Turning "Wild"...OVERNIGHT? (LONG)

[Willow's Mom]

Here is the background: Received Willow (male Grey) in Sept, from a friend who's dog brought him home, eyes still shut. They had been feeding him with a dropper for a week, and had to leave on a long vacation. Asked me to adopt. I did, raised him on fresh goat's milk. He has always been healthy, has a varied diet, out of cage to play 2-3 times a day. Saturday he was his usual self. I even "noted to self" that he seemed to be learning to be more careful about climbing me if I am in shorts or short sleeves (I have hot flashes, so sometimes wear summer clothes in the house). More gentile with his claws. Sunday AM...Willow is let out to play. I notice he seems unusally "hyper". Not typical for him early in AM. He then finds a small package of chocolate treats on the sofa I had left out. I know from my experience and this board, that chocolate is a serious craving for squirrels. I take the package from him. He WENT NUTS. He leaped on me over and over, trying to get the package back. I was bitten on the arm, other hand, and numerous major scratches. He was cursing the entire time. We finally got him back in his cage (large parrot cage). He was unlike himself the rest of the day. Rushed the cage bars if a cat walked by, or even people. Normally he actually likes the cats, and they him. It is winter, and although it has been my intention to release him in spring, now I don't know what to do. I don't want him to pace all winter in a cage, but I am worried about this new aggressive behavior. I estimate his age to be just under 5 months. Could he become "mature" and "wild" overnight? Is neutering an option, and how much does it help?
Thanks
Julie in OK

[Mars]

First let's examine what else might have changed or is new. Squirrels are very sensitive to new scents. Have you change soaps or laundry soaps? New purfume, body wash, after shave????? etc??? New scented candles?? New non stick cookware??? Look around. Have you put something new in near his cage?? Does it have an odor?? Chances are his attack was territorial out of confusion because of something that is very upsetting/threatening to him.

[scoobysnack]

This is really hard to do but you kinda have to leave the incident in the past. Food it a biggy. I try not to let Scooby get anything she shouldn't have because I REALLY don't want to have to get it back from her. She's as sweet as pie but she will have my butt over certain food. I think most squirrels will.

Stuff she REALLY likes she'll defend with teeth and claws though she has yet to make contact with me.

She got upset with me once. I put her in her cage so I could go out and she got mad. She was growling, rushing the bars etc. She got over it though. I just avoided her until she settled down. When I let her out I opened the door and backed off. I let her come to me.

It's hard once you've been bitten, but you have to kinda leave it in the past.

You can't neuter him if you are planning to release him. His hormones will keep him safe out there. There's no guarantee that it would change things anyhow.

Sorry I dont know more. I just have one little squirrel for my experience.

[FLUFFYTAILNUT]

I have a 7month old grey male..He have never acted like that...maybe it was the chocolate that messed him up...a little temp insanity.

Do't be afraid of him..act like nothing happened and go about business as usual..KEEP the chocolate away..a little aint gonna hurt him..BUT since it made him go..crazy..I dont think I'd let him have any more.

And as Mars brought out..maybe it was some thing else..
Bean my squirrel.....HATES..the smell..of nail polish..he will..grunt..and Vsssss....he has NEVER..bitten..to the point of blood..be he has lunged and smacked my toes..when I painted them...
DIDNt care for the scent.
He doesnt mind..any other scents..as far as soaps..perfumes....He DOESNT..like the SMELL if Cigerettes...He will instantly *FLUFF..tail..and act..crazy!
Dont give up hope..on your little guy...could have been some thing..he JUST didnt like...MAYBE taking HIS CHOCOLATE away..I wouldnt be too..jazzed either..if some one took my CHOCOLATe..away...:poke

[Willow's Mom]

20939

[FLUFFYTAILNUT]

Very..cute..kitty..is winking at your Willow!:thumbsup :D

[pamela lee]

If you still plan on releasing Willow in the Spring, you need to quit allowing the cats around. Willow needs to know that cats are not friends because in the wild they're not. I don't really have any advise other then my Peanut was over wintered on the porch and by the time he was 7 months he was definently ready to live the wild life. He never bit me but he drew blood on my husband and BF.

[4skwerlz]

I once made the mistake of carrying a handful of peanuts through the living room when Henry and Hazel were out. I was going to throw the nuts out the back door for the wild squirrels. Hazel smelled the nuts and flew at my hand from about 10 feet away like some kind of blood-crazed vampire. My hand got clawed pretty bad but thank goodness when she sank her chompers into my finger, she realized it was finger, not nut, and she didn't bite down. However, if she were older and stronger and bolder, she probably would "bite first, ask questions later."

