Is Three a Crowd??

[Snicker Bar]

After Dandies passed, Doodles my neuro grieved so. And then Hopper, the very deformed T-Rex baby came and they were instant companions.

Today I’ve been observing the young adult that recently came… the stroke (?) head trauma (??) that has nearly fully recovered except for no sense of fear, no aggression.

I’ve been testing her with my NR’s under supervision (that I know won’t chainsaw her ) Doodles (neuro and no teeth) and Hopper (teeth yes, but deformed feet.)

She seemed absolutely curious, and then not the least bit concerned about Doodles sniffing and flopping on her…. Literally while eating a piece of pecan??!?

Not sounds/grrrs at all. I’m cautiously trying Hopper now. In HER cage , not theirs.

If?? There is no aggression, would she be happier with them when they have to be caged at night and certain times of day?? I know they are solitary, but Doodles and Hopper so love to sleep/cuddle together, and even frisk and play best they can.

Would a third , if she’s totally docile /brain not right (?), ruin this bond? Or could they potentially be comforts to each other??

[CritterMom]

I think you just need to try it when you can closely monitor them for a while and see what transpires. The neuro damage means that an awful lot of what we think of their behavior simply doesn't apply any longer. Like Javarat's Neuro Mommy Brigade that eagerly raise tons of babies that aren't theirs. We had a person here for some years and I hope I am forgiven that I cannot drag her screen name out, but she had a big, adult male that came in as a rear leg para with neuro damage that didn't give him the head tilt/spinning in circles/"vague" demeanor you associate with neuros - he seemed like a normal pet squirrel and THAT was the thing...he was a big, wild alpha male that would have eaten her alive normally, but was her lap squirrel for the rest of his life. His neuro symptom was his utter tameness. Your girl seems the same way. I think there must be some specific part of the brain - the wild part, that when damaged, does this.

They may love being together or they may not, but if they DO, it would be wonderful for all three...

[Snicker Bar]

I guess I was hopefully optimistic…

And even making a plan in my head of how to convince my husband to allow just one more triple CN in the bedroom….

But “Hopper” the little T-Rex said NO. That’s my Doodles!

The Doodles test went amazingly well! I guess for the fact they are both neuro? As I said, Doodlebug literally rolled and lurched (she has balance issues) and almost knocked over Baby Ruth as she sat and nibbled a treat during the first 30 seconds of introductions. Doodles wobbled right up to Ruth and was snuffling around trying to find a crumb. No aggression. No fear. Baby even sniffed and almost started grooming Doodles. But then just casually hopped away when the treats were gone and went back to her cube.

Hopper was not amused at all. I tried him next… It lasted about 20 seconds. Baby Ruth came up to sniff him , and he instantly threw up his tail , backed up, and threw up his little Barney the Dinosaur hands and went to chattering. And then he attempted to attack her (but he can’t run!) so I scooped up his little pretzel body and put him back with his fat Mama.

So the conclusion of this study:

Two brain damaged squirrels could work. But if we add the ‘normal brain’ but deformed little male, we have a war.

Do you think my husband may have had something to do with this??

I saw him whispering to Hopper.

Something about our bedroom and housing projects…

325100
“Hopper” and his “Doodlebug”

325099
“Hopper” aka “Chopper”, “T-Rex”