View Full Version : Is it possible for 2 NRs to eventually tolerate one another?
fvf1977
12-23-2019, 10:48 PM
I have 2 NRs (both female). The older one is ~5 months old & the youngest ~3 months old. The older one will literally charge the younger one anytime they’re out at the same time & the younger one can’t defend herself as she has no front arms. Does anyone have multiple NRs that don’t get along? How do you go about letting them out of the cage for play/ exercise? I feel bad for the one in the cage when the other is out & vice versa. I’ve tried introducing them in several different ways but haven’t had any luck so far & am having a hard time trying to let them out separately for each of them to have enough out of cage time.
RockyPops
12-24-2019, 01:07 AM
I don't think they tolerate another squirrel very well when introduced after a certain age. A few weeks after eyes open at the most.
Probably has to do with an in-born instinct over territory and resources and of course the temperament of the individuals.
You may try letting them spend time together in a neutral area where neither one has spent enough time to lay claim.
Good luck! :grin3
P.S. And they may consider you as their resource and territory.
Mel1959
12-24-2019, 07:05 AM
:goodpost:goodpost
Maybe over time things will get better, but you need to keep your armless one safe. Squirrels can be vicious.
Are their cages side by side so they can smell each other without getting to each other? I think that would be the first step.
Snicker Bar
12-24-2019, 11:05 AM
I have 5 non release greys; and it’s interesting how age and size ( and even disability) don’t seem to matter when the pecking order here was established. The younger the better ( for introductions ) is what I’ve learned here. But that being said, over the last 5 years I’ve had new additions come; three younger, disabled babies , and it just baffles me how they have established their ranks!!
For ex . the oldest two who have been here the longest are Dandies ( the BIGGEST and least handicapped- one bad eye) and Doodles , my neuro. They came together as babies and are very tightly bonded . They live mostly full -time in a large, outside porch that’s now a squirrel playroom. Last year , two new arrivals came; two paras. One ( Victoria) who has a a very thin ( atrophied ) rear end; she’s the tiniest of the five. Her neighbor Honeysuckle is a plumpish, filled out little para who now is using her legs :) ! Weak, but using them. When these two were still very small I tried and tried introductions in hopes they could share a cage for companionship . One tip was ( if not already mentioned) to introduce them in a neutral place, away from their personal stuff/cages. For these two , it just didn’t work out; but don’t give up too soon . Here, the plumper, healthier of the two (Honey) became the dominant female, and she will whip V’s rear if she can catch her! And let me tell you ... If they ever tangle up ( two squirrels ) it can be serious, even life threatening. So be very careful! I made the mistake of thinking V could always “out-Skute “ little Honey; not so. And bite wounds don’t heal well with paras as I’ve since learned. In an attempt to give the two paras sunshine, fresh air and enrichment, I do cautiously let them have periods of time (with supervision and protection for V- (Honey is not a dragger now :) ) in the playroom with Dandies and Doodles. Doodles the neuro is oblivious... But Dandies will chase- not bite. This is stressful to V and Honey , so I’ve added a door to divide the room . Honey has her half, Doodles and Dandies theirs. And V just has to take shifts when Honey isn’t out.
But here’s the strangest part ( sorry rambling here... but I find this is so peculiar!! ) I just wanted to share to others who have multiples...Wonder if others have seen this (??)
I now also have a tripod ( rear limb amputee) “Miracle”. She’s the youngest and strongest of them all. She can climb well, but can’t jump. So first I tried group play in the house with Victoria and Honey (the paras separately) : Honey seems to tolerate Miracle ; they kind of mutually ignore/respect each other. They don’t play... And then they also don’t threaten each other . I was relieved . But Victoria?? This tiny, frail, debilitated little para will chase that tripod like she’s a viscous threat! And Miracle , who is TWICE her size , runs for fear of her her life in terror!!It’s crazy! Victoria is so fast ... She truly could never catch Miracle, but Miracle doesn’t take chances and keeps her distance. Over time, she’s realized V can’t catch her , so they can at least “parallel play” in my room while I do chores and supervise .
The final , and most strange thing of all is the outcome of attempted introductions of Miracle to the playroom with Dandies and Doodles. I was prepared for the worst ; that being FAT, BIG, Dandies attacking little Miracle the tripod... But the outcome was completely the opposite !! Miracle chased the three times larger and five year veteran resident and she ( Dandies ) ran for fear of HER life ( much like Miracle running in terror from V!!) I tried again, a few more times... And NO peace treaty between these two will EVER happen... Miracle would kill her if she could catch her.. Go figure??!! So bizarre !!!
Sorry so long; didn’t mean to hijack your post here , but all this was just was so peculiar to me ; how this group of non releases (with varying degrees of limitations ) established their unexpected pecking orders. If they could just all get along, life would be so much simpler here !! :(
So all this to say, be careful! If nothing else, side by side cages I’ve found offer enrichment and “love from a safe distance “. Maybe over time, your two can grow a bond, or at least be able to parallel play like my V and Miracle. :)
fvf1977
12-24-2019, 08:43 PM
I don't think they tolerate another squirrel very well when introduced after a certain age. A few weeks after eyes open at the most.
Probably has to do with an in-born instinct over territory and resources and of course the temperament of the individuals.
You may try letting them spend time together in a neutral area where neither one has spent enough time to lay claim.
