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Thread: PRE-RELEASE/ RELEASE PROTOCOL

  1. #1
    Join Date
    May 2020
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    Default PRE-RELEASE/ RELEASE PROTOCOL

    Hello. My baby squirrel will soon be @9-10 weeks old based on my estimation and 275gr . Have had her for almost 3 weeks. Time is flying, so I’m trying to make sure I’m following the right protocol in the next few weeks with her going thru the pre-release stage and then the actual release. She’s eating formula still, in the morning and in the evening @18cc/ feeding... getting a HHB block mid morning and one late evening...And veggies during the day (shredded cauliflower, broccoli, lettuce, carrots, red cabbage, zucchini, green beans and cucumber from time to time. Small piece of fruit every other day (So far tried apple, strawberry, banana, blueberries and plan on trying apricots and mango). I currently have her in a 3 level ferret cage/ had her confined in the upper level as we’ve been treating a belly abscess but she’s recently started to have access to the full cage and she loves it. She’s very energetic, climbs and plays a lot, so I ordered a larger 6 level cage that should be arriving soon. I’ve been taking her cage outside during the day on the nicer days, we’re finally starting to have good weather in Chicago. I’m wondering what are the correct pre-release and then release steps from here on. When is the right time to start keeping her cage outside 24/7, and then when does the pre-release stage start when we gotta start having very little interaction ? I know that time has not come just yet, since I’m still feeding her formula and I know I have to wait at least until she’s 14-16 weeks old before she can be fully released, but being a first time squirrel mom I want to make sure I’m doing the right things for her so that she has a good chance once she’s released. So I’m trying to plan my next steps from here on. Attaching also a pic from when she was found and a current one.
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  2. 3 TSBers pass along the fuzzy thanks to lulu2020:

    Lighten-Up (06-29-2020), RockyPops (05-14-2020), S-Mom (05-03-2021)

  3. #2
    Join Date
    Jan 2019
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    North Alabama
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    Default Re: PRE-RELEASE/ RELEASE PROTOCOL

    I would just say that the longer you keep them in the better the chance they have for success. I would think releasing at a minimum of 16 - 18 weeks old after a week or so in pre-release cage.

    I released my first squirrel at 8 1/2 months because I had to over winter him and he did great. But it was hard keeping him penned up that long.

    Try this link to soft release...
    https://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/...-How-to-Sticky

  4. Serious fuzzy thank you's to RockyPops from:

    Nancy in New York (06-29-2020)

  5. #3
    Join Date
    May 2020
    Location
    IL
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    Default Re: PRE-RELEASE/ RELEASE PROTOCOL/ POST RELEASE

    Default POST RELEASE
    Hello Squirrel lovers... here I am, 9 weeks after finding this baby squirrel, finding myself going thru my first release. My baby squirrel is @16weeks old, and even though I would have loved to keep her for at least another couple weeks, she just seemed ready to leave the cage and desperate for freedom. She escaped twice in the last couple of weeks and safely returned, so I kind of took that as a sign from her that she is ready to go explore nature. That made it a little easier for me to let go of her so she can enjoy freedom. Therefore I just started the soft release process with her, and so far so good. Luckily I have a small but decent size wooded area right down my backyard, so I placed her cage by the fence from where she can jump right into the trees and bushes. She’s got a small opening so she can go in and out whenever she wants, and her nest box is inside. There is a family of foxes living somewhere nearby and I know there’s some raccoons in the area as well, but I’d like to think that this is still the best place for her to be released so she can still be close by instead of taking her to a park or so, and hopefully she’ll know how to take care of herself and stay safe. The first 2 days went well so far, she didn’t return to her cage and nest box the first night but she stopped by thru out the day and ate, and she is back now the second night. What I’d like to ask though, from here on, is it ok to still call her name and interact with her, pet her if she comes to me? Should I, at some point, move her nest box on one of the trees, and if so, when ? I might have some other questions, but nothing else comes thru my mind right now... I might follow up. Looking forward to your replies. Thanks

  6. #4
    Join Date
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    Default Re: PRE-RELEASE/ RELEASE PROTOCOL

    Hello,

    Even though your situation has challenges, it still sounds good to me to have her close by to you for support.

    Those of us who did establish relationships with the few that we have raised, continue to keep in contact with them as much as they desire and allow, we don't force this, but we appreciate it. We don't try to cut off contact. Not everyone will agree with this and that is ok, and every squirrel is different, so it is not possible to determine for sure how everything will work out every time.

    The way I look at is, my found squirrel was orphaned, I became it's family, gave it love and support for months, was the only one caring for it. Thus I prefer to give the vibe that it can come say hi, climb on me, get a treat and love if and when it desires. That way it has a sense of family and connection of sorts, while maintaining some sort of wildness.

    I have only released two sibblings, 4 years ago in my backyard. One of them would leap on me from out of nowhere, I just had to expect that I might have a squirrel land on my back at anytime I walked by a tree or building. The other sibbling did not want any more contact than taking nuts out of my hand, AND I learned quickly that she did not want to be disturbed when she was having her own time out in nature. One morning I walked up to her to give her a nut when I saw her. She chattered at me, stomped her feet and frankly, gave me the f-word in squirrel. I went back in the house with the nut and was a bit miffed, but I understood her loud and clear, she was enjoying her morning, and didn't want nosy mom at that moment. I went back out and apologized after I collected myself, and said that in all future times I would ask first before assuming that I could barge into her life at any time. From then on she never chattered at me again. When I saw her I would hold out my hand from a distance, if she turned her head away, I would leave, otherwise, she would come to me and take the nut from my hand. I was very appreciative of this relationship.

    At some point it will make sense for you to remove the cage from by the fence, and put the nest box up in a tree. If you had two nest boxes, that would be ideal, keep one in the cage and put the second one in a tree. I would leave the cage in place for a month. That is a normal time for them to find a place to live in the wild. Hopefully that helps.

  7. Serious fuzzy thank you's to Lighten-Up from:

    S-Mom (05-03-2021)

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