Saving the babies! Release tree selection help needed

[DeBo14]

Hello everyone, I am also an accidental squirrel saver. I have a heavy population of squirrels between my yard and the neighbor's yard. In 25 years I have taken many injured or sick babies to rescue but the two that I have now(mom was ran over) are very healthy and unless things start to go sideways I'd like to finish their baby stages here so that they can return to the population and familiar surroundings. I am doing great, they are thriving, and I have proper food, feeding syringes, cages etc. I age them to now be 7 weeks. I already have a nesting box built and their outdoor cage is nearly complete. I am thinking ahead here so that I can make good decisions when it comes time for release. I have a maple and black walnut tree both are at least 35" circumference and extremely tall; more than suitable. Does anyone know if there are "rules and known common sense" tree facts within the squirrel population. I am asking because the maple tree has a nest already although it is very far up. I haven't spotted one in the walnut tree yet. The maple is closer to the house for me to keep an eye on but I am afraid they will get bullied out. I read that they can be territorial. Others say it's great to release where there are squirrels to teach them how to "squirrel". Does anyone have experience with this? Also, the brown and black squirrels tend to keep to themselves. Mine are black and the nest in tree has brown with some juveniles. Would that make a difference? Thank you for your help. This is a great forum!

[Charley Chuckles]

:Welcome
I live where we only have grey squirrels but since you rescued them in the same area you will be releasing I'm sure they will figure out where they want to live.
Sounds like your doing everything right👍

[Spanky]

Unless the squirrels are much larger and have an orange tummy (fox squirrel), they are all eastern grey squirrels (which come in the typical grey color with a white belly as well as black, white and many variations). Greys tend to dominate and run off the fox squirrels though fox squirrels like tree lines (lines of trees) while greys are happier in stands of trees...

I'd definitely NOT attempt to use the tree with juveniles to hang their nest box. They are territorial, and at least on my property, a mother with babies would never ever tolerate another nest in her tree (or any of the trees directly connected by branches, allowing the squirrel to travel from one to the other in the tree tops).

[DeBo14]

Thank you both for the help. I had a feeling there were rules of the yard. The last thing that I would want is to did everything right up to the last step and it would break my heart to see them get bullied.