Hi everyone

[RedBen]

Hey, how are you guys

I made an account as I saved a squirrel from a pet market here in the UAE. I'm not a big fan of putting anything in a cage but this one was making backflips for a week straight and I felt incredibly bad for it.
His name is Red, he's in a big parrot cage now and I put tree sticks in the cage.
I just got him today. He's very timid and sitting still, took a loooong nap early (no surprise after backflipping for so long).

Will he warm up to me and get used to his cage? He lets me stroke him and doesn't scratch or bite or run away.


Note: I am NOT in the USA or another westernized, squirrel-adapted country.

[CritterMom]

We would love to see photos of him!

Thank you for rescuing him. Being jammed in a tiny cage in one of those pet markets would be like torture for him.

First, let's make his home a little homier for him. While the automatic response is to try to provide "wild" looking things in the cage, honestly, squirrels just love luxury! He would really like a place to hide out and sleep that is up high in the cage. You can easily make him a hammock. Cut a piece of fabric into a large square and tie the corners through the cage bars at the top. In the US we use polarfleece material, and I am betting that nice warm fleece is NOT worn very often in Dubai! The idea is to not use fabrics that are woven, because they WILL chew and fabric that ravels into long threads can be very dangerous if it gets wrapped around their limbs. We have seen a lot of amputations caused this way. But I bet you can get some old t-shirts to use. After that, cut some more t-shirt material into small pieces and dump it into the hammock for him to curl up under.

Use a sheet or something and drape it over the cage so it covers the top, sides and back, leaving the front only open. That gives them protection - they don't have to constantly watch their backs looking for "predators" and will feel MUCH more at ease. As you look through our site you will see lots of photos of cage set ups that you can steal ideas from.

Food is the absolute most important thing for them and I would bet a small fortune that anything they suggested at the food market is the exact opposite of what he should be eating. Squirrels have a very exacting requirement for calcium, and their calcium to phosphorus ratio needs to be paid close attention to. They need to be consuming 2 parts of calcium to every one part of phosphorus, and once you start looking into this you will find that lots of foods are very high in phosphorus and low in calcium - just the opposite of what he needs. Failure to adhere will result in a condition called metabolic bone disease which will kill. If the calcium is not provided in the diet the body will begin to leach it from the animal's bones, resulting in bone loss, paralysis, seizures and death.

We are lucky - we have a company in the US that is owned by a member here who makes a very tasty diet designed precisely to avoid all of this. You will need to be more creative. Does anyone keep rats as pets there? There are a number of companies that make rat foods that will do what you need. This is not a food that has a bunch of seeds and nuts and corn bits in it - THAT is what you DON'T want. It is a manufactured diet - often they look like little rods - this link shows a pic: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Teklad-14-Protein-Lab-Blocks-Adult-Pet-Rodent-Food-Rat-Mouse-Hamster-Gerbil-etc/333375144402?hash=item4d9eb501d2:m:mdpjYUPtRDiYCAG 0cEAylfw .

Look around and see what is available and try to post the info before you buy so we can see what you have found. They also like fresh greens, limited fruit, and fresh vegetables.

Let him calm down and get used to you and to his cage. Once that happens, start to let him out to play when you can supervise him. Nuts are a treat that needs to be fed VERY sparingly, but they make wonderful bribes to get naughty squirrels back in their cage. ONLY give him a piece of nut in the cage. If he is out and you need him to go home, show him the piece of nut and then let him see you put it in the cage. They are REALLY smart. He will learn quickly.

I don't want to overload you with info (whoops, too late!) - start with this and we will be thrilled to help you build from here! And welcome.

Remember, we need pics. LOTS of pics. :grin2

[RockyPops]

:thumbsup yea that :thumbsup

[Chirps]

Welcome, and thanks for rescuing Red! I wish you all the best. You're in for a wonderful experience if you can provide everything he needs. There is nothing like a squirrel! The people here are the best at helping people help squirrels.

Can't wait to see pics. Let me guess. He's . . . RED?

[RedBen]

Hello everyone,

thank you SO much for sharing all this info; keep it coming! (I am exactly like this when it comes to horses and budgies, I have two birds!)


They suggested me rabbit food, I got him this : https://www.beaphar.com/en-gb/product/beaphar-care-plus-rabbit but that's no good then?


I also put a few sunflower seeds, cashews, fruit (berries) and lettuce for him to choose from as I wasn't sure what he'd eat.
Would this be okay? : https://www.noon.com/uae-en/deluxe-squirrel-diet-food-1-36-kg/N26722614A/p
I'm happy to not hear you guys say ''release him!!!'' as he's not native to where I am from and I doubt he'd survive outside besides being (as far as I can tell) healthy... That's a huge relief as I'm just trying to do the best I can...

His name is Red as he's slightly red, but also because ''Ik red'' means ''I save'' by Dutch (my native language)... Clever little joke there, ha!

I will try to attach photo's now...

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Can you see him peeking out from his little house in the top corner?

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I'll take the rope toy in the corner out as that might fray then...

[Chirps]

He is so beautiful! I wonder where he's from. Just was looking at a slew of pics, I guess from all over the world, on Pinterest. A couple look like him but don't say where they're from. Trying to imagine sources who would traffic a squirrel to the UAE. Don't they have laws about importing exotics? Maybe not, or maybe if Red could talk he'd have quite the story to tell!

He is so lucky you rescued him!

[Chirps]

Just curious, did you buy the rabbit food online or at an actual store? I looked up what you bought but couldn't find an ingredients list or nutrition analysis. The company is based in the UK. The rabbit pellets probably won't hurt him short term but probably don't have nutrients he needs and possibly could have too much of something he shouldn't have or only in limited quantities.

They also make a rat food. I was going to suggest that instead if you can get it there but the info at the site mentions "animal protein" so I question where they source this protein. I would be nervous about giving him that unless you can find out more. But if you can't get it anyway it doesn't matter. They do have a place on their site to ask questions about their feeds. Maybe you can ask for an ingredients list and/or analysis of the rabbit food or ask about foods suitable for squirrels.

[RedBen]

I just made him a little hammock, he's not using it yet but I'm sure he'll go out to explore.

I think he's really pretty too! Is he a grey squirrel? I'm not quite sure... This country isn't really focussed on animal health and maybe someone sneaked him over the border in a car? I hope he's happy where he is now...

I found this food online, it's a brand that I feed my birds also but I'm also not sure about the ingredients... Is the feed I linked on the 'noon' website better? I can order that!

I'll definitely try to contact them! Thanks a lot!

Edit: I found this as the ingredients of the rabbit food
Product Description
Keep your rabbit in optimum health with beaphar care+ rabbit food. 10 kg this delicious and well balanced food has been formulated to take into account the whole needs of your pet. It has the perfect level of protein balanced by high levels of fibre, a special ingredient, mos which encourages friendly microbes in the gut and this formula makes rabbits less prone to diarrhoea and fly strike. Take good care of your rabbit nutritionally and feed them care+ rabbit food.

Ingredients
Cereals, derivatives of vegetable origin, seeds, vegetables, minerals, yeasts, Yucca schidigera, algae (spirulina 0.01%).

[Chirps]

If you can get a bone like a beef bone for dogs (with no meat or marrow) he can gnaw on it to keep his teeth worn and to get calcium. A big worry with squirrels is that they get enough calcium. Not knowing his story it's a guess whether he's been getting enough. Another source of calcium is Tums antacid or whatever other version is available in Dubai. But it has to be the plain kind, no Vitamin D added. Vitamin D can be toxic to squirrels.

[RedBen]

Would a cuttlebone do for the time being? My birds are not using it so I have it laying around...

[Chirps]

I just made him a little hammock, he's not using it yet but I'm sure he'll go out to explore.

I think he's really pretty too! Is he a grey squirrel? I'm not quite sure... This country isn't really focussed on animal health and maybe someone sneaked him over the border in a car? I hope he's happy where he is now...

I found this food online, it's a brand that I feed my birds also but I'm also not sure about the ingredients... Is the feed I linked on the 'noon' website better? I can order that!

I'll definitely try to contact them! Thanks a lot!

Edit: I found this as the ingredients of the rabbit food
Product Description
Keep your rabbit in optimum health with beaphar care+ rabbit food. 10 kg this delicious and well balanced food has been formulated to take into account the whole needs of your pet. It has the perfect level of protein balanced by high levels of fibre, a special ingredient, mos which encourages friendly microbes in the gut and this formula makes rabbits less prone to diarrhoea and fly strike. Take good care of your rabbit nutritionally and feed them care+ rabbit food.

Ingredients
Cereals, derivatives of vegetable origin, seeds, vegetables, minerals, yeasts, Yucca schidigera, algae (spirulina 0.01%).
Oh, I didn't find that! That's a bit vague. Can you find a nutrition analysis? You want to see calcium in there or a calcium to phosphorus ratio of at least 2:1.

They have foods for a lot of different rodents. Usually squirrels are compared most to rats for nutritional needs but ask them about their other feeds. If their mouse food is a pellet like the rat food but doesn't have the "animal protein" source and has the needed calcium it might be a safer choice.

People here like something called Harlan Teklad. If they ship to Dubai maybe you can try to get that. I think it can only be ordered online so if you're buying online try them. That definitely meets the nutrition needs of a squirrel.

[Chirps]

Would a cuttlebone do for the time being? My birds are not using it so I have it laying around...
You can try it since you have it. My baby showed no interest when I gave her one. I think a few people have used them with varying degrees of interest from the squirrels. I wonder if the texture is an issue. See what he thinks. I'm curious.


My bad. The other food is Envigo Harlan Teklad 2018.

