calmed down. He occasionally nibbles on me and I quickly tell him no and he stops, but now I worry about this biting issue. The only thing I could think of was is that she was gone for 2 weeks and possibly he doesn't remember her and feels threatened, but she's not doing anything to make him feel defensive. He's 7 going on 8 weeks old now.

Please, PLEASE tell me there's away to stop this behavior or prevent it from continuing.

Thanks again

[cava]

I'm not sure you can. But others may know the answer.

I will say, you are not alone. Nobody is allowed to enter my room. Even if the door is open, they have to speak to me from the hall. My son helped with these guys when they were young, but not for a while and I'm sure he's "stranger danger" now. Today he opened the door when they were out for play time and one went for him and the other was on my shoulder and went nuts on my arm. I said, "Get out! Get out!" and we both ran out into the hall.

I wouldn't even put these two with my worst enemy right now. They're not fooling around.

[Rhapsody]

It could be that your mom had a different scent on her that your little buddy did not like or recognized (lotion, perfume, soap) since she was last over at your house..... squirrels go off scent so change matters.

Plus there is the factor that as squirrels age they tend to become a one person animal, therefore, can no longer be around any one but the person that is feeding and raising them...... and why they don't make good pets.

[Spanky]

Plus there is the factor that as squirrels age they tend to become a one person animal, therefore, can no longer be around any one but the person that is feeding and raising them...... and why they don't make good pets.

:attention

[Gardentoes11]

As Rhapsody said, this is normal behavior for squirrels. They grow from little sweet cuddle-bugs into Tazmanian Devils, seemingly overnight! One of the most important reasons why they don't make good pets for anyone other than crazy people like us!

My Jasper Hans will attack anyone but me, including my husband. We actually have a color-coded alert system in place so hubby knows what's up with this squirrel who runs our household: I stuck a suction cup hook on our back door & I hang craft foam circles on it so hubby knows before he enters the house where Jazzy is. If the circle is green, Jazzy is in his cage so it's safe to come in. If it's yellow, Jazz is loose in the house somewhere, so come in but use caution. If it's red, Jazzy is on the back porch, so don't come in unless you want to risk eye & limb! Hubby will walk all the way around the house to the front door rather than risk attack!

[jillybean]

Thanks everyone for the advice. I'll definitely make sure I'm the only one who handles him now.

[DeeRawlings]

Use caution! they will even bite the hand that feeds them!! Literally!! My squirrels that I've raised since they were babies, and yes they were handled and loved on, won't think twice about chomping on me when I put food in their cage, if I'm not fast and distract them with their HHBs! I've had to apply ointment to one squirrel's eye everyday. That squirrel complains, but tolerates it. Her one cage mate however has lunged at me and bit me several times. I've got several sore fingers to show for it! this where the leather gloves come in! LOL They will be released soon and I'd rather they were this way, then still wanting to love on me! They are ultimately wild animals and in most cases need to go back to where they belong! (barring NRs)