The MILKMOUF! Perfection! She is beautiful! Goooood mama!
The MILKMOUF! Perfection! She is beautiful! Goooood mama!
agustinanavarro (07-06-2020)
agustinanavarro (07-09-2020)
Hi there
We're still waiting for our Henry's order to arrive to CR any day now. I can't wait to give Bo her healthy blocks. I noticed she started biting and chewing stuff during the past week...She haven't done it before, so I can feel she'll be happy with the blocks.
This week she tried some bananas, and she was euphoric She loved them!
She's still having her homemade formula, soon we'll swap to Fox Valley. She eats, poops, and pees a lot.
She's a funny funny girl.
In the next weeks we're gonna start building a huge cage for her, always thinking about releasing day. But in the meantime, we've moved her into our dogs kennel. We've put some fabrics, branches, stones...and God, she's so so happy. She plays all day long, she climbs, she runs, and she sleeps like an angel.
Here's some pictures of her.
Look how grown up she looks!
Chirps (08-31-2020), Nancy in New York (07-10-2020), RockyPops (07-09-2020), SammysMom (07-09-2020)
Good Lord, she is precious!!!
Squirrels, squirrels and more squirrels....
Prayers for the people who make this a better world...
savesquirrels@sbcglobal.net
agustinanavarro (07-10-2020)
Nice yawn! Her coloring is beautiful!
agustinanavarro (07-10-2020)
Hi everyone!
I've got some updates on my -not so baby anymore- Baby Bo.
She's almost 12 weeks now. It's amazing how much she've grown in the past few weeks. Not only physically, I can see major personality changes. She's acting much more as a teen now...makes me a bit sad, but happy at the same time.
I'm starting to feel the releasing time is getting closer, and even though that brings me down, I'm starting to realize how badly she needs to be back into nature, where she belongs...
She has spent the past weeks on a dog kennel. It was perfect at first, but not enough after a few days. I started to let her run free into the room we assigned to her (we moved to a bigger house with an extra room for squirrels). And she went crazy: She runs, she jumps, she climbs...She's so excited. She's already doing crazy long-distance jumps...
So we started to build the outdoor pre-release cage. And now of course I have many questions about the next steps. Is she old enough to put her in her pre-release cage? How long should she stay there before releasing?
She's still being fed with Fox Valley formula, and she loves it more than anything. We give her Henry blocks, but seems like she's not much into them yet...Even healthy veggies or fruits are not her thing yet. She prefers milk, always.
I would appreciate any advice on the process during the next few weeks
Thanks as always!
Here are some pictures of her and her pre-release cage, which is still "a work in process".
Chirps (07-23-2020), island rehabber (07-22-2020), Mel1959 (07-23-2020), Nancy in New York (07-23-2020), Scooterzmom (07-22-2020)
About 2 full weeks so she can get used to temperature changes, sounds of day & night in the wild, smells of plants and other animals, and actually being close to the other wild things...squirrels, raccoons, birds, iguanas, skunks, etc. The night time animal list is longer than you might think.
Give her Fox valley as long as she wants it--healthy and everything her Mom would give her. The blocks are good for her. If she won't chew them...Try grinding them up and add some ciruella (plum) baby food to make a small ball. Have you given her any Almendras ? Ripe ( red or yellow) ones are best. the hard shell under the soft meat will be good for her teeth. Also a coconut to chew will be good for the teeth. Get a brown one and drain it. The coconut water should be offered daily. She should naturally start to chew thru the coconut If she does make a hole in it let her enjoy "some " of the white , sweet meat...but not too much. remove and replace at end of day.She's still being fed with Fox Valley formula, and she loves it more than anything. We give her Henry blocks, but seems like she's not much into them yet...Even healthy veggies or fruits are not her thing yet. She prefers milk, always.-
Is there a tree close to the cage ? (I don't see one in your photo) If possible I like to make a "bridge" from cage to a tree -with a branch to allow Bo to get safely up a tree on release day. I have cats-- from neighbor's yards, and they might attempt to harm her. Once she is in the cage, slowly reduce the amount of time you spend with her . She will be better off in the wild if she feels wild. I talked to my releases but never touched them after they entered the cage. It will be really hard--being Bo is your first. Good Luck.Here are some pictures of her and her pre-release cage, which is still "a work in process".
