8 week old questions - bedding, Henry's blocks

[MrSploot]

Thanks - we cleared out the obstacles and he is left with a big giant teddy bear (that he is "burying" food under and climbing all over), a high dresser (secured to the wall) and a bunk bed. Carpeted floor to cushion falls. So far so good as far as not chewing on unsuitable things. I am bringing in interesting things from outside and leaving them for him to discover - some dry maple leaves, branches, etc.

I have vinyl windows... newly replaced two years ago, so I REALLY hope he doesn't chew those. I was thinking about leaving the window open on good days for some fresh air/sights/sounds, but got worried he might chew through the screen. Maybe I could make a hardware cloth frame for that window that would allow it to be open but also protect it from chewing. Something to think about.

Question - we'll have to overwinter him and release in the spring. I was concerned that bonding would be bad for him when he returns to life outside, but that's some months away. I guess he needs the social/bonding stimulation now and then gets weaned off our contact during the soft release time?

[Mel1959]

You are right about continuing to interact with him through winter. It will make both of your lives more enjoyable.

Do not open the window unless you have a very sturdy hardware cloth screen. Actually, I’m not sure it’s a great idea period for fear that after it’s been opened and then is closed he may be more likely to chew the window to get out. You might be able to make a hardware cloth frame that completely encloses the window and secures to the drywall or press fits inside the window opening to prevent him from having access to the vinyl windows....just a thought.

Here’s a photo of what my little monster did to the vinyl window. shakehead

[Chirps]

You say "little monster" but somehow the love comes through.

[stepnstone]

You might be able to make a hardware cloth frame that completely encloses the window and secures to the drywall or press fits inside the window opening to prevent him from having access to the vinyl windows....just a thought.

Definitely a good suggestion with these vinyl windows.
At a past residence the home owner had new vinyl windows installed,
they were the type that could un- latch and swing inward for cleaning.
... they weren't even a year old.
My girl chewed the latches off flush down to the frame.

[Charley Chuckles]

This is what my husband made with hardware cloth.
Wood frame drilled in widow frame. My windows swing out so that works well for us.
Notice the fancy work my two did to the frame above , no worry it's old anyway house built in 1926
Hey we live with the squirrels. They have us trained well
And of course pic came out sideways, top is to the left 😉

[Lighten-Up]

Every squirrel is different, some are chewers on everything, some leave things alone and only chew branches.

I overwintered two squirrels and built a large room sized cage that included a house wall and window as two sides of it. They chewed the drywall, so I ended up covering it in cardboard like wallpaper. They then chewed the cardboard, but I would replace the sections as needed as I had a never ending supply of cardboard from amazon orders etc.

Because the window was a beautiful old house wood window, I figured out a way to cover the entire thing. I took c-clamps and clamped a pine board to cover the bottom window ledge, then made another ledge halfway up to cover the window lock which they loved to lay on. This was great because no part of the real window was showing, thus completely safe. I reframed it without nails, just using clamps etc.

I would hesitate to open the window. I did this with my spring baby this year, as I wanted him to be as close to nature as possible; it backfired. The little guy heard the outdoor noises and wilded up in an instant. He became obsessed with getting out the window. Even when I closed it, he ran around around and around the room in a panic trying to free himself to the outdoors. This did not stop for days. Actually it did not stop. The only way I could stop it was that I put him in the release cage at 10 weeks old, he was in there for about 2 months until release. It was huge, so he had a big room to himself outside. This worked, as he did not try to get out. For most intensive purposes, he was outside. This was my experience, it might not be yours.

[MrSploot]

I appreciate all the insight. He basically has the whole room to himself to run around in which is doing, all day, every day.

The latest unpleasant development is him clawing at my face. Out of nowhere he's started staring at me intently then leaping at my face/neck. If he's on my shoulder he'll reach around and try to claw near my eyes and mouth. He's drawn blood twice, yesterday. I read elsewhere here that clawing/pawing at the face is squirrel for "take me someplace else" but obviously that's not an option. I yelled both times and then left the room, but if anyone has tried and true fixes for face attacks I'd love to hear them. Otherwise it's going to be an unpleasant coexistence for the next three months. I really don't want to evict him prematurely after all the time and effort expended so far.

[CrazyCatLady]

Here's an idea.
https://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/...60#post1324860

[Rock Monkey]

I appreciate all the insight. He basically has the whole room to himself to run around in which is doing, all day, every day.

