Shes being a nasty thing

[tori_theanimallover]

Hi guys i have a eastern grey female named Ember. she is a year and 5 months old and is usually sweet. shes attacked me in the past been in a bad mood for a fews days then back to normal. but this time is different for the last two weeks i have been unable to touch or hold her with her attacking me as well as not allowed in her walk in cage. she attacks me as soon as i go in or from the outside and charges at me. i dont know if she is wilding up or if it will pass. does any one have any suggestions. shes just so angry at me all the time and i feel terrible bc i cant play with her bc she attacks me or let her out of the cage

[TubeDriver]

She could be wilding up in which case a soft release would work if she is releasable?

Some other things to consider

1) food caches, if she has some hidden nuts or treats, squirrels can get VERY defensive over them. You can check her cage for hidden food caches (when she is not around!).

2) have you changed perfumes, lotions, or bath soaps/shampoos? A different smell can sometimes trigger aggression.

3) she might be in heat and that might account for the aggression. If so, it should stop after she stops being in heat. Have you noticed her private parts are a bit swollen looking?





Hi guys i have a eastern grey female named Ember. she is a year and 5 months old and is usually sweet. shes attacked me in the past been in a bad mood for a fews days then back to normal. but this time is different for the last two weeks i have been unable to touch or hold her with her attacking me as well as not allowed in her walk in cage. she attacks me as soon as i go in or from the outside and charges at me. i dont know if she is wilding up or if it will pass. does any one have any suggestions. shes just so angry at me all the time and i feel terrible bc i cant play with her bc she attacks me or let her out of the cage

[tori_theanimallover]

A soft release? isnt she too old for that or no?
She does cache so i havent been giving her nuts with shells just regular nuts without the shell bc then she doesnt cache them. I did get a new perfume but i don’t always wear it around her. I have tried looking at her privates im not sure if it looks swollen or not. how long would the bad mood persist if she is in heat? I hope shes not wilding up :/

[TubeDriver]

Cut back on nuts and remove all stashes. Stop wearing the new perfume! See if these two things help. If the aggression is related to being in heat than it should pass soon.

If your squirrel is otherwise healthy, she most likely could be started on a "Soft-release". The process of a soft release in an outdoor cage allows them to gradually get used to being outside and gives themm time to wild up and for the natural instincts to kick in. At 1.5 years old, she most likely would still be able to be soft released although that is considerably older than usual. If she is wilding up and will not be happy than the soft release would be best for her.

But try removing nut stashes, stop the perfume and wait another week or so to see if that works.

Here is soft-release info:

https://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?41071-SOFT-RELEASE-The-How-to-Sticky



A soft release? isnt she too old for that or no?
She does cache so i havent been giving her nuts with shells just regular nuts without the shell bc then she doesnt cache them. I did get a new perfume but i don’t always wear it around her. I have tried looking at her privates im not sure if it looks swollen or not. how long would the bad mood persist if she is in heat? I hope shes not wilding up :/

[JLM27]

If you are using a new perfume it could be on your clothes and hair even if you didn't put it on recently. Remember, their smell is acute. They can smell a nut under 4 inches of snow.

[tori_theanimallover]

okay thanks guys. ill take the nuts out tonight and cutback on them starting tomorrow. i wont wear the perfume. i never planned on releasing her so im hoping this passes i just have never seen her like this. ill keep you guys posted. thanks for the help

[Diggie's Friend]

Most soaps and shampoos are highly alkaline, and often perfumed, which can promote a neurotoxic impact upon the brain of rodents when smelling them, causing excitement and aggression, aka: "excitotoxicity". If you use one of these alkaline sources and find that your squirrel is particularly aggressive against you after you shower, you may want to consider using a lower pH soap that isn't perfumed, mostly available online. If you use one of the nut oils in the shower, after showering, it may also help to dampen the negative impact many soaps may have upon your squirrel's brain. "Neutrogena Sesame Oil", and pure virgin coconut oil sources, like, "Shea Moisture" coconut oil, are available at most drug stores.