COME & VISIT My CREW: Links found below
CLICK HERE: Rama Rota ( the KING of Costa Rica )
The Costa Rican "CRUISER"... (Dude) http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/s...ad.php?t=32881
LUNA http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/s...ad.php?t=36006
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Chirps (08-01-2020)
WE built a small 4inch by 4 inch door for the release. We connected this doorway to a nearby tree. This "bridge allowed our released squirrels to leave and return if being chased- or if they decided to spend another night or two in a familiar place. And small enough so a larger critter couldn't enter the release cage.----
You should have a small door for changing out the old food for new food...a door that doesn't allow Bo to get out. Have a shelf just inside that food door. Old food on shelf or floor--will attract insects and ants, etc. I actually hosed out the cage every afternoon, when my releases were inside their nest box. She will need a night time nest box inside the cage for feeling safe. That nest box can be transferred to a nearby tree after release..Hopefully she will stay close.
594
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Chirps (08-01-2020)
The walls of the cage MUST be hardware cloth wire mesh. 1/2 inch by 1/2 inch is a good size to use. Do NOT use window screening.Screening would allow Bo to claw out and other critters to claw in.YIKES--- Raccoons can get into a LOT of trouble.If the main door is large-You will not be able to open it after Bo is inside. That is why smaller service doors work well. If she gets out and into the trees too early. the soft-release process won't work, She needs time OUTSIDE--but protected.
COME & VISIT My CREW: Links found below
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Chirps (08-01-2020)
Beautiful Baby Bo-----------------
You have done a great job raising and caring for BO.
COME & VISIT My CREW: Links found below
CLICK HERE: Rama Rota ( the KING of Costa Rica )
The Costa Rican "CRUISER"... (Dude) http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/s...ad.php?t=32881
LUNA http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/s...ad.php?t=36006
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agustinanavarro (08-08-2020)
Exciting and scary time in your and Beautiful Baby Bo's lives. Keeping you in my thoughts as you continue to help your baby find her way.
"I hope everyone got or gets their Baby Love today"~Shewhosweptforest
https://www.henryspets.com/1-baby-squirrel-care-guide/
agustinanavarro (08-08-2020)
How is your outside cage coming along ?? If you have any new questions...please ask.
Are there a lot of wild squirrels in your area ? > Do you see squirrel nests up in the trees ?
Are there many trees close to your home ? Do you have any trees that offer fruit or nuts for the wild squirrels to eat ?
638
COME & VISIT My CREW: Links found below
CLICK HERE: Rama Rota ( the KING of Costa Rica )
The Costa Rican "CRUISER"... (Dude) http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/s...ad.php?t=32881
LUNA http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/s...ad.php?t=36006
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SEIS http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/s...ad.php?t=39784
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SQUIRRELS LOVE---Curtain Rods.....ha
The CRUISER DUDE--was a very Special friend...for over 6 years. I Miss Ya---Dude
COME & VISIT My CREW: Links found below
CLICK HERE: Rama Rota ( the KING of Costa Rica )
The Costa Rican "CRUISER"... (Dude) http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/s...ad.php?t=32881
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agustinanavarro (08-08-2020), kathy291 (08-03-2020)
Hi everybody!
Stosh I love the pic-collages you made!!! Saved forever on my computer
Well...we're almost there!!! It's almost release time. Not sure if I'm happy or sad. But Bo is for sure ready. She've spent 3 weeks now on her release cage...so I guess next week will be the D-Day. She's 100% ready...I can see it in her eyes, and I can feel it. She jumps, she has fun, she eats all her veggies and nuts, she chews all the branches, she's under alert when some animal's around, she drinks her coconut water and opens up her own coconuts, she made a nest in her house-shelter, she sleeps at night...she's SO happy and healthy. I even think she has some extra chubby pounds, ha!
I'm just wondering...She's still very hooked on formula. Should I wait until she weans and then release her? I'm just thinking, she loves her milk so much and has it twice a day with so much excitement... and I can't be sure she's gonna be coming back to have it once she's released...so maybe should I keep her? Hmmm...or is it just an excuse of a scared mom not wanting to set her baby free?
I hear you!
Happy weekend!
Chirps (08-15-2020)
Hi everybody...
Soooo...
Today was release day here in Costa Rica...
I can't even believe it while I'm typing.
Today, 7am of a beautiful sunny day, we poured our coffee into our mugs and - with some sort of heavy heart - we opened the door on Bo's release cage.
I thought it was gonna take a while for her to -actually- leave the cage, but ...to my surprise ... She left the cage immediatly. It was so fast I didn't have enough seconds to panic...Suddenly she was running through the branches like crazy, making what I call "happy" noises...
It's already 3pm here and I'm still sitting in the same chair, just watching her. So far, so good. She stood in the trees nearby, exploring, but not going further than that...
For a few minutes she dissapears, but suddenly I can spot her again into the greens.
At mid-morning, I lost her for some minutes. Suddenly, she jumped out of nowhere in my head...she kissed me, and I thought and assumed she was asking for some formula...So I just fed her. And then, just like nothing, she went back to the woods again...