There are certain things that will make ANY animal revert to purely wild behavior, and food is one of them. Even with domesticated animals like dogs, cats, and horses, you have to be a little careful with how you handle the feeding issue. For example, you wouldn't walk into a field full of horses carrying a bucket of grain.

If I handle ANY kind of food, I wash my hands carefully before I go near my squirrels.

[scoobysnack]

Boy 4Skwerlz are you ever right. The ONLY time Scooby gets agressive with me is when I have nuts in my hand. OMG I better open that hand pronto and cough em up or I WILL suffer the wrath!

She can smell them a mile away too. In my pocket or closed hand she knows those nuts are there.

Now she's ok with smells on my hands. I can handle food. She will sniff and lick but she seems to know the difference between me smelling like food and HAVING some food with me.

[PBluejay2]

If you still plan on releasing Willow in the Spring, you need to quit allowing the cats around. Willow needs to know that cats are not friends because in the wild they're not. I don't really have any advise other then my Peanut was over wintered on the porch and by the time he was 7 months he was definently ready to live the wild life. He never bit me but he drew blood on my husband and BF.

Please take heed to the above advice! Your Willow needs to be deathly afraid of cats! I have cats (two twenty pounders), but I NEVER allow them in proximity of the squirrels I raise. Doing so might make a nice clip for "America's Funniest Animals," but it's a death sentence for any squirrel to be released. The same with dogs and even people--keep them away.

[susanw]

It seems to me that Willow is just having a hissy fit because you took the chocolate away! I don't blame you, I would never let my squirrel have chocolate either. Why take the chance with their health? She will get over it!:)

[thundersquirrel]

by the way, willow is a fox squirrel. just so you know. ;)

[Willow's Mom]

Wow Thunder, I didn't realize he was a Fox not a Grey! Thanks! I looked it up but he seemed closer to a grey, although I did read there is some cross breeding in the wild.
Space is at a premium here and therefore isolating him from cats was not possible...so basically you guys are saying that since he is not afraid of cats release is probably not possible? We live in the country, I could likely find a release spot away from a farm and cats.
He is starting to pace some in his cage also.....

Thanks for all the suggestions everyone
Julie

[FLUFFYTAILNUT]

He..Willow..is a beautiful..Fox squirrel..beautiful..colors!!
Looks WAY..too tame to ever..be released to the wild..He'd be..killed in no, time..with being used to the kitty's and all...Looks like he's FOUND his home..:jump Pretty..much domesticated....from what youve..said..in your posts...
ONLY..you truly know..if he COULD ever be released.

I'd talk it over with IR..see what SHE thinks..:peace

[Willow's Mom]

If it seems that release will not be possible, is neutering the humane thing to do? To reduce frustration for this boy?

By the way HE chases the cats! :shakehead I know this is not a good thing but it is awfully funny!

[FLUFFYTAILNUT]

If it seems that release will not be possible, is neutering the humane thing to do? To reduce frustration for this boy?
Yes..you can neuter him..he will be non the wiser..He will be fine male's heal faster with this...surgery..it's much easier on them..less surgery..snip..snip and a few stitches...
Where do you live..do you have a vet..in mind?
It's less expensive for boy's too..:thumbsup ..less invloved.

[Willow's Mom]

No....I do not have a vet in mind, I am in rural OK..howevere I am only 80 miles form OKC, I imagine there wold be an exotic vet there, assuming of course they are actually legal to keep in this state, I don't even know that yet, and it isn't addressed on the list here.

[thundersquirrel]

i don't think neutering is a good idea. if you plan on releasing him, he will need himself to be a happy, healthy, hormonally balanced squirrel. and as someone said before, the procedure is no guarantee that he'll change his behavior. i would even go so far as to say it's a horrible idea, with all respect. it's really not necessary and you'd be risking his health.

[susanw]

by the way, willow is a fox squirrel. just so you know. ;)



Why do you think Willow is a fox squirrel, she looks just like my grey?

[4skwerlz]

I thought he looked like a foxer too. But couldn't see his belly, which is the surest way to tell:

Grey squirrels have a white belly.
Fox squirrels have a tan, yellow, or orange belly.

[Pam]

Why do you think Willow is a fox squirrel, she looks just like my grey?

Willow looks like my grey, too.

[susanw]

I thought he looked like a foxer too. But couldn't see his belly, which is the surest way to tell:

Grey squirrels have a white belly.
Fox squirrels have a tan, yellow, or orange belly.


If you look under her chin and her side, you can see the white.

[My Little Trouble]

My little Trouble is a 3½ year old, un-neutered male grey,
and to be honest, I wasn't sure if I should have him "fixed" or not. :dono
Ultimately, the decision was out of my hands, as no vet in this area would have helped me, anyway.

