I’m moving away...what to do with released squirrel

[Xxamyjwilliamsxx]

3yrs ago I found a 3-4week old squirrel who I raised and released in to my yard....she comes back everyday for snacks and my question is...I’m going to be moving in the next month(finally getting my own property) and I want to know if my backyard buddy will be ok or if I should take her with me to the new property...I’d hate for the next people who move in after me to not like squirrels and possibly hurt her...like I said she comes back everyday..sometimes couple times a day to the sliding glass door for a snack from us...I just don’t want anything to happen to her she’s made it 3yrs so far after I released her. Thank you in advance for any help

[Monipenny]

Awe. That's a tough one. She is going to miss you. It would be concerning that the new occupants will be frightened of her when she approaches them. If it were possible and she isn't wild towards you and if she doesn't have young kids in her drey, maybe you could possibly move her with you and re-release her at the new property but that I think would carry other risks for her and probably would be less riskier if she stays where she is at.

Best case, maybe leave her and leave a note in a kitchen drawer for the new occupants about this squirrel with information of what foods/treats that she is used to getting from you. Hopefully they will have at least enough compassion to not harm the squirrel if they know she is friendly. Maybe even leave your name and phone number with them so they can contact you.

If it's a rental, hopefully the landlord wont take the note and throw it out.

[CritterMom]

If you bring her with you, you will need to go through the complete release process with her - and I would spend a LONG time doing it or she will go looking for her old home. If she was mine and I was getting my own property I would likely do it for fear she would be hurt or killed by the new tenants. But then I am a little nuts.

You can't just bring her with you and turn her loose there.

[stepnstone]

If you bring her with you, you will need to go through the complete release process with her -
If she was mine and I was getting my own property I would likely do it for fear she would be hurt or killed by the new tenants.
But then I am a little nuts.

http://www.sherv.net/cm/emoticons/yes/yes-i-fully-agree-smiley-emoticon.gif

Guess I am to...

[Xxamyjwilliamsxx]

If you bring her with you, you will need to go through the complete release process with her - and I would spend a LONG time doing it or she will go looking for her old home. If she was mine and I was getting my own property I would likely do it for fear she would be hurt or killed by the new tenants. But then I am a little nuts.

You can't just bring her with you and turn her loose there.


I totally agree this is what I was planning on doing....she wouldn’t have survived this long if we were not around...her first year out something happened to her and she broke off her front teeth...she came home all bloody up and wanted cuddles....we had to grind up pellets and mix with yogurt so she could eat...that last a few weeks then her teeth grew back and she could eat hard stuff again...then a year later she had “wolves” or worm not sure what they are called but she was covered with them, she lost a lot of weight and we nursed her back again...I’m so afraid to leave her that my husband already suggested that we just take her with us and keep her in cage for a while to let her get use to new property...he’s also afraid that either someone will hurt her or she’s gets hurt again and then we are not around....so it’s been decided that when we move to new property(30 miles away) that she’s coming with us...thank you all for you advice and will keep y’all updated on the move

[frankc]

AWESOME NEWS !!!!! Thank You For loving and caring for this baby and your consideration, for the welfare of this precious baby. :squirrel2

[CritterMom]

Oh, that is wonderful. Since you are clearly as crazy as we are, let me suggest what I would think would be the BEST way to do this:

I would completely reboot her. Bring her INDOORS first. A lot of times, these little ones that have been out for a while seem to APPRECIATE things like their fleece cube and delivered chow! Get her used to you guys again and use the time to perfect the outdoor cage. If she's a good girl, keep her in through the winter, and in the spring you can begin the release process again. By then I do't think she will even consider returning to the old territory.

In the meantime, do NOT feed the wild squirrels in your area yet. You want to wait until after she has been released to do that - give her time to claim you and your yard without a lot of competition.

[island rehabber]

In the meantime, do NOT feed the wild squirrels in your area yet. You want to wait until after she has been released to do that - give her time to claim you and your yard without a lot of competition.

:goodpost

[BCChins]

I :Love_Icon this story and can not waitto read how things go!! Great Squirrel Momma and Dad for sure!!

