Home Needed for female gray

[TammyG]

I have raised an Eastern Gray female since she was a newborn. My hopes were to release her in the spring. She's now 6 months old and attacked me yesterday and again today. Today was really bad and have many deep bite wounds on my legs and hands. I believe she may be in heat and both times I had a towel on my head. Other than this she is your typical squirrel, can be sweet, sassy and playful. Because I have small grandchildren who stay with me a few days a week I cannot risk something like this happening to them. This is not my first squirrel, I've successfully raised and released 5 in the past without issue. I love her dearly but am looking for a home. I'm in Bridgeport Ohio and on the border of Wheeling WV. Is there anyone out there that would take her and love her?

[stepnstone]

I have raised an Eastern Gray female since she was a newborn. My hopes were to release her in the spring. She's now 6 months old and attacked me yesterday and again today. Today was really bad and have many deep bite wounds on my legs and hands. I believe she may be in heat and both times I had a towel on my head. Other than this she is your typical squirrel, can be sweet, sassy and playful. Because I have small grandchildren who stay with me a few days a week I cannot risk something like this happening to them. This is not my first squirrel, I've successfully raised and released 5 in the past without issue. I love her dearly but am looking for a home. I'm in Bridgeport Ohio and on the border of Wheeling WV. Is there anyone out there that would take her and love her?
Why the towel on your head, did you just shampoo?
Squirrels do not like and will attack over unfamiliar scents, lotions, shampoos, perfumes, etc.

[TammyG]

Yes I just washed my hair. Never was an issue before and she used to sit on my head when I had a towel on it.

[TammyG]

Yes, I know about the scents and all. Nothing new here.

[stepnstone]

If a placement can't be found a spring release should still be possible, you will just need to keep her confined to her cage.
Personally I as well as many rehabilataters do not allow out of cage time with releasables, of course the cage should be
roomy and large enough for overwintering.

[TammyG]

She attacked my husband about an hour ago for no apparent reason we can tell (not as badly as she did me earlier.) It's so heartbreaking. She has her own room with plenty of room to do squirrel things. We'll hang tough till spring if we have to. Thanks.

[TubeDriver]

Does she have secret food/treat caches? Squirrels are very territorial about food and will go into attack mode if they see you near a cache.

[TammyG]

She has many places where she stashes food. If that were the reason you'd think she would be attacking every time but she's not. Perhaps depends on her mood. Maybe a number of factors. I just can't risk it with the grandkids. I would have got medical attention today but I didn't want "them" taking her away.

[Diggie's Friend]

As another has written, this kind of behavior is seen when they want to be on their own, preferably in the wild; yet if not releaseable for one reason or another I would take the the following to address this issue of aggression, that turned around a NR squirrel from being aggressive (bity), to where it is nowplayful, not aggressive. Tough love is what you have to do with this squirrel.

Presently, this squirrel sees itself as dominant over you, so don't use a high pitched voice, but switch to a firm low voice, that will relate you are dominant. Feed the squirrel only in its cage ONLY, placing the food fed AM and PM, into small feeding bowls. Do not allow the squirrel access to the entire house where it may have stashed nuts that it is protecting?

2nd, with no exceptions, do not feed this squirrel by hand, especially nuts. Instead, put the food into bowls, and add a half portion of one nut (E. Walnut or Pecan) to each feeding (AM & PM). No treats period!

Add to each meal no more than 1/2 Tbsp. of fruit. If you feed rodent block, free feed it for the present.

Remove any processed food sources, save for the rodent block from the diet, as they are too high in sugars and salt for these animals, with few exceptions. Too much sugar, along with artificial sugars in particular that should never be included in the diet of pets, act as "excitotoxins" in the brain of rodents.

Add Magnesium citrate from (Frontier Naturals bulk 1 1b. powder Amazon.com) to the meal, as it will support a calmer brain the squirrel. Begin with 1/32 Tsp added to the food (baked squash works well for this purpose), and increase it by the same till the stool becomes loose become too loose, then reduce the amount of the magesium powder by the same 1/64 Tsp. you began with till the stool firms up.

[TammyG]

As another has written, this kind of behavior is seen when they want to be on their own, preferably in the wild; yet if not releaseable for one reason or another I would take the the following to address this issue of aggression, that turned around a NR squirrel from being aggressive (bity), to where it is nowplayful, not aggressive. Tough love is what you have to do with this squirrel.

Presently, this squirrel sees itself as dominant over you, so don't use a high pitched voice, but switch to a firm low voice, that will relate you are dominant. Feed the squirrel only in its cage ONLY, placing the food fed AM and PM, into small feeding bowls. Do not allow the squirrel access to the entire house where it may have stashed nuts that it is protecting?

2nd, with no exceptions, do not feed this squirrel by hand, especially nuts. Instead, put the food into bowls, and add a half portion of one nut (E. Walnut or Pecan) to each feeding (AM & PM).

Also with each meal add no more than 1/2 Tbsp. of fruit. If you feed rodent block, free feed it for the present.

Remove any processed food sources, save for the rodent block from the diet, as they are too high in sugars and salt for these animals, with few exceptions. Too much sugar, and artificial sugars in the diet act as "excitotoxins" to the brain of rodents, so be sure these sources aren't included in their diet.

Add Magnesium citrate from (Frontier Naturals bulk 1 1b. powder Amazon.com) to the meal, as it will support a calmer brain the squirrel. Begin with 1/32 Tsp added to the food (baked squash works well for this purpose), and increase it by the same till the stool becomes loose become too loose, then reduce the amount of the magesium powder by the same 1/64 Tsp. you began with till the stool firms up.

Thank you for the wonderful advice! Is it possible that all of this could have been brought on by her being in heat? This isn't "bity" behavior, this is growling, biting into the bone, tearing flesh, full blown attack.

[TammyG]

Found a good home for her. Thank you for all the help.

[cava]

That's great news Tammy! Where did she go?