[tori_theanimallover]

Most soaps are highly alkaline, "excitotoxins" which have to be neurotoxic negative in rats that promote aggression. If you use one of these sources and find that your squirrel is particularly aggressive against you after you shower, you can look online for a lower pH soap that isn't perfumed. If you use one of the nut oils after showering in the shower, it may also help to dampen the negative aerosol effect that high alkaloids contained in most soaps have upon your squirrel's brain. "Neutrogena Sesame Oil", and a one of the coconut oil sources, like that from, "Shea Moisture".

I didn’t even think of that but i use shea moisture so i should be okay or no?

[tori_theanimallover]

update. when i fed her today i opened the small cage the critters one up. just one door and left it open i put her nuts in my hand and held the food bowl with the other to have her come to me. i showered last night used shea moisture raw shea body wash. no perfume for 2 days so far. she was fine for a bit then she climbed on me and didnt attack me i didnt try to pet her just let her do her thing. she jumped back into her cage cached some avocados then i put my arm up for her to jump on and she attacked me. ugh.

[TubeDriver]

Are all food stashes gone? I would also proceed slow. Don't really give her the opportunity to attack you for a while. Just let her get used to your presence but try to not handle her right now.


update. when i fed her today i opened the small cage the critters one up. just one door and left it open i put her nuts in my hand and held the food bowl with the other to have her come to me. i showered last night used shea moisture raw shea body wash. no perfume for 2 days so far. she was fine for a bit then she climbed on me and didnt attack me i didnt try to pet her just let her do her thing. she jumped back into her cage cached some avocados then i put my arm up for her to jump on and she attacked me. ugh.

[JLM27]

Also, in my book an attack should provoke a "no no" from you punctuated by an angry squawk. I expect to be reprimanded for this, but I have done it often with no ill effects. Of course my guys are wild and I do not handle them, but I do let them jump on me. Pee pee in the wrong place gets the same treatment and puts a stop to it for all but the most stubborn wayward little ones.

[tori_theanimallover]

Are all food stashes gone? I would also proceed slow. Don't really give her the opportunity to attack you for a while. Just let her get used to your presence but try to not handle her right now.

Yes but she makes new ones everyday. Good idea ill just try to hangout in the room near here.

[tori_theanimallover]

Also, in my book an attack should provoke a "no no" from you punctuated by an angry squawk. I expect to be reprimanded for this, but I have done it often with no ill effects. Of course my guys are wild and I do not handle them, but I do let them jump on me. Pee pee in the wrong place gets the same treatment and puts a stop to it for all but the most stubborn wayward little ones.

I have tried reprimanding her by yelling but it just makes her more distant from me. I just walk out of the room now and try to give her space and then try again later in the day.

[TubeDriver]

Maybe cut back on her daily food amount a tiny bit. She should not have enough to keep building new stashes.


Yes but she makes new ones everyday. Good idea ill just try to hangout in the room near here.

[Diggie's Friend]

When our girl attacked my hubby at 3 1/2 years of age. I found she had a large cache of nuts in her blanket nest, and removed them. With my hubby, who was her person, I suggested he to not reach for her, but let her come to him, which she did and he was able to hold her.

Between the time of the attack and the resolution of the problem, I undertook an intervention; I kneeled down with my hands down at my sides not moving just a couple feet near from her with her on a platform where she nested, and I had a heart to heart talk with her in a slower and lower voice not using any high pitched sounds that excite, nor loud sounds, nor angry tone, nor reaching for her. Within a minute she began to back up, that is not stand her ground, then whimpering a bit showing submission. Then keeping eye contact I continued to speak the same while moving my hand wide round slowly wide behind her, then lifted her up slowly and petted her in the same low soft voice, saying, "It's ok" to comfort her.
.
Waiting for the squirrel to come out to you from her cage, not reaching in or near their cage where nuts were stored, is what I would recommend first trying. Keeping eye contact and using a low voice also can help, or just staying silent. Don't move fast, speak fast or loud helps your squirrel to feel unthreatened, quiets their minds; yet when you speak loudly, or use high pitches voice or sounds it will excites their mind. Never reward an animal, be it dog or squirrel with an excited voice and food.

