Squirrel turning aggresive after years of care

[kac428]

I've had Bella since she was 3yo (hand raised from previous owners since orphaned baby) / She is now 6 going on 7yo and has always been docile with me until mid december 2018 when she bit me so bad I had to get stitches. My right index finger is now perminatly disfigured at my mid-knuckle and I've lost all feeling in the right side of the finger. Since the "incident" she has been extreamly agressive towards me. Nothing I do seems to give her comfort and she just cannot seem to relax when I approch her when she is out or when she is in her cage. Idk what to do or why she is now being this way. Please help.

[missPixy]

that is upsetting. you've probably already asked yourself these questions, but could you have smelled like another animal? has anything changed in your home since the beginning of her aggressiveness? are you using anything different as far as soap, lotion, taking a medication, anything different?

the other possibility is maybe *she* has something going on physically that isn't visible? possibly a cyst of the reproductive tumor, if she hasn't had a hysterectomy?

[skeetersmom]

possibly hormones????

[Javarat]

I note you said "she just cannot seem to relax when I approach her when she is out or when she is in her cage".. so this sounds like environment or health.

It may be something not visible like arthritis or a urinary infection, and she feels vulnerable.
As an earlier person said.. has anything changed with your appearance or smell? (my winter-overs freak out if I am wearing a coat when I enter the room).

[JLM27]

Have you checked that there is no stash in her cage?

Also, new soap, perfume, shampoo can make you smell like another person. I suspect smell, because she reacts when you only approach. They do not see too well at short distances.

Did you get a new boyfriend? She could be smelling that, too.

What about hair color?

[Diggie's Friend]

JLM27 wrote:

Have you checked that there is no stash in her cage?

Also, new soap, perfume, shampoo can make you smell like another person.

Alkaloids in shampoos and soaps are neurotoxic (excitotoxic) to the brains of rodents. As this term indicates, these can literally excite the brain to react that promotes aggression. As for nut stashing, an attack on that basis is territorial based to protect their nuts! Removing the nuts, and not feeding a squirrel by hand, save to place food in their enclosure is recommend, as is changing shampoo to one that is not alkaloid, but slightly acidic, and without perfumes added.

Adding Magnesium Citrate powder to the diet, that has a calming effect on the brain, is one thing you can do to tone down agitation and anxiety in your squirrel.

https://www.amazon.com/Frontier-Magn.../dp/B000UYC3MY

Using this source (pure no additives) begin by adding (1/64) Tsp. daily of Magnesium Citrate from "Frontier Naturals" (bulk 1 lb. powder bag) daily. Wait 3 days and then add an additional (1/64) Tsp. measure, then totaling (1/32) Tsp. daily, given in a split dosage of 1/64 Tsp. AM and PM. Then in 3 more days increase the daily total measure to (3/64) Tsp. adding (1/64) Tsp. three times a day to meals. Continue to increase the magnesium citrate by (1/64) Tsp. every 3 to 4 days, dividing the measures as evenly as possible between three daily meals till you begin see the stool begin to soften, not soften to the point of diarrhea, then reduce the total measure of Mag citrate given daily by (1/64) Tsp. , and wait 3 days to see if the stool firms up. If it is still loose after 3 days, then reduce the daily total once again by (1/64) Tsp. to firm up the stool. What you end up with total measure wise for Magnesium citrate, with firm stool, is the amount to continue to include daily as a supplement with the diet. Should at anytime diarrhea result, then lower the amount of the total supplement by (1/32) Tsp. to firm up the stool.

With a squirrel of 3 1/2 Years of age showing aggression and biting, having first removed the nuts stash, and ceased from feed any food by hand or outside the cage, this worked to stop biting, and aggression, even of 'secondary' family members 'squirrel wise', so that they were better tolerated, no longer attacked. And although no one can guarantee this will result in lowering aggression to the same degree, it has been shown to reduce and in some cases cease aggressive (non play) attacks in squirrels that then cared for in captivity.

[nkkritters]

Curious, how do you measure 1/64th of a teaspoon?????

[kac428]

Thank you all for your responses. Nothing has changed with me. Same soap as I always use, same hair, clothes perfume etc. Her cage has always been in my home office. She is aggressive towards me whether she is on her cage or on her "cat" tree. No other animals in the room or upstairs where my offices is. She has never been a fan of my husband, he does not come into my office, and if he does, she has to be caged. That is nothing she has not experienced before. I will need to clean her bed out, as the "stash" response might be the cause. As far as her health, she seems her normal self, no pain or discomfort shown. Obviously if it is hormones that is another story as she is NOT fixed. I'll continue to try and billed my rapport with her. However, from going from her laying on her back in my arms to not even wanting me to touch her is upsetting to say the least.

307441307442307443

[CritterMom]

Curious, how do you measure 1/64th of a teaspoon?????

https://www.amazon.com/Norpro-Stainless-Measuring-Spoons-smidgen/dp/B0009X1P9S/ref=asc_df_B0009X1P9S/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=194812759407&hvpos=1o3&hvnetw=g&hvrand=15714044065364750702&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9002579&hvtargid=aud-466346483690:pla-315282061593&psc=1

The smallest spoon, identified as a "drop" is 1/64 teaspoon. Google "mini measuring spoons" - there are many available.

[GoldenEyes]

Thank you all for your responses. Nothing has changed with me. Same soap as I always use, same hair, clothes perfume etc. Her cage has always been in my home office. She is aggressive towards me whether she is on her cage or on her "cat" tree. No other animals in the room or upstairs where my offices is. She has never been a fan of my husband, he does not come into my office, and if he does, she has to be caged. That is nothing she has not experienced before. I will need to clean her bed out, as the "stash" response might be the cause. As far as her health, she seems her normal self, no pain or discomfort shown. Obviously if it is hormones that is another story as she is NOT fixed. I'll continue to try and billed my rapport with her. However, from going from her laying on her back in my arms to not even wanting me to touch her is upsetting to say the least.

307441307442307443

I hope she calms down and goes back to being the way she used to be - back in your arms.

[skeetersmom]

Ouch.....hope u feel better....that's what happened to my squirrel that i rescued....he violently attacked me twice and had to find a rehabilator to take him....i still miss him everyday.....they say squirrels make horrible pets....he was until he matured....we get so attached!