Baby squirrel is not bonding with me

[Charley]

I need some help and advice on what to do with a baby squirrel. He was brought to me by a friend when he was about 8 was old and I've had him for about a minute month and a half. Apparently he was being attacked by some cats. He bit me a few times but has stopped doing that now but he's miserable in his cage and when I let him out he immediately hides in my room and will only come out to eat when no one's around. I'm having a really hard time with him not bonding with me because my 2 squirrels that I previously had were very playful and could never get enough of my attention it was incredibly awesome. What do I do to get him to trust and bond with me?

[Charley Chuckles]

Is this a squirrel that you will be releasing? I've had one that just didn't want anything to do with me once weened but after released he would come to me and take nuts and sit on my shoulder go figure silly kids 😂

[Tashahaven]

Unfortunately it is much harder to develop the type of bond you have experienced in the past, the longer a squirrel has had their eyes opened and/or been in the wild. Being tormented by the cats probably traumatized him quite a bit as well.

Keep doing what you’re doing. Keep trying, don’t give up. Do your best to provide him a safe environment, where it is calm, and quiet, so he can come around and explore as he feels comfortable. 🙂

Hopefully he will heal some from the trauma, and warm up to you. 🥰

[Charley]

I am so upset. Scooter has now been out of his cage for about 5 days. He only comes out to eat when we're not around. We couldnt figure out where he was hiding and we finally found a nest he made out of paper towels above my clothes which is hanging in the closet. The entire bottom of the closet smells so bad because that's where he's been urinating. Last night I tried to give him a treat and he bit me for the 5th time. It's so obvious that he doesn't want to be with us. I feel that the best thing to do is to release him but I do t even know where to begin. They say that the best place to release him is where he was found, but he was found in a closed down water sewage plant. There is trash, filth and many homeless people shacked up there and the worst is there's also biohazard waste. What do I do??? I'm in tears because I want him to have a chance at surviving!! Anyone with advice please help!!

[Charley]

Unfortunately it is much harder to develop the type of bond you have experienced in the past, the longer a squirrel has had their eyes opened and/or been in the wild. Being tormented by the cats probably traumatized him quite a bit as well.

Keep doing what you’re doing. Keep trying, don’t give up. Do your best to provide him a safe environment, where it is calm, and quiet, so he can come around and explore as he feels comfortable. 🙂

Hopefully he will heal some from the trauma, and warm up to you. 🥰

I'm not sure if I'm doing this correctly but I posted an update on Scooter and wanted to make sure that you saw it and maybe you can help me out.

[Charley Chuckles]

I am so upset. Scooter has now been out of his cage for about 5 days. He only comes out to eat when we're not around. We couldnt figure out where he was hiding and we finally found a nest he made out of paper towels above my clothes which is hanging in the closet. The entire bottom of the closet smells so bad because that's where he's been urinating. Last night I tried to give him a treat and he bit me for the 5th time. It's so obvious that he doesn't want to be with us. I feel that the best thing to do is to release him but I do t even know where to begin. They say that the best place to release him is where he was found, but he was found in a closed down water sewage plant. There is trash, filth and many homeless people shacked up there and the worst is there's also biohazard waste. What do I do??? I'm in tears because I want him to have a chance at surviving!! Anyone with advice please help!!

Ok first unless someone can correct me to my knowledge squirrel pee really has no bad oder , rats pee can smell yucky but squirrel pee shouldn't unless something else is going on. Formula babies pee smells horrible while on esbilac but not on FV at least that's been my experience.
A squirrel certainly does not need to be released where it's been found however it should be able to be released in a safe wooded area and be in a release cage for enough time to know the territory.
If you can't provide that and it is quite a procedure you may need to find a qualified rehabber who can help with his safe release. He certainly sounds like he wants to be a squirrel in the trees to me👍
I hope this all works out for you and scooter

[Mel1959]

I am so upset. Scooter has now been out of his cage for about 5 days. He only comes out to eat when we're not around. We couldnt figure out where he was hiding and we finally found a nest he made out of paper towels above my clothes which is hanging in the closet. The entire bottom of the closet smells so bad because that's where he's been urinating. Last night I tried to give him a treat and he bit me for the 5th time. It's so obvious that he doesn't want to be with us. I feel that the best thing to do is to release him but I do t even know where to begin. They say that the best place to release him is where he was found, but he was found in a closed down water sewage plant. There is trash, filth and many homeless people shacked up there and the worst is there's also biohazard waste. What do I do??? I'm in tears because I want him to have a chance at surviving!! Anyone with advice please help!!

As CC said, most squirrels want a life in the trees. Here’s the link to information about the soft release process. https://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/...-How-to-Sticky

This really is the way you want to release him. If you aren’t able to then finding a qualified Rehabber that will release him by a soft release method is in his best interest and his best chance for survival.