Agonizing over a re-release of sick bounce-back

[Coffeeculturegvl]

I just recently posted about Bean, my recent release to come home with a severe respiratory infection. She is recovering nicely with only a few sniffles at night. However, at the vet they confirmed that she is completely blind in one eye. While she was thriving as a release, I am having an extremely hard time making the decision whether to let her go again. I know her chances are slim for any lengthy time in the wild.
My track record with 10 releases so far is terrible. I witnessed one be taken by a hawk not 20 minutes after release. I had one bounce back with a terribly broken arm. He has nerve damage and is now a non-releasable. His brother bounced back with terrible nose and teeth injuries, a partially de-gloved tail, and a respiratory illness which near killed him. His teeth and his friendliness, in my opinion, made him non-releasable as well. Their sister was doing wonderful as a release, but she just disappeared one day. Of the other six, four I had released at a different location and the woman isn’t returning my calls for me to check on them. That makes me worried. Of the other two, Bean’s sister disappeared on day two. Now Bean has returned sick, and though she is recovering, knowing that she is completely blind in one eye just terrifies me considering the seriously poor outcome of my releases so far. I don’t think I can take watching another one be taken or just disappear again one day- statistically in a short time. Miney only got 6 months as a wild. I watch for her every day even after 8 months since she disappeared. I read the stories of how others have suddenly appeared again after as much as a year. But my heart breaks every day she doesn’t show up.
My logical side says she deserves to be in the wild. My heart says no! She’ll fall or be taken by a predator too soon. This I am certain of after watching her navigate inside. I didn’t begin this journey of rehabbing a year and a half ago to give them a chance in the wild and to watch that process fail so many times. I know she’ll adapt just like the boys did. And while I feel sad about their captivity, I know the boys will live as fulfilling life as I can give them. I can do the same for Bean if my heart could agree with my head.
She has been special since day one. She bonded deeply with me but I let her wild up, and she did. While she was bullied non-stop by her cage siblings, she managed to carve out her territory in my yard as if she were finally done with being forever picked on. She was happy and even playing with herself outside. She loves to play. But in the 5 days I’ve been caring for her she is right back to where she was as a babe, loving and trusting and sticking close to me. But she paces and chews the window casing, too, and obviously wants to go. The boys did the same for awhile but only Grayson paces now and then.
This is so long, I’m sorry. The back story is important, I think, since I’m soliciting advice from those more experienced than myself.
But has anyone gone through anything like this with their rehabs? Or even just made a choice with a partially blind one? What did you decide? Why?
I can’t make Bean’s wild existence any safer. With Grayson, I chose to keep him. He was too people friendly and his tooth health is too questionable. Nugget struggles just to climb a rope, so keeping him was a given.
With Bean, I can come right up on her on her blind side within inches and she doesn’t notice til the air moves and/or she smells me.
What to do?

[SophieSquirrel]

I just recently posted about Bean, my recent release to come home with a severe respiratory infection. She is recovering nicely with only a few sniffles at night. However, at the vet they confirmed that she is completely blind in one eye. While she was thriving as a release, I am having an extremely hard time making the decision whether to let her go again. I know her chances are slim for any lengthy time in the wild.

My logical side says she deserves to be in the wild. My heart says no! She’ll fall or be taken by a predator too soon. This I am certain of after watching her navigate inside.

But has anyone gone through anything like this with their rehabs? Or even just made a choice with a partially blind one? What did you decide? Why?
I can’t make Bean’s wild existence any safer. With Grayson, I chose to keep him. He was too people friendly and his tooth health is too questionable. Nugget struggles just to climb a rope, so keeping him was a given.
With Bean, I can come right up on her on her blind side within inches and she doesn’t notice til the air moves and/or she smells me.
What to do?

I think it's a dilemma that every rehabber struggles with. I decided long ago that I don't have the constitution to deal with release and all the worries associated with it. I do take in baby's as a sub-rehabber in FL and luckily my license holder is an excellent vet. I will pick up babies in need, triage, medicate, get them started on formula and pass them on to other R&R rehabbers to finish the job through release. I mainly provide long term care for non-releasables with debilitating injuries (paras, mals, neuro's etc). I held a full license (in an evil North East state) but it was administratively pulled b/c I refused to put down a para NR, I wound up having to move out of state to prevent seizure and now all I do is give long term care. After a major battle royale with a former F&W director I now live happily in FL for 1/2 the year with trips to MI to enjoy the north woods. Unfortunately a lot of rehabbers are brainwashed by their F&W "masters" that all NR's need to be put down. That's absolute BS! In inexperienced hands an NR certainly will suffer. But there are many like you that can provide an appropriate home, diet and enrichment.

