Moldy food stash

[Jennefer]

Let me start by saying i have to be the worst squirrel mom ever!!! I am horrified to have found a moldy food stash in my flyers outdoor RC condo tonight. Its a wooden 3-story "condo" with a hole on each side so they can enter/exit & move from floor to floor. Its supposed to be designed as follows: top floor adults, middle floor juvies, bottom floor babies. Well apparently my 6 soon-to-be released flyers didnt read the lease...either that or they dont have babies so they were using the baby floor to stash food. It was 95% HHBs....which here i thought they were eating. The compartment was filled like 3" thick with moldy food. They NEVER stashed food in their pouches or inside cages so checking the condo for stash didnt cross my mind. And its rained so much here in the last 2 mons im gonna need an ark before its done. So everything is VERY damp. I decided for some reason tonite to climb in & open the condo, and bam....moldy stash. I cleaned it out as best i could....but had to wrap up & leave it just wiped out b/c its pouring rain & lightening...and im in a RC wth metal roof. Im freaking out abt them breathing in mold! They are totally fine, acting normal, fat & sassy. There are 2 pouches in RC as well...which some of the 6 stay in. They didnt even have any nesting material in top floor, just moldy food in bottom. How to i clean it?? I dont want them getting sick.

Sorry for long post. Tried searching for a thread but wasnt finding one on moldy food. Help!!

[redwuff]

Just by saying you think you are the worst squirrel mom, so much removes you from that category. Six flyers, wow! Did you have a thread for these sweeties?

I would love to see a picture of your release cage. Since your darlings are still in the release cage, I would just use soap and water.

Trysh

[island rehabber]

Are you able to get in there and scrape the moldy stuff off? Those little stinkers..... I found one sleepy sack last year just filled with moldy Zupreem blocks....they were blue-green .....here I thought my kids were being such good little block eaters, too

Seriously, mold is dangerous so you're wise to get it out of there ASAP.

[Jennefer]

Just by saying you think you are the worst squirrel mom, so much removes you from that category. Six flyers, wow! Did you have a thread for these sweeties?

I would love to see a picture of your release cage. Since your darlings are still in the release cage, I would just use soap and water.

Trysh

HI Trysh! Thanks...yes, 6 flyers. I love these guys. First time with flyers. Im not feeling like a great mom...even though these guys eat organic produce, non-gmo/no hormone yogurt...spoiled rotten. A co-worker stopped me the other day after a quick trip to the grocery store to buy produce for my guys & said "I bet you'll be glad when those squirrels leave...you'll save a fortune on your groceries" "I'll spend my money how I please, thank you very much!"...i dont think she liked my answer! Anyway, the thought just never crossed my mind that they were stashing b/c they never kept stashes inside. I guess their wild instincts ARE kicking in! I will definitely clean it out with soap & water. Thanks for the info.

I do have a few threads about them, but I dont know how to insert links. If you click on my user name in the corner of the post & go to "View Forum Posts" you can see all my threads. Look for ones on page 4... flyer questions, etc. I'll post some pics for you....they are on my cell phone so I have to do a separate post as I am on my computer now. But be forewarned....I LOVE taking pics of these guys! You may get pic overload! 4 of them (The Quads) I've had since they were a month old (mom got killed on a power line, power guy brought them to my vet & my vet sends any squirrels he gets my way). They were in rough shape, but did great & are chunky monkeys now. Flyer #5 is Tiny - he came to me at about 8 weeks old. Cat brought him home to a couple, they gave him to me. He's a pistol (had to have been an only child). And #6 is Zena. She came to me from a lady that had found her on the ground - also about 7-8 weeks old. Shes fun - but can be a stinker - a bit attitude-y at times. The Quads are my babies - they still love to be in my shirt - fun at 5:50 in the morning outside when Im trying to get their bowls. Pics to follow!

[Jennefer]

Are you able to get in there and scrape the moldy stuff off? Those little stinkers..... I found one sleepy sack last year just filled with moldy Zupreem blocks....they were blue-green .....here I thought my kids were being such good little block eaters, too

Seriously, mold is dangerous so you're wise to get it out of there ASAP.