Squirrels shouldn't be given more than (1/2 to 1 Tsp.) tops of chopped nuts a day. For a chew give her a section of untreated antlers; pet stores carry these, the labels noting they are untreated.

If your squirrel isn't fond of antler sections, try adding a drop of this organic food grade Chia oil to rub on the outside; it gives it a nutty flavor and aroma.

https://www.vitacost.com/foods-alive-organic-artisan-cold-pressed-oil-chia-4-fl-oz-1?q=chia+oil+4+oz&ta=chia+oil+4+oz

[tori_theanimallover]

she still hates me :( i’ve been feeding her less and not giving her much nuts. its like she doesn’t know who i am. ive tried just sitting in the room not even interacting with her and she gets mad at me still

[TubeDriver]

Maybe give the OCASIONAL treat by hand but through the bars so she thinks of you as a treat giver and not just caretaker? Also, some squirrels like getting rubs with a tooth brush through the bars. So she gets a rub and yiu don't have to expaoe your hand.


she still hates me :( i’ve been feeding her less and not giving her much nuts. its like she doesn’t know who i am. ive tried just sitting in the room not even interacting with her and she gets mad at me still

[Diggie's Friend]

It takes more than a day to turn them around, it took a couple of weeks for our girl to turn around, even so she submitted to me upon the intervention as I called it to get her to stop attacking my husband.

Again, you have to allow her to come to you; if she doesn't then consider preparing her for release. I realize this alternative is sad for you, yet it isn't all so rare a late bloomer coming into her own does this.

Again, it may be hormonal; if so waiting is all you can do to see if she decides to come to you. For this you don't want to stare at her, that is just for giving her a talking to, to show you are dominant, not her. Again, give her space, do not use a high voice, low tones, and do not feed her by hand period, as your hand to her is competition. Believe me when I share that if they are eating you don't want to put your hand near a more aggressive squirrel, with or without food in it, as they likely will assume that you want their food even when you are offering it to them.

If you don't have a a larger cage, considering providing her with one, as being cooped up where a squirrel can't retreat from you leaves them nothing left but to attack to defend their territory when aggitated.

When putting her food in her cage you can use a water mist sprayer if need be to move her way from the door and your hand; just give her a bit of a sprinkle, not a hard shot by any means. Repeat if needed to get her to move back.

Again, don't feed her nut in the shell, save for one a week (hazelnut) to support her keeping her incisors worn down. More more than 1/2 Tsp. chopped nuts daily, and organic, for the fumigants that are used on conventionally produce nuts are also neurotoxic which promotes an excited state of mind.

Feed baked squash without the seeds, 1/2 Tsp. twice a day. This source is higher in magnesium. which supports a calmer mind and better bone density..

Increase magnesium in her diet by including a supplement of the following:

Magnesium Citrate powder from Frontier Naturals (this source has no additives).

https://www.amazon.com/Frontier-Magnesium-Citrate-Powder/dp/B000UYC3MY

Begin by adding just 1/64 Tsp. (you will need mini teaspoon set from Norpro, or another brand. After three days add an additional 1/64 Tsp., splitting the amount AM and PM. Wait 3 days, which if by then the stool has not softened, then add once more an additional amount of 1/64 Tsp. making a total of 2/64 Tsp. daily. Add each 1/64 Tsp. to one of three meals to spread it out.

If then by three more days the stool still hasn't begun to softened, then continue to make the same increase of (1/64) Tsp. in addition to the present total, every three days till the stool begins to be just a bit watery, not talking diarrhea, or noodle like. When you see the stool soften a bit, then immediately back down the total daily by 1/64 Tsp.. If you see the stool begin to firm up then hold the amount as is. If no then again reduce total measure of magnesium citrate by 1/64 once again till it does.
It takes the bowel takes time to adjust to an increase in magnesium.