When you release your squirrels they obviously face the same daily perils that wilds do. We really don't know how many die every day or don't make their 1st birthday b/c we don't pay attention to wilds like we do our releases. We are attuned to our "babies" and when they come back injured or a hawk takes them it's difficult to deal with. This is the risk once the release cage door is opened. It is certainly amplified with disabled releases

I have said this before - Not every squirrel can (or should) be saved or kept sheltered from danger in our homes. By the same token not every squirrel can (or should) be released. Common sense dictates having 100 captive squirrels in a home is not a good thing. Personally I keep a cap of around 7 regular residents. My Kami girl is perfectly healthy and content. She wraps herself around my neck while I watch TV and is always by my side. She would be lost and heartbroken if I released her. Having worked with captive squirrels for 30+ years I can honestly say squirrels have feelings and emotions that are above most animals except primates. Prairie Dogs (I have 3 at present) are exceptionally advanced. I have discussed this with Jackson Galaxy (my cat counterpart) and other animal behavior specialists at length. Once the daily survival component is removed their personalities and loving nature shines through.

IMO there is nothing wrong with keeping Bean. While a squirrel with one eye, three legs etc can survive in the wild the question is how long? My answer is not very long. A jump without both eyes cannot be navigated safely and eventually she will have a serious or deadly fall. With squirrels there is some depth perception and also wide peripheral vision. With one eye being blind she cannot judge distance and can only see one side for predators. She would not be able to avoid a hawk on a tree. A wild would simply succumb to nature. You have the ability to give her a long and happy life. Give her cuddles and scritches and let her know you love her.

RE: Your "logical side says she deserves to be in the wild" - in theory yes, but in reality due to her disability logic dictates she will not live for very long same as any wild.

Kami my beautiful, cuddly totally releasable who still lives happily with me

301738

[TubeDriver]

Tough call. I have not released many but 50% of my releases have disappeard. The other ones have stuck around and while they bring me joy almost daily, I know in my heart that VERY few wild squirrels die of old age while sleeping in their drey. Predators, accidents, illness, take your pick, something will happen to all my releases at some point.

I think a one eyed squirrel could survive out there for several years but it is less likely. You will hear people say “no way, she is a NR now” or “it possible but she will need to be crafty and have luck on her side”. I am somewhere in the middle, possible but certainly not ideal.

You have to go with your gut sometimes. If you can take Bean in as a NR (a possible 10 year) commitment, you could keep her inside and see how she responds. If she seems content then you have a new NR furbaby. If she is not happy, then you can rerelease her, knowing the odds are not ideal but respecting her wish to live as a free, wild squirrel. And then all you can do is provide treats and medical help if needed, and watch over her out there with fingers crossed.

Squirrels are wild animals and belong out there but there are always exceptions to the rule.

[SophieSquirrel]

Squirrels are wild animals and belong out there but there are always exceptions to the rule.

Unfortunately many states F&W bean counters who write hard line draconian laws that do not take special cases into account. In such states rehabbers and NR caregivers need to think outside the box. Luckily in states like FL, SC, MI, IA (to name a very few) we have the choice to help those that cannot safely live in the wild.

[Coffeeculturegvl]

This is a good point. My gut does say keep her. And I assume you’re saying that if she didn’t adapt like the boys there’s still the option to release.
Is there a general amount of time before that option’s off the table? For instance, if she didn’t start to relax into the NR role in 2 weeks, make the decision then. Or are we talking a couple months? It took Nugget about a month to stop pacing and almost a year to warm back up to me. If he HAD been releasable, I assume a year is far too long. Just thinking about the process to see if SHE adapts. But the ‘keep’ side just earned another tally mark. As I type this, she jumped maybe 3 feet from the windowsill to the bed and undershot the jump, hitting the side of the mattress, and ended on the floor.
I know the odds are slim I could integrate her into a large enclosure with the boys. They’re neutered now but Grayson is still an aggressive alpha over food. I honestly think her and Nugget would be fine. The boys are best buddies though if nuts or pumpkin seeds aren’t involved. I guess it’s a bit early to be thinking about the what if’s of her as an NR.
I’m 100% committed to them as forever pets. I’ve got the means and the motivation, but admit there’s so much to learn.
Thank you for your insight. The longer I would keep her to see if she adapts would mean a long time being miserable if she didn’t. But that’s a good plan to consider.