[RedBen]

I found this for the squirrel feed I posted earlier...

GUARANTEED ANALYSIS: Crude Protein (min) 14.0%, Crude Fat (min) 3.0%, Crude Fiber (max) 7.0%, ash 8%, Calcium (min) 1.51%, Calcium (max) 2.01%, Phosphorus (min) 0.62%.

INGREDIENTS: Ground corn, Soybean Meal, Soybean Hulls, Wheat Middlings, Walnuts, Pecans, Pistachios, Almonds, Pumpkin Seeds, Dehydrated Apple, Dehydrated Golden Rasins, Dehydrated Papaya, Dehydrated Pineapple, Mono Di-calcium Phospate, Calcium Carbonate, Salt, Yeast Culture, l. Acidophilus, S. Faecium, S. Cerevisiae, Choline Chloride, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Magnesium, Potassium Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, Mineral Oil, Copper Sulfate, Colbolt Carbonate, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenate, Manganous Oxide, Zinc Sulate, Ferrous Sulfate, Colbolt Sulfate, Copper Oxide, Niacin Supplement, Vitamin D-3 Supplement, Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin E Supplement, Vitamin B-12 Supplement, Pantothenic Acid, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex, Folic Acid, Riboflavin Supplement, Biotin, Pyridoxine HCL, Thiamine Mononitrate.

That looks okay to me? It's not too pricey, I can afford that... I hope if I order stuff it comes soon as of the situation right now so I don't think ordering from outside of the country will be helpful on short term...

If this is bad food I will definitely contact the company for rat and mouse food.

[Chirps]

Is that feed a pellet or one of those mixes? It compares to the Mazuri Rat and Mouse Diet (a complete feed) :

Minimum Protein 23%
Minimum Fat 6.5%
Crude Fiber max 4.5%

First ingredient dehulled soybean meal, Ground corn, Wheat middlings, Ground wheat, Soybean oil, Cane molasses, . . .

Hmm. If yours is a pellet it might be better than Mazuri, at least taste-wise. I wish someone who knows about that brand could weigh in.

[Chirps]

I found this for the squirrel feed I posted earlier...

GUARANTEED ANALYSIS: Crude Protein (min) 14.0%, Crude Fat (min) 3.0%, Crude Fiber (max) 7.0%, ash 8%, Calcium (min) 1.51%, Calcium (max) 2.01%, Phosphorus (min) 0.62%.

INGREDIENTS: Ground corn, Soybean Meal, Soybean Hulls, Wheat Middlings, Walnuts, Pecans, Pistachios, Almonds, Pumpkin Seeds, Dehydrated Apple, Dehydrated Golden Rasins, Dehydrated Papaya, Dehydrated Pineapple, Mono Di-calcium Phospate, Calcium Carbonate, Salt, Yeast Culture, l. Acidophilus, S. Faecium, S. Cerevisiae, Choline Chloride, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Magnesium, Potassium Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, Mineral Oil, Copper Sulfate, Colbolt Carbonate, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenate, Manganous Oxide, Zinc Sulate, Ferrous Sulfate, Colbolt Sulfate, Copper Oxide, Niacin Supplement, Vitamin D-3 Supplement, Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin E Supplement, Vitamin B-12 Supplement, Pantothenic Acid, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex, Folic Acid, Riboflavin Supplement, Biotin, Pyridoxine HCL, Thiamine Mononitrate.

That looks okay to me? It's not too pricey, I can afford that... I hope if I order stuff it comes soon as of the situation right now so I don't think ordering from outside of the country will be helpful on short term...

If this is bad food I will definitely contact the company for rat and mouse food.
An expert will correct me, but I think the calcium carbonate is the kind best utilized by a squirrel. The calcium iodate not so good. So even if the balance of calcium to phosphorus looks good, the amount of usable calcium may be less.

But in these times you may be forced to use the lesser evil rather than the best thing you can't get.

[Chirps]

If that squirrel feed is a pellet it looks like the maker tried to make something that would provide the right nutrition but would taste good enough that the squirrels would actually want to eat it.

But if it's just a mix then Red will just pick out the yummier less nutritious bits.

[Mel1959]

Yes, this food is bad for him. The number one ingredient is corn, followed by soybean, which isn’t great either. The overall calcium to phosphorous ratio is ok, but is this an actual pellet of food with all the ingredients ground up together and formed into a pellet or is it a mixture of all the different items, like seeds, corn etc. tossed into the bag? The problem with food that isn’t in pellet form is that squirrels will pick out the good stuff like corn, sunflower seeds, nuts, etc. and leave the rest. Therefore they aren’t getting all the vitamins and minerals that are listed on the bag.

Critter mom already mentioned the need for proper calcium to phosphorous ratio and if it’s not maintained it can lead to metabolic bone disease.

The rabbit food is not appropriate either. You want a pellet form of rat food. Search online for Envigo Harlan Teklad 2018 or 2014 and see if you can find a source that will send to Dubai.

[RedBen]

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This is the food, it looks like pellets and other stuff...

I understand that ordering from outside of the country would be ideal but we are on complete lockdown and nothing will come in before a month (let alone planes aren't flying to even ship items), and Red does need to eat...

So 'sending things to Dubai' is not an option right now.

[RockyPops]

The trick is getting him to eat the "good stuff" as well as the tasty stuff. He will pick out the nuts and forgo the pellets etc.

If you could smash the mixtures up together into a powder then reconstitute it with a binding agent it may help. Until you can get a more appropriate food.

And try to find greens that he will eat. Kale, snap peas, etc. They love avocado

There is a food chart on this site in nutrition section I think.

Thank you for rescuing this beautiful little squirrel!

[Chirps]

Yikes, you have a real challenge ahead of you. If this is the only food available, I would pick out the nuts and seeds and just give him the pellets. They will hopefully have all the other things he needs like the calcium. Maybe keep the nuts and seeds to give sparingly as a treat, maybe a couple of times a week. I hope you can still get fresh vegetables. Look at the food chart RockyPops mentioned. Try to feed as many of the vegetables as are available to you.

I hate to say it, but if this is all you can get and even this may be in short supply you may want to get as much as possible since it will be even less after you pick out all the stuff he shouldn't have. What about your budgies? Are you worried about getting food for them?

At this time it sounds like you will have to do the best you can with what's available. Hopefully he will stay healthy enough until the world gets back to normal and then you can get the better food like the one Mel1959 mentioned.

You might want to grab a bottle of calcium carbonate tablets just in case everyone goes crazy hoarding over there like they have been here. Just to have on hand in case you need to supplement his calcium.

Please keep us posted.

[RedBen]

I'm not worried about my budgies as 93% of the people here are expats and some have 'easy pets' like budgies to fight loneliness so far away from home. Budgie feed is easily accessible, but no one in the UAE owns squirrels (with some exceptions, but not enough for widely accessible food and so on)

Vegetables of course are available and I will definitely check that list out to get him as much veg as possible! I found he likes tomato.

I can try and find the rat food you guys mentioned before, but rats are also not often held as pets in this country.

[RedBen]

Red really seems to come alive, he's running around in his cage at evening time (zoomies!) and he seems to want social contact. Though, when I let him out from the cage he ran behind the couch and it took me quite a while to get him out of there.
When he's playing in his cage, I go to sit next to his cage to make him familiar with me, but when I put my hands close to the cage he seems to growl?
Is he playing or angry? I'm a bit scared to get bitten hard (he's so quick and fast!) but I do want to give him social interaction. I'm a bit unsure about Squirrel Body language still...

At times I can pet him while he lies still in his cage, but sometimes he seems to kind of jump at my hands. He doesn't chase me and I suppose if he wanted to bite he would've already (as I said, quick and fast) but I'm not quite sure...

I can go around his cage with my hands when he doesn't have zoomies, take his food, replace his water etc, he seems kind of scared still but he's not running away or angry. I had to take him out of a nest with my hands and I can pick him up no problem, but when I want to pick him up (because he's on top of my table and he has to go to this cage for example) he doesn't appreciate it. He hasn't /bitten/ but certainly tries to get away (which I totally understand, I'm just trying to picture his behavior for you guys to explain the growling situation and jumping...)

Any thoughts?

[CritterMom]

The more he observes you and gets his food and comfort from you the more friendly he should become. A tip for picking up your squirrel: Don't restrain him. Don't wrap your hands around him in such a way to make him feel like he is being restrained. Eventually he will likely jump up onto you if you offer him your arm. Until then, if you have to pick him up, scoop your hand under his tummy and lift - no hand on the back. He should ALWAYS feel like he can get away if he wants to. He is a prey animal and there is NOTHING that will end his acting like one if you inadvertently put him in a position where he feels like he has been "caught" because his brain will tell him that the next thing after "caught" is "eaten."

[RedBen]

Thanks, that's helpful! Would it help to not keep his veggies available 24/7 but rather feed him veggies from my hands? He's not so interested in snacks from my hand as he has food available all the time.

I don't have to support his butt when lifting him under his belly, like you'd do with a rabbit, right? Just scoop him up from under his belly and lift him around and he'll just kinda... hang there?

I think they're not naturally aggressive animals but it's hard to learn body language of a new animal, it's fun though! He likes to hang from the bars of his cage by his back feet and just stretch his whole body and little arms all out, so cute!

[RedBen]

Also, does anyone know what type of squirrel Red is? He has fluffy ears and his back is kinda black-grey ish. There's a picture earlier in this topic... His tail is rather short, maybe 3/4th his body size

[CritterMom]

Thanks, that's helpful! Would it help to not keep his veggies available 24/7 but rather feed him veggies from my hands? He's not so interested in snacks from my hand as he has food available all the time.

