Hi everyone! My name is Jennifer. I posted this yesterday in the intro forum, but realize I should have posted here in the non-life threatening area, I think?
I am seeking help with our newly released male, grey squirrel named Remy. He has become quite aggressive since his release and is beginning to be a mischievous terror.
To back up a bit... He was found last Labor Day by my daughter. We determined that he was approx 5 weeks of age and hand fed him until he weaned himself during the month of October. We kept him in the house at first, of course, in a large aquarium then moved him to a larger cage out on our porch in early October. At that point we began to fear for his ability to winter over and keep away from predators, and so to ensure his survival, we opted to winter him over in a soft release cage. I built a nest box for him and hung it in an old hoop house pen I had from raising ducks and turkeys. I poured a barrel of fallen leaves inside the pen for him and some pieces of fleece and he immediately got to work making a cozy nest in the box. We fed him and cared for him all winter. He did exceptionally well despite the cold and snow. The hoop house is about 8' x 6' or so and he played, climbed all over his branches and perches, and was very affectionate. We anxiously awaited spring and planned to release him as soon as the trees fully leafed out. It was our plan from the beginning, but I cried like a baby the night before. We released him early on Saturday morning Memorial Day weekend. He was elated. We proudly watched him for hours exploring, climbing trees, etc. We left his pen open that night and subsequent nights in case he wanted to return - which he did the first night. He was then gone for the next few days and returned to visit us...a bit shaken. He wanted to be petted and reassured? Then gone for a whole week with no sign of him. We still left food out just in case. After he returned from his week away, he was different. Cautious. A bit nervous around us all of a sudden. He seemed conflicted. He jumped on me to perch, but when I went to pet him he bit. Hard. Blood everywhere! He did the same to my husband. His claws are super razor sharp now, too. Well since then, I have been fearful of the little guy...not knowing if he will be gentle or aggressive. He has taken to watching the house. He will come to the kitchen windows overlooking our porch and hang on the screens to see if we are in there, occasionally in the morning, but mostly at supper. If we go outside he immediately comes running and jumps on us. He will be very aggressive if he thinks/hopes we have food for him. I cannot let my elderly mom (who lives with us) sit out on the porch as I fear for her safety. And then last weekend, Remy even chewed through our porch patio light strings and somehow did not electrocute himself!!! 😳Thank God. And he was even seen running away with a few of the light bulbs before I could shut the power off and get out there to take the lights down! I later read where squirrels may do this??!! He also digs up my potted plants out on the porch.
Last evening, I went out with some food and Remy made a bee line for me from literally out of nowhere. He immediately jumped on me, looked in my hoodie pocket and stole the food. He then jumped on my head and scratched my scalp. Ouch! I had fireplace gloves on so he couldn't bite my hands again. Can you please, please advise me? I want to do what is right by him. I know he had become a bit food aggressive in the month or two before his release. I chalked it off to him beginning to wild up more and more, but he still was affectionate. I don't have a problem if he wants to hang around and visit us, but I don't want to be scared to go outside for fear of attack, especially in the summer when no one wants to be outside in full squirrel protective gear! We really don't have many squirrels around for him to socialize with though one would occasionally visit him during the late winter when he was living in the hoop house. I hate that I feel like a prisoner in my own home, afraid to go out for fear he will appear out of nowhere and hurt me or one of my family members.
This morning I held a broom out to keep him at bay while providing cover for my daughter so she could get to her car for work. People laugh when they hear this, but of course, it's not really funny. I have been told this can occur with males. Is that true? Any assistance you can provide will be greatly appreciated. Would you recommend setting up a squirrel feeder to attract friends? Should I take down his nest box in the hoop house? I am not even sure if he even goes in the box any longer to be honest, though if he's not around, I still set his food in the hoop house.
Sincerely,
Jennifer