releasing rehabbed babies?

[olorin19]

A few notes on formula feeding with older squirrels:

The same squirrel may have not interest in formula one day then eat voraciously the next. A squirrel may even skip a couple days then resume.

I just overwintered two sisters (released now) and they were still taking formula once a day when they were 22 weeks old. While this is far longer than I have seen in other squirrels, if your guys are undernourished (as seems likely) they may well be quite happy taking formula.

I had an NR Ziggy (quadriplegic) and he got FV 20/50 his entire life. My point being that this is a great way to assure nourishment at any age.

You may want to experiment with formula feeding through the wire. If you pick a spot where they can stand on something with the syringe at head height, this often works quite well. While with younger squirrels holding them to feed is preferred, past a certain age they are not likely to want you holding them anyways. I usually transition to feeding formula through the wire at some point. I have only had two squirrels max, and feeding through the wire ends up involving quite a bit of switching.

With eight it will be be interesting no matter how you do it - good luck and post pictures!

[astrll]

here it is! now we’re headed out to pick them up!

[SamtheSquirrel2018]

here it is! now we’re headed out to pick them up!

These are some very fortunate little Squirrels! Thanks, Astril!!!

[astrll]

crates are open! there was a little growling haha but they haven’t come out of their crates yet, they fell asleep. do i tip them out or leave them be?

[olorin19]

I would leave them be - squirrels are always cautious about change initially, even small changes.

For example, when overwintering squirrels, I take them out to my sun porch every day for play time. If there is some new object out there, they notice it immediately, circle around it for a bit without getting too close, eventually approach it cautiously, etc. before accepting it.

Same thing if I introduce something new into their cage.

Those are tiny changes compared to what these guys are are confronted with in this moment. So just give them time - they will be fine.

When I moved the two overwintered sisters out to their release cage in early April, one of them basically hid for the first 36 hours and would not even come over to me to get food. She would eat what I left, but was basically scared of everything for a bit, even me!

The constant for your squirrel gang ("scurry" is the actual term) is each other, so being together is what will help them feel safe and secure.

Another trick you might try is covering some of the catio with a sheet or blanket so they feel less exposed - although I have had that one backfire when the sheet or blanket scares them.

[olorin19]

Think of it like this:

For a squirrel in the wild, their safety depends upon them knowing their environment down to the finest detail. From any spot in their environment, they need to know how to get to safety from a threat that might be coming from any other spot or direction.

When anything changes, they have to move from caution to exploration to adaptation to mastery.

For these guys, they are not experiencing a change in their environment like a tree cut down, etc. They are experiencing a completely new environment. They will come out when ready, and begin the process of exploration, adaptation, and mastery. It is fascinating to watch, and your guys have the great advantage of still being together.

[astrll]

first one is out! they ran around before sticking themself there. we put a drop cloth up as well!

[astrll]

thank you so much for your fast replies!!! i truly can’t tell you how much it means to me to not be alone.

when we picked them up, the rehabbers at the center said that we should open the crate at the base of a big tree and leave some nuts out so i’m torn to release them inside another cage. the one that’s out seems like she really wants the trees!!

[olorin19]

thank you so much for your fast replies!!! i truly can’t tell you how much it means to me to not be alone.

when we picked them up, the rehabbers at the center said that we should open the crate at the base of a big tree and leave some nuts out so i’m torn to release them inside another cage. the one that’s out seems like she really wants the trees!!

Most of the squirrels I have raised and released (8 of 10) were summer babies (born mid July to mid September) who were overwintered then released the following spring (typically early May). So, these guys were typically 8-9 months old upon release.

As for the other two, these were born in March/April and released at about 4-5 months old in July or August. And next time I get a March/April squirrel, I will wait longer rather than release them sooner. In my opinion, these guys have a much better chance of thriving if you give them time to get bigger, stronger, and better nourished.

Again, just my opinion, and others may certainly earlier releases.

But age aside, your guys do not know this environment yet, and more importantly the local squirrels do not know and accept them. They need time to observe and acclimate to this new environment, and the local squirrels need time to accept them so they do not get driven away.

[SamtheSquirrel2018]

thank you so much for your fast replies!!! i truly can’t tell you how much it means to me to not be alone.

when we picked them up, the rehabbers at the center said that we should open the crate at the base of a big tree and leave some nuts out so i’m torn to release them inside another cage. the one that’s out seems like she really wants the trees!!

IMHO, Astril, that would be a Hard Release of babies not really ready for a Soft Release or even weaning and with probably poor or at best, suboptimal nutrition and even "borderline" MBD! They probably do wan the trees and this is great but they have not been raised properly nor have they received optimal nutritional support, they have not had a soft-release "here" to get accustomed to the local environment and local Squirrels and they are too young to out in the wild! If you let them go, they will not even be able to consider your new cage a safe refuge if necessary because they have not had a soft-release from it or even time to be in it! I would like to encourage you to not let any of them loose now!
Regards,
SamtheSquirrel

[astrll]

that totally makes sense!! thank you thank you thank you soooo much!!

do you think it’s ok that i’m sitting next to the enclosure? two more woke up but they’re staying cuddled up in the crate. the crows are loud today so that’s probably not helping haha

[olorin19]

that totally makes sense!! thank you thank you thank you soooo much!!

do you think it’s ok that i’m sitting next to the enclosure? two more woke up but they’re staying cuddled up in the crate. the crows are loud today so that’s probably not helping haha

Since you are going to be feeding them formula, they are going to need to get comfortable and feel safe with you sooner rather than later. If it was me, I would sit there quietly, make comforting noises, and let them get used to your presence.

There is a noise I make in my throat with my mouth closed that is my best approximation of a happy squirrel. It seems to make squirrels more comfortable. I have attached a zip file which in theory you can extract to get the m4a audio files inside to hear what I mean.