Good luck! :grin3
P.S. And they may consider you as their resource and territory.
That’s what I was thinking, I tried the neutral grounds thing but like you said they may think of me as their territory so the older one was still adamant about chasing the younger one off:(
fvf1977
12-24-2019, 08:45 PM
:goodpost:goodpost
Maybe over time things will get better, but you need to keep your armless one safe. Squirrels can be vicious.
Are their cages side by side so they can smell each other without getting to each other? I think that would be the first step.
I’m hoping that the older one will eventually realize the other is here to stay & come to terms with it (wishful thinking). They’re both sharing a double critter nation cage in my room right now (one on top and one on bottom) since I’m limited on space until I move into my own home (won’t be too much longer) so I feel the need to let them out constantly since they don’t have much space in there.
fvf1977
12-24-2019, 08:52 PM
I have 5 non release greys; and it’s interesting how age and size ( and even disability) don’t seem to matter when the pecking order here was established. The younger the better ( for introductions ) is what I’ve learned here. But that being said, over the last 5 years I’ve had new additions come; three younger, disabled babies , and it just baffles me how they have established their ranks!!
For ex . the oldest two who have been here the longest are Dandies ( the BIGGEST and least handicapped- one bad eye) and Doodles , my neuro. They came together as babies and are very tightly bonded . They live mostly full -time in a large, outside porch that’s now a squirrel playroom. Last year , two new arrivals came; two paras. One ( Victoria) who has a a very thin ( atrophied ) rear end; she’s the tiniest of the five. Her neighbor Honeysuckle is a plumpish, filled out little para who now is using her legs :) ! Weak, but using them. When these two were still very small I tried and tried introductions in hopes they could share a cage for companionship . One tip was ( if not already mentioned) to introduce them in a neutral place, away from their personal stuff/cages. For these two , it just didn’t work out; but don’t give up too soon . Here, the plumper, healthier of the two (Honey) became the dominant female, and she will whip V’s rear if she can catch her! And let me tell you ... If they ever tangle up ( two squirrels ) it can be serious, even life threatening. So be very careful! I made the mistake of thinking V could always “out-Skute “ little Honey; not so. And bite wounds don’t heal well with paras as I’ve since learned. In an attempt to give the two paras sunshine, fresh air and enrichment, I do cautiously let them have periods of time (with supervision and protection for V- (Honey is not a dragger now :) ) in the playroom with Dandies and Doodles. Doodles the neuro is oblivious... But Dandies will chase- not bite. This is stressful to V and Honey , so I’ve added a door to divide the room . Honey has her half, Doodles and Dandies theirs. And V just has to take shifts when Honey isn’t out.
But here’s the strangest part ( sorry rambling here... but I find this is so peculiar!! ) I just wanted to share to others who have multiples...Wonder if others have seen this (??)
I now also have a tripod ( rear limb amputee) “Miracle”. She’s the youngest and strongest of them all. She can climb well, but can’t jump. So first I tried group play in the house with Victoria and Honey (the paras separately) : Honey seems to tolerate Miracle ; they kind of mutually ignore/respect each other. They don’t play... And then they also don’t threaten each other . I was relieved . But Victoria?? This tiny, frail, debilitated little para will chase that tripod like she’s a viscous threat! And Miracle , who is TWICE her size , runs for fear of her her life in terror!!It’s crazy! Victoria is so fast ... She truly could never catch Miracle, but Miracle doesn’t take chances and keeps her distance. Over time, she’s realized V can’t catch her , so they can at least “parallel play” in my room while I do chores and supervise .
The final , and most strange thing of all is the outcome of attempted introductions of Miracle to the playroom with Dandies and Doodles. I was prepared for the worst ; that being FAT, BIG, Dandies attacking little Miracle the tripod... But the outcome was completely the opposite !! Miracle chased the three times larger and five year veteran resident and she ( Dandies ) ran for fear of HER life ( much like Miracle running in terror from V!!) I tried again, a few more times... And NO peace treaty between these two will EVER happen... Miracle would kill her if she could catch her.. Go figure??!! So bizarre !!!
Sorry so long; didn’t mean to hijack your post here , but all this was just was so peculiar to me ; how this group of non releases (with varying degrees of limitations ) established their unexpected pecking orders. If they could just all get along, life would be so much simpler here !! :(
So all this to say, be careful! If nothing else, side by side cages I’ve found offer enrichment and “love from a safe distance “. Maybe over time, your two can grow a bond, or at least be able to parallel play like my V and Miracle. :)
Thanks for sharing your experience! I love hearing how others deal with multiple NRs, I’m always looking for new ways to do things or new ideas. That is really interesting, just goes to show how much it depends on that particular squirrels attitude! I’ll be fine if they never learn to love each other I’m just hoping they can get to a point of ignoring the other while both out of the cage so they can have more free time (of course them giving each other company would be ideal but I don’t have high hopes that that’ll happen). And it’s weird with mine too because the older one doesn’t mind other people besides me. She’ll even play after a few minutes of them meeting her butttt the younger one is a prime example of a 1-person squirrel. She will tolerate other people but will not play with anyone but me. So I would’ve guessed that the aggressiveness would’ve come from her not the older one🤔
RockyPops
12-24-2019, 11:22 PM
Thanks for helping them!:serene
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