The latest unpleasant development is him clawing at my face. Out of nowhere he's started staring at me intently then leaping at my face/neck. If he's on my shoulder he'll reach around and try to claw near my eyes and mouth. He's drawn blood twice, yesterday. I read elsewhere here that clawing/pawing at the face is squirrel for "take me someplace else" but obviously that's not an option. I yelled both times and then left the room, but if anyone has tried and true fixes for face attacks I'd love to hear them. Otherwise it's going to be an unpleasant coexistence for the next three months. I really don't want to evict him prematurely after all the time and effort expended so far.

Yes, eventually they don't really want to be cooped up in one room, especially when they realize that there is a bigger world out there. Getting safety glasses is a good idea. They will protect your eyes and allow you to remain more relaxed in his presence, since the more relaxed you are, the more relaxed he will be.

When he starts staring at you intensely, try to verbally deescalate the situation, say soothing things. The sound of your voice should remind him of your close bond from when he was little and possibly break the primitive inclination towards aggression. Aggression on your part, verbal or physical, is likely to be met with more aggression on his part.

Try to figure out what is triggering his aggressive response. Often there is a pattern. For one thing, they can become upset when you clean up their pee and poop, because that is part of how they assert their territorial claim. So, they can regard removing it as an aggressive act, a denial of their territorial claim. Also, they are observant and don't like being tricked.

With the passage of time, when the aggressive instinct has subsided, I think they almost forget how ugly the situation became previously, though you will remember it intensely, which will make you tense which may trigger wariness on their part.

Engaging in allogrooming is a good way to build relationship capital. They are most receptive to allogrooming in the hour before sunset. You describe something like this in your subsequent post. If things go well, he will groom your hands, chewing off dead skin and licking your fingers.

I think the inclination towards territorial aggression increases with age and seasonally, during the winter months, when life become rough for squirrels and standing one's ground to retain good territory and a well protected and warm nesting location is critical to survival.

[olorin19]

Thanks - we cleared out the obstacles and he is left with a big giant teddy bear (that he is "burying" food under and climbing all over), a high dresser (secured to the wall) and a bunk bed. Carpeted floor to cushion falls. So far so good as far as not chewing on unsuitable things. I am bringing in interesting things from outside and leaving them for him to discover - some dry maple leaves, branches, etc.

I have vinyl windows... newly replaced two years ago, so I REALLY hope he doesn't chew those. I was thinking about leaving the window open on good days for some fresh air/sights/sounds, but got worried he might chew through the screen. Maybe I could make a hardware cloth frame for that window that would allow it to be open but also protect it from chewing. Something to think about.

Question - we'll have to overwinter him and release in the spring. I was concerned that bonding would be bad for him when he returns to life outside, but that's some months away. I guess he needs the social/bonding stimulation now and then gets weaned off our contact during the soft release time?

I have overwintered then released four squirrels - two singletons and one pair. I am now overwintering another singleton.

I have always made sure to get my squirrel kids out of the cage twice a day for play time, and believe strongly that they need the contact, stimulation, etc. I have a glass porch, and whenever we have a squirrel to overwinter, it gets turned into their play room. It has an old couch, and for them I add various things fro them to climb, chew, explore. Plus I squirrel proof the porch, both for their sake and to minimize any damage.

Having overwintered siblings last winter and now a singleton this winter, I would say that for singletons it is even more important that they get time to play with me, as I am essentially their only playmate.

Count me among those who do not believe that the bonding needs to stop.

While I do not handle my squirrels after release unless necessary due to injury, all four of my overwintered releases have continued to take food from my hands, climb and perch on me, and come into the house or onto the porch if the door is open.

I do not think this has ever put them at any disadvantage in the wild. i believe it is actually an advantage, as whenever any of them has been injured to where antibiotics were necessary, it has made it possible to being them back inside to get them back over the injury. Usually this means a couple weeks, but in some cases it has been up to three months. Much easier on all concerned if they remain comfortable with me!

I also raised and released two different squirrels born earlier in the year and therefore not overwintered. Neither of them stuck around like the overwintered ones.

The overwintered ones have all continued to come and hang out throughout their lives. Right now, my senior squirrel is Mookie, who turned three last September and was released May 2018. He may disappear 2-3 days at a time during mating season, but other than that he is around every day, even returning to his original nest box for winter.

