NR squirrel care advice

[Newbiewnc]

My Henny girl is now 16 weeks and a pretty, healthy although tail-less and toe-less(Just one back toe partly missing) Wonderful squirrel girls we have been preparing the outdoor cage for her but between poison ivy and rain I’m not making much progress. She’s in a 6x2x3’ cage now and comes out to eat breakfast in my lap, play and explore in her room at 7am and again at 6pm for dinner. It’s difficult to get her in her cage and I don’t like bribing her with nuts but that’s what I do sometimes. She’s not aggressive at all just a squirrel. I’m just wondering if anyone has advice on how to keep her exercised and entertained in this situation. Once we can get this large outdoor space arranged she will have a 16x10x6’ cage plus a large wooden shelter that was a chicken house. I think that will help her be happy. I’ve had her since she was about three weeks. We rescued from a fire and her sibling didn’t survive it. She has been raised alone by just my husband and I. I am afraid releasing her would be certain death pretty quick where I live and if I release her somewhere else then I can’t provide food or help if she doesn’t know what to do. This is the reason I’m not planning on a release. That being said I keep in my mind that if a day comes when she just runs for the woods or is clearly unhappy cages I just have to somehow find peace in that. Ugh. That makes me freak out. I know she’s a wild creature but she’s been raised solely by us so wild is kinda relative. There’s no real good information I can find for long term care and f a nr squirrel. I guess I’m wondering if the outdoor cage is the way to go or Is indoor better. Also how do you all care for these squirrels I keep reading live 10-20 years?? I’ve made it this far but I’m kinda struggling now with how to continue and give her a good happy healthy life. I appreciate any help or advice

[Andylove1]

My Henny girl is now 16 weeks and a pretty, healthy although tail-less and toe-less(Just one back toe partly missing) Wonderful squirrel girls we have been preparing the outdoor cage for her but between poison ivy and rain I’m not making much progress. She’s in a 6x2x3’ cage now and comes out to eat breakfast in my lap, play and explore in her room at 7am and again at 6pm for dinner. It’s difficult to get her in her cage and I don’t like bribing her with nuts but that’s what I do sometimes. She’s not aggressive at all just a squirrel. I’m just wondering if anyone has advice on how to keep her exercised and entertained in this situation. Once we can get this large outdoor space arranged she will have a 16x10x6’ cage plus a large wooden shelter that was a chicken house. I think that will help her be happy. I’ve had her since she was about three weeks. We rescued from a fire and her sibling didn’t survive it. She has been raised alone by just my husband and I. I am afraid releasing her would be certain death pretty quick where I live and if I release her somewhere else then I can’t provide food or help if she doesn’t know what to do. This is the reason I’m not planning on a release. That being said I keep in my mind that if a day comes when she just runs for the woods or is clearly unhappy cages I just have to somehow find peace in that. Ugh. That makes me freak out. I know she’s a wild creature but she’s been raised solely by us so wild is kinda relative. There’s no real good information I can find for long term care and f a nr squirrel. I guess I’m wondering if the outdoor cage is the way to go or Is indoor better. Also how do you all care for these squirrels I keep reading live 10-20 years?? I’ve made it this far but I’m kinda struggling now with how to continue and give her a good happy healthy life. I appreciate any help or advice

Hello New,
I know exactly how you feel, I struggled with these same thoughts with my now NR Andy. I would say to you as I did, give your Henny girl every opportunity to wild-up. I had to overwinter my Andy so he has lived in my home since Labor Day, and he has his own room, which my husband thinks I'm crazy for, but it's ok though, deep down I know he loves him almost as much as I do. That being said I built him a release cage 8'H x8'L x6'D and had him in it for 2-1/2weeks hoping for him to adapt. Needless to say he never showed any interest in being wild. He would play in his RC for maybe an hour then go into his nesting box and stay there the rest of the day, he also was not eating much when he was out either. I too consulted with the WONDERFUL people here at TSB and was advised to leave him out just a little longer, however to keep him caged for more than a month would be cruel. Sadly, when I entered his cage one morning for feeding time, Andy got out and went missing for almost 2 full days and when he returned he was badly injured. Enough so I had to take him to a vet that would treat squirrels. The guilt I had felt because this happened was immeasurable because I felt like he was telling me he did not want to leave. I then brought him back into my home and he seemed to be happy to be back inside, his appetite improved and he was playing like himself again. In conclusion, I would just say, if you are his care-giver then you are familiar with his characteristics, just watch and wait, she will let you know when she's ready to go, or not. Although rare, these precious creatures sometimes just choose us. Good luck with miss Henny!!

Andysmom 🐿💕

[Mel1959]

Newbie, how much is tail-less? Can you post a picture? This could be a determining factor on her ability to maneuver well in the trees, as they use their tail for balance.

