Biting / Nibbling on Me

[Rhapsody]

Max is 7 weeks old now (will be 8 weeks old in three days) and he has just recently started to nibble and bite my skin every time he is on me..... is this a part of his temperamental teen phase and will it pass soon (or) get worse?

[hazel]

It could get worse unless you show him that you don't like it! When a squirrel bites or nibbles too hard I make a sudden loud squeaky noise. They definately seem to get the message. :thumbsup

[FLUFFYTAILNUT]

Yes..it could ge worse...I would tell him..and STILL tell him..NO BITING..ans some times..a gentle tap..on the nose..no, no..no biting..and when he's play biting..now..I do..a high pitched..ow..ow..no, biting..ouch...he will STOP right away..and do a gentle nibble..his pressure does definately change..by my saying no, no..or the high pitched OW OW...
So..try those ...things out..see if the help..Bean is almost 5 months old now..but he LOVES to play...frisky boy..and get your use to getting the nails clipped..man..thats important..because youll be clipping them OFTEN..they can get like razors..and wear a turtle neck sweater..I keep ONE just by his cage..for just when I going to hold him..man has that saved my arms..and neck!!:alright.gif

[Rhapsody]

I would tell him..and STILL tell him..NO BITING..ans some times..a gentle tap..on the nose..no, no..no biting..

Yeah - that is what I have been doing and he does stop when I tell him to stop and then tap gently under his mouth...
but then he starts right back up when he moves onto a new section of skin. :rotfl

I will just have to remain consistent with him - just as if he was a small child trying to test my patients as they so often do - gotta love them. :)

[Sciurus1]

Hi, Just to add to the rest of the good advice. If perhaps the biting in part is just him scrapping his e teeth on you without the pressure, like moving forward to mow the hair on the arm, that is grooming, and a way they show acceptance. As long as it doens't turn into a play bite then it is ok. They do play bite, and to do that using a toy for them to bite is ok. But they you let them win by giving them the toy after getting it gently in their face as they attack it, and then you win getting it in their face and shaking it a bit, but don't overdo it, they are small creatures. You will get the hang of it though, knowing how much to do to keep it at a play level. Check out some of the Videos of people playing with their young squirrels on Youtube, they show some things that work well for play to use with squirrels. They love a long stick to grap chew and hand from too. Be careful you do not hang them over the floor, but over a soft surface like a bed, and not too high. They do need to play, and bite what they play, just not you. You will get faster, and hopefully they will get gentler, just as the others say, let them know it hurts when they bite to discourage doing that with you. Having an appropriate thing to bite helps allot, and doesn't hurt you or them. Best to have a balanced view of biting. Oh, and sorry, I don't agree about tapping on the nose, it just makes them more aggressive, like you are challenging them to a fight. Anything in the face is aggression, as that is what squirrels do with one another, they face off. Saying owe, is good, but playing with them to wear them out first is very effective. Then handling them is far easier, and more pleasant for both you and the squirrel.

[toasty]

and get your use to getting the nails clipped..man..thats important..because youll be clipping them OFTEN..they can get like razors..and wear a turtle neck sweater..I keep ONE just by his cage..for just when I going to hold him..man has that saved my arms..and neck!!:alright.gif


You can clip their nails...........oh thank goodness :multi I clip my cat's nails but I wasn't sure about my little squirrel. How can I do that safely? He's so wild, I have a hard time holding him still. :thinking I wouldn't want to hurt him.

[4skwerlz]

Some people give their squirrels an emory board (for the guys, it's what women use to file their nails) to play and fight with....files down those sharp little nails.

[jules]

Hi! :wave123

I used to make a loud noise that made her stop and listen! It's called distraction therapy!
You can use objects too! Give her a twig or a toy to take his concentration off you.:thumbsup

Jules. :Love_Icon

[pamela lee]

If you at any point plan on releasing your rehabbed squirrel, PLEASE, do not clip their nails. Once they are released they will need their nails to climb, dig and eat. The nibbling and biting is also part of their growing-up and in some cases, wilding-up.

