Its time for a grey

[McCarthy]

Hey folks,

I live in Florida, retired, single... and ready for a grey.

I have plenty of experiences with wild rodents, including a Japanese squirrel some 30 years ago, and know all about the extensive requirements and challenges with greys. Currently, a local one bonded with me and comes down every time she sees my camper at the beach. She long declared my vehicle and myself as her territory. I'll attach a few photos. Obviously she is just doing fine in the wild and I have no desire to make her my pet.

All that being said, I really want one that I can take care for in and around my house. I just read up on the Florida requirements for a license and will have all in place before sending it off.

Any suggestions from here on forward?

[Mel1959]

neighbor!

By your comments, I assume you’re looking for a non-releasable squirrel. Do you have the space for a cage? Are there any type of injuries that a NR might have that you would be uncomfortable dealing with, like hind end paralysis, head trauma, teeth trimming etc.?

I know of some rehabbers in Florida that might have a non releasable squirrel that they would be willing to find a forever home for. Let me know what your parameters are and I’ll reach out to them.

[CritterMom]

Well it is certainly nice of her to allow you into her camper!

If I were you I would become active here and at any FB squirrel groups. People will be more comfortable with you if they get a chance to know you and understand that you know squirrels enough to know what sharing your home and life with one actually entails. I would also seek out any local rehabbers - offer to help - clean cages, ferry animals to the vet, etc. Your best bet will be a baby that comes in with some sort of issue that will prevent it's release. It may take a while, but if you have already inserted yourself into the "squirrel community" you will be in the right place when a baby needing help comes up. It will also give you some experience in doing the things that you may need to do to make one happy - how to trim teeth in case a mallocluded baby needs help, etc.

[Charley Chuckles]

Welcome 😁
Love the pics and your camping buddy

[McCarthy]

Thank you all for the welcome!

neighbor!

By your comments, I assume you’re looking for a non-releasable squirrel. Do you have the space for a cage? Are there any type of injuries that a NR might have that you would be uncomfortable dealing with, like hind end paralysis, head trauma, teeth trimming etc.?

I know of some rehabbers in Florida that might have a non releasable squirrel that they would be willing to find a forever home for. Let me know what your parameters are and I’ll reach out to them.

Wanting a grey didn't happen over night. I have been thinking about this and planning for it, for a few years. I wanted to make sure that I can be around and ready for as long as they live.

That being said, I have to make a decision based on the case. Teeth trimming and prepping with eyes still closed are things I have done in my past with other wild animals.

I own a house and have space for an indoor 5' x 5' x 7' cage, and a patio under the roof, enclosed with 2 walls, glass sliding doors to my living room, and screened to the outside. I can either build another cage inside this patio, or even turn the entire patio into a cage. Needless to say, I would let any none-releasable grey roam inside my house under supervision for many hours each day, as I did with all my wild pets in the past.

Well it is certainly nice of her to allow you into her camper!

If I were you I would become active here and at any FB squirrel groups. People will be more comfortable with you if they get a chance to know you and understand that you know squirrels enough to know what sharing your home and life with one actually entails. I would also seek out any local rehabbers - offer to help - clean cages, ferry animals to the vet, etc. Your best bet will be a baby that comes in with some sort of issue that will prevent it's release. It may take a while, but if you have already inserted yourself into the "squirrel community" you will be in the right place when a baby needing help comes up. It will also give you some experience in doing the things that you may need to do to make one happy - how to trim teeth in case a mallocluded baby needs help, etc.

I'm in no rush, this has been in the making for while anyways, so I will stick around and get a feel for this forum, for starters.

That grey at the beach for sure owns me and my camper. And she has nor problem communicating this with the other squirrels in the area through vocals, chasing and markings.

Welcome ��
Love the pics and your camping buddy

Thank you! I have a bunch of photos with greys. Somehow they find trust in me really quick. I can read them easily and adjust accordingly.

My last wild rodent was a field mouse. That was in a different place, not in Florida. I saw him in my garage, and was able to catch him with some chocolate the same night. It was winter, the ground frozen and no way to release him. By the time it was spring, he was a fearless pet, so I care for him for 5 years, well beyond the average 3 years they make in the wild. Even though they are tiny animals, they are fun and entertaining. I even potty trained him.

[McCarthy]

While I'm at it...

Photo from today. She now also marked my counter top and tried to burry a nut in the seat of my camper.

T-shirt wrapped around the legs, you know the drill.

[Mel1959]

She looks right at home.

[McCarthy]

Yeah, unfortunately I think we have traveled away from the OP's issues with Percy, but I am glad he is doing better. I think it was established he has a well-rounded diet that includes Vitamin D and his current challenges are not likely to be MBD with the diet as identified which includes the necessary calcium, contains low phosphorous and sufficient vitamin D ... but yet we are going back and forth about Vitamin D; diet versus sun.

I'm not arguing about what is better, that's not my point. What I care about is her squirrel.

Most health problems are the result of several negative variables.

In order to improve healing chances we have to eliminate as many negative variables as possible. In case he doesn't get enough vitamin D (I stated that we can't be sure if those blocks have enough), giving him some sunlight every day will eliminate one variable for good.

Right now he isn't even eating enough, so it is basically guaranteed that he is not getting enough vitamin D.

Even if the blocks and his diet have enough vitamin D, maybe his digestive tract can't absorb it anymore due to other underlying issues. So allowing him to generate his own, by providing sunlight, can only be good for him. OP also stated that he is 7 years old, that is a higher age after all. With increasing age they - as all living beings - absorb less nutrients.

[McCarthy]

Study on the topic of Vitamin D metabolism and age. Will be comparable in all mammals.

EFFECT OF AGE ON VITAMIN D AND CALCIUM METABOLISM
The following are effects of age on vitamin D and calcium metabolism:

- Decreased calcium absorption
- Intestinal resistance of calcium absorption to circulating 1,25(OH)2D
- Decreased VDR
- Decreased renal production of 1,25(OH)2D by the aging kidney
- Decreased skin production of vitamin D
- Substrate deficiency of vitamin D


Hence, with increasing age both vitamin D and calcium intake should be increased. Something that gets totally ignored with any rodent blocks or around here.

The general claim that the rodent block will be enough at any age must be consequently false.



https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3782116/

[Spanky]

The general claim that the rodent block will be enough at any age must be consequently false.

I am curious exactly how you arrived at this conclusion? I will admit I only skimmed the NIH link, but I did search for "rodent" and came up empty...

[Charley Chuckles]

I'm missing the beach Squirrels 😁
How y'all doing🤷

[island rehabber]

​McCarthy got pi**ed off because we edited a couple of his threads, picked up his squirrels and camera and left the Board. Such drama....sheesh.

[BCChins]

I'm missing the beach Squirrels 😁
How y'all doing🤷

I miss them too