Then after

If so then increase the total daily to double 1/32 Tsp. splitting the amount added to the yogurt, or baked squash by 1/64 Tsp.. If by then the stool hasn't begun to become a bit watery, add in an additional 1/64 Tsp. and again wait three more days.

[Diggie's Friend]

Typo correction of above text: "No more than 1/2 Tsp. chopped nuts daily"

Add the Magnesium citrate powder by predetermined measure, to either 1/2 Tsp. plain organic yogurt and/or baked organic butternut, or acorn squash, in three meals a day.

If your squirrel doesn't want the squash or yogurt, try grinding up the small daily allotment of nut and dividing it between meals to add to baked squash, and/or yogurt daily.


ignore this fragment below; I missed editing it out.


Then after

If so then increase the total daily to double 1/32 Tsp. splitting the amount added to the yogurt, or baked squash by 1/64 Tsp.. If by then the stool hasn't begun to become a bit watery, add in an additional 1/64 Tsp. and again wait three more days.

[tori_theanimallover]

Maybe give the OCASIONAL treat by hand but through the bars so she thinks of you as a treat giver and not just caretaker? Also, some squirrels like getting rubs with a tooth brush through the bars. So she gets a rub and yiu don't have to expaoe your hand.

okay going to try this tomorrow it breaks my heart i just want to hold my baby girl

[tori_theanimallover]

It takes more than a day to turn them around, it took a couple of weeks for our girl to turn around, even so she submitted to me upon the intervention as I called it to get her to stop attacking my husband.

Again, you have to allow her to come to you; if she doesn't then consider preparing her for release. I realize this alternative is sad for you, yet it isn't all so rare a late bloomer coming into her own does this.

Again, it may be hormonal; if so waiting is all you can do to see if she decides to come to you. For this you don't want to stare at her, that is just for giving her a talking to, to show you are dominant, not her. Again, give her space, do not use a high voice, low tones, and do not feed her by hand period, as your hand to her is competition. Believe me when I share that if they are eating you don't want to put your hand near a more aggressive squirrel, with or without food in it, as they likely will assume that you want their food even when you are offering it to them.

If you don't have a a larger cage, considering providing her with one, as being cooped up where a squirrel can't retreat from you leaves them nothing left but to attack to defend their territory when aggitated.

When putting her food in her cage you can use a water mist sprayer if need be to move her way from the door and your hand; just give her a bit of a sprinkle, not a hard shot by any means. Repeat if needed to get her to move back.

Again, don't feed her nut in the shell, save for one a week (hazelnut) to support her keeping her incisors worn down. More more than 1/2 Tsp. chopped nuts daily, and organic, for the fumigants that are used on conventionally produce nuts are also neurotoxic which promotes an excited state of mind.

Feed baked squash without the seeds, 1/2 Tsp. twice a day. This source is higher in magnesium. which supports a calmer mind and better bone density..

Increase magnesium in her diet by including a supplement of the following:

Magnesium Citrate powder from Frontier Naturals (this source has no additives).

https://www.amazon.com/Frontier-Magnesium-Citrate-Powder/dp/B000UYC3MY

Begin by adding just 1/64 Tsp. (you will need mini teaspoon set from Norpro, or another brand. After three days add an additional 1/64 Tsp., splitting the amount AM and PM. Wait 3 days, which if by then the stool has not softened, then add once more an additional amount of 1/64 Tsp. making a total of 2/64 Tsp. daily. Add each 1/64 Tsp. to one of three meals to spread it out.

If then by three more days the stool still hasn't begun to softened, then continue to make the same increase of (1/64) Tsp. in addition to the present total, every three days till the stool begins to be just a bit watery, not talking diarrhea, or noodle like. When you see the stool soften a bit, then immediately back down the total daily by 1/64 Tsp.. If you see the stool begin to firm up then hold the amount as is. If no then again reduce total measure of magnesium citrate by 1/64 once again till it does.
It takes the bowel takes time to adjust to an increase in magnesium.