[Rhapsody]

The nibbling and biting is also part of their growing-up


Yeah that is what I thought..... for I have three Sugar Gliders and about the 3rd month of their life they go thru their teenage stage and they like to test you with biting and nibbling - you have to break them of it or they will bite you harder in time.

[Buddy'sMom]

Nibbling, grooming, biting, sharp claws --- these are all part of being a squirrel. If it is a problem that you can't accept and deal with, then hopefully you are raising the baby to be released. Sorry if that sounds harsh ... but you can't make them into a different animal. They will act squirrelly. It comes with the territory.

Having said that, however, there are things that you can do to make life more comfortable for all:

1. Claws -- As said, DO NOT CLIP THEM if your squirrel is (or may be) released. If you aren't sure yet, do not clip. Although claws do continue to grow, they will not be safe outside if the clipping harms their nail bed in any way. Put on a flannel shirt when with your squirrel, maybe even a turtleneck and a flannel shirt. Always tuck the shirt in so they can't get up underneath.

2. Teaching them -- all good ideas given above. They CAN learn not to bite you (for the most part). You need to be FIRM and CONSISTENT. Say NO! like you mean it -- every single time the biting gets a bit too agrressive. GLARE at them! What Buddy'sDad found helpful was to grab Buddy by the scruff of the neck when he got out of hand -- he instantly went submissive, just like Mom had grabbed him. With Buddy'sDad, Buddy NEVER bit hard enough to break the skin, even though they played rough sometimes. It was always "play biting" and he knew just how hard he could press.

3. However..... All of the suggestions should help keep things under control... for the most part. But you must remember that this is a wild animal. He may get spooked by something that you don't even notice. You just need to assume that one day you WILL get bitten. It will hurt like hell and bleed alot. Clean it and stop the bleeding just like any other cut. It will heal quickly. Your squirrel will forget about it almost right away -- this is normal squirrel behavior, remember? (You will not :shakehead ) Why am I saying this? Just so you are mentally prepared -- and ready to resist the natural impulse to yank your hand away or throw the squirrel off -- that will hurt both of you worse. And it would be very dangerous for the little squirrel if you fling it into a wall or worse.

Last fall, nearly all the TSB members that were raising babies at the time reported at least one "biting incident" (meaning, with blood, not play biting) as their squirrel approached release age. Will your baby bite you? :dono :dono Maybe. Maybe not. Just be prepared. And be aware that they may not take kindly to people other than their primary caregiver -- many biting incidents were with another person.

The squirrels that have become permanent family members do seem to get past that stage, for the most part. But it might happen, even then. There is no way to know.

Hope this is helpful -- I didn't mean to sound too negative or alarming. But everyone needs to be realistic about how squirrels act as they grow up.

:grouphug :Love_Icon :grouphug

[pamela lee]

:goodpost BM

[FLUFFYTAILNUT]

Some people give their squirrels an emory board (for the guys, it's what women use to file their nails) to play and fight with....files down those sharp little nails.
I think thats a great idea!!Ill be doing that..!!:peace

[scoobysnack]

Scooby reminds me of a kitten on crack so I've been doing what I do with kittens. I never play too rough with a kitten and I adhere to that with Scooby.

We play, and we have fun, but I draw lines. If it gets to excited or manic I redirect her onto some food or chew object. I allow her to take my fingers in her mouth. She has been VERY gentle but I do pick a pressure point at which I decide it's enough and I make a hissy sort of "AHHT" noise which, for some reason, stops her dead in her tracks. She freezes a second and goes right back to playing on "beginner mode" again. When she amps up again I repeat that sound and she stops immediately.

I've intentionally given her the opportunity to bite me hard just to see if she would. Hell, can't hurt more than being kicked to the bone by a horse (been there done that) so what the heck. At least I can get a baseline for what she has planned. So far, nothing, even given ample opportunity she has remained very gentle.

