Advice for adult squirrel in Texas

[texassquirrelmom]

Hi everyone! I would love to hear any advice about what to do with our adult fox squirrel (almost 2 years old)...

My husband rescued our squirrel (Captain) after falling from a tree when he was a few weeks old. His siblings did not make it. :(
We have now had Captain for almost 2 years. He is a wonderful companion, not aggressive, good eater, healthy, and has a fun personality!
My husband wants to keep him forever ... hoping his job slows down so he can spend more time with him ... etc, etc.
So, I'm left with full time squirrel duty right now. I'm 6 months pregnant with our first child ... and I have to face the hard reality that we should have never agreed to keeping this squirrel.
I love Captain, but know that he will not have priority over our child once he is born. And I want the absolute best for Captain! We are responsible for our actions on this one.
I've started to notice that Captain seems depressed, not wanting to be held, squealing if you touch him, he doesn't want to play anymore ... he's still eating great, loves his snacks, and I hear him playing by himself. But I know the lack of social interaction has affected him.

I know he can't make it on his own (he's been around people, our cat, and dogs with no problems / doesn't even seem scared) so we can't release him. Most rehab places I've seen in Texas are for baby squirrels only. And I'm really just not sure who to trust! What if we give him to someone and they just put him down?

I don't know what to do. I want to give him the best life possible, but admit we made a mistake. Anyone have suggestions?

Thank you!

[Peaches]

If you are not on a busy street, have a yard with trees and no neighboring dogs who will kill him you can try this. I have successfully released adult squirrels by using my outside acclimation building. There is a large walk in pen inside the building with nest boxes and small lockable doors that only a squirrel (and I guess rats lol) can fit through. After letting them stay in the locked pen for two to four weeks, I open the little door and leave it up to the squirrel to come out when they are ready. I put food inside every morning and afternoon for as long as they stay around. Most will venture out and come back at sunset to sleep for a few months before moving on. In some cases they stayed around quite a bit longer, one for 3 yrs. You have to go out and close the door at night though so nothing else gets inside to hurt them and the cage must be heavy duty with a strong wire bottom. ( I used 18 GA stainless steel but that is expensive and probably overkill for just one release. In my case I have the pen inside a building with folding doors across the front that I also close after dark. If I was closer I would help you out but I'm halfway across the country.
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[UDoWhat]

Hi everyone! I would love to hear any advice about what to do with our adult fox squirrel (almost 2 years old)...

My husband rescued our squirrel (Captain) after falling from a tree when he was a few weeks old. His siblings did not make it. :(
We have now had Captain for almost 2 years. He is a wonderful companion, not aggressive, good eater, healthy, and has a fun personality!
My husband wants to keep him forever ... hoping his job slows down so he can spend more time with him ... etc, etc.
So, I'm left with full time squirrel duty right now. I'm 6 months pregnant with our first child ... and I have to face the hard reality that we should have never agreed to keeping this squirrel.
I love Captain, but know that he will not have priority over our child once he is born. And I want the absolute best for Captain! We are responsible for our actions on this one.
I've started to notice that Captain seems depressed, not wanting to be held, squealing if you touch him, he doesn't want to play anymore ... he's still eating great, loves his snacks, and I hear him playing by himself. But I know the lack of social interaction has affected him.

I know he can't make it on his own (he's been around people, our cat, and dogs with no problems / doesn't even seem scared) so we can't release him. Most rehab places I've seen in Texas are for baby squirrels only. And I'm really just not sure who to trust! What if we give him to someone and they just put him down?

I don't know what to do. I want to give him the best life possible, but admit we made a mistake. Anyone have suggestions?

Thank you!

I am very worried when owners say their squirrel is depressed. Please list every thing your squirrel eats. What is his daily diet? Please list what he really consumes not what you give him. I am suspecting MBD. If your squirrel does not faithfully eat a rodent block for approx. 75-80% of his diet and 20% of his diet consisting of healthy veggies, fruits and limited nuts or 2 Henrys healthy supplement block everyday with healthy veggies and fruit and only 3-4 nuts per week then I would be certain that his depression is from the pain and affects of calcium being pulled out of his bones. MBD is a deadly disease that must be treated with calcium for many weeks. He will die if this is MBD without treatment. It is extremely painful. We can determine what might be wrong with him if you can tell us what his diet is like daily. This board has an emergency calcium treatment protocol for MBD. It would save his life. :Love_Icon

[Scott]

I think we should do a rescue and the Fox squirrel should go to the most willing to have him, talented person, that can be found on the Board. He deserves a great caretaker and your family deserves to be the close knit group you want.

Now you just have to convince the husband.

You mentioned acclimation with family pets, but I have been on TSBF long enough to know, you can make a wild animal, instinctually afraid, of a dog or cat again. ...... And, then Captain can go back to the trees.

But, he is 2 years old. I vote a new servant. Habits are hard to break, even for squirrels....

[texassquirrelmom]

Thank you for the responses!
@Peaches: Wonderful idea! HOWEVER, we live on a busy street AND have a dog training business from our home, haha, so that pretty much scratches your idea. Way too many dogs around outside (and from neighbors). Also, a ton of cats in the neighborhood.
@UDoWhat: Thank you! We have actually been treating him for, what we think, is MBD. Put him on an emergency treatment. He's doing MUCH better and pretty much back to his old self. No signs of depression. I know MBD is not a quick fix. We will continue to watch him and feed him a healthy diet - we are following Henry's Healthy Diet for Squirrels - including feeding blocks and sprinkling calcium/vit d/mag in water (because some days he's picky about eating the block). Thank you for being concern. Thankful for your response.
@Scott: How would you suggest I find a responsible owner? I know I can convince my husband. He may be stubborn, but is realistic and knows the demands of owning a squirrel (with a family business out of our home and baby on the way).

I will keep searching the site for owners! Still appreciate any help you can give.