I don't have to support his butt when lifting him under his belly, like you'd do with a rabbit, right? Just scoop him up from under his belly and lift him around and he'll just kinda... hang there?

I think they're not naturally aggressive animals but it's hard to learn body language of a new animal, it's fun though! He likes to hang from the bars of his cage by his back feet and just stretch his whole body and little arms all out, so cute!

You can support his butt, but likely he won't give you the chance. They regard us as "trees" and usually will climb your arm and sit on your shoulder. Or head. :grin2

We try to give our squirrels a choice of healthy vegetables and healthy rodent blocks and they are every bit as enthused about these as a young child is when faced with healthy (:yuck) food! So if you find a veggie he really likes he may eat them from your hand but I usually just leave those in the cage. Don't leave nuts and sunflower seeds in there ever - those are your bribes and rewards. My little guy gets a hazelnut in the shell every evening, and he knows it will be there and he knows where it will be and I simply am unable to get him to his cage fast enough in the evening to suit him!

We need to observe him for a bit to identify what he is. My feeling is that he is a European red squirrel - this is normally what ends up in the animal markets in that part of the world. They come in a variety of colors - bright red with white tummy, red and darker brown like your guy, even grayish with red, but what they have in common is that in late fall/early winter they develop really LONG tufts of fur at the ends of their ears that are so freaking cute you can't stand it. I can't believe that nobody has come up with ear extensions for our squirrels over here! Even in your hot climate that should happen - my guy has air conditioning in the summer and heat in the winter so his temps are fairly constant all year round, but he develops and loses his thick winter coat at the same time the outdoor squirrels do.

[Chirps]

Thanks, that's helpful! Would it help to not keep his veggies available 24/7 but rather feed him veggies from my hands? He's not so interested in snacks from my hand as he has food available all the time.

I don't have to support his butt when lifting him under his belly, like you'd do with a rabbit, right? Just scoop him up from under his belly and lift him around and he'll just kinda... hang there?

I think they're not naturally aggressive animals but it's hard to learn body language of a new animal, it's fun though! He likes to hang from the bars of his cage by his back feet and just stretch his whole body and little arms all out, so cute!
Ooooh, that hanging upside down and stretching the little arms out in the air is my absolute FAVORITE squirrel move! :Love_Icon Some people like the DPT (Double Paw Tuck) best, but I really love the stre-e-etch.

Sounds like you're at the beginning of a beautiful friendship. :thumbsup

Were you able to find a rat feed (rodent block) or are you using the food you have? The reason I ask is if you separated out the "junk food"-- the nuts and seeds etc. and are just giving him the pellets and vegetables as his main food, you can use the junk food (just a tiny bit) as the bribe CritterMom mentioned to get him back in the cage after playtime.

[RedBen]

I found kale, parsley and broccoli in the supermarket today, he seems to like those! Or well, he took a nibble to taste it which in my opinion is an achievement on its own ha ha! Someone else told me he could be a Douglas squirrel but I have no clue, they all look similar but nothing like Red. Unfortunately I haven't found the rat pellets yet but I have ordered the squirrel food online and I'm still browsing online for rat food that's not mixed with other snacks.

I'll make some new pics of him to share with you, he's soooo cute!

He's way friendlier than yesterday already and even took a cashew from my hand and eats before mentioned broccoli from my hand too. He does really seem to want to explore outside his cage and I'd love to let him, but as I said, he goes under my couch and if he climbs inside it from the bottom I'm scared I'm never able to get him out again... Would it be cruel to put him in a harness with a leash so I can let him roam around my house? I have a gigantic balcony that he could spend time on but once again, I don't want him to escape and jump down as I'm 5 floors up...

I have put my rabbit in a harness before and know to never pull on the leash, but I'm not sure if it's okay to do this with squirrels...

I love the little ear fluffs, the extensions are a great idea :grin2

What are double paw tucks? I'd love to see that!!!


edit: Speak of the devil, my husband just came out with old bedsheets that we rolled and tucked under the couch. Now he can come out to play if he pleases.

[RedBen]

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He seems to be enjoying himself. My birds are way slower than he is and I almost wet myself laughing at this photo:

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[Chirps]

I found kale, parsley and broccoli in the supermarket today, he seems to like those! Or well, he took a nibble to taste it which in my opinion is an achievement on its own ha ha! Someone else told me he could be a Douglas squirrel but I have no clue, they all look similar but nothing like Red. Unfortunately I haven't found the rat pellets yet but I have ordered the squirrel food online and I'm still browsing online for rat food that's not mixed with other snacks.
Good, I hope you can find rat food. Meanwhile did you separate the pellets from the junk in the food you have now? It's hard to get them to eat the healthier stuff once they're hooked on junk.


I'll make some new pics of him to share with you, he's soooo cute!
You are SO right, he's cute AND beautiful! We LOVE pics, please keep them coming!


He's way friendlier than yesterday already and even took a cashew from my hand and eats before mentioned broccoli from my hand too. He does really seem to want to explore outside his cage and I'd love to let him, but as I said, he goes under my couch and if he climbs inside it from the bottom I'm scared I'm never able to get him out again... Would it be cruel to put him in a harness with a leash so I can let him roam around my house? I have a gigantic balcony that he could spend time on but once again, I don't want him to escape and jump down as I'm 5 floors up...
I don't know how to post links, but if you go to the Nursery forum check out the thread "Grover." Just a warning it is sad because we just lost Grover very recently, but there are pics of him wearing a harness.



What are double paw tucks? I'd love to see that!!!
Well you may have seen the single paw tuck, also adorable, where they pull one paw up close to their chest. So the DPT is when they do both at the same time. If you haven't, you will soon.



edit: Speak of the devil, my husband just came out with old bedsheets that we rolled and tucked under the couch. Now he can come out to play if he pleases.
Excellent! Just watch those wires.

This is so nice. Red is so lucky you saved him from his situation.

P.S, Love your budgies. I currently have a Lutino and a standard green.

[CritterMom]

Aw. He is definitely a european red. Here are about 50,000 pics in all colors and coats. THAT is what his ears will look like eventually!
https://www.google.com/search?q=european+red+squirrel&tbm=isch&source=univ&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiKi8jjwMzoAhUJZc0KHS2SC9YQiR56BAgHEBI&biw=1600&bih=789

At some point, likely while he was trapped in his little cage at the pet market, he lost the end of his tail. It should be longer. They are designed to "break away" when grabbed by a predator, sort of like a lizard, but cage pinch points take a lot of them, too. My first squirrel had this happen and his tail did so many facinating things at each molt. At times it was fan shaped, then it would grow out flat at the end like it had been cut with scissors. Lots of times it forked like a little devil tail. His last tail before he died was a perfect corkscrew, as though someone had worked on it with a curling iron. I always told him I liked his modification better than the original!:Love_Icon

[Chirps]

Yikes and they're endangered? I wonder if pet trade trafficking is contributing to it.

RedBen, there are a lot of pics of the DPT at that site.

[CritterMom]

Yikes and they're endangered? I wonder if pet trade trafficking is contributing to it.

RedBen, there are a lot of pics of the DPT at that site.

To some degree. Mostly it is habitat loss. Not a whole lot of huge, contiguous forest areas left in Europe.

[RedBen]

The food I am giving him now isn't mixed food, it's green and orange feed that (according to the box) has all nutrients in it. Rabbit pellet, maybe? Looks like super tiny cookies. We're really careful with wires etc and the ones he can easily reach are tucked away!

He's done the paw tucks! Now I know what it means, I recognized it. He also washes his face after licking his little hands, sooo sweet.

Wow, he's gonna have huge ear fluffs! That's to make up for his tiny tail. You're saying he must've lost it then, I hope it didn't hurt him much...

I'll definitely check out Grover (may he rest in peace) and try to get Ben in his harness so he can explore even more! I found out he likes chestnuts too. I'll try and post more pics.

[CritterMom]

I would think many, many times before you try the harness. Grover was a wee baby when the harness was introduced to him by the person who had been his mama from well before his eyes opened. Trying to harness a grown squirrel is pretty much the definition of "restraining" him and may erase all of the trust he is gaining in you. I have tried with a grown squirrel that just adored me and to say it was a "no go" is the understatement of the year. In the very least, please wait for a long time until his trust in you and the bond you have is a lot stronger. You guys are doing so good, I would hate to see you destroy that by doing something that has about a 5% chance of working anyway.

The other thing is his food. I know you are having issues finding something appropriate, but rabbit food isn't it. They may be vaguely similar looking but they are no more similar than a squirrel and a wildebeest. Bunnies are lagomorphs - grass eaters - with bizarre digestive tracts and totally different nutritional needs. Squirrels don't eat grass. Have you been able to find anything else, even online? Mazuri is another type of food - Mazuri is owned by Purina, the largest animal food manufacturer in the world. Most zoos feed Mazuri foods. I actually feed it to my outdoor wild squirrels. They have several rodent foods. Do you have zoos? Perhaps some phone calls and begging would help you find a source if they do. The other food we recommended, the Teklad rodent food, is called a "lab diet" because it markets mostly to producers of rats and mice for lab experimentation (yeah, I know) and to the labs that buy the mice for their work. I know this because Jackson Labs is one of the largest producers of lab rats and mice in the US and is in my state - and used to be my customer at a former job. I remember having to go there and seeing Teklad bags everywhere. Do they do anything like that in the UAE?

I know, I am Debbie Downer, but getting him on the right diet is like 1 through 4 of the top 5 things to be successful here.

Oh yeah, while I am on a roll here, be really careful with the chestnuts. They can mold inside and present as a picture perfect chestnut from the outside - and the mold is a killer. They are really wet and it fosters the mold growth. Make sure you cut them in half so you expose the white meat inside and if it isn't perfect, discard them.