She does a lot of that grooming. It's very sweet. She goes up and down my arms with only her lower teeth and I usually return the favor up and down her back with my lips. Heaven only knows what kinda squirrly germs I'm getting :rotfl

I like redirection for most training. If something is happening you don't like you make a noise to distract and then redirect their attention onto something else. Worked for my kid!!! She's almost 18 and is a great kid. She'll probably be a serial killer someday cause it's always those ones who never do anything wrong in their teenage years :rotfl

Scooby let me trim her nails with a baby nail clipper the other night. I just took off the very very very end where that needle sharp tip is. You can hardly see it cause it's transparent at this age. I'm going to get an emory board though. I was thinking also those perches for parrots, the real big scritchy cement ones. If I could encourage her to climb up and down one of those, that would probably help too!

[FLUFFYTAILNUT]

Scooby sounds alot like Bean..very gentle..but gets a little wound up..caught up in the moment...has her Kitty moments...I had done this really great HAND SAVER...I wear my turtle neck..only while holder him...BUT I made these slits..by the wrist area..let me show you..now..my hands are starting to heal..from the samari..slashes(even withe the trimming) he's just being a squirrel...I know..But this shirt thing HELPS!!
::HALELueja.:::: (sp)Let me show you...look at the pictures..
I just wanted to put a few on here...DONT want to offend any one with too many pcitures..
I hope this will help you..in letting your hands/arms not take a beating any more..as mine have...(BUT not anymore)
Rachel.........................

[Rhapsody]

Nibbling, grooming, biting, sharp claws --- these are all part of being a squirrel. If it is a problem that you can't accept and deal with, then hopefully you are raising the baby to be released. Sorry if that sounds harsh ... but you can't make them into a different animal. They will act squirrelly. It comes with the territory.

Actually we can get our point across with out having to be harsh..... and I was only asking for I was not for sure if squirrels go thru the same thing as Sugar Gliders do when they enter their teen phase - - - I am pretty sure that I can handle one squirrel after having three gliders on me at one time.

Please keep in mind that most people ask questions for knowledge and usually not for the OMG I can't take this type of reaction.
... I was simply asking for knowledge.

[FLUFFYTAILNUT]

Actually we can get our point across with out having to be harsh..... and I was only asking for I was not for sure if squirrels go thru the same thing as Sugar Gliders do when they enter their teen phase - - - I am pretty sure that I can handle one squirrel after having three gliders on me at one time.

Please keep in mind that most people ask questions for knowledge and usually not for the OMG I can't take this type of reaction.
... I was simply asking for knowledge.
:bowdown :bowdown :bowdown :bowdown :bowdown :bowdown :bowdown :thankyou :thankyou :thankyou :thankyou :thankyou :thankyou

[squarletsmom]

Hello. I've been away for awhile - but thought I would jump in here.
Squarlet used to tear my arms to shreddssss! My saving grace has been a denim jacket that buttons up the front (all the way to the neck). Just turn the collar up and let the squirrel pretend you are a tree. YOU cannot feel a thing! I actually have a couple of them I use all the time.
I also have started clipping her nails in the past couple of years. For the first year - she was too wild to control - and I thought I might release her. But once I took her off of sunflower seeds - and calmed her down a bit - I have been able to trim her nails, but only when she is in the mood. Most of the time I try to do it - she scampers away. But every now and then - I guess when she is ready to have it done - she just lays up on the back of her teddy bear and lets me do what I want. I have cut them very short before - but usually I just take the ends off. I kinda miss all the scratches.

About being bit... The worst I have ever been bitten was when I reached for her at the same time someone else said something. If she thinks someone else is reaching for her - she reacts with an attack bite. No one but me can touch her - and she hates my boyfriend who originally saved her!