[MrSploot]

Update on little guy, fast approaching 6 months and working on release plans. I’m building a new chicken coop that will double as his soft release cage. Is there a thread or guides on best practices for soft release? I’m aiming to have him in there by mid March.
What should I be bringing him to learn about wild foods? I currently bring in dandelions and branches. I figure I might need to supplement his release with Henry’s blocks as he learns what is good to eat outdoors. How quickly do they become able to independently forage?
I’m hoping that he’ll settle in my big maple tree in my backyard and plan to put his next box in that tree. I see other squirrels climbing but not nesting in it. Will the locals push him out of my yard? Will he have any advantages if I’m still making blocks and veggies available for a while?

[Mel1959]

Here’s the link for the soft release process. https://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/...-How-to-Sticky In the same section which is on the forum under the cages section is also a sticky on release cage building.

I have found it helpful to put a nest box and whatever they were sleeping in while inside (a fleece cube or other type of bed) into the release cage with them. Hopefully, while in the release cage he will transition from the cube to the nest box. When it’s time to release I put the nest box in the tree I want them to live in. This way they already have their scent in the box and are more likely to move into it. Once the doors opened I leave the cube in the release cage so if they choose to return they’ll have another familiar place to sleep.

Don’t begin your release process till the temperatures are more moderate and there’s leaves on the trees. If you feed the wilds it’s best to stop prior to release so there’s fewer of them hanging around.

Good luck.

[olorin19]

Update on little guy, fast approaching 6 months and working on release plans. I’m building a new chicken coop that will double as his soft release cage. Is there a thread or guides on best practices for soft release? I’m aiming to have him in there by mid March.
What should I be bringing him to learn about wild foods? I currently bring in dandelions and branches. I figure I might need to supplement his release with Henry’s blocks as he learns what is good to eat outdoors. How quickly do they become able to independently forage?
I’m hoping that he’ll settle in my big maple tree in my backyard and plan to put his next box in that tree. I see other squirrels climbing but not nesting in it. Will the locals push him out of my yard? Will he have any advantages if I’m still making blocks and veggies available for a while?

I agree with Mel1959 on all points!

I have overwintered and released four squirrels, and have a fifth this winter. All my previous four overwintered releases have remained lifelong denizens of my yard. I always stop feeding the wilds before introducing a new one into the backyard, I usually move them to the release cage in late April or early May, then 3 weeks before release. Since they have been inside up until then, I time their introduction to the release cage so that the weather is not too cold their first few nights outside. And when they are released, I look for a window of a few days when heavy rain is unlikely.

While there are plenty of trees on my block, there are none in my yard. So, I just leave their nest box inside the release cage. With an early May release, they typically return to the nest box to sleep for 6-8 weeks, eventually taking to the trees when the weather warms up. They may return to the nest box in bad weather over the summer and early fall. They then generally move back into the nest box by October or November then remain there until next spring. I have had squirrels follow this pattern of return to the nest box their whole lives.

Last May, I released a brother (Igggy) and a sister (Arya), so their cages and nest boxes are there next to an earlier and nest box (Mookie, now 3.5 years old). Below is squirrel village.

Arya actually moved back into her nest box in late July, a few days before having her three pups (all girls).

I have two other nest boxes (on posts), and they all get fresh fleece every year. This way, there are always backup nest boxes, so my guys always have somewhere to sleep. Wilds will occasionally encroach, although since these nest boxes are only 5' off the ground, they do not tend to linger. An exception was two eyars ago when a wild mama squirrel occupied one of my backup nest boxes late winter then had her pups there. Once it warmed up and they were old enough to venture out, however, they relocated to a nearby tree.


anan

[MrSploot]

Thanks, very helpful! I have wilds travel through my yard, but I have never fed them. They come to play, chase, bury things, eat from my garden, and tease the dog. It seems a good place for the Sploot to frequent, I hope.

He is changing so quickly in maturity and behavior, which is one reason I am eager to see him outside. He has become noticeably more wary and guarded, wilding up I suppose. I had already put up a nest box on the wall in his room, and he just recently moved into that. Lately he seems to spend quite a bit of time in there, nesting maybe, and is thankfully pacing at the door less. But he is noticeably more territorial and sexually maturing at six months.

I'm committed to doing my best by him with a proper soft release and am really looking forward to seeing his life in the trees. I have so enjoyed the rewards of being his guardian for his first six months but I'm a once-and-done on the rehab process. My hats off to all of you who do this over and over and over, I respect the hard work and expense of rehabbing and have learned a lot from reading here, but I won't be doing this again. .