Slinking away now...

[Chirps]

I would think many, many times before you try the harness. Grover was a wee baby when the harness was introduced to him by the person who had been his mama from well before his eyes opened. Trying to harness a grown squirrel is pretty much the definition of "restraining" him and may erase all of the trust he is gaining in you. I have tried with a grown squirrel that just adored me and to say it was a "no go" is the understatement of the year. In the very least, please wait for a long time until his trust in you and the bond you have is a lot stronger. You guys are doing so good, I would hate to see you destroy that by doing something that has about a 5% chance of working anyway.
Thanks for adding such a detailed explanation about the harnessing issue. I wasn't trying to suggest RedBen immediately try to get Red "harness trained" but just wanted to show her that it had been done, but shouldn't have put it out there as though it's as easy as harnessing a ferret.

[Chirps]

The food I am giving him now isn't mixed food, it's green and orange feed that (according to the box) has all nutrients in it. Rabbit pellet, maybe? Looks like super tiny cookies. We're really careful with wires etc and the ones he can easily reach are tucked away!
Oh. I thought you were feeding him the squirrel food from Post #18. What happened to that? If you pick out the other stuff and just give him the pellets that would probably be the best short term until you can get Mazuri or Envigo Harlan Teklad.

That was a great idea CritterMom had about checking if you can get Mazuri from a zoo or their supplier. Crossing my fingers you can get some.

[Chirps]

To some degree. Mostly it is habitat loss. Not a whole lot of huge, contiguous forest areas left in Europe.

True that. :sadness

[RedBen]

I'll answer in more detail later but I have written before that the squirrel food has been ordered and is on it's way. It's taking a few days as, as I said, I don't live in the US and 'next day delivery' is not a thing. Especially now with the whole Covid-19 situation going on. Weekend here is Friday-Saturday, not Saturday-Sunday so I expect it tomorrow at it's earliest.

I know rabbit food is not ideal, I feel terrible about it but that's the only thing immediately available until the squirrel food arrives. The other option was not feeding him food at all.

I don't mean to be neglectful or abusive but I have ordered the food few days ago and it's on the way...

Zoos are closed, 90% of receptionists around the country have been fired so no one will be there to answer the phone. I couldn't even reach HR of my own company due to this. Once again, it's not the US...

I doubt we have such a
thing as mice/rat labs here that are available to be contacted by the public. I can try and order online but please read my
first paragraph...

Regarding the harness, I'm obviously not going to force Red into a harness but if he allows me to put it on him that would be an option, I just wanted to know if it would be fair to him. I'm not planning to walk him around like a dog, I just want to be able to expand his habitat and explore...

Thanks for all the advice, I appreciate it and keep it coming! So far the 'more detail later' heh heh...

[RedBen]

Quick update, I contacted a friend of mine who works in the only zoo here in Dubai and they don't even have any squirrels... Suppose the public is only interested in the big stuff...

[CritterMom]

Quick update, I contacted a friend of mine who works in the only zoo here in Dubai and they don't even have any squirrels... Suppose the public is only interested in the big stuff...

I am sorry - I so did not want to come off badly in that post. I didn't realize you had something on the way for him. Thinking about what shipping something from the US to UAE costs makes my head hurt, so when (if??) this pandemic ends, I still would suggest hanging around the zoo and speaking to the keepers. Mazuri makes food for EVERYthing - a partial list: bear, elephant, rhino, wolf, wild dog, lion, tiger, other big cats, kangaroo, wallaby, alpaca, llama, camel, parrot, lorikeet, softbill requiring low iron, fish eating birds, marine mammals, sea turtles, sharks, rays, deer, moose, goat, reindeer, sheep, zebra, insect, mini pig, waterfowl and more but I don't want to type them. Zoos are their primary customers; the pet trade is a teeny tiny bit of their business. If you could find out if there is a distributor that sells this to them that is at least in your part of the world, the cost to have it shipped might be a little more reasonable.

BTW, nobody has mentioned stuffed toys for Red. If new, you want to check them by squeezing them all over - lots have polystyrene "beads" that are heavy to make them sit up and have the "arms" hang better. Those you do not want, as squirrels chew and while the little idiots won't eat their healthy food, they will sure eat plastic. And buttons. And remote controls for your TV. You just want stuffing inside. Also, if they have plastic eyes, those need to go. There is nothing quite like standing on the chest of a sweet, fluffy teddy bear and ripping it's eyes out with a pair of pliers. I don't know if second hand stores even exist there but I usually get my stuffed toys at Goodwill here in the US. And honestly, one of my now late squirrel's favorite things (besides his big round pink pig) was a pillowcase I jammed a few old towels into, tied the top, and hung from a rope from the top of his cage so it hung about 6 inches from the floor. He LOVED that thing.

[Chirps]

Hi! Ah well. You sure tried though! Hopefully the food gets there soon. :)

Was going to say more but just saw CritterMom already did.

[Chirps]

I'll answer in more detail later but I have written before that the squirrel food has been ordered and is on it's way. It's taking a few days as, as I said, I don't live in the US and 'next day delivery' is not a thing. Especially now with the whole Covid-19 situation going on. Weekend here is Friday-Saturday, not Saturday-Sunday so I expect it tomorrow at it's earliest.

I know rabbit food is not ideal, I feel terrible about it but that's the only thing immediately available until the squirrel food arrives. The other option was not feeding him food at all.
Crazy times, you're doing your best. A few days of it probably won't bother him. God only knows what he's been eating up to now.



Regarding the harness, I'm obviously not going to force Red into a harness but if he allows me to put it on him that would be an option, I just wanted to know if it would be fair to him. I'm not planning to walk him around like a dog, I just want to be able to expand his habitat and explore...
Sorry, didn't want to come across as thinking you wouldn't be sensible about introducing or attempting that. I'm sure you will work on building your relationship, just like you did when you had the rabbit.

For the foreseeable future, the out-of-cage time you're giving him now is probably wonderful to him and as much as he may ever need. Maybe eventually stuff to climb on like people have for their cats.

[RedBen]

Hi guys, I didn't mean to come off as defensive (or offensive) at all. I'm just really worried about Red as I'm really trying to do my best and this country isn't helping. That's frustrating. I found a bag of Mazuri food; 170 dollar to buy + ship it here... It's crazy.

I think he'd love a stuffed animal, I'll look into that and make sure I'll dissect it carefully :grin2:chair

Today he buried a nut inside my handbag, I think he's making sure I have some nice snacks for when I'm on the road. He als has a knack for finding ANY possible way to climb behind my couch, no matter how many blankets and pillows I stuff into all holes and peeks it has. (Insert image of my husband and I on our knees, couch upside down for the 5th(!!!) time that day to get the little mouse-with-thieves-hands out of there :tap :grin2 :grin2 :grin2 )

He also loves to jump on top of the bird playground and scare the cr*p out of the birds, makes me giggle. He's not bothering them at all though, just likes to rummage around the mess they make up there.

I'll definitely try to contact my friend again about what food they're giving the animals but so far all I heard is that they might have to euthanize some of them due to the pandemic... Lack of staff, lack of income... It's sad.


Oh before I forget! He did it again today; if I offer him some food from my hand, sometimes he'll take it, sometimes he'll just pounce at my hand and slap me? As if he's trying to slap the food from my hand. Does that mean I'm too 'in his face'?

Here he is, chillin' with his feathered friends, and pretending to be on a nice holiday to Bora Bora. I'd take him there, but as of now I'm pora pora. :money

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[CritterMom]

Wow, what a cheeky, self assured little man! No low self esteem issues there!

Remember I described my put the squirrel to bed routine? Here it is with more detail: Place nighttime treat nut on platform inside cage. Return to my room, tell squirrel it is time for bed. Squirrel leaps, grabs my butt, climbs to shoulder, urging me to go faster. I open his door. Squirrel jumps to platform, grabs nut in mouth, whirls around, slaps me twice (just in case I am thinking of taking the nut I just got done putting there for him), whirls back around and begins to crack nut. Every night I get swatted this way. It is a squirrel thing.

Yeah, the shipping is insane, like I thought. I stocked up before my self imposed lockdown for my wild squirrels - bought 200 pounds of Mazuri for $100... Hopefully things will get better.

I have to say, he looks REAL comfortable in your place. You and your husband are, as we say in the US, toast!

[Chirps]

Hi guys, I didn't mean to come off as defensive (or offensive) at all. I'm just really worried about Red as I'm really trying to do my best and this country isn't helping. That's frustrating. I found a bag of Mazuri food; 170 dollar to buy + ship it here... It's crazy.
OMG, that's the food you have coming? No wonder you're "pora pora" now! At least it will last awhile.


I think he'd love a stuffed animal, I'll look into that and make sure I'll dissect it carefully :grin2:chair

Today he buried a nut inside my handbag, I think he's making sure I have some nice snacks for when I'm on the road. He als has a knack for finding ANY possible way to climb behind my couch, no matter how many blankets and pillows I stuff into all holes and peeks it has. (Insert image of my husband and I on our knees, couch upside down for the 5th(!!!) time that day to get the little mouse-with-thieves-hands out of there :tap :grin2 :grin2 :grin2 )
Love your sense of humor! You sound like you're going to be great squirrel parents.


He also loves to jump on top of the bird playground and scare the cr*p out of the birds, makes me giggle. He's not bothering them at all though, just likes to rummage around the mess they make up there.
Hard to tell from just a pic, but they don't seem afraid or especially watchful of him. Looks like the children will "play nice together." That's a plus.