I see her coming back to her cage every couple hours...I like it...I still feel she's close to us. She has some food and treats in there. Hopefully she'll come back to the cage when the sun goes down.
I'm terrified, I'm afraid something might happen to her. You've all been there, I know. But at the same time, I feel so blessed when I see her running free into nature. I really hope the universe will take good care of her from now on...and I really hope she'll stays around or find a way to always let me know she's OK.
Here are some pictures of this morning's release...I have plenty more videos but unfortunately cannot upload them here.
THANKS SO MUCH TO EVERYBODY HELPING US THROUGH THIS AMAZING JOURNEY...IT WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE WITHOUT ALL YOUR AMAZING ADVICE AND LOVE.
Please send Bo good wishes!!!
Baby Brutus (09-01-2020), Chirps (08-31-2020), Mel1959 (09-01-2020)
It sounds like a picture perfect release day.
She is a real beauty.
agustinanavarro (08-31-2020)
Just seeing the update. Awww, that pic of her kissing you is award-worthy. How are things now? Is she coming to say hi and hang with you a bit so far? I hope she stays around and keeps you in her life.
"I hope everyone got or gets their Baby Love today"~Shewhosweptforest
https://www.henryspets.com/1-baby-squirrel-care-guide/
agustinanavarro (09-01-2020)
Hi everybody!
It's been some amazing past few days...With a bit of anxiety and tension, I think normal feeling of every squirrel mom letting her baby go...
So far everything's going as I prayed for and expected. She stayed in the surrounding trees, we can always spot her around. She comes back once or twice for her treats or formula. But I can see her eating her own stuff up on the trees.
She came back the first 2 nights to sleep into her cage. That was heart-warming.
BUT YESTERDAY...She started working on a nest (how the heck did she know that?)...and, around 6pm, while waiting for her sitting in my outdoor chair, I saw her heading to her nest and getting in there to spend the night... That was heartbreaking...and at the same time, it was amazing.
The nest is up up up one the closest tree to my house, so that was a nice gesture from her...
This morning we woke up and she was having fun up there, and of course she came for some breakfast.
Yesterday, big day, she also met another squirrel for the very first time
She was very scared at first, the other squirrel started chasing her, and I can't understand if they were playing or fighting...hmmm...But then they chilled...And started eating coconuts together...Cool moment!
And just right now, 2 new squirrels showed up. I can tell one of them is the one that visited yesterday. Bo got extremely anxious and scared today. She started doing crazy things like coming down to the ground and rolling around in the ground. That was SO weird. And I don't really want her to come to the ground, cause I'm afraid some random cat, dog, or any other potential predator gets her. My dogs love her and they're actually always making sure the area is safe...but who knows, I'm a scared mom... the ground is not a safe place for a squirrel here in the jungle right?
I was wondering if this squirrel encounters should be like these...I really expected her to go up and have fun with her playdates...but it felt more like they were a threat for her, or at least that's what I guess she felt. What should I expect for the next encounters?
I was also wondering, when will Bo be ready to "reproduce"? Is there such thing as a squirrel matting time/age?
I hear you guys!
Thanks for your kind words and for sharing your happiness for Bo!
Have a great day!
Chirps (09-01-2020)
Sounds like she is doing fine! She SHOULD be wary, she should be spooked by every new noise and sight. That makes sure she is successful in the wild. A relaxed, clueless baby out there is a target for every predator -- a wary one is not.
Squirrel mating age is typically 5-6 months old.
Island Rehabber
NY State Licensed
Wildlife Rehabilitator
"Ancora Imparo" (I am still learning)
Michelangelo
*
If you can't afford the vet,
You can't afford a pet.
NEGLECT IS ABUSE.
"Better one day in the trees, than a lifetime in a cage."
'...and the greatest of these, is Love. '
agustinanavarro (09-01-2020)
Squirrels are protective of their space. I don’t think I’ve ever seen wild squirrels “play” unless it’s with siblings. They have all types of protective noises and gestures ie. teeth chattering, chasing etc. and don’t hesitate to use them to keep their territory theirs.
I have always provided a nest box in the trees for my releases, usually after I’ve had it hung in the release cage and they have used it and gotten their scent in it. I do this so they have somewhere to call “home” while they figure out how to navigate the wild. I also think it tends to keep them close to home....at least for awhile.
Since Bo is female she just may stick around. I have a female that was released 4 years ago and still lives in the trees in my yard and has had 5 litters. Females usually go through their first estrus cycle is usually before the age of one. Because you live in the islands and it’s warm all the time she will be able to mate year round, just like our squirrels in Florida.
I’m glad Bo is having such a good time living in the trees. It’s a very rewarding experience, huh?
agustinanavarro (09-01-2020)