If you can take Bean in as a NR (a possible 10 year) commitment, you could keep her inside and see how she responds. If she seems content then you have a new NR furbaby. If she is not happy, then you can rerelease her, knowing the odds are not ideal but respecting her wish to live as a free, wild squirrel.

[Coffeeculturegvl]

SO true!


Once the daily survival component is removed their personalities and loving nature shines through.

[SophieSquirrel]

This is a good point. My gut does say keep her. And I assume you’re saying that if she didn’t adapt like the boys there’s still the option to release.
Is there a general amount of time before that option’s off the table? For instance, if she didn’t start to relax into the NR role in 2 weeks, make the decision then. Or are we talking a couple months? It took Nugget about a month to stop pacing and almost a year to warm back up to me. If he HAD been releasable, I assume a year is far too long. Just thinking about the process to see if SHE adapts. But the ‘keep’ side just earned another tally mark. As I type this, she jumped maybe 3 feet from the windowsill to the bed and undershot the jump, hitting the side of the mattress, and ended on the floor.
I know the odds are slim I could integrate her into a large enclosure with the boys. They’re neutered now but Grayson is still an aggressive alpha over food. I honestly think her and Nugget would be fine. The boys are best buddies though if nuts or pumpkin seeds aren’t involved. I guess it’s a bit early to be thinking about the what if’s of her as an NR.
I’m 100% committed to them as forever pets. I’ve got the means and the motivation, but admit there’s so much to learn.
Thank you for your insight. The longer I would keep her to see if she adapts would mean a long time being miserable if she didn’t. But that’s a good plan to consider.

I agree with TD - go with your gut and see how she responds to being back indoors. In my opinion "captivity" means something that is locked in a cage like a prison. For my NR's thier Critter Nations are their territories and larger then a Drey, although they do have nestboxes. They get constant supervised run and play time and the place is set up as a squirrel habitat. I am relocating to a large 1,600 sq ft house in Lake County that will be set up as a squirrel rescue with lots of enrichment. I guess the point is "captivity" is what you make of it. PROPER indoor care for NR squirrels beats death in the wild, but improper care can be a living nightmare for the animal. You sound dedicated and I am sure Bean will have a happy life if you go that route.

If the blindness is permanent then that's definitely a constant as it will not "heal" like a leg wound.

Do not integrate her with the boys whatever you do. You are throwing a female into established male territory. They will either tear her up as a stranger or tear each other up in perceived competition - neutered or not.

[Coffeeculturegvl]

Because it’s something I noticed shortly after her eyes opened, the vet says it’s likely a congenital cataract, meaning permanent.
And I won’t put her with the boys. Side by side cages are ok as long as they don’t fight or can get at each other’s paws, right?


If the blindness is permanent then that's definitely a constant as it will not "heal" like a leg wound.

Do not integrate her with the boys whatever you do. You are throwing a female into established male territory. They will either tear her up as a stranger or tear each other up in perceived competition - neutered or not.

[Mel1959]

I don’t think there is a “shoebox” answer for your question of how long can she be inside before she can’t go back outside ? I think each squirrel is different and adapt at different rates.

The three sisters that I got the beginning of May 2017 were approx. 6 weeks old. I released them in Early August. Two took off and left one behind? About 3 days after release I noticed her hanging out in the nest box. Her eye didn’t look good so I brought her back inside. She had a bloody nose and some congestion. She had only been released for 3 days. Long story short, she had neuro issues and spent the next 7 months being a pampered pet. We bonded closely and I thought she’d never want to leave. She didn’t really pace at the windows or anything, but when she went through estrus she was very difficult to handle. That was when I thought she really acted like she wanted out and became very unpredictable. I put her in the release cage for about 4 weeks and then released her. She did great for two months. She continued to come back to the RC to sleep and occasionally eat. Then she injured her shoulder and she went back in the RC. She has adapted very well to being back in.