She can't seem to think - then react - wild animal instincts I guess. She has gotten me a couple of times when she was looking at the cat in front of her on the floor - and I touched her from behind. Wham!
I try to always be prepared for it - and keep my face turned away most of the time she is climbing on me. She has mellowed out in her older age - but she is still pretty crazy sometimes. I do the owwww load noise distraction thing - and I have pushed her away sternly and said no in a bold voice. I glare at her and she knows that she went too far. She will then come back to my hand and lick it. I love her!
Anyway... I hope you have a great time with your baby!
May God Bless You as He Has Me!:wahoo

[Rhapsody]

Thanks for the reply Squarletsmom...... I think I will go with the Turtle Neck ideal and cut a slit in both arms to go around my hand as FLUFFYTAILNUT has done.... as Max likes to hang around my neck area and climb my arms like a tree branch.
I always wear a tank-top under my shirt as Max likes to crawl down my shirt and go to sleep.... this way my belly, shoulders and back are safe - :)

I was sure this biting / nibbling was probably just a stage Max was going thru, but since I have never raised (or owned) a squirrel I thought it would be better to ask someone than to let it go.... I am glad I asked.

[Buddy'sMom]

... Please keep in mind that most people ask questions for knowledge and usually not for the OMG I can't take this type of reaction.
... I was simply asking for knowledge.
And that was exactly how I read your post, Rhapsody. I'm sorry if mine came across wrong -- I was only trying to provide helpful information to you ... and to others ... both in this thread and in others I've seen recently. It has occurred to me that people have been talking only about the cuddly squirrelly stuff ... but I recalled that later in the fall last year, there was a whole lot of biting going on. I thought it would be helpful to share some thoughts about the biting and scratching that can be part of the whole experience. So everyone would have a realistic idea of how a squirrel's behavior can change as they get older. I'm sorry if it wasn't worded in a more helpful way. :peace :peace

[4skwerlz]

My WILD squirrels seemed to be able to learn to be gentle with me. I let them climb all over me, look for peanuts in my pockets, climb up my bare legs. When they are climbing my flesh and dig in with those sharp claws, I go "OWWW" and they seem to understand; they actually will climb very softly and carefully the next time, trying to grip with just the pads--I swear! Of course, I never "play fight" with them, which I agree encourages them to be rough. What Scoobysnack said about kittens, I agree completely, I NEVER wrestled with my kitties. It just encouraged them to bite and claw. They knew that teeth and claws were NEVER okay with me. I hate it when you reach to pet a cat's head and she claws at you. The second the teeth or claws came out, it was "NO!" and walk away--no more play. For play fighting, a stuffed animal was always my "proxy." NEVER the hand.

[4skwerlz]

When Baby and I play or wrestle, it's always with a little stuffed animal in my hand. I'll take the animal and brush it against her and have it act like it is jumping up and down, and Baby will bite on it, wrap around it, and pull on it, but if she happens to get my hand, she stops immediately, until I fix my grip on the toy, and we start all over again. She loves to do that. :)

4skwerlz, I know just what you mean about how they try to be more gentle. If I have shorts on, or a nightshirt, Baby always (well, not always :hurt usually) jumps up high enough to grab my clothes, and not the bare skin. If she does get my legs, she acts like she's crawling up in slow motion, as not to hurt me. :D Oh, I love her! :Love_Icon :Love_Icon

Lynn gave me the idea of when Baby wants to jump on my arms, or race around on me, to take an old tube sock, and cut out the toe part with finger and thumb holes, and slid it on like a glove. It works great! :thumbsup

Squirrels are so smart! Just as responsive (or moreso) than dogs! I love Baby too!:Love_Icon

[Rhapsody]

I guess squirrels are just like any sugar glider or dog...... they all like to play bite with their owners, but they would never hurt us - they bite / nibble in a much gentler way than they would if were an animal.



Here is a PIC of my Big Baby "Zulu" and PICS of her two best friends "Sudie" & "Butch"...... and while Zulu will play bite with me often, she has never hurt me. :Love_Icon

[Rhapsody]

Awww...What beautiful little "babies" you have! :Love_Icon :Love_Icon



Thank YOU.... they are my Pride & Joy and the BIG one is the biggest baby of them all. :D

[Sciurus1]

Oooh, that is so special when they come back to lick you and make up!