I'll definitely try to contact my friend again about what food they're giving the animals but so far all I heard is that they might have to euthanize some of them due to the pandemic... Lack of staff, lack of income... It's sad.
So sad to read this, but not surprising either I guess. There is NO facet of society or the world untouched by this virus.



Oh before I forget! He did it again today; if I offer him some food from my hand, sometimes he'll take it, sometimes he'll just pounce at my hand and slap me? As if he's trying to slap the food from my hand. Does that mean I'm too 'in his face'?
CritterMom or someone will know.


Here he is, chillin' with his feathered friends, and pretending to be on a nice holiday to Bora Bora. I'd take him there, but as of now I'm pora pora. :money

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Oh, meant to ask about that plant. Is it real? Looks like he can get to it. Can he? Plants can kill.

[CritterMom]

Nice catch, Chirps. That plant looks like a dracena of some kind - toxic to dogs and cats (and likely squirrels).

[RedBen]

I hope he's comfy! As for now he's just racing around in loops and backflips around his cage, taking an occasional 15 second nap on top of his bed-box. Especially then he likes to lunge at me when I put my hands close to him. He's not biting though, that's reassuring!

I haven't ordered the 170$ food but I'm still looking around for something similar for AT LEAST half the price, cause that's insane...

The plant is real, he doesn't tend to it but I'll move it while he's loose if it's dangerous for him. He can't reach it from his cage, only when he's out and he's way too busy roaming around hahaha. He's not much of a destroyer (yet) either.

The birds aren't scared of him, more confused as of why I let the little Tasmanian Devil (nyoooommmm!) loose, but they don't even do so much as moving branches when he zooms past again. I know them well; if they eat, they're chill. They eat. A lot.

I saw a video on the internet of a girl who turned eggshells into powder as a calcium source. To sprinkle over food. Could that be a way of keeping his calcium up for the time being? I doubt he's had a lot before he came to me...

Is there any way to see if Red is a boy or a girl apart from the obvious 'check between the legs'? He doesn't let me do that yet, hehe...

[CritterMom]

I hope he's comfy! As for now he's just racing around in loops and backflips around his cage, taking an occasional 15 second nap on top of his bed-box. Especially then he likes to lunge at me when I put my hands close to him. He's not biting though, that's reassuring!

I haven't ordered the 170$ food but I'm still looking around for something similar for AT LEAST half the price, cause that's insane...

The plant is real, he doesn't tend to it but I'll move it while he's loose if it's dangerous for him. He can't reach it from his cage, only when he's out and he's way too busy roaming around hahaha. He's not much of a destroyer (yet) either.

The birds aren't scared of him, more confused as of why I let the little Tasmanian Devil (nyoooommmm!) loose, but they don't even do so much as moving branches when he zooms past again. I know them well; if they eat, they're chill. They eat. A lot.

I saw a video on the internet of a girl who turned eggshells into powder as a calcium source. To sprinkle over food. Could that be a way of keeping his calcium up for the time being? I doubt he's had a lot before he came to me...

Is there any way to see if Red is a boy or a girl apart from the obvious 'check between the legs'? He doesn't let me do that yet, hehe...


Yes, absolutely on the eggshell calcium. You need to grind it as fine as you possibly can. A slightly rounded 1/4 teaspoon a day would be plenty.

Do watch the little twirp around your budgies. It is not unheard of for wild squirrels to eat birds - normally they go for eggs and wee babies when it happens but still.

The next time he (?) does his hang upside down to stretch move, check him out. A male squirrel's goods will be visible whether he is sitting up on his haunches, or from behind if his tail is up. I always point out to my boy that I can see his dingle dangles because I am like 8 years old. Peenie will be visible when he is up on his haunches, too. The testicles change size with hormones based on breeding seasons and when not in possible use they retract into the tummy, but not completely - you will still be able to tell.

[RedBen]

He's always under careful eyes when he's loose, but thanks for the heads up! I didn't know squirrels would eat birds!
I'll get the eggshells ground (grinded?) tomorrow and add that to his diet! Or... if his privates should be that obvious, I think Red might be a girl...
I'll have a good look tomorrow when (s)he's stretching but I doubt I'll change his pronouns, it snuck in, haha!

You made me giggle, I'm just as immature :dance

[RedBen]

Quick update while my eggshells are boiling.
Red's new squirrel food came in today, that's a good thing! I hope he likes it, I took the snack bits out.

I do get kind of hopeless at times, as he keeps trying to find ways to get under and inside the couch. I completely closed off all the corners, crooks and edges like some kind of Alcatraz situation but he still knows how to sneak in and he does it literally in the blink of an eye; like a magic show he disappears in front of my eyes. (I'm thinking of filming that as an advertisement video and then selling empty cages with 'invisible squirrels' to unknowing bystanders)

While that wouldn't be a problem, my couch is kind of make-shift. It's a corner couch and we are using the corner piece on the balcony, so the remaining pieces are not leveled and are being held up by pieces of card board. I'm very scared that he either pushes/nibbles at a piece of card board, or one of us sits down a bit too enthusiastically and the whole set up will crash down- maybe on top of him.

It wouldn't be an issue if the couch was squared, but that part of the couch is rounded and thus it's hard to really push pillows and blankets into every little gap there is (apparently, as I always think it's squirrel-proof and then it happens again).

I completely understand this is his nature and before we'd make loud noises to scare him away from that specific area on the couch, but I also get that in the wild, if another squirrel would scare him away that would probably mean there's a tasty treat or cute babies hidden; negative attention is ALSO attention.

But this does mean that he goes out on a mission to
specifically find a hole to climb in, it's not like I accidentally left a big enough open space that he runs into by chance.

He digs around until he finds a way, walks away from it to not seem suspicious and then speedy-gonzales-es into it from a distance when I have the nerve to blink.

If it wasn't so distressing it would almost be funny to see.

Until I can turn the area around the couch in some type of Guantanamo Bay, he unfortunately will have to stay inside his cage.

Does anyone have any ideas to get the little thief away from there except for stuffing even more blankets and pillows underneath?

Here you can see how I shielded the oven from him by a huge canvas I painted (it's a chimpanzee smoking a cigar, lol) and how I put a blanket around a water cabinet he sneaked into before.

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Here he lies down as if he didn't just figure out his Houdini-prison break-mastermind plan to go behind the couch. He chills, runs away and comes back diving straight into the gap that he found (and I have yet to discover)
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He is really handsome though quite the stunner.
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[Chirps]

Awww, so adorable! The only thing coming to mind is maybe some hidey-holes in "legal" places. Even a cardboard box here and there that he can use as a bolt-hole, maybe closed up but with a hole cut in or even just a flap up? I don't know if you have the capability there of suspending something from higher up, but maybe just boxes on the floor could do for now? :dono

I love the "Who, ME?" look on his face in the top pic.

[CritterMom]

Yeah, well this is an awesome game now and he is way better at it than you are so WIN, so you need to come up with someplace more fun and legal or start building your Guantanamo. The box idea is good. Make sure you get upset and shoo him away from it once he goes into the new hidey hole or it won't be any fun. Did anyone mention to you that they are challenging little jerks? We may have forgotten that. Our bad.

Don't forget to bake your shells too. Make sure the membrane in the egg is bone dry or grinding it will be a nightmare. Don't try to peel the membrane off - first, you really can't, second, you are adding a bit of protein by leaving it and that is a good thing.

[RedBen]

Boxes are a great idea! I could possibly make him a fort with holes connecting etc... Fun quarantine idea while we are on complete lockdown! Thanks guys!

He doesn't seem to play much with what he has in his cage, except for running around (making backflips... something I wished he'd stopped after getting out of his hamster cage as it seems almost compulsive at this point, until he's laying on his tree branch panting). So I like to take him out of his cage. Even then he just makes the same round... (Out of the cage, to the shoe bench, into the kitchen, up the couch aaaand behind it) but he seems less neurotic when he's loose.

He growled at me this morning while I tried to pet him, sometimes he doesn't mind and lies still, sometimes he takes food from my hands and sometimes he growls and jumps from his position. Squirrel body language is hard :dono But we're getting there!

He's cute right, his innocent face... Handsome kid, I've gotten really attached to him in such a short time. Now it's his turn to return that, hehe

[Chirps]

He doesn't seem to play much with what he has in his cage, except for running around (making backflips... something I wished he'd stopped after getting out of his hamster cage as it seems almost compulsive at this point, until he's laying on his tree branch panting). So I like to take him out of his cage. Even then he just makes the same round... (Out of the cage, to the shoe bench, into the kitchen, up the couch aaaand behind it) but he seems less neurotic when he's loose.

I know repetitive behaviors are a concern in confined animals (thinking of horses that weave or stall-walk or crib-bite) and there has been discussion about it on TSB. Hopefully the people who know best will chime in. But I think at least SOME of "patterned" behavior is practice. Maybe instinctive, like memorizing a route in case one has to flee suddenly, or just becoming familiar with it, like our daily walk around the neighborhood or whatever.

I only raised one baby, but I remember how she would do the same moves when exploring and learning how her body worked, and have seen it in babies just venturing from the nest. Of course that's different from an adult, but maybe not so much if Red is learning about his environment with you. Like I said, the people with house squirrels know how they behave best. They can tell you if their squirrels always follow a "route" when first let out. Actually I'm curious to know the same thing now.