[Xxamyjwilliamsxx]

Oh, that is wonderful. Since you are clearly as crazy as we are, let me suggest what I would think would be the BEST way to do this:

I would completely reboot her. Bring her INDOORS first. A lot of times, these little ones that have been out for a while seem to APPRECIATE things like their fleece cube and delivered chow! Get her used to you guys again and use the time to perfect the outdoor cage. If she's a good girl, keep her in through the winter, and in the spring you can begin the release process again. By then I do't think she will even consider returning to the old territory.

In the meantime, do NOT feed the wild squirrels in your area yet. You want to wait until after she has been released to do that - give her time to claim you and your yard without a lot of competition.



👆🏻👆🏻Is what me and hubby were actually talking about...was to keep her indoor over winter.., just because he didn’t know if she’d have enough time to make a new nest before it got too cold....and oh yes we are just as crazy about squirrels as y’all are...our first thought when they said the offer was accepted on the new property was “ what are we gonna do with Murphy?” I told him from the get go I want to take her with us...and y’all have helped him decide that she’s moving too!!!!

[frankc]

:serene Once they get in your heart you can't really ever let go !!!! So Happy for all of you. God Bless!!!:dance

[Grinderhead]

....so it’s been decided that when we move to new property that she’s coming with us...

:thankyou:bliss:great

[jbtartell]

Awe. That's a tough one. She is going to miss you. It would be concerning that the new occupants will be frightened of her when she approaches them. If it were possible and she isn't wild towards you and if she doesn't have young kids in her drey, maybe you could possibly move her with you and re-release her at the new property but that I think would carry other risks for her and probably would be less riskier if she stays where she is at.

Best case, maybe leave her and leave a note in a kitchen drawer for the new occupants about this squirrel with information of what foods/treats that she is used to getting from you. Hopefully they will have at least enough compassion to not harm the squirrel if they know she is friendly. Maybe even leave your name and phone number with them so they can contact you.

If it's a rental, hopefully the landlord wont take the note and throw it out.


I agree with this idea. And let them know you will relocate her if there is an issue. That way they don’t harm her and call you. If they call you can then go get her to bring her to your property and release again. At least you tried both and know you did what you could.

[stepnstone]

..so it’s been decided that when we move to new property(30 miles away) that she’s coming with us...thank you all for you advice and will keep y’all updated on the move

:goodpost:alright.gif Congratulations on your new home too...:)

[Mel1959]

I bet knowing that your baby is going with you has lifted a heavy load off your heart. :w00t. I wouldn’t be able to leave my released babies either. :Love_Icon

I can’t wait to read how the transition goes. :serene

[CritterMom]

Just make sure you don't wait until you are ready to leave to try to capture her. Do it early - before all of the activity (moving out) starts at the house...

[Xxamyjwilliamsxx]

Just make sure you don't wait until you are ready to leave to try to capture her. Do it early - before all of the activity (moving out) starts at the house...

I was wondering when to do that....BUT I just found out that the neighbors around our NEW property like to hunt squirrels!!!! So I’ve spoken to landlord and they are ok with Murphy staying here...they own the 50+ acres around our current home and don’t allow anyone to hunt, so Murphy is safe staying here...they also said they will give any new tenants my number if they have any questions/concerns about Murphy..I’m afraid of the neighbors around our new property hunting her..but she is safe staying where she’s at

[redwuff]

I was wondering when to do that....BUT I just found out that the neighbors around our NEW property like to hunt squirrels!!!! So I’ve spoken to landlord and they are ok with Murphy staying here...they own the 50+ acres around our current home and don’t allow anyone to hunt, so Murphy is safe staying here...they also said they will give any new tenants my number if they have any questions/concerns about Murphy..I’m afraid of the neighbors around our new property hunting her..but she is safe staying where she’s at

It is a guess and hope on your part that she will be safe staying where she is. The average person does not understand squirrels. She has become accustomed to using you and your husband as a food source and hanging around your house. Also if the new person has children and Murphy approaches the children, who knows what could happen.

Occasionally squirrels that regularly get treats from a source can get aggressive when treats are not given. In my opinion, the only way to keep this girl safe is to take her with you and build her an indoor/outdoor enclosure with as much stimulation as you can give her. It seems that she has demonstrated her loyalty to you guys.