Squirrel Release Feedback

[lokismom]

Hello! Heartbroken!! Here's Loki's story: I have just recently released Loki, an 19 week old female gray squirrel I rescued after Hurricane Irma, after finding her screaming, surrounded by my 4 cats, ready to pounce. She was about 4 weeks when I found her (eyes closed) and she thrived under my care. Nice and healthy. Kept her away from people and my pets. She only saw me when I fed her and snuggled her and played with her a bit after, but didn't attach to anyone else. I work as a gardener on a large estate, a wildlife refuge/plantation and decided it would be safer to release her there since we have dogs and cats at home and live near a road. There is a colony of squirrels nearby that sometimes raid my birdfeeders in the garden and figured they might accept her if I introduced her slowly. At 8 weeks we built a prerelease cage for her (4'x4'x8') with hardware cloth so no predators would get in. Nice nest box, branches to climb on and toys to play with. And other squirrels that would hear her and smell her. She did well until catching a toe in the door while i was closing it after feeding her. I was devastated, but didn't seem to slow her down and it healed up fine. Put her out in the cage during the day but still took her home with me at night and on the weekends. At 10 weeks we left her out day and night, (dropped the night feeding) but brought her home weekends as she was still nursing, but weaning. 12 weeks she was fully weaned. I left the door open during the day and closed it at night and had helpers check on her when I wasn't there on the weekends. In early December I left the cage door open all the time and she came and went as she pleased, sometimes gone all day but coming back in the afternoons. Happy as a clam, started "talking" to me warnings, barks, purrs, etc. She turned up with an eye swollen shut so I would close her cage at night again and treated her injury. Healed in just a few days so I left the door open again, loading her up with plenty of food over the weekends. Over the Christmas Holiday, I saw her on the 22nd, Friday, left plenty of food and didn't come Saturday. Came back Christmas eve and it was miserable out, left food and didn't see her. Didn't come Christmas day. When I returned on Tuesday, her food was eaten, some in her box (she like to hide some in her blankets) but I haven't seen her since. I kept putting food out and it would be gone the next day no sign of Loki. Today I saw something in her cage, and I was so excited, but it was another larger squirrel. I had heard so many stories about squirrels coming back to visit after releasing and I guess I wanted some feedback. I was hoping she is off with the colony foraging and finding a boyfriend, (I think shes at that age now) but now Im not so sure. I have also heard stories that dominant squirrels will sometimes kill young squirrels. I am trying to be upbeat and tell myself I did the right thing. A squirrel in captivity is a sad thing and I always planned to release her. Any words of wisdom out there? Do they always come back or do they sometimes go off to live their squirrel lives on their own? It's been almost 2 weeks since Ive seen her and I am just heartbroken. Help!

[Mel1959]

Sometimes they stick around, sometimes they leave for good and sometimes they leave but come back weeks later. I think your best chance of seeing her is when you are back there working all the time and can observe the comings and goings in the release cage.

Have you tried calling her? Some squirrels will respond to their name or the sound of two unshelled nuts clacked together.

I’m surprised you released her in December. We usually don’t recommend releasing in winter in areas that get cold because of a lack of food stash and an adequate nest. Maybe since she had access to come and go from the cage she also built a nest.

I hope you see her soon and she has a safe spot to be when this arctic air hits.

[lokismom]

Here in South Carolina our winters are usually pretty mild. I was advised by another rehabber as long as she was old enough and healthy she would be fine. But with cold weather moving in I'm concerned. Not much I can do at this point so putting out food and fresh water. There is a nest box but she may have made one of her own. Thank you so much for your reply.

[lokismom]

Here in South Carolina our winters are usually pretty mild. I was advised by another rehabber as long as she was old enough and healthy she would be fine. But with cold weather moving in I'm concerned. Not much I can do at this point so putting out food and fresh water. There is a nest box but she may have made one of her own. Thank you so much for your reply.

Also wanted to not that she has a very cozy nest box with alfalfa hay on the bottom and lots of fleece baby blankets inside to burrow in. She could have been building another one while she was coming and going but I worry sbout this bigger squirrel. With the frigid temps the next few nights I hope she had a warm safe spot. I am just beside myself. Saying a little prayer she is ok

[LR]

Praying for Loki and that you see her soon....

[lokismom]

Loki has been spotted! I placed a game camera near her release cage and captured video of my munchkin nibbling on her blueberries. I identified her through other videos I had taken and comparing markings and size. Definitely not the big gnarly squirrel I saw feeding last week. Then yesterday as I walked through the garden I saw 2 squirrels bolting from my bird feeder, a large one and a much smaller one. When I called out the little one stopped and perched on a branch barking and purring at me. Then she went up a few branches and did it again. We had our moment then she was off off playing in the trees and being silly but never out of my line of sight. The bigger wild squirrel was long gone. Though she was too far up for me to check her markings our interaction made my heart glad. This was definitely my girlie. (I almost cried!) I did some research and apparently I released her just as she was old enough to breed and right in the middle of mating season! So in all likelihood she has one or more nests around and may well be pregnant. And is now happily frolicking with the local colony. Guess my Loki took a walk on the wild side and she liked it! Thanks to all who took the time to read my post.

[HRT4SQRLS]

I'm happy for you Mom. :grin2
Released squirrels run the spectrum as far as their behavior after release. Some bolt and never look back. Others hang around and delightfully accept handouts. Still others will desire a closer relationship with their human mom. They will climb on your shoulder and still enjoy a frolic through the house to check out the kitchen.

I have found that even the friendliest release will start to wildup pretty fast. Even the ones that climb on your shoulder don't want you to touch them. Depending on your release location, climbing on your shoulder isn't necessarily a good thing. Survival depends on their wild instincts kicking in. Of the many I have released only two would climb on my shoulder :)

I'm thrilled that Loki acknowledged you and still remembers her mom. I have 2 special releases that have distinctive marks that make them recognizable. One has a 3 inch tail. The other has a notched ear. With these identifiable characteristics I'm able to track them as far as visits. The notched ear girl (Susie) will go months without a return home but will just show up. The stub tail girl (Dixie) will visit after weeks away.

Loki will be the same. She will be there but eventually you won't be able to pick her out. Yes, "she walked on the wild side and she liked it". Actually MOST like it and prefer it to life as a kept squirrel. :squirrel3

[TubeDriver]

You did a great job with “your” squirrel (they really own us!:grin2). As was said above, some bolt and are never seen again, some stick around and some are daily visitors. I bet she will hang around, this is such a great outcome! You gave her the greatest gift possible, her freedom to live a true, wild, squirrely life!:great:clap:w00t

[cava]

:yeahthat :Love_Icon

[lokismom]

[QUOTE=TubeDriver;1250776]You did a great job with “your” squirrel (they really own us!:grin2). As was said above, some bolt and are never seen again, some stick around and some are daily visitors. I bet she will hang around, this is such a great outcome! You gave her the greatest gift possible, her freedom to live a true, wild, squirrely life!

That was my intention all along so although I do miss her I know it's what's best for her. She was released in a 7500 acre wildlife/hunting preserve (they don't hunt squirrels) I shouldn't be surprised her wild instincts kicked in so thoroughly. It will be safer for her. While she doesn't have much human contact other than me and the occasional four wheeler riding by when the owners come they bring dogs and they need to be wary. Thank you for your kind words. Loki was one of the most charming little creature I have ever cared for.