Anyway, I can't wait to see what kind of playhouse things you make for Red. If you can do video, that would be awesome! Can help us ALL keep from going crazy during lockdown. :crazy

[Mel1959]

Your little guy is adorable...and looks soooo innocent! I’m sure it’s very frustrating at how quickly he’s able to access what you don’t want him to. :tap You might consider buying him a wheel that mounts inside his cage. It’s hard to tell how big your guy is but the larger the wheel the better. I’m not sure if this company ships to your location but this website, https://www.exoticnutrition.com/Products/Chin-Sprint__ENC308.aspx?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI0qy8s-zR6AIViZyzCh3hvgBkEAQYBSABEgIsm_D_BwE has a 15” wheel which it says is suitable for squirrels and prairie dogs. Someone else might know of a source that sells a bigger wheel. If so, I hope they’ll post the link. If he will use a wheel it may stop the endless backflips. :grin3

[RedBen]

A wheel sounds like a good idea! I think he'd like that, let me see if I can find one online so he can play in it instead of shaking up the cage and turning my budgies into birdshakes!

I can imagine the roaming around the room in a pattern can be instinctive as he also sometimes comes to check out the balcony door (my husband sits outside to smoke) or hops up on the couch to say hi to me and nibble at my toes (yum!). The backflips, though, in my opinion are either an addiction or stress/boredom as that's what he did in the petmarket too.

When his boxcastle is done I'll try to catch him on camera! I have to collect some stuff, maybe I can use his old cage for that too!

Regarding the backflips and naughty behavior, I was considering doing the following and I'd like to hear if you guys would think it works:

If he's naughty, I'll pick him up without any vocal or eye contact and put him in the cage until he stops being naughty. Only thing I don't want is that he associates his cage with punishment...

I think he uses the backflips as a way to tell us he wants out, so I will only let him out if he's not doing backflips, and if he does them I will wait until he stops before I let him out of the cage. Maybe he will learn that backflipping won't get him anywhere and being a good boy in his cage will.

This is what worked for my naughty rabbit who ate cables behind the TV and now knows very well that that is not allowed. Same with biting, if he bit us and we'd pull our hand, he'd know that is how he gets what he wants. To the point that he would scare my mom out of her armchair and nibble at my dad's back to force him to move, so he could pass by.

I'm not a fan of nose-tapping, neck-grabbing and voice-raising (the latter because negative attention is attention, too)

Now I know Red is not a rabbit, that's why I'd love to hear your ideas! He's not very food driven (yet?) so rewarding him with treats doesn't work as the big big world around him is way more interesting than a nut or avocado!

[RedBen]

Also, if I'm asking too much, feel free to let me know :sorry

[CritterMom]

A wheel sounds like a good idea! I think he'd like that, let me see if I can find one online so he can play in it instead of shaking up the cage and turning my budgies into birdshakes!

I can imagine the roaming around the room in a pattern can be instinctive as he also sometimes comes to check out the balcony door (my husband sits outside to smoke) or hops up on the couch to say hi to me and nibble at my toes (yum!). The backflips, though, in my opinion are either an addiction or stress/boredom as that's what he did in the petmarket too.

When his boxcastle is done I'll try to catch him on camera! I have to collect some stuff, maybe I can use his old cage for that too!

Regarding the backflips and naughty behavior, I was considering doing the following and I'd like to hear if you guys would think it works:

If he's naughty, I'll pick him up without any vocal or eye contact and put him in the cage until he stops being naughty. Only thing I don't want is that he associates his cage with punishment...

I think he uses the backflips as a way to tell us he wants out, so I will only let him out if he's not doing backflips, and if he does them I will wait until he stops before I let him out of the cage. Maybe he will learn that backflipping won't get him anywhere and being a good boy in his cage will.

This is what worked for my naughty rabbit who ate cables behind the TV and now knows very well that that is not allowed. Same with biting, if he bit us and we'd pull our hand, he'd know that is how he gets what he wants. To the point that he would scare my mom out of her armchair and nibble at my dad's back to force him to move, so he could pass by.

I'm not a fan of nose-tapping, neck-grabbing and voice-raising (the latter because negative attention is attention, too)

Now I know Red is not a rabbit, that's why I'd love to hear your ideas! He's not very food driven (yet?) so rewarding him with treats doesn't work as the big big world around him is way more interesting than a nut or avocado!


The wheel needs to be as large as possible. If it is small enough that his back bends when he runs on it, it is dangerous and can injure his back. It is very hard to find a wheel large enough for a squirrel. They make them for cats but they are INSANELY expensive. Also, he may NEVER use it. I believe they need to be introduced when they are really young, and I think that some breeds of squirrels are more agreeable to a wheel than others. It is a crapshoot at best. I made a big wheel and I believe my squirrel may have accidentally touched it once or twice but he sure never used it for anything!

I would ignore the backflips totally. It may be a habit that will never be broken - he likely began doing it to try to release energy inside his tiny cage. If he is backflipping, just wait until he stops and THEN get him out. As he gets more comfortable in his new home and with you guys, he may reduce this on his own. I also wouldn't use his cage for any kind of punishment - it is his home and should be associated with fun and comfort, not time outs.

I don't address any behavior that is normal for a squirrel in any way other than to try to physically block it. My little guy Zeke chews wood. The windowsills in my bedroom are a freaking disaster area - they look like someone took a chainsaw to them. I cover them with fabric that I wedge under the closed windows to try to keep him away from them, and I bring safe wood twigs inside for him to chew so I can redirect him to stuff that I don't mind being chewed. Popsicle sticks are good, too. But squirrels chew wood and I know that so I am totally responsible for my windowsills. One day he will be gone and I will be sobbing over those stupid sills and begging him to come back and chew them just one more time...

The only thing I don't tolerate is HARD, deliberate biting. Accidentally nipping because I have gotten him all wound up wrestling does NOT count. He knows perfectly well how hard he can bite without injuring me. It has only happened with him one time. I just picked him up and we went back to his room where his big enclosure is and put him away and didn't return to the room at all for a few hours. I think of it as "shunning." When he loves you he will want to spend his time with you, so not being able to do that because he did something he knows was mean is very powerful. He is 3 now and this has happened only ONE time.

I built a wooden structure behind my stupid computer armoire in my room that completely encloses ALL of the wires and cables and did the same thing on the entertainment center for the TV. When he began jumping from the top of the armoire (I only have it because HE loves it!) onto the entertainment center, I grabbed a few pieces of scrap lumber 1x3's and 1x4's and cut them into pieces ranging from 6" to a foot long, and stood them on end on the part he was jumping on. I named this "Lumberhenge" and the first time he jumped into it of course they flew all over the place, hitting the wall, tipping over, falling to the floor - and it scared the hell out of him, but it was never associated with me personally. He has never jumped onto it again. The cable guy saw it once and thought it was a sculpture!

So block off the stuff that will hurt him, move the things that are really valuable to another room, and cover the rest. You just can't really stop the things that are hard wired in their little brains, so you have to do work arounds.

And you can't ask too many questions here!

[RedBen]

Thanks for the long informative post, that's really helpful! The problem with Red is that he goes behind the couch even if I really close off every single corner there is. I just don't know how he does it. If he were to come out by himself I wouldn't have such a big issue with it, but we have to disassemble the whole thing multiple times a day to take him out from there. Even now that I put boxes etc. with connections in the room, he just runs...

I was thinking to let him out only in my bedroom and bathroom where there are no cables and dangerous things for him to go behind but that means I'll have to pick him up and he doesn't let me do that. He just clings to the bars of his cage and I think I'd pull off his tiny arms before he'd let go of the bars. That will have to wait until he is more tame.

He doesn't care much about me, he doesn't come to me for a snack and when he's backflipping he will just sneak past me to go out of the cage. I hope he will become more interested in me soon as that would help with the situation a lot.

My husband suggested getting a pair of gloves to handle him as we are both a little bit scared of what he's capable of, we are not sure IF he bites hard but we don't give him the chance to as we pull our hands away (and then he surely learns that biting will help with getting what he wants, which is our hands AWAY!!!) At least with the gloves we will learn his behavior and see if he truly bites or just nips, as you said. Maybe he's not doing anything but I wouldn't want to risk experimenting on my fingers and just 'try and see' without protective gear.

For now I'll try and find another way of closing down the couch holes, or even keep him away from it completely so he can stretch his furry little legs.

[RedBen]

My husband spent three illegal hours in a shop and then came home with stuff to make the couch squirrel-proof, Red has been running around for an hour now without sneaking into the couch! <3 He's now stealing the apple off of the bird's perches and hiding in his newly made hammock. I made one about the size of the ceiling of his cage to avoid him from backflipping and it's working! He still tries to but now he has to make a lot of different movements to succeed, instead of just repeating the same back-straining movement over and over.

He also really sees his cage as home as this is where he returns when he spooks or when we clap our hands to make him leave spots he can't go. That's super helpful too, he will return to his home at all times instead of sneaking away to hide!

Success!!! :w00t

[CritterMom]

My husband spent three illegal hours in a shop and then came home with stuff to make the couch squirrel-proof, Red has been running around for an hour now without sneaking into the couch! <3 He's now stealing the apple off of the bird's perches and hiding in his newly made hammock. I made one about the size of the ceiling of his cage to avoid him from backflipping and it's working! He still tries to but now he has to make a lot of different movements to succeed, instead of just repeating the same back-straining movement over and over.

He also really sees his cage as home as this is where he returns when he spooks or when we clap our hands to make him leave spots he can't go. That's super helpful too, he will return to his home at all times instead of sneaking away to hide!

Success!!! :w00t

Did you ever think you would be strutting around all big-headed, crowing on the internet about FINALLY outwitting a rodent? Welcome to Squirrelville!

[RedBen]

Now that I think of it, it wasn't one of my 'when I grow up I wanna...', but I'm proud nevertheless :grin2

That's one for the CV... hehe.