Then after

If so then increase the total daily to double 1/32 Tsp. splitting the amount added to the yogurt, or baked squash by 1/64 Tsp.. If by then the stool hasn't begun to become a bit watery, add in an additional 1/64 Tsp. and again wait three more days.


okay thank you will look to order the stuff in the next few days. TubeDriver said to give a nut by hand but you say not to do that. what do i follow? i usually feed her and leave the room otherwise she starts chattering the teeth. i hope this is hormonal.

[Mel1959]

I think you might need to seriously consider releasing her if she doesn’t become more receptive to you. This could be hormonal only time will tell. I had a female inside for an extended period of time due to head trauma. When she went into her first estrus cycle she was no longer cuddly. Her feistiness was exactly what I needed to tell me that she wanted to be free. As much as I loved her and our cuddle time together, I knew setting her free was the right thing to do. She had recovered from her head trauma so I prepared her for release. Once released she hung around and was her sweet self again, even cuddly for awhile until she got pregnant and had her first litter. The maternal instinct, and the hormones that accompany it, are strong. As sad as it is, your girl may be telling you that she wants a life in the trees..... to be the squirrel she was meant to be. :hug

[TubeDriver]

There are no hard and fast rules. If you can be in the room and she is calm, if she comes over to the cage wall towards and still she seems calm, you might try a small treat through the bars. But I would not do this often and you don't want her to demand and expect a treat every time. Once she starts chattering, I would calmly go about other things and leave her alone/ignore her.




okay thank you will look to order the stuff in the next few days. TubeDriver said to give a nut by hand but you say not to do that. what do i follow? i usually feed her and leave the room otherwise she starts chattering the teeth. i hope this is hormonal.

[tori_theanimallover]

Okay thanks everyone for your help. how long should i wait until i should start to get ready to release her? I can’t tell if her privates are swollen i tried looking today through the cage. she is chubbier than usual. if i have to release her what do you guys suggest i do considering shes a 1 1/2 years old. will she be okay in the wild since she is okder than when you are supposed to do a release?

[Diggie's Friend]

I didn’t even think of that but i use shea moisture so i should be okay or no?

I can't say; it really depends upon more than one ingredient, or so I would assume.

Search online for a pH balanced shampoo that's also noted to have lower pH closer to that of skin like 5.5 to 4.5,

and don't have any perfumes, sulfates, parabens.

Just by way of example, I found this one tonight, which I may try for myself. This same company has formulas for both oily and dry skin.

https://www.amazon.com/Gentle-Sensitive-Balanced-Fragrance-Allergic/dp/B01N2ZYJ8I/ref=sr_1_2_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1548576157&sr=8-2-spons&keywords=ph+balanced+body+wash&psc=1

Shea after shower body oil is heavy, sesame oil light.

Have you ever been groomed by a squirrel, getting 'teeny bites" on your arms, hands, or nails? Nutt'in like smelling a bit nutty to attract a squirrel.

Though I have like many been groomed by a squirrel, I admit I haven't tried these oils out myself near a squirrel,

since it's been many years since we said goodbye to our girl.

[Mel1959]

Okay thanks everyone for your help. how long should i wait until i should start to get ready to release her? I can’t tell if her privates are swollen i tried looking today through the cage. she is chubbier than usual. if i have to release her what do you guys suggest i do considering shes a 1 1/2 years old. will she be okay in the wild since she is okder than when you are supposed to do a release?

She may require a longer than normal time in a release cage to prepare her for release. I typically put mine in the release cage for 3 weeks. I kept the girl that was inside for close to a year in the release cage for 4+ weeks. My release cage is large, 4ft x 8ft x 6ft so there was plenty of room to run and jump. I provide large tree limbs securely attached to the cage for climbing and jumping practice. Bringing in fresh cut oak (hickory, walnut or other safe tree) limbs with the leaves gives them something to do and gets them accustomed to the feel of the trees. A small portal 3”x3” will allow her to safely return to the release cage once she is free. Many hang around while others head for the trees without looking back.