So as you can see, even though for an extended period of time they can seem content, they can also quickly change their mind. You can still successfully release.

Another note, we live in a residential neighborhood with palm trees instead of oak and pine trees. We have a fairly large squirrel population and rarely do I see a hawk. There are a couple of cats that roam, though. :tap I have seen an old, grizzled male squirrel that has one eye with a white film over it. I’m certain he’s blind in the eye. He seems to command some respect from other squirrels but he also seems at a significant disadvantage because of his eye. He is very wary and doesn’t trust anyone. That component might be what has kept him alive and what might be a disadvantage for Bean.

[Coffeeculturegvl]

I have hawks. Lots. And owls at night. A local wild was around two years (at least- but I wasn’t watching before that) who had a filmy eye. Grizzled too, with half a tail, and tiny. I dubbed him Zombie Squirrel. He seemed to be subordinate and chased off by the others. But he hasn’t come around this year. A lot of my locals disappear suddenly. I try not to think about it. My yard is full of bright, shiny spinny things.
I don’t think there is a “shoebox” answer for your question of how long can she be inside before she can’t go back outside ? I think each squirrel is different and adapt at different rates.

The three sisters that I got the beginning of May 2017 were approx. 6 weeks old. I released them in Early August. Two took off and left one behind? About 3 days after release I noticed her hanging out in the nest box. Her eye didn’t look good so I brought her back inside. She had a bloody nose and some congestion. She had only been released for 3 days. Long story short, she had neuro issues and spent the next 7 months being a pampered pet. We bonded closely and I thought she’d never want to leave. She didn’t really pace at the windows or anything, but when she went through estrus she was very difficult to handle. That was when I thought she really acted like she wanted out and became very unpredictable. I put her in the release cage for about 4 weeks and then released her. She did great for two months. She continued to come back to the RC to sleep and occasionally eat. Then she injured her shoulder and she went back in the RC. She has adapted very well to being back in.

So as you can see, even though for an extended period of time they can seem content, they can also quickly change their mind. You can still successfully release.

Another note, we live in a residential neighborhood with palm trees instead of oak and pine trees. We have a fairly large squirrel population and rarely do I see a hawk. There are a couple of cats that roam, though. :tap I have seen an old, grizzled male squirrel that has one eye with a white film over it. I’m certain he’s blind in the eye. He seems to command some respect from other squirrels but he also seems at a significant disadvantage because of his eye. He is very wary and doesn’t trust anyone. That component might be what has kept him alive and what might be a disadvantage for Bean.

[SophieSquirrel]

"I don’t think there is a “shoebox” answer for your question"

"but when she went through estrus she was very difficult to handle"

That is so true! One size does not fit all squirrels.

After the first estrus a female will soon calm down and they will be testy twice a year from that point forward, but generally as they age they get calmer. Again not all squirrels fit this mold. After first estrus Kami has been a dream.

[Coffeeculturegvl]

Ok, so Bean was already out. I couldn’t catch her but the boys needed their breakfast. Like an idiot, I thought I could slide their tray in at the bottom. Nugget, my submissive male, got out.
There was a nose to nose meet and a half hearted chase by Nugget, who stopped in his tracks when I yelled his name.
Then this. The two of them on the rail, then Nugget moved to the opposite side and rolled up for a nap.
I’m going to keep trying to get Bean back in her cage, but what am I witnessing here?Its like they’re ignoring each other completely. I know it’s still not safe, but does anyone know from experience what the heck they’re doing?

[Mel1959]

I’m not sure. They don’t look like they feel threatened by each other. Are these two siblings?

[Coffeeculturegvl]

Not siblings. Nugget and Grayson are Hurricane Hermine babies. Bean is from Hurricane Irma.
They’ve been smelling each other on my clothes and hands since I got the Irma troupe, though.
I’m just SO glad it wasn’t Grayson who escaped. He’s the alpha for sure.
Thanks to the Great and Terrible Vacuuuuuuuum, Nugget went back in the cage. As so many on TSB have pointed out, it’s unlikely Bean would integrate with the boys. I’ve wondered though about Nugget possibly accepting her-even if just passively. This may be an indicator, but I was still frazzled.


I’m not sure. They don’t look like they feel threatened by each other. Are these two siblings?