Releasing a lone squirrel

[itsme.terilyn]

I got Hazel and Esther within one week of each other at around the age of 7 weeks. They lived sort of well together all through the winter (i got them in July and live near Chicago, too young to release so I over wintered them).

Esther chose freedom at the end of February (with about 5 other squirrels at a rehabbers farm) She was always trying to escape so she took control of the situation and has been sighted here and there on the farm and seems to be fine.

Meanwhile Hazel has been here alone for the past two months. I have been playing with her more because she is alone and needs the interaction but release time is upon us. She has been in the outdoor cage for about two weeks and it is supposed to be gorgeous here for the next week. I wanted to open the small release door this weekend. My concern is that she is kind of a single...I have no doubt she will wild up, she despises any humans other than me and seems interested in getting out of the cage but have read singles struggle...is she really a single?

Some say the outdoor cage is enough (her house is in there too) but some say to put her in her house and nail it in a tree and let her out from there (which would be near her outdoor cage).

Any words of advice (encouragement)?

Just want to make sure I've given her all the best advantages to be successful.

Thanks in advance!

Teri

[Lighten-Up]

Teri, thank you for your thoughtfulness and inquiry.

It is my thought that your Hazel is not totally single as we often use the term; she has had the great advantage of having had another squirrel to bond with and and learn squirrel things with up until now, so that is greatly to her advantage. So she is better off than most singles. And though singles can have more issues than multiples, please remember that many have been released and have done very well in the wild for years.

If I understand you correctly, you are releasing Hazel at your home? Whereas Esther was released at another location? If Hazel were to be released where Esther is, they might meet up if she is still around. But I am only speculating. Not at all suggesting that you change your plans. If you release Hazel where you are, you will be able to look after her.

If she has been in the outdoor cage for two weeks, you might consider letting her remain a little longer before you release her. That is your call, but another week or so might give her a little more prep since she is alone. You would know best if she is completely ready now. Are there any squirrels that are in the area where she is going to be released? Does the area have what squirrels need to live?

I don't think there is a right or wrong with what to do about her house. Both would have their advantages and disadvantages. The most ideal would be to leave her house in the cage, and hang another house up on a nearby tree. I know this is more cost in this. But they she will have two choices.

If you can't put up a second box, my suggestion is to leave her house in the outdoor cage, she feels secure there, and can use it for as long as she wants. This is only my thought, not seeing your situation.

I did not know what to do either when I was where you are, I did not have another nest box to put up, so I left their box in the RC (Release Cage). My girls used the RC for several weeks leaving in the morning, staying in their nest box every night for several weeks, until they located a suitable place to build a drey (leaf nest) in the trees which they did, and then they did not return to the RC for a long time...months... Until wild squirrels wanted their nest and kicked them out of their nest, they came back to the RC nest box as a back up. Not saying this was ideal, it was what it was.

Hope this helps. We do the best we can with all these decisions. Nature does the rest.

[itsme.terilyn]

Thank you for such a thorough answer! My husband thinks I am overly concerned. We put so much time and effort into these little animals, and I think they have some sort of voodoo magic to make us love them so. I have had many animals in my day and a squirrel takes my heart every single time.

Hazel went out on Friday afternoon. I hung around out front with her and within 10 minutes another squirrel came in and they tussled. The other squirrel left so I take that as a good sign.

She slept in her house that night.

We let her out again on Saturday and Sunday but she has come home all those nights. My husband was doing yard work all day and she stayed close by on Sunday. We do have a secondary cage in a tree and she did spend some time in it yesterday.

She sleeps much later these days! I think she is exhausted from all her exploring.

She checks in with us as soon as we go outside but her absences are getting longer.

Again, thanks for answering.

Teri

[Lighten-Up]

Thank you for such a thorough answer! My husband thinks I am overly concerned. We put so much time and effort into these little animals, and I think they have some sort of voodoo magic to make us love them so. I have had many animals in my day and a squirrel takes my heart every single time.
Teri

Yes, you are correct, on this forum they refer to it as "squirrel magic".

I became aware of the very same thing. When I was handed two babies from a chainsaw team of tree workers, I thought, I'll just give these guys whatever they need, release them back to the outdoors and go back to my normal life. Nope, I got squirrel schnookered, still not completely sure what happened, there is no way out, I've never gone back, life never went back to normal, and I just get deeper and deeper into loving squirrels....I don't see an end in sight, oh well, at least it feels good to be this way! I can attest that I am not the only one. :grin2 The squirrels definitely have something...

It sounds like you have a great set up with two boxes. And it really is completely normal for those of us who are prone to over think things, to do so, after investing so much time into their care.

Best to you, and blessings to Hazel and her new life which you facilitated. :Love_Icon