Obviously depending on where you are located and how long your winter lasts will determine when you would want to move her to a release cage. It would be quite a shock to go from a nice warm house to outside and you wouldn’t want to do that. Release wouldn’t happen till the leaves are on the trees and food is in abundance. That being said, you have time to see if this is a temporary situation or if this is her new normal.

The fact that she’s not being cuddly and appears to be wilding up will make the transition easier. Once in the release cage limiting your interaction with her will also help. Many folks just feed daily and then go away, not talking or interacting with their squirrels. I always found this very hard to do because of the close bond I had. I don’t rehab all the time so I tend to get attached. :embar:embar

I’m not telling you that you have to release her. I know how easy it is to get attached. I think you need to take your clues from her and do what is in her best interest. I personally find it very difficult to care for an animal while being in constant fear of attack. :eek

There are lots of cage ideas and pictures in the “cage” section of the forum that may help you.

As for her being older when released...I think they do MUCH better the older they are, they seem more tree savvy. Granted a year and a half is quite a bit older but I have heard of squirrels that are older than her that have successfully transitioned to a life in the trees.

[Diggie's Friend]

Mel1959 wrote:

I’m not telling you that you have to release her. I know how easy it is to get attached. I think you need to take your clues from her and do what is in her best interest. I personally find it very difficult to care for an animal while being in constant fear of attack.

As for her being older when released...I think they do MUCH better the older they are, they seem more tree savvy. Granted a year and a half is quite a bit older but I have heard of squirrels that are older than her that have successfully transitioned to a life in the trees.

Well said. :thumbsup

[tori_theanimallover]

I can't say; it really depends upon more than one ingredient, or so I would assume.

Search online for a pH balanced shampoo that's also noted to have lower pH closer to that of skin like 5.5 to 4.5,

and don't have any perfumes, sulfates, parabens.

Just by way of example, I found this one tonight, which I may try for myself. This same company has formulas for both oily and dry skin.

https://www.amazon.com/Gentle-Sensitive-Balanced-Fragrance-Allergic/dp/B01N2ZYJ8I/ref=sr_1_2_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1548576157&sr=8-2-spons&keywords=ph+balanced+body+wash&psc=1

Shea after shower body oil is heavy, sesame oil light.

Have you ever been groomed by a squirrel, getting 'teeny bites" on your arms, hands, or nails? Nutt'in like smelling a bit nutty to attract a squirrel.

Though I have like many been groomed by a squirrel, I admit I haven't tried these oils out myself near a squirrel,

since it's been many years since we said goodbye to our girl.


Ember loved to groom me before all this :/ and okay im a little scared to try that bc she might then think im a nut and attack me more

[tori_theanimallover]

She may require a longer than normal time in a release cage to prepare her for release. I typically put mine in the release cage for 3 weeks. I kept the girl that was inside for close to a year in the release cage for 4+ weeks. My release cage is large, 4ft x 8ft x 6ft so there was plenty of room to run and jump. I provide large tree limbs securely attached to the cage for climbing and jumping practice. Bringing in fresh cut oak (hickory, walnut or other safe tree) limbs with the leaves gives them something to do and gets them accustomed to the feel of the trees. A small portal 3”x3” will allow her to safely return to the release cage once she is free. Many hang around while others head for the trees without looking back.

Obviously depending on where you are located and how long your winter lasts will determine when you would want to move her to a release cage. It would be quite a shock to go from a nice warm house to outside and you wouldn’t want to do that. Release wouldn’t happen till the leaves are on the trees and food is in abundance. That being said, you have time to see if this is a temporary situation or if this is her new normal.

The fact that she’s not being cuddly and appears to be wilding up will make the transition easier. Once in the release cage limiting your interaction with her will also help. Many folks just feed daily and then go away, not talking or interacting with their squirrels. I always found this very hard to do because of the close bond I had. I don’t rehab all the time so I tend to get attached. :embar:embar

I’m not telling you that you have to release her. I know how easy it is to get attached. I think you need to take your clues from her and do what is in her best interest. I personally find it very difficult to care for an animal while being in constant fear of attack. :eek

There are lots of cage ideas and pictures in the “cage” section of the forum that may help you.

