10 Week Olds in Release Cage Won't Go in Nest Box

[DaSquirrelMom]

My latest 10-week-old gray squirrels (3 of them) were put into their release cage this morning. I went out to check on them numerous times today and they were doing fine climbing around and eating. When I went to check on them at 9pm, they were all sitting on top of the nest box in the dark huddled together. They weren't inside their nest box like all my other squirrels have always done when it gets dark at night. The squirrel nest box in their release cage was clean and dry when I installed it in their release cage this morning. I've never used any chemicals to clean it. It didn't have mites in it which would cause them to not go in there because it's been stored in my clean, dry basement for a year.

Their release cage has a top on it which protects the inside of the cage from rain, but I'm still worried. What if they won't go in their nest box? Have you ever had this happen? What should I do tomorrow if they aren't going in their nest box?

[Mel1959]

10 weeks is pretty young to go to a release cage IMO. :eek They could be scared because it’s all unfamiliar. If they had a cube in their cage in the house then hang their cube, or whatever they may have slept in, in the release cage. Something familiar may help. Mine have all eventually tried the nest box by the time they’re ready for release.

How long do you keep them in the release cage?

[Spanky]

My latest 10-week-old gray squirrels (3 of them) were put into their release cage this morning. I went out to check on them numerous times today and they were doing fine climbing around and eating. When I went to check on them at 9pm, they were all sitting on top of the nest box in the dark huddled together. They weren't inside their nest box like all my other squirrels have always done when it gets dark at night. The squirrel nest box in their release cage was clean and dry when I installed it in their release cage this morning. I've never used any chemicals to clean it. It didn't have mites in it which would cause them to not go in there because it's been stored in my clean, dry basement for a year.

Their release cage has a top on it which protects the inside of the cage from rain, but I'm still worried. What if they won't go in their nest box? Have you ever had this happen? What should I do tomorrow if they aren't going in their nest box?

FWIW I believe 10 weeks is about 4 weeks too young to be placed in an outdoor release cage. WMB guidelines are 14 weeks which is the minimum for any kids I put into the RC.

[DaSquirrelMom]

10 weeks is pretty young to go to a release cage IMO. :eek They could be scared because it’s all unfamiliar. If they had a cube in their cage in the house then hang their cube, or whatever they may have slept in, in the release cage. Something familiar may help. Mine have all eventually tried the nest box by the time they’re ready for release.

How long do you keep them in the release cage?
The licensed wildlife rehabber in which I work under (with a state permit) has always put her juveniles into the release cage at 10 weeks. They are released at 14 weeks.

I couldn't get their outdoor nest box into the "prerelease cage" door for them to try it out before putting them in the release cage.

I've rehabbed many dozen of gray squirrels and never had this weird issue I'm hoping maybe the unusual, extreme heat kept them from trying out of the nest box today. ?? I dunno. ?? I've never had this happen. I can't open the big release cage door without them escaping, so maybe I'll toss some treats through the door of the nest box tomorrow. If you have any other ideas, please share.

Many thanks!

[DaSquirrelMom]

They were climbing in and out of their nest box this morning, so I don't know what they were doing out of it at 9pm last night. My husband said they were intentionally antagonizing me. lol :grin2