Mother recognizing young after 3 - 4 months ?

[Randy14]

Roxy is about 2 1/2 years old now who I rescued as an orphaned baby and released her when she was about 8 months old which was the following spring. She got pregnant shortly thereafter. She's made several nests on my property and had her third litter this past July. She has been a joy to watch and thrive. It seems she lets her young hand around her nest till they reach about four months. After that it appears she will treat those squirrels as any other neighborhood squirrels. In other words if she sees her offspring say playing or foraging, she'll give chase. I thought that she would still scent that those squirrels are hers, but apparently not. Her 'territorial' instincts seem to kick in. Or am I misinterpreting something here where she is playing with them, or perhaps trying to teach them survival skills ? Do any of you rehabbers out there have any comments about this behavior ?

As always, many thanks for your comments.
Happy Holidays to all,
Randy14

[HRT4SQRLS]

What you described is pretty typical. They are fiercely protective of their babies as infants but when they reach about 4 months she will move on and leave them. I have a release that lives next door. I won't see her for months but when she wants to wean the babies she comes back home to my yard. She doesn't run them off, she basically abandons them. Maybe it's like taking your kids to college and hoping they don't come back home. :rotfl

Just curious have you ever rehabbed a group (litter) of squirrel babies. I raised my first group this past year. There were 6 of them. They were so sweet and cuddly when they were small but when they were about 10 weeks old they became hellions. It was ridiculous. :tilt At that time I thought to myself ... I sure know why mom leaves them now. If they continued to nurse they would literally rip her open. They are maniacs. :rotfl

From my limited observation they don't form extended family units like the Waltons. :grin2 If you don't know what that means I assume you are a young person (<30). :)

[cava]

I recall reading somewhere mom's build a number of nests and move them around as needed and that she just walks out on them one day when she thinks it's time. I think what you're seeing is tough love and totally normal.

[Jennefer]

HRT4SQRLS...Waltons...heehee...talk about throwback thursday!! :rotfl. Im only 29 so i couldnt possibly know what you're talking about! :gigg

I have a wild mama squee that has had 2 litters in our trees. She has let her babies stay around until about a year old. Her newest litter of 2 is abt 5 mons old now & they still follow her around. They dont nurse but they hang with her. She has several nests in front & back & she moves them around. She occasionally chases them away when im handing out food but otherwise doesnt bother them. They follow behind her like lil ducklings. But Mama (what i call her) is so sweet....she is the calmest squirrel i have ever seen. She is fully wild but lets me hold her, touch her back & belly & feet. I can scratch her under her chin & ruffle thru her fur. Comes running if she sees or hears me. Shes brought both litters to me & lets me touch her babies. One of them followed her down the tree when she was too young to be out of nest....maybe 8 weeks old. Mama brought the baby over & hung out while the baby & i played in the grass. BUT Mama is super chill so maybe she doesnt mind her kids hanging around. She does however chase the other squirrels away....she is alpha for sure. Even my younger release babies, Lulu who is a wildcat & rules the trees, bows down to Mama & will not chase her.

[Randy14]

What you described is pretty typical. They are fiercely protective of their babies as infants but when they reach about 4 months she will move on and leave them. I have a release that lives next door. I won't see her for months but when she wants to wean the babies she comes back home to my yard. She doesn't run them off, she basically abandons them. Maybe it's like taking your kids to college and hoping they don't come back home. :rotfl

Just curious have you ever rehabbed a group (litter) of squirrel babies. I raised my first group this past year. There were 6 of them. They were so sweet and cuddly when they were small but when they were about 10 weeks old they became hellions. It was ridiculous. :tilt At that time I thought to myself ... I sure know why mom leaves them now. If they continued to nurse they would literally rip her open. They are maniacs. :rotfl

From my limited observation they don't form extended family units like the Waltons. :grin2 If you don't know what that means I assume you are a young person (<30). :)

HRT4SQRLS - I've never had the opportunity to rehab a litter. When Roxy was pregnant for the first time, I wanted her to have them in her cage where I made modifications to make it bigger with even a nursery. But she refused and wanted to have them in her own nest. Two months prior I would be doing a 'soft release' and she would come back to her cage about every other night. Evidently she had at least one nest (which I found very close by) which she decided to give birth, which was on Mothers Day last year 5-8-16.