[RedBen]

Little update,

Red is doing great. This morning I could cuddle him inside the cage while he was half asleep in his hammock. He also jumps on top of my stomach as a way of escaping the couch, instead of putting effort to go around me (like what he did before). I think that's an achievement!
He likes to pee in my plant, so I put some soil in a plastic lunch box, hoping he will use that as a litter box (can they be potty trained?). I also put ground egg shells over his food.

So far so good!

[CritterMom]

He is really coming along great! Just think - he is a little prey animal for whom being very careful and staying away from things it doesn't know is so strongly ingrained, yet in this short time he has already started trusting you. Pretty sure we need more pics. :grin3

[Chirps]

Hi! Thanks for the update. Was wondering how you are doing. PLEASE take the plant away. If he can pee in it he can eat it. That could be tragic.

[RedBen]

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"What do you mean I'm not a bird?" :dono :thinking
(Don't worry, this is their night cage. Their enrichment is in another place)

I removed the plant! He can't reach anymore!

[Chirps]

OMG I'm in love! The camera sure loves that face! So funny he thinks he's a budgie. :grin2 Probably casing the joint.

Oh yeah, meant to ask-- he shows no interest in their food? I wondered seeing him near them in other pics but forgot to ask. He never sampled any?

[RedBen]

He's hilarious and slowly starts to follow hands around when holding a cashew, we're getting there...

He doesn't eat their food! Only their romaine lettuce (which he doesn't eat from his own food bowl, surprisingly) but he likes to sit on or in the food bowl and then he knocks it over. He doesn't seem to learn hahaha!

He loves to sit with them and watch from the window up there.

[Chirps]

Hi! Wondering how you all are doing.

[RedBen]

Hi! We are doing very well, Red is getting slowly used to our hands and sometimes even comes to sit on them to take a snack from the palm of our hands. He's still sneaky but we have eliminated his chances of getting under the couch. He now likes to go behind the oven :tap :grin2

He still doesn't enjoy being picked up or pet while he's out of the cage but we have had some moments where I could stroke his back when he's taking a nap.
Thanks for asking!

[CritterMom]

Yay! I was going to harrass you for an update today!

Throw pillows stuffed into cracks around things can help. Make absolutely sure he can't get behind the refrigerator - there are fans and things back there that can kill him.

Another place to check are under your cabinets. Many times, they are open above the "toe kick" and a small animal can crawl right in there and the only way you can get them out is to remove the cabinet. You can't see this unless you lay on the floor or stick your hand in there. In my home, the kitchen cabinets are closed off and not accessible, but the ones in my bathrooms are open. Ask me how I know that.

Of course I also now know how to uninstall and reinstall cabinets so yay me. They have now been modified of course.

Very glad to hear you guys are all ok!

[RedBen]

I can only imagine how you figured that out...! The cabinets here are properly closed and we put a huuuge canvas in front of the oven and on top of it too, (it's less wide than the gap made for it to fit in) but the little bastard manages to pry that open with his little thief hands lol. We always watch him when he goes on my kitchen counter (yeah, he just acts like he owns the place LOL!) and we finally managed to close it off. The fridge is closed luckily, he can't reach behind.

We're just trying to figure out what he likes to eat and it's Ramadan now which means loaaads of (new) foods in the house, yay for Red! I really hope he warms up to us more and more and maybe eventually he can take a little nap on my lap <3 I saw the funniest videos on youtube about squirrels running all over their human-trees. So funny!

I'll upload some pics of him soon again!

[RedBen]

Crazy question... do squirrels dream or make sound? It's late here but the sound I heard made me think I forgot to put one bird to bed. A high pitches squeaking sound. When I realized the birds weren't on top of Red's cage, I thought maybe he had hurt himself or gotten stuck with a finger or something but the sound didn't sound really panicked. Red was fast asleep in his bird box that he usually sleeps in. I took the little box out to stroke him and he closed his eyes, seeming deep asleep. When he suddenly woke up he wanted to go back in his cage and he's now sleeping in his hammock... Maybe he had a nightmare? Is that a thing or was he sneezing? I saw him sneeze earlier today but I think that was because he got some dust or bird seed on his nose. He doesn't have a snotty nose or anything and he seems happy and healthy...

[island rehabber]

Babies will do the high-pitched "mommy!" call when they're in a deep sleep. Later on, juvies (9-16 weeks) will do alarm calls in their sleep as if they're having a bad dream. Also if you haven't noticed, squirrels sleep like the dead. I can't tell you how many years have been shaved off my life trying to shake a squirrel awake :shakehead :grin2

[RedBen]

I don't think my Red is a baby anymore (there are some pics in this topic!) but it's good to know they can be dead-asleep! Saves me some heart attacks, he he...
Sometimes he has really active days and runs around the house until I lock him up for his own good (he. doesn't. stop!) and on days like today he just kinda hangs from the side of his cage all day, hidden in my curtains and sits silently in a corner... He eats though, if you offer him a snack, and when he goes in his cage the first thing he does is drink water so he seems alright to me...

Squirrels are difficult! Hahaha

[CritterMom]

They do sometimes have snoozy days...but make sure you are paying close attention to the calcium to phosphate ratio in the diet - you don't want him getting MBD. It is very easy for us here in the US - all we have to do is order the Henry's diets to prevent it without really having to think too hard about it. You don't have that luxury. He is so reaking adorable, nobody here wants anything to happen to him!

[RedBen]

I dip his grapes in the calcium powder I made from eggs and I mix his food with the powder too! Today he was fine, running around happy as ever. One of the birds has grown curious of him and tries to steal his tail fur for a nest, but it's still attached :rotfl
Red doesn't mind them at all, kind of ignores them in all fairness.

I managed to get my hands on pillow stuffing and gave him that, he loves to make a nest from it in his bird box too!

I'm really glad you're all so considerate of my situation and I completely agree; nothing bad should happen to him!

[CritterMom]

My old next door neighbors had two Newfoundland dogs which works out to about 350 pounds of dog, of which 200 is hair. They used to sprawl out in the yard in the sun and flocks of chicadees would descent upon them and start PLUCKING them! Back and forth, back and forth to their little nest with big beaksfull of hair! I am not even sure the dogs knew it was happening.

[Chirps]

Awww, just noticed your pic of him next to your name. So adorable!

[RedBen]

Cute right? He's so funny, he likes my husband more than me and climbs on him sometimes when we sit on the couch quietly. He seems also be wrestling with my husbands leg? I doubt he's actually fighting him, it looks playful. We nicknamed him Spiderman as he's hanging from the couch often.

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I'm unsure what he was reaching for, there were no birds in the cage at this time. :grin2

[Mel1959]

He is super cute! It’s good to hear that he’s adjusting to both of you.

[Merako]

Adorable!! 🐿:Love_Icon😊

[RedBen]

Red properly played with me for the first time yesterday! I approached him with a teddy bear and he rolled all around it, even hanging from it while I lifted it up from the ground! So funny, he seems to warm up... There's stills from a video here, how do I post a video?

I also got a picture of his tummy, would anyone be able to say if he's a boy or a girl? I'm guessing a boy but I find no references on internet...

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[Mel1959]

Videos have to be posted to another source like YouTube and then the link to access it posted here.

Can you get a picture of the belly showing the orientation of his legs and tail to the nub? It’s kinda hard for me to tell from the picture.

If the nub is about 1/8 inch away from the rectum it’s a girl. If it’s further up the belly it’s a boy. Testicles don’t drop till boys are older.

[RedBen]

Videos have to be posted to another source like YouTube and then the link to access it posted here.

Can you get a picture of the belly showing the orientation of his legs and tail to the nub? It’s kinda hard for me to tell from the picture.

If the nub is about 1/8 inch away from the rectum it’s a girl. If it’s further up the belly it’s a boy. Testicles don’t drop till boys are older.

He's upside down in the pic, lol, you can see the beginning of his tail in the top. I'll try to get a better picture!

[Chirps]

Thanks for the update! What a gorgeous, happy bo-- umm, gi-- umm, squirrel! I thought my baby was a boy but they told me if you have to ask, it's a girl! :rotfl Either way, so good for Red to have found you! I look forward to videos when you figure that out. :dance

[CritterMom]

I am betting that Red is a girlie!

[Chirps]

I am betting that Red is a girlie!

Me too.

[Newbiewnc]

That is a cutie pie! What beautiful colors on the coat.

[RockyPops]

I vote girl!

[MissMissy]

I have never been a part of a forum before so please bare with me. I am trying to get some help for my squirrel. She is a juvenile female. A few days ago I noticed blood in her urine. Today she is shaking (more than usual). She cannot hold her feet still and her heart is going a million miles an hour. She is eating a bit and drinking some water. Earlier today she was acting fairly normal. What is going on?

[Mel1959]

I posted on your other thread. Can you give us some background about her? What does she eat? What’s her history? Was she fed formula? Which one?

[RedBen]

I hope your squirrel is well, MissMissy, I can't help you unfortunately but I'm sure the other users of this forum can!

Red is suddenly really interested in using us as a tree, as of this morning he decides to jump on us if we offer him our arm from the cage. I only do this with a hoodie on cause his nails are ssssharp! He's very friendly though, when he does it, and I hope he soon gets comfortable enough to take a nap with us on the couch.

I changed his cage setting a bit, I installed a platform for him and since then I haven't seen him do any back flips!

[CritterMom]

We need some more pics of HER!

[RedBen]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uW5drIDpypM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHH_DMq79u4

I hope the links work, Red now jumps on us if we ask him by patting our leg or shoulder. :grin2

Sorry, they look like they've been filmed with a potato, lol!
The door was obviously only open for this video, we usually have a mosquito net or the glass door closed.

