I didn't know where to put this, so here is where it landed. I see numerous threads with people that are raising single squirrels either to be released when they are old enough or discover that their squirrel is getting aggressive and maybe needs to be released after having been with them for 9 months, a year, two years.
Before you let that squirrel that you've raised go, please consider letting it go to someone who has had experience with these special squirrels. Just because a squirrel is pacing and leaping at windows, biting you and others, doesn't mean he is prepared to survive outside of the home you created for it.
A squirrel raised by itself doesn't know it's a squirrel. It might know how to climb trees but it thinks it's your boss, buddy or baby. He or she needs to be introduced to other squirrels to learn their behaviors, their social structure or he will never fit in. Other squirrels will attack him/her. He or she needs to learn to be afraid of humans and other animals. So it can survive in the world it wants to join.
I'd like to share a story.
She was 16 years old and found an orphan squirrel. Raised it, fed it, watched it grow until it was old enough to be released.
She put her squirrel in a carrier and brought it to the park. There she released it. This was in the 70s. She had long, blond hair she kept in a ponytail. She watched her squirrel start to explore and hop away. Up the path, about 100 feet away, came a woman with long, blond hair, pulled back into a ponytail.
Her squirrel jumped on this woman. And this woman beat it death right in front of her, with her purse, because she was terrified.
It's a tragic story and true. It happened to one of my squirrel mentors.
There is no reason to feel like you are letting your squirrel down when it's time to let him or her go. There are many experienced people on this board that can help you.
Find a rehabber that has experience doing this. Your squirrel needs to be introduced in stages to other squirrels then housed with them. The rehabber will watch the progress and wait until your squirrel is ready and only then release them all as a group.
Thanks for taking the time to read this.