Help from people with multiple squirrels... I have some questions

[Tootsie's mom]

Okay these are my 5 and 6th squirrel babies but I have always has singletons never more that one so this brings me to this post.. they are brother and sister will they be okay in same cage or do I need to buy another one? Not sure if they will be mean to each other or get a long because they are litter mates... I am thinking they will be fine together until.... She goes into heat!!! Also at what age do they going heat? What do I do during that time because they are brother and sister I need to keep them apart how do you guys handle that... These loves will be mine til spring and I want to know what I'm in store for so I can get ready don't want to wait til last minute and be in panic mode lol
Also I want to thank you all because when I had my last baby Tootsie she was my only pinky 5 days old I was lost and scared she was so fragile and I found this place I truly believe you guys saved my baby... I am so glad you guys help so many babies!! So thank you because I don't think y'all here that enough!!

[Spanky]

They will be fine together. I see you are in Florida, so I am curious why they would not be released before the spring?

[Tootsie's mom]

They will be fine together. I see you are in Florida, so I am curious why they would not be released before the spring?

I was always told they would not have time to gather food needed before it gets cold out and to keep them til spring I am in North Florida

[Tootsie's mom]

What about when she goes in heat what age will that happen or is it more of a seasonal thing does it just happen closer to spring?

[Spanky]

I am in Northern GA and release through the end of November, releasing on my property so they can always return here for food. I've never heard of Florida peeps overwintering, but maybe some Florida peeps can weigh in here. If you separate them and release them separately, IMO they'd be worse off than releasing together when they reach the appropriate age this fall (and an appropriate soft release).

When I do overwinter, I over winter in the outdoor release cages if possible (not too many). I can typically release by end of February here, so there is really only 3 months when I do not release.

[Tootsie's mom]

I always thought I was supposed to keep them til spring... Well that's good to know but I might keep them til then anyway so I don't worry... And I know they will have easy start in spring but it's awesome to know it's not needed where I am and if need I can release. Thank you for that!

[cassgrimm]

I've never heard of Florida peeps overwintering, but maybe some Florida peeps can weigh in here.


When I lived in northern Florida (Okaloosa county), we would not typically release in Jan/Feb. However, some years there really isn't much cold and so the trees stay pretty well leafed through the entirety of the winter months. With those mild conditions, we released year-round.

I'm in central Florida now and basically just watch the trees. If there is good leafage, and plenty of things still blooming, I will release. I do, however, currently release on my own property and so I am able to support them for as long as they want it.

I hope that helps!

[Tootsie's mom]

When I lived in northern Florida (Okaloosa county), we would not typically release in Jan/Feb. However, some years there really isn't much cold and so the trees stay pretty well leafed through the entirety of the winter months. With those mild conditions, we released year-round.

I'm in central Florida now and basically just watch the trees. If there is good leafage, and plenty of things still blooming, I will release. I do, however, currently release on my own property and so I am able to support them for as long as they want it.

I hope that helps!

Thank you so much for input!!

[OneLuckyLady]

I am in Northern GA and release through the end of November, releasing on my property so they can always return here for food. I've never heard of Florida peeps overwintering, but maybe some Florida peeps can weigh in here. If you separate them and release them separately, IMO they'd be worse off than releasing together when they reach the appropriate age this fall (and an appropriate soft release).

When I do overwinter, I over winter in the outdoor release cages if possible (not too many). I can typically release by end of February here, so there is really only 3 months when I do not release.


I am just a tad below the Big Bend on FL west coast. This year my first time rescuing. We experienced a pretty good wind storm late summer; started off with a single, sweet 4-5wk EG "Myrtle". Next day, neighbor across the street informed me he had found one, waited for mom to show back up (as did I), but she was no show after two days. Thus, 2-3wk "CocoPuff" added to litter. Three days later, the same neighbor called to inform me he had missed one who was near death; and would I also take in another one. This, I believe was CocoPuff's brother "Lucky Pockets". He was SEVERELY emaciated, but thanks to this board, he is now a thriving, goofball, ninja, pain in the butt. Which one my reasons for responding.

First, I'll answer your question. Having them together I believe helped save them. They cuddled, snuggled & later on played together. I thought of doing separate releases as Lucky was developmentally growing at a slower rate than the girls. Plus Myrtle was at least a wk or 2 older. I decided against separate release as was worried would be harder on the littler ones eventually being alone. Thanksgiving was our target release day. They had been in their pre-release outdoor cage going on 3 wks, so we decided to leave open small door a wk early and let them venture out (hubby built pre-release cage for them to use as long as they please). They were gone in an instant, running up and down the big oak, along the fence. They were extremely happy. I knew releasing them in our "soft" winter would mean I'd still have to provide for them until spring as they haven't had time to stockpile any food. Now, every evening you'll see 3 EG's coming back to their "home" from 3 separate areas/trees, nesting together for the night, coming to greet me as I have my morning coffee, getting their rodent blocks for the day (I'm tossing on ground to discourage hand feeding and biting). Which, they immediately go bury.
They're all doing fine and we've had low of 41°F overnight already. I make sure their nesting box has plenty of old fleece material in it to help keep them warm. Hubby built one large box (3.5'x1.5'x1.5') rectangle with 3 holes (see pics/cage sideways in pic). Was too late to place separator in it as he made it fixed in place inside the cage.

I know this only going to last until they're old enough to mate (10 months per Google). Once hormones kick in, well, just like teenagers, not long before they leave the nest and start their own families. Right now, my issue is Coco & Lucky jumping all over me when I'm taking their food out. I'm scratched from head to toe and they both love to bite! Myrtle is sweet, gentle hasn't bitten. Comes to eat w/o attacking me. Oh, and not just me. Anyone who walks near my back door. They climb all over the screens to my enclosed patio. As soon as the door opens, there's literally Luckys face right in my face. He's stretched across the door as I'm opening it to exit the patio. After a few min Coco & Myrtle head to the cage where I place their food. However, Lucky hangs around, bouncing off the screen to a Shepherds hook with wind chimes on it to make it chime, over to a fairy statue where he'll sit and wait for me. Then he's climbing all over me; and if he gets near my fingers...definitely getting bit. He's even wriggled his head into my pocket and bit my finger there.

Is there any way to get him to stop being so aggressive? I only handled them to feed them. Never played with them as my intention all along was for release. Or is this a wait it out until spring thing?
Thanks for any input. Hope mine helped.

Of course when I went out to take these pics for this post, all three come running for me, so included their pics. Coco Puff (on the door of cage...named for her :poop a BUNCH every time I fed her), Myrtle (1st pic...found under our Crepe Myrtle tree), and Lucky Pockets (Lucky 2nd pic...Lucky to be alive, Pockets cause he always tried to climb in mine)

TikTok @bbsquirrels to see them grow

[Lake Gypsy]

They're fine together! More than fine actually, they'll learn from each other how to squirrel, keep each other warm, play together and learn to squabble, keep each other company, learn to hide their food without being watched and gain confidence from watching each other! I regularly will combine litters once they're passed quarantine and will add singles to litters so they have the benefits of being with each other.

As far as breeding goes, they won't need sexually mature by next spring, unless they're already 7 months or so.