I tried to make more photos of Red's belly but I didn't see the nub, it was covered by fur, so that'll have to wait!

[RedBen]

I see one of the videos doesn't have sound, sorry for that!

[CritterMom]

You have graduated to being a tree! Congrats. I see you have a Fully Approved Squirrel Suit, too - unless all of your UAE neighbors wear multiple layer sweat suits, too...

[RedBen]

Yeah it's freezing here! :grin2 When Red's out the A/C is on so I can wear my jumper and sweats ha ha ha... I do need to cut his nails I think, but I'll wait with that until he can sit still for longer than 2 seconds.

I have another hilarious video of Red playing with a pair of headphones like a cat, I'll try to upload that too.

[Diggie's Friend]

Welcome to The Squirrel Board! Cute little guy you have there! Caucasian squirrels belongs to the pine squirrel group. That said, pinenuts (Itallian Pignolie Pinenuts, are one of the worst nut sources on the planet, as they are super high in phosphorus to calcium that results in osteoporosis occurring when this seed is used as feed. It is for this reason that this seed should never been fed to any tree squirrel no matter what the species!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caucasian_squirrel

The English walnut, aka: 'Persian Walnut' is one of the better sources of nuts in your region. Yet like all nuts, this one also should be limited in the diet for it is still higher in Phosphorus than calcium. Hazelnuts are also a good choice for pine squirrels. That said, nuts should be limited in captive squirrel diets for the more they are fed, not only are they higher in fat, which captive cared for tree squirrels don't require as much fat as those living in the wild do, resulting in obesity long term. The diet should include a rodent block diet that has a positive Calcium to phosphorus ratio, yet adding to most all of these diets nuts results in the whole diet ratio becoming equal in Calcium to Phosphorus or even inverted, that leads to the development over time to the development of osteoporosis known as Metabolic Bone Disease in terms of Rodent species. For this reason, adding additional calcium to the diet, optimally, Calcium citrate powder NOW Brand, and if not available, Calcium carbonate; the former was found to lend support to the long term function of the kidneys in rodents.

Rodent block sources though have been confirmed to contain toxins that can build up in the body in particular the liver. To counter toxins, "Pycnogenol" sourced from the cambium layer of the Maritime Pine grown in France. It contains a high level of polyphenols known to support the organs body and bones. If you can find, "Healthy Origins" brand where you are, or from Amazon.com UK, I would encourage you to get the (30 mg. capsule; for the amount in the diet daily, divide the total powder of one capsule down to one eighth part of the total powder, basically dividing the total powder into eight equal parts, including one part daily, for 8 days from one capsule. This added to organic low fat plain yogurt can lend better support to the health of your squirrel. If you can't find a source of Pycnogenol that is (30 mg.) but find a 50 mg. capsule of Pycnogenol is available, divide the total powder down to one twentieth part of the total powder in one capsule daily.

With a small measure of ground up Persian or English walnut, or Hazelnut, no more than 1/4 Tsp. add it to the yogurt twice daily.

I assume you have Pumpkin seed oil available there also. Pumpkin seed oil food grade has been confirmed in rodent research to lend protection to the liver. Organic food grade source, not a carrier oil source ever! Just one to two drops daily into the yogurt one drop to each meal (AM and PM) may also give it a better scent appeal. This sources is also good for males as it supports their prostrate health also. Nuts can contain alfatoxins.

https://allnaturalideas.com/pumpkin-seed-oil/

Neutralizes toxins


This research shows pumpkin seed oil lessens the effects of aflatoxin. Aflatoxins are toxic compounds.


They are the result of certain molds found in food. If left untreated, they can cause liver damage and cancer.

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/322008378_Ameliorative_effect_of_pumpkin_seed_oil_ against_emamectin_induced_toxicity_in_mice


Here is a study done that lists the blood values for this species. Keep a copy of this file or link to it, as reference should Veterinarian support be needed one in the future.

[RedBen]

Hi, Diggie's Friend, thank you so much for your lengthy post. It's full of helpful information.

Unfortunately, the only thing you mentioned that is available where I am, is yoghurt and walnuts. All other things are not accessible here. I am not feeding Red pine nuts but give him walnuts and cashews occasionally. He also has access to squirrel food I have posted in this topic before and lots of vegetables and occasional fruits.

While I highly appreciate the information shared by everyone, I am going to avoid replying to all of them if they don't contain information useful in my situation. I understand that it's not ideal to own a squirrel in my situation but in my defense, he was eating rabbit pellets in a hamster cage in a pet store. I feel like I am repeating myself frequently and while everyone is very kind and little people are judgmental, I do feel like I have to justify my actions regarding the care of Red a lot.

Once again, please keep sharing the information as perhaps there are things I can improve about Reds health and diet (like plants that could be poisonous etc), but don't be upset if I choose not to respond to all messages... I just do not have full access to all items you guys can reach in the USA and especially in the situation of Corona Virus there is not much I can do about that.

[Diggie's Friend]

Well good on the yogurt and walnuts at least. Limiting the nuts of course is needful for the diet of tree squirrels in captivity, as they are high in fat for one, and contain more phosphorus than calcium. Yet since they also contain many good nutrients and minerals include them just limit them to no more than (1/2) Tsp. daily. If you can get organic plain yogurt that would be best. No use feeding yogurt with high sugar content, as high sugar in the diet causes significant calcium loss into the urine, not supporting calcium from the diet to be absorbed into the bones.

As for feeding leafy greens and vegetables: https://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?64801-Conflicting-diet-data-here-on-the-board-questions&p=1316558#post1316558

[CritterMom]

Hi, Diggie's Friend, thank you so much for your lengthy post. It's full of helpful information.

Unfortunately, the only thing you mentioned that is available where I am, is yoghurt and walnuts. All other things are not accessible here. I am not feeding Red pine nuts but give him walnuts and cashews occasionally. He also has access to squirrel food I have posted in this topic before and lots of vegetables and occasional fruits.

While I highly appreciate the information shared by everyone, I am going to avoid replying to all of them if they don't contain information useful in my situation. I understand that it's not ideal to own a squirrel in my situation but in my defense, he was eating rabbit pellets in a hamster cage in a pet store. I feel like I am repeating myself frequently and while everyone is very kind and little people are judgmental, I do feel like I have to justify my actions regarding the care of Red a lot.

Once again, please keep sharing the information as perhaps there are things I can improve about Reds health and diet (like plants that could be poisonous etc), but don't be upset if I choose not to respond to all messages... I just do not have full access to all items you guys can reach in the USA and especially in the situation of Corona Virus there is not much I can do about that.

Yeah, we frequently fail to look at the info on the upper right hand corner of people's posts which say where they are from, mostly because the vast majority of our visitors are from the US.

Stick with us, though - we need to see Red's ears grow into the fringy masterpieces I know they will be when your bitter winter temps set in. :grin2

[Diggie's Friend]

Your little squirrel isn't the first tree squirrel of it's species to have joined our members; there was a longtime member with another squirrel from your same area, just like your little cutie!

https://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?64354-Hi-everyone&p=1316563#post1316563


Caucasian squirrels belongs to the pine squirrel group.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caucasian_squirrel

[RedBen]

I'll definitely keep posting and updating about Red, as well as reading and considering your advice of course. It's been helpful and I have learned a lot and am sure I will be more and more educated by you guys! It's just that replying to it in a repetitive way is becoming exhausting and sometimes even makes me a little insecure as I obviously want the best for Red!

Is there a way I could get Red to eat yoghurt? I tried before and he wasn't interested much. I am feeding him the calcium/egg shell powder in bits of honey and he seems to like it. I also dip grapes in the powder and give it to him.

As you guys said before, they're like toddlers. No interest in veggies if there's sweet apple on the way! :grin2

[Mel1959]

Maybe it’s the type or flavor of yogurt. Have you tried different flavors? Different brands? My flyer loves a particular brand of vanilla full fat yogurt. The brand I buy is a little sweeter than some others, but isn’t bitter like others. Strawberry and blueberry are other flavors that are usually well accepted, even coconut is liked.

[Diggie's Friend]

You will need to add to the yogurt crushed berries. Not sure what berries you have available there likely imported? If you would like a recommendation you can post what berries are available year round.

The Pumpkin seed oil is imported to your area. Just makesure to get an organic food grade source, not a carrier oil.

This source added to the yogurt will add a nutty flavor to it. With this grind part of the daily nut portion and sprinkle it on top and add a bit mixed in also.

You might be able to get a can of this pumpkin seed oil source: https://www.pumpkinseedoil.cc/ps/shop/0-75-liter-styrian-pumpkin-seed-oil-store-brand

[RedBen]

I tried different types of yoghurt but he's not a big fan! We have blackberries, blueberries, raspberries, strawberries... The basic!

I made an instagram account to keep up the video's and photo's of Red. If you all like to see it you can visit it by going to www.instagram.com/redthesquirrel

[RedBen]

Hi everyone,
a little update on Red.

He's doing great, he's eating a lot more different stuff and has taken a liking to stealing apple from my fruit basket rather than his own that I give him in the cage. He's running around like a mad man with his 'daily crazy 10 minutes'.

He's not any more tame than he was before but he's not as scared of us anymore and turned the corner of the couch into his potty place... Lol.

I put my phone down to film him while he played and took some screenshots of that.

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[RedBen]

Oh, and before I forget, my biggest achievement... He stopped backflipping completely!!!!!!

[Chirps]

Hi! Hope you and Red are doing well. Some of my yard squirrels are starting to get their "earmuffs", and that reminded me of Red. Please, has he started or finished growing the looong tufts? Any chance of some pics? :squirrel6