View Full Version : Can I release Phewtus?
MumOfPhewtus
10-22-2007, 12:21 PM
Hey guys! I'm new to this thread... About 4-5 weeks ago I was blessed with a precious little squirrel (who was caught initially by a cat)... After trying to get in touch with a rehabber and hearing nothing in return, I nursed him back to health (with antibiotics and wound cleansing) and he is doing quite well (as far as I can tell)... He is in my room in a large cage (about 4.5 feet high, 2 feet wide, and 3.5 feet long)... I was not planning on keeping him for a long time (as I have 3 cats and an iguana to take care of) and am wondering if I can release him back into the wild...
I was thinking I could put the cage outside and leave it open for him to come and go, but that way he will have a place to stay warm/get food if need be... I'm not sure how old he is either- I'll try to post some pictures for you guys...
pamela lee
10-22-2007, 12:33 PM
:Welcome, We would really need to know how old Phewtus is. They're not old enough to release until they are around 12 to 14 weeks. Can he crack a Walnut all by his self? I hope you can get a pic then the rehabbers can help with age and release.
MumOfPhewtus
10-22-2007, 12:41 PM
How do I put pictures up on here? I'm usually pretty good at figuring it out... but, cant seem to figure it out on here....
when I got him he had hair/fur everywhere, teeth, eyes open... I'm pretty sure he was on the 'older' side... I started him off on puppy formula... he got an acorn and destroyed it, and he eats sunflower seeds and nuts... he likes apples... and i recently got him a huge block of corn/sunflower seeds for him and he's torn that apart...
I will get pictures up as soon as I figure it out~ :) Thanks again!
pamela lee
10-22-2007, 12:54 PM
How do I put pictures up on here? I'm usually pretty good at figuring it out... but, cant seem to figure it out on here....
I will get pictures up as soon as I figure it out~ :) Thanks again!
Lucky you, you've ended up with the most computer illiterate person on the board. Now Ican do pictures, but I can't explain how. Sorry.
What kind of squirrel is Phewtus? Are you feeding him anything other then the seeds and nuts? Their really not good for squirrels.
Sarah
10-22-2007, 01:12 PM
:Welcome MOP!
To upload pictures from your computer:
Click post reply button - a Reply to Thread window will open.
Scroll down past the submit and preview post buttons and you'll see a section titled Additional Options.
You'll see a MANAGE ATTACHMENTS button under Attach Files. Click it, and a new window will open.
Click on the BROWSE button, you'll see the generic view of your computer, find the file, click OPEN. Then click UPLOAD. It might a take a few seconds.
Images will not show up if you preview your post, but you can see the file names you've attached in the Additional Options section.
MumOfPhewtus
10-22-2007, 01:46 PM
Here are some pictures- hopefully they work... these were taken around the 23 of september (a couple of weeks after I got Phewtus)... I'll try and take some of him now...
he's eating fruit (apple) and acorns too...
any suggestions as to what I can get for him? I'm glad nuts arent the best, cause those things are expensive! haha....
thanks for your helps guys!
MumOfPhewtus
10-22-2007, 01:47 PM
wow- i didnt realize how big they were going to be! haha... sorry!
pamela lee
10-22-2007, 02:08 PM
AWWW.......what an adorable baby Phewtus is. I was hoping a rehabber would come and tell you how old they think Phewtus is. I'm also not very good at aging, you're probably wondering "Heck, what is she good at". It looks like you've done a great job so far.
Buddy'sMom
10-22-2007, 02:42 PM
He's adorable!!! You will get lots of advice on release options, which depend in part on age (his), geography (yours), etc. To get a head start on thinking about it, you can read the release sections in the articles linked here: http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?t=56
:grouphug
squirrelsrule&bunniestoo
10-22-2007, 02:57 PM
He is beautiful! He looks like he is about 8-10 weeks old in the pictures, so that would make him 12-14 weeks old now and right around release age. Can he crack open a walnut or other hard nut in the shell? That is very important. Also, you will probably want to put his cage out for a week or so during the day before you release him so he is used to the weather.
MumOfPhewtus
10-22-2007, 03:01 PM
I am in Virginia- its just begun to get 'fall' like weather here... It gets colder (about 50's) at night and its still decently warm (low 80's) during the day...when the sun is at...
dunno if that helps anybody who would know if it would be alright to release phewtus :)
squirrelsrule&bunniestoo
10-22-2007, 03:03 PM
Yes, it is a good time of the year to release him in Virginia. He should have plenty of time to build a nest and gather nuts before the leaves fall off the trees and it gets cold there.
anneke
10-22-2007, 03:36 PM
He is just darling!!!
I hope he is a release-able age and look forward to hearing about his return to the wild.
thundersquirrel
10-22-2007, 03:48 PM
considering his age (both when you got him, and how old he is now) i say definitely release him this season.
here's what i would do if i were you. start putting him outside IN A CAGE with a NESTBOX (the box is important) for a few hours each day, during the day. keep an eye on him at first to make sure the yard critters don't bother him.
continue to put him out during the day for a week or so. meanwhile, build or buy a double wire cage. after a week or so, move him and his nestbox into the double wire cage and keep him outside 24/7. watch him closely- make sure he can jump, forage, and nest, and knows that upward=safety. limit your interaction with him to only putting out food.
after a week or two of being outside in-cage 24/7, plug his nestbox (with him inside) and hang it high up on a nice tree nearby (preferrably pine). you can continue to feed him through the winter, or until he makes a nest of his own elsewhere.
that's what i would do if i were you. there are other routes, so if you don't think this is good, let us know. ;)
Luv4scratty
11-05-2007, 03:11 PM
I'm not sure why but it won't let me strat a new thred, i have a squrriel named Squggle. He was born about last April but is extremly messed up. He used to have a tooth that would poke out of his mouth it looked like a fang. Lucly though, he was able to get the tooth off. He is very small and even though he was born last April he looks like he is only 4 monthes old and you can see his ribbs. His bottom teeth are really overgrown and when he eats he makes a chirping noise. We think is is beacuse it hurts him to eat. I have another squrrile which is tame beacuse we raised him. So im not new to the whole squrriel consept. Please winter is coming and i would appretate any suggestions to help wear down his teeth.
Scrat(from ice age)Squiggle,and Mangy's mommi
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