Rehoming an Eastern Grey squirrel in St. Louis, MO

[ToriSacco]

I'm posting on behalf of my mom, who is downsizing drastically to a home where she can age in place. I'm looking for someone who might want to take in a 3 year old Eastern Grey squirrel. I will obviously get more information from her to provide to any interested party. I don't believe releasing is an option, and I know she just got a new Congo cage for "Rikki." We are in St. Louis, MO. Thanks for reading!

[ToriSacco]

I don't know if I uploaded this right, but I thought a photo might help my post gain some traction

[supersquirrelgirl]

Very cute! I'm sure someone will step-up to help.

[ToriSacco]

I really hope so, but this thread isn't getting much traction. Thanks, @supersquirrelgirl!

[TomahawkFlyers]

Hi ToriSacco!

It might help you to get interest/replies if you can provide some information up front. As you and your mom know, keeping a gray happy can sometimes be a fun challenge. Were I looking for an adoptee, I'd want to know as much as I could before contacting you. We know that Rikki is an Eastern Gray who is three years old and has been raised by your mom. Here are some things it would be helpful to know:

1. Is Rikki a girl (sounds like a girl name?) or a boy? How did she come to be with your mom?
2. Are there any health problems that might be difficult to provide for by a person of average means?
3. What has Rikki's diet been since she moved in with your mom? Does she have special dietary needs?
4. What is Rikki's day-to-day demeanor? Exuberant? Aggressive? Docile? Gentle? Is she well behaved? Does she listen to or sense you mom and respond?
5. Is Rikki a one person kind of squirrel; or, is she highly social and willing to hang with just about anyone with a warm lap?
6. Is Rikki so bonded to your mom that either of them will fare poorly from separation? (Judgement call, but experience with Rikki will show clues.)
7. Is Rikki used to having other pets around? If so, does she "play nice?" Does she become defensive/aggressive and/or bite?
8. What has been Rikki's ratio of cage time versus roaming the room or the house? Has she been rough on mom's nice things?
9. What makes Rikki happy?
10. Is it certain that your mom must rehome Rikki?

It looks like enough prompts to write a book. No book necessary, just as much as you are able to share so readers will slow down and look rather than skipping by and onto the next item of interest.

All the Best,

Jamie

[ToriSacco]

That is super helpful, Jamie. Thank you! I'll get more information and update this thread.

[SamtheSquirrel2018]

Thanks for your suggestions Jamie! As a variation of your Numbers 1 & 2; was Rikki considered to be a Non-Releaseable Squirrel and if so, what were the issues in Rikki's case that defined this status originally and has this changed. I'm not suggesting that Rikki could or should be considered a release candidate; actually just the opposite! If I were ToriSacco ot TC's mom, I believe that I would want to ensure that Rikki would become the pet of a loving and experienced Squirreler, NOT a "release project! "
Regards,
SamtheSquirrel

[TomahawkFlyers]

Roger that, StS. That is a