Hi Island Rehabber....yes - last night I used paper towels to wipe out the insides as best I could & kind of brush it out & off the walls. I'll clean it out with soap & water like Trysh said & with a bit of bleach & leave it open to breath/air out. It was the greenish-gray mold like bad loafs of bread get on them...kind of powdery. I did read that that kind of mold isnt crazy toxic (I guess we can eat it - no thanks ) but I dont want my guys breathing it in. Read its in dirt & leaves & everywhere in the outdoors. Its been like that for awhile I guess & they are acting fine - like mold is a good thing! I thought I was gonna have a heart attack....that's it...everyone back inside - too dangerous outside....hubby says, uh, no. Ugh...just when I though I was on top of everything. They must be eating some of the blocks, of course their yogurt, formula & veggies....they are as fat as can be, so they are eating something! Oh, worms too. Yum! Thanks for the feedback! Appreciate it!

[Jennefer]

Trysh...as promised...pic of the babies...from newborn when I got them up to fat & sassy! And RC pics!

[Jennefer]

RC pics didnt attach....here they are...

[Floppysquirrel04]

Awww... cute little peanuts

[DarkLies212]

I've been lurking and have to say THEY'RE PRECIOUS!!!

[Jen413]

Oh how I wish I could have a flyer again!! They are all absolutely precious!!

[Ekorre]

What a fantastic RC!

Your flyers are ADORABLE! Love the photos!

You're a fantastic mom - don't beat yourself up about the mold. That could have happened to anyone & you caught it before it became a serious problem!

[Jennefer]

What a fantastic RC!

Your flyers are ADORABLE! Love the photos!

You're a fantastic mom - don't beat yourself up about the mold. That could have happened to anyone & you caught it before it became a serious problem!

Thanks Ekorre! I had it specially made by a good friend of mine who is very handy! If you look closely at the RC, top middle section, you'll see a tiny 2" door....thats for the flyers to come/go but no big critters can get in! Oh how I love these guys! Sometime my outdoor baby grays crawl all over the RC....little flyers dont like that & will chase the grays away! Oh, the mold....ugh...part of living in hot, damp Florida I suppose...just want my guys to be as healthy as can be!

[Jennefer]

Oh how I wish I could have a flyer again!! They are all absolutely precious!!

I know right....I could quickly become a flyer hoarder if left to my own devices....

[Jennefer]

Oh how I wish I could have a flyer again!! They are all absolutely precious!!

They are so fun....love their big eyes! Barring any evening showers tomorrow night, the door will open! Scared & excited at the same time!

[redwuff]

Your babies are beautiful. The thought of releasing them must be breaking your heart. I will look up your threads.


I had my first two flyers last year and quickly became enchanted. I released those two into a colony and it broke my heart. I hope they did ok!

I have a bred in captivity flyer now Whois 5.5 years old. She was being rehome by a lad not too far from the house. My intention was to find a fantastic forever home for her. No comment.

[Milo's Mom]

My intention was to find a fantastic forever home for her. No comment.

You DID find a fantastic home for her!

[Jennefer]

Your babies are beautiful. The thought of releasing them must be breaking your heart. I will look up your threads.


I had my first two flyers last year and quickly became enchanted. I released those two into a colony and it broke my heart. I hope they did ok!

I have a bred in captivity flyer now Whois 5.5 years old. She was being rehome by a lad not too far from the house. My intention was to find a fantastic forever home for her. No comment.

Haha i am familiar with that flyer....would her name happen to be Lola??!!!?? sometimes things are just meant to be. I say lucky you!

Enchanting is a PERFECT word for flyers....its killing me to open the door but they're all wild babies from birth & i keep telling myself they want to be wild. They deserve the chance to be wild. Hoping they will stay close to home base. Im especially attached to the first 4, the Quads. But its time. Ive already kept them longer than need be so Tiny & Zena would have buddies since they are younger...safety in numbers.