As for her being older when released...I think they do MUCH better the older they are, they seem more tree savvy. Granted a year and a half is quite a bit older but I have heard of squirrels that are older than her that have successfully transitioned to a life in the trees.


She is currently in a critters cage connected to a 8 x 4 x 6 cage with levels and tree branches and such. hopefully before the weather is warmer she changes if not i know i need to do whats in her best interest. Shes my baby girl i lost two babies the year i found her and thought that was a sign. It has been the most amazing 1 1/2 years with her and she has made me laugh countless times. It breaks my heart thinking about releasing her since that was never the plan. but i know i need to do whats in her best interest and she’s obviously not happy and all i want is for my baby girl to be happy. and it is hard to care for her while being in constant fear bc then i dont want to be around her making me more distant from her and not helping us bond. Ugh it sucks but thank you for all your help.

[tori_theanimallover]

There are no hard and fast rules. If you can be in the room and she is calm, if she comes over to the cage wall towards and still she seems calm, you might try a small treat through the bars. But I would not do this often and you don't want her to demand and expect a treat every time. Once she starts chattering, I would calmly go about other things and leave her alone/ignore her.

Okay thank you. I tried talking nice calm and sweet to her while she attacked me through the cage but she just got more agitated. i tried putting my hair through the bars too just so she could smell me but she didnt like that either. Ill keep everyone updated as to how her behavior is as time goes on

[Scooterzmom]

I remember one little girl who was brought to us late December to overwinter with us ... a really nastu little cuss, she was... the whole time until 2 days before we took her to her release spot when she suddenly turned as sweet as can be. *sigh

I think maybe she had a long hormonal burst... only thing I could think of.

[Diggie's Friend]

I don't think that you smelling a bit nutty will upset her to provoke her to bite you; rather it is alkaloids, not nut aroma (acidic), that promotes neural agitation. Using shower body oils, if pure without additives, should be fine; just don't put it on your hands, but squirt it on instead.

Nuts in the shell stored, or given by hand are an issue of ownership dominance for adult squirrels.

As to neurotoxic, aka: "excitotoxic" sources, they aren't just found in external products you may use for yourself, but are also commonly found in processed foods. In particular sugars real and artificial, MSG that is also listed under other names, heavy metals, non-organic whey protein sources, as these also cause brain cells to over-excite, which promotes a heightened state of tension, perhaps even headaches as it does in humans. Pain in animals can predispose them to aggression, which in captive wilds, when it's not then a matter of them having wilded up, is often why they may bite.

In captivity, 'Nature', their natural instinct and physical being (including present maturity and condition) plays a key role in their behavior, as does 'Nurture', external influences (habitat, diet, care, caregiver).

In maturing (coming into her own), providing a larger space (cage) so that the squirrel doesn't feel cooped up, is needed. A (6' H / 3 1/2'' D / 4' to 5' W) enclosure space permitting, or a (6 'H by 3 1/2 W x 3 1/2 ' D) tower cage, that is fitted with a safe woods for perches, a nestbox, and branches to climb on, along with untreated cotton rope, and fabric hammock, helps to eliminate boredom and promote good exercise.

[tori_theanimallover]

Still no change. we had one good night together when i took her out of the cage but othwr than that she still isnt too fond of me

[Mel1959]

I’m sorry to read this. 🙁. Depending on where you live you still have a little time before you would want to put her in a release cage.

[tori_theanimallover]

I’m sorry to read this. 🙁. Depending on where you live you still have a little time before you would want to put her in a release cage.

Yeah, I have about a month or so before its warm enough. I can tell shes not happy she doesn’t come out of her house until nowish. I know she wants to be wild so when it gets warmer i’ll probably end up releasing her since things dont look like they’re changing... I guess this is good practice for when I end up becoming a rehabber myself.

[Mel1959]

On a positive note....they really don’t make good pets. :grin3

[tori_theanimallover]

Yeah you are not wrong about that haha. Hell of a lot of work but its worthit for thwir cuddles and affection and trust.