I've never had any particular problems because of his "natural" state.
We did go through a sort of "teenage" period of attitude when he first matured,
and, as everyone else has said, favorite foods are no joking matter,
he will slash me with his Freddy Kreuger claws if he thinks I'm after HIS hazelnut
. . . I don't think he wants to . . . I just think he's hard-wired to defend his food.

Our story is similar to yours, he was a late summer foundling, and by the time a spring release was advisable,
Trouble was too much a member of our family (which, until a year ago, also included a cat) to go.

[Willow's Mom]

The good news is that after a 24 hr "timeout" in his cage to cool off, he seems like himself again.....it was a good lesson for me. I will try and be more alert to his moods....especially during this "teenage" time of his life
I appreciate your insights Little Trouble....

[Lady Squirrelly]

My Jack is 2 1/2. As he was never meant to be a pet, so he was not handled as much as many young squirrels destened to be pets are. He was released and then returned injured. He wants no part of the outside world and now lives with mama.

The 1st time he ever bit me was when I tried to rerelease him.

He is very spoiled and has some wild ways and 'tudes. It is not unusual for him to "get a knot in his tail" about almost anything. So I know what you are going through.

He gets mad if: * I clean his cage
*I make him sit out in the sun (he tries to hide)
*he gets wet (he travels back and forth to school with me)
*his ride in the car is too cold
*his ride in the car is too hot
*the top is down on my car and he gets wind blown
*there are other squirrels in the house and he smells them
on me (I have changed clothes a lot this baby season)
*he thinks I have not played with him enough
*he is left at home because of the weather or a meeting I
must attend

I get punished by a quick series of very hard (not skin breaking, but almost) bites on my wrist should some imagined infraction occur. Afther 5-6 nips he seems pleased enough with my punishment and settles down to play.:owned

I love him to death but could well live without the nips. It is just life with Mr. Jack.

The main thing you will have to do is take your cues from your baby. Time out seems to work.

Hope he continues to be calm.

[Willow's Mom]

I am sorry to be dragging up this topic again...but I am feeling kinda blue. Willow had a second incident of sudden anger and a hard bit that bled. He had a 24 hr timeout then a week ago it happened a third time, this time he was out a little while, seemed his old self, then starting the clicking/grumbling sounds, got more and more agitated, climbed to the top of my head and bit hard on my scalp. It bled like scalp wounds do. He went back in the cage and now clicks and growls at everyone when they come close to the bars. I am discouraged, but I do not feel he can try release at this time due to weather. I really "miss" him! :dono

[Lady Squirrelly]

It sounds like you are going to release in the spring. Is this right? If so, as sad as it is, he may just have to be cage bound until that time. He will need a very big cage till then, but it may be the best for your safety.

I have 4 now that I can no longer hold or pet. I can scratch 3 of them when I reach in the cages. The other I can only pet through the wire. It is their choice not mine. I loved to play with them when they were babies but as soon as they got off esbilac they seemed to go wild. I was even hoping THE Doll would want to be a pet, but no deal. She is very small (Grouchetta 5 weeks younger is much bigger) but has a mind of her own. They will go in the spring and be oh so happy to be free I am sure.

I have 1, Bruiser, that still wants love and to play. Not sure how things will go with him. Again, it will be his choice.

[Sciurus1]

This squirrel is a Fox squirrel, Thundersquirrel is right. Some grays have considerable in common in their dorsal colorations with fox squirrels, but then the similarity ends, for there is more than that to consider than color alone, even so it is a part of it, as to what species a squirrel is. The body, the head, not just the tummy, are important in using as determiners, but then again there are some foxers that have white tummies, just not all of them do, as not all Grays, have tan grizzled dorsal pelage either. There is then only a basis of knowledge about Fox squirrels, and gray squirrels that is used to determine what any individual's species, or subspecies is. Once you have that knowledge down, you can more often upclose recognize which is which.

[Mads]

This has been an interesting thread. :goodpost
I'm seeing some changes over the past 2 days also with the Fab 5. They certainly are becoming instinctively more nervous around me and all the surrounding noises in the house. Since I included the "bourbon box" house, they are quite happy hiding in thier house . I have to coax them out with the syringe of formula, and I have one now that seems even too nervous to really enjoy the formula and prefers just eating the food in the cage over the formula.

Perhaps it happens sooner when you have more than one squirrel, but they are growing so quick. I am glad that they look like they will turn wild very nicely, but still sad that they are starting to view me as some sort of threat to them.

This whole experience has been wonderful anyway, even though I know I most likely am only a few weeks off from losing them to the calls of the wild.

[Mads]

I know...I'm figuring the end of May will be when they will go out on their own. But they'll all go into an outdoor cage for a few weeks prior...