[Randy14]

HRT4SQRLS...Waltons...heehee...talk about throwback thursday!! :rotfl. Im only 29 so i couldnt possibly know what you're talking about! :gigg

I have a wild mama squee that has had 2 litters in our trees. She has let her babies stay around until about a year old. Her newest litter of 2 is abt 5 mons old now & they still follow her around. They dont nurse but they hang with her. She has several nests in front & back & she moves them around. She occasionally chases them away when im handing out food but otherwise doesnt bother them. They follow behind her like lil ducklings. But Mama (what i call her) is so sweet....she is the calmest squirrel i have ever seen. She is fully wild but lets me hold her, touch her back & belly & feet. I can scratch her under her chin & ruffle thru her fur. Comes running if she sees or hears me. Shes brought both litters to me & lets me touch her babies. One of them followed her down the tree when she was too young to be out of nest....maybe 8 weeks old. Mama brought the baby over & hung out while the baby & i played in the grass. BUT Mama is super chill so maybe she doesnt mind her kids hanging around. She does however chase the other squirrels away....she is alpha for sure. Even my younger release babies, Lulu who is a wildcat & rules the trees, bows down to Mama & will not chase her.

Jennefer - That's pretty cool how friendly your Mama squirrel is. Roxy would never bring her babies to me. I love to get chances to hold Roxy. She lets me pet her, but as time goes on she gets less tolerable on me picking her up. To be able to do this I have to put a nut close enough to bait her, than I grab her. She will never bite me because I sense she recognizes me as her mother. Did you know I'm the creator of "It's A Squirrel's Life" board game ? I named the company 'Moxy Roxy' in honor of the squirrel I love. My inspiration came from her and all the neighborhood squirrels I released and observed. Check out www.moxy-roxy.com We had pretty good Christmas sales. Happy Holidays !!

[island rehabber]

Jennefer, you truly have a gift there with your wild mamma treating you as "Auntie Jen", dropping off the kids, coming back for scritchings, etc. VERY unusual, I think!

About rehabbing groups: since I rehab 10-12 babies per season, on average, I always have groups and I encourage them to wild up by not handling them after age 9-10 weeks or so. When my gang goes out they're OUT; with rare exception do they ever come to me after release....maybe if it's a cold snowy day and they know I have nuts. I know what wilded up 14-16 week olds are like and I can't imagine mamma wanting them around, either! :rolf The way they have destroyed my syringes season after season makes me totally agree with what HRT4SQRLS said: I sure know why mom leaves them now. If they continued to nurse they would literally rip her open. They are maniacs. :rotfl

[Jennefer]

Randy....omg....love the game!! That is awesome!!! I must order me one, for sure! My released girls come to me & jump on me & climb on me, let me briefly touch them, but wont let me "hold on" to them. They arent afraid of my hands but dont seem to like fast moves. And they dont sit still long. Never were cuddlers.

Mama is a rare girl....shes been living here for a few years & i think has bonded with me. She wont go up to my kid or hubby. I was actually out today sitting in the grass with her babies on my lap & a neighbor walked by & was amazed. I think i was a squirrel in another life....everywhere i go, the squirrels come up to me or actually run across the top of my feet or up my leg. Happens at work all the time. Now my guys in my yard i feed, so im the food wagon!!

IR...sometimes Mama looks weary, like "can you just take them for a few minutes so i can have a moment of peace?!" :gigg. Im one of those mommas that nursed my daughter until she was almost 4....she got a few bips on top of her head when she used teeth!!! :grin3

Photo of Mama....she has the most unusual shape eyes...like almonds. All her babies have her eyes!!!
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[Randy14]

Sooooo cute !!

Have a great Christmas !

BTW if you order 'two games' shipping is free! We have an additional 'holiday' promotion, that if you order two games, we add a free 'Charlie' which is an adorable 7" squirrel plush toy. So free shipping and free 'Charlie' adds up to a $24.94 value savings !