Re: Releasing year old squirrel?
Originally Posted by
Boiya
My grandma had bottle fed this squirrel after my uncle cut down the tree his nest was in and I took him when she said she couldn't handle it anymore and I am ready to set him loose. He is about a year old. I know you can't just release cause he is used to living inside. I just wanted to ask who do I call to get him ready to live wild? Will he suvive okay out in the wild? My grandma had told me they live longer when in captivity rather than wild. She said they only live about 2-3 years in the wild but can live up to 10 years in captivity.
There is a proper procedure called soft release to get a squirrel ready for actual release, please read:
http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/s...hlight=release
Many of us here on this board rescue and release, all of our rescues live inside until they go through
the soft release protocol to prepare for their actual release. A squirrel is a wild animal not to be confused
with a domestic animal. Release done right, they will wild up and they do survive in the wild with all their
natural instincts coming into play. How long they live wild vs. captive is not the question to consider, they
were born wild to be free to live their lives in the trees. Giving their intended lives back to them needs to
be the consideration.
Unless there is a health reason a squirrel is not returnable to the wild it deserves to be set free in it's world
to live it's intended life, not held captive in ours.
Step-N-Stone
State Licensed
Wildlife Master Rehabilitator