The most important aspect of keeping a NR is diet. They HAVE to eat some type of rodent block. The rest is about following the healthy food pyramid.

Outside enclosure seems like it might be nice, but limits the amount of interaction by you which could lead to her becoming aggressive. I believe most folks that have NR squirrels keep them indoors and provide out of cage time to give them the ability to jump and run.

[CritterMom]

In my opinion, if she is non releasable, she should live indoors. If she is never to live in the wild, then you want her surroundings to be what she WILL have, not what she would have if she wasn't NR. Nothing will encourage wildness like living in and around it - it is the very purpose of the "release" cages people build to let them wild up and develop the senses they need in the wild but in a controlled area so we can do our last parenting with them. I would spend my time, creativity and money building her a large indoor enclosure that you can trick out with the things she likes and can manage to do. Having something smaller that you can pop her into outside for short, fully chaperones times - she could join you on the deck or backyard for coffee or lunch that way, would be enjoyable for both of you, but if she is an indoor girl, have her there inside with you to live as part of your life, another member of the family.

IS she NR? Can you post us some photos? If she is just missing part of her tail and a bit of toe, that wouldn't make her NR unless the wounds are not what I am imagining. If that was the case, you could build the outdoor cage to be her release cage...

[Newbiewnc]

Thank you everyone. I will add a pic of her tail. It’s about the length of a jelly bean. It is furred now so that’s good. It’s really cute but her balance is a little wonky on skinny areas like her cage door. Her toe isn’t a big deal. It’s just the last knuckle of her back pinky toe. It’s healed just no claw and she doesn’t bend it. I hadn’t thought about her being inside with us permanently but that makes sense and would end my fear of a raccoon getting in. I have a lovely cage I put her in and roll her out in the deck on nice days. She seems to like it but mostly just chills on her limbs we put in. I have a lot to think about. Just want her to be a happy girl and be safe. We love her so much. The bottom pic is weeks ago before the fur grew back so you can see the actual length. That’s also part of the scar from her burns. She’s all furry now and too cute!315266315267

[CritterMom]

Wow. That is WAY more than a bad tail injury! That would likely be a problem. The tailbone is covering the spine, so it may not just be that she is imbalanced by her nub; she could have some nerve related issues back there. Poor baby!

[Newbiewnc]

Thank you Crittermom for your reply. I guess I’m always worried I’m being selfish keeping her but in my heart I know she is unsafe in the wild. It makes me feel better to hear that from a more experienced person.
She was a pitiful baby when we rescued her at three weeks but other than the tail and her fur on her back being kinda golden instead of gray over the scar she looks like a normal little girl now.
I’m going to take the advice from others and work on a more comfortable indoor cage and use her portable cage for out on the deck and when we travel. She’s been on weekend trips with us and does well. I’d be interested in any photos of other people’s cages for their NR. Henny is an active girl and we work full time so morning play and evening play at her feeding times are when she’s out of the cage. I’m still wondering how to wear these claws down some as they are scary sharp. I also read a lot about people letting their squirrel out in the house some. I haven’t been brave enough to try that. We keep her in one room with her cage and close the door when I let her out. I guess I’m concerned she’ll get into something that will hurt her and also back to the claws...I am fully suited in protective clothes right now and that’s not how I hang out in my house. I guess I’m just wondering how others make this sound so easy and normal...am I missing something major?

[Newbiewnc]

Alright I am 100% convinced about an indoor cage for NR Henny. I’ve spent the last day reading this forum anything I can find and it just seems like a permanent outdoor cage is a bad idea. Sooooooo now my question is does anyone have pictures of their indoor gray squirrel cage they would share. Right now Henny is in a 6’x3x2 cage. I will try to add a pic here. I let her out only in the room she stays in twice daily for feeding and play...about 30-45 minutes each. On my days off we play mid day too and sometimes I bring her on the deck to sun while I’m outside. I have a 52” rolling cage I bought that works great for this. I think I’ve got the diet down pretty good now. The Henry’s site and all the nutritional information here is awesome! Just looking for some more suggestions so that our girl can be as happy and entertained as possible. We knew this was a big responsibility to take on but we are prepared to go for it. Anything we can do to help her be happy is great. I have two dogs and a 14 year old cockatiel also so it seems the animals are taking over. Our dogs know she’s in her room but we don’t let them in. When on the porch I put up a baby gate so they can be in the yard and Henny on the deck. I feel like the crazy cat lady only worse now...no offense to cat ladies. I’m kidding.
Thanks all for your knowledge on this journey. I’m grateful for this site315280315281
This is a photo of her current indoor cage and the one I use on the deck. I place a towel over the side and top my f the outdoor cage for shade and security also.