Hello.
I didn't even know how much I love squirrels!
In July a neighbor had a tree cut down and the tree guys brought down two babies - two weeks old. They called me (at 8 pm, ugh!) and asked what to do. I never raised squirrels but I am the neighborhood animal lady. So I told them generally what they needed to do and they said, "no, we're not doing that." So I took them, intending to take them in the morning to a wildlife rehab center in my area but they were closed for covid. By the time they opened a few weeks later, I just couldn't hand them over!
Fast forward, the sweet dears survived my original inept attempts at caring for them. (I was UNDER feeding them for a few days initially. UGH!) My boy released himself at ten weeks when I was transitioning them to their pre-release cage. He had been in the cage a day, I so carefully watched them as I opened the door to do something and man! He was across the cage and out the door before I could even think! I see him around though he wont have anything to do with me. I believe it's him because a) he was smaller than the big guys and b) he will stand and listen to me but won't come back to me.
Now here it is, time to release my girl and UGH!! I KNOW it's the right thing to do but tonight I brought her in (because I need her in the cat carrier so I can get her custom made, $70+ nest box, ha! out of the prelease cage and put it in the tree.) to play with her one last night. Well, she grunts and I saw on here that is a happy noise and oh!! It's killing me.
As far as her release tomorrow, I would appreciate all advice and tips! From what I've read, I put the cage under the tree with her nest box and open the door....is that it?