First time rehabber and release

[Mslusser1]

Hello!

I am a first time rehabber and found out little baby on sept 4th and guesses she was about 5 weeks old. Little willow is doing great! She has doubled in size is weaning off formula herself and eating veggies, Henry’s blocks, and fruit like a champ. We are in west central Illinois and do not have an outside means of overwintering at this time. We currently have her ina 3 ft by 2 ft by 4 foot tall cage. We ended up keeping her as many of our rehabs locally was full due to the derecho that went through here several weeks ago. Thanks for your advice!

Is there anyway we can release in about four weeks time providing we hang up her nesting box and provide food on a daily basis for her? If not can she be kept in the same cage we have her in for the winter? At the rate she is growing in afraid it will become to small and just want to provide her with the best we can! We don’t plan on becoming repeat rehabber at this time and would be willing to build an outdoor enclosure if release isn’t possible. I was just looking for advice and exploring options!

[stepnstone]

Hello!

I am a first time rehabber and found out little baby on sept 4th and guesses she was about 5 weeks old. Little willow is doing great! She has doubled in size is weaning off formula herself and eating veggies, Henry’s blocks, and fruit like a champ. We are in west central Illinois and do not have an outside means of overwintering at this time. We currently have her ina 3 ft by 2 ft by 4 foot tall cage. We ended up keeping her as many of our rehabs locally was full due to the derecho that went through here several weeks ago. Thanks for your advice!

Is there anyway we can release in about four weeks time providing we hang up her nesting box and provide food on a daily basis for her? If not can she be kept in the same cage we have her in for the winter? At the rate she is growing in afraid it will become to small and just want to provide her with the best we can! We don’t plan on becoming repeat rehabber at this time and would be willing to build an outdoor enclosure if release isn’t possible. I was just looking for advice and exploring options!

We do not release squirrels in the winter months regardless of providing support. Having limited tree cover with their inexperience would subject them to becoming prey to hawks among others. The natural instinct to forge and the lack of natural food sources in the winter months would subject them to fights among the "locals." They need time to acclimate to the outside temps, the sights and sounds of their environment and the hierarchy among the elder squirrels.
From what you say Willow is approx a hair over 9 weeks old, she should be over wintered inside with a proper *pre-release set for the spring. She is a single, the cage you mentioned will be adequate for over wintering.
Below is a link to a forum on pre- release (aka soft release) to give you some ideas on preparation for a spring pre- release.

https://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?41071-SOFT-RELEASE-The-How-to-Sticky

[island rehabber]

Remember that squirrels love height -- they want to go up up UP! If you put her 4' high cage on a table that makes it 6-7' high, she will be far happier than if it was on the floor. It's more about how high they can go rather than how wide :grin2. stepnstone is right, she needs to be overwintered inside, in your climate.