Hi Everyone!
I have three 17 week-old boys that we have been rehabbing. I volunteer with a local wildlife refuge and for some reason we ended up with an abundance of orphaned or abandoned baby squirrels this year. I've had 8 come my way, another I know took care of 15. Its been crazy.
The three I have are brothers and seem to be very healthy and active. We currently have them in a large ferret cage in our living room and let them out each day to run around, but this has become miserable. Two of them will bite any chance they get, not really aggressively but it still doesn't feel great. They've also gotten very restless, pacing, back flips, one chews on the bars all the time. I feel terrible. The plan has always been to release them but not until spring since they were fall babies and it gets pretty cold here in Eastern Washington state.
I am wondering if I can overwinter them outdoors. We have a covered porch that is pretty sheltered. We could put a heat lamp out there too. Any suggestions? We moved the cage outside for one sunny day last weekend but they just seemed so cold and I felt bad for them.
What do I do? I hate seeing them in the cage all day. I know they want to be out running and jumping and being free squirrels, but I also don't want to accidentally hurt them.
Thanks!