Re: New here!
Originally Posted by
IvyLove
Ok so I have a quick question. She has had a whole room to herself for a few years now without ever closing the cage doors but I’ve realized she needs more interaction with people and the such. She used to run free in the house I used to live in for most of the day till it was night and I’d put her back up, and she LOVED IT!! I used to have to trick her to go back in her cage at night! but for the last few years she had the back bedroom to herself. Door closed. I wanted to give her the life she used to have. With exploration of the house every day, and a lot more interaction with me and others. So, I moved her into the living room in her cage. She has not left her den for a day and a half now. Won’t eat. Won’t drink (unless she is doing so while we are in bed and the house is quiet. ) I reassure her often. Open the doors of her cage to give her a chance to explore but she won’t come out. Will it just take time? Will she come around and start acting like her old self soon? She used to LOVE exploring the house but has not had run of the whole house for a few years now so I guess she’s just not used to it anymore. I’m thinking she will get used to it again in time but want to make sure. I want her happy and I KNOW she will be happier out here than in the room....eventually. Hopefully. I don’t want to have to lock her away again if I don’t have to. Does anyone know or have experience with this? Is she just scared with the change and will relax soon? I’m just worried. Also I have two dogs BUT she grew up with one of them and used to play together and never had fear of dogs...or even the two cats I used to have so I don’t think that is the problem.
Originally Posted by
stepnstone
Think about this... You moved her to new territory, gave her her own space for two years, now you want her to give up her space and familiar surroundings to co-exist (again) in an environment different to what she's grown used to for the past two years with her established "safe zone." A better alternative would have been to keep opening her door to her room to allow her to come out if she wanted to explore and take in the strange environment with having her safe zone to retreat to. She may choose not to and feels content right where she's at or was at....
Contrary to what many think squirrels are solitary animals and as they age with their natural instincts they define their space and their territory.
I answered this with my opinion in your other post now I want to address the dogs, big mistake! It's a disaster waiting to happen and we have many horror stories on tsb to back that up! It doesn't matter how friendly the dog is or how they played together, we've heard them all right down to the split second horror that cost the life. Even cages have been turned over with squirrels mauled and killed in the absence of caretakers by "sweet dogs that wouldn't hurt a fly." Her mature instincts may very well be telling her the dogs and "their territory" is a threat and she does not feel safe out there. Personally I don't blame her, I'm a solitary person myself and I wouldn't fare well living among a "commune" either....
Step-N-Stone
State Licensed
Wildlife Master Rehabilitator