Need information/ advice

[April13]

I have about 7 month old squirrel, have had him since he was 2 or 3 weeks. I have him on a good diet and built a 6ft by 4 ft cage lots of enrichment. He gets out about 1 hour or so to play every day. But for the last 4 days he has been doing this pacing back and forth seems to becoming excessive.. Is there something else I should be doing? Is he wanting out?
( release) . What is best way...I live in a trailer park where mostly concrete. Releaseing here is out of the question.
I just have so many questions..If I hqve to take him will he look for me...he obviously knows me anybody can walk into the room... he wont move..but when I walk in he gets up and come to the front of the cage...I have had minimal touch interaction...because I wasnt sure the outcome and should he get released ai wanted him to still have some fear. I never let him get used to the dogs either...I just dont know what to doI have read so much about single squirrels not doing so well when released. I have been a vet tech for 21 years...and I am at a loss...I do know I cant just watch if it is a "gotta go" thing. It makes me sad....to see him just pace..
I can do what ever...if unreleaseable I can build some enrichment ...the commitment is not the issue...it what is the right thing for him.... That is what matters...open to any and all advice.

[Shewhosweptforest]

Was there a reason you thought he may be unreleasable? If there's a reason he should be unreleasable then there is no choice....pacing is another way for them to get there energy out....they are high energy guys:bliss this doesn't mean he's necessarily wilding up....he just has pent up energy. If that's the case you need to give him some more out time....his cage sounds like an excellent size, maybe add limbs to climb and destroy :grin3 Now if he's agitated and distressed then he may be wilding up and is freaking in the cage. First, if you're keeping him inside you need to treat him that way....you must spend lots of time with him so you can handle him and so he's comfortable with his inside environment :great if he is releasable and he's ready to go....I'd first find a place to release him. Preferably, at a home with a safe (as safe as the wild can be) environment and someone who will probably stay there the next 5 years...and who will let you come visit. You'll need to put a release cage there and do a slow release....give him time to become comfortable with the location....I keep my squirrels in longer than most...2 months...but the norm is usually a month...with some doing just 2 weeks. I've found with my releases, if I give them the two months, they stay right in the release cage territory. Which works for me because I release at home :great

So you need to decide what you're going to do....and commit whichever way you decide....it's very hard to let them go...but most of the time it's the right thing to do....and when they have to stay....it's easier on your heart...but it's tons of work :dono