[SamtheSquirrel2018]

that totally makes sense!! thank you thank you thank you soooo much!!

do you think it’s ok that i’m sitting next to the enclosure? two more woke up but they’re staying cuddled up in the crate. the crows are loud today so that’s probably not helping haha

I apologize for my typos and words left out on my past posts, especially the last one! I am at work and trying to type on a small phone and with the "shakes" and poor eyesight, I, often but inadvertently make my post incomprehensible! Thanks for understanding it!

It is not just OK to be near the encloser, I would like to suggest and encourage you to interact freely with these babies (after all, you are going to be feeding the formula just like Mom!) until their "real" soft release begins! They have been through a lot in their short lives and any security, serenity or even bliss that they may derive from your contact with them will serve them (and you) well in the future!

Cuddle a baby or two for me!

Regards,
SamtheSquirrel

[SamtheSquirrel2018]

Since you are going to be feeding them formula, they are going to need to get comfortable and feel safe with you sooner rather than later. If it was me, I would sit there quietly, make comforting noises, and let them get used to your presence.

There is a noise I make in my throat with my mouth closed that is my best approximation of a happy squirrel. It seems to make squirrels more comfortable. I have attached a zip file which in theory you can extract to get the m4a audio files inside to hear what I mean.

I guess we typed the same advice at the same time! Thanks Olorin!
Regards,
StS

[olorin19]

I guess we typed the same advice at the same time! Thanks Olorin!
Regards,
StS

Great minds think alike, and fools never differ!

[olorin19]

So these guys are something like 13 weeks old?

And are these guys used to being held still?

In my (limited) experience, all the squirrels that have come under my care were no older than 7 weeks old upon arrival. So, easy enough to handle, happy to be held, cuddly, etc. And certainly easy enough to hold them when they are being fed.

As squirrels get older, most of them are less inclined to actually being held when being fed, more likely to want to stand on their own, move about. etc. while being fed.

I ask because I am wondering if holding them one at a time to give them formula is going to work at their age if they have not been handled much recently.

It may well work just fine. But if this does not work, then offering formula through the wire may be the best approach.

I have also had young squirrels that happily lap formula from a bowl. There are challenges there, like the bowl getting flipped over, and of course with eight squirrels....

Anyways, I am sure you will figure it out! And I am curious to hear back as to what you find works best.

Enjoy!

[astrll]

so much good advice!! they are almost 14 weeks old and have only been handled by their caretaker so they’re weary of us right now.

so far a few of them have poked their heads out of the crate but haven’t fully come out yet. i set up a space heater outside the enclosure because it’s starting to get cold.

the one that has come out has already picked her room! she’s snoozing away in one of the hammocks. sometimes she’ll pop her head out to see what’s going on. every time i approach the enclosure she runs to the opposite side so i’m not sure how to get them to come for formula.

i put some HHB’s in front of the crate opening to maybe entice them to come out. can those stay overnight? it’s about 10°C here so i think they should keep if so. i also have a water bowl in there. i’m just worried about if they’re hungry since they’ve been in the crate since morning!

[SamtheSquirrel2018]

so much good advice!! they are almost 14 weeks old and have only been handled by their caretaker so they’re weary of us right now.

so far a few of them have poked their heads out of the crate but haven’t fully come out yet. i set up a space heater outside the enclosure because it’s starting to get cold.

the one that has come out has already picked her room! she’s snoozing away in one of the hammocks. sometimes she’ll pop her head out to see what’s going on. every time i approach the enclosure she runs to the opposite side so i’m not sure how to get them to come for formula.

i put some HHB’s in front of the crate opening to maybe entice them to come out. can those stay overnight? it’s about 10°C here so i think they should keep if so. i also have a water bowl in there. i’m just worried about if they’re hungry since they’ve been in the crate since morning!

Hi Astril:
There should be several sources of fresh water available for so many babies! How did they get their water while with the "rehabbers," water bowls and/or water bottles on the side of the side of the cage.

Do you have some sort of baby animal nursing nipples and some syringes? Olorin mentioned "through the bars" feedings (how about TTBF as an abbreviation) as an option and this has worked very well for me and I am sure for others here on TSB, especially for "older" babies who may not really want to be held or even tolerate being held. I would suggest trying the TTBF method!

Is it likely to get significantly below 10 degrees C? While that is cold to me and most of the southern USA folk, it is 50 degrees F and will be quite acceptable to your Babies while they are out an about in the cage (especially in light of the temperatures to come as winter eventually approaches British Columbia in several months).

Regards,
SamtheSquirrel

[astrll]

six out!!! #1 (moo) has started exploring more and eaten half a block, #2 (pichi) has eaten 1.5 blocks, #3 has eaten 1 block, #4 is still exploring, #5 went straight to the squirrel box to sleep more, and #6 is also still exploring.

what do i do if one of them finishes their second block and goes for a third? i’m not sure how to manage who is eating how many. they’re all chasing each other around and around

[SamtheSquirrel2018]

six out!!! #1 (moo) has started exploring more and eaten half a block, #2 (pichi) has eaten 1.5 blocks, #3 has eaten 1 block, #4 is still exploring, #5 went straight to the squirrel box to sleep more, and #6 is also still exploring.

what do i do if one of them finishes their second block and goes for a third? i’m not sure how to manage who is eating how many. they’re all chasing each other around and around

Sounds like they are getting accustomed to their new home! Are you able to hand the blocks to the individual Squirrels and have them eat them right then? What did you do about the water availability. They should have fresh water available at all times. Thanks for all of your efforts in the care for these babies and thank you for loving these little Squirrels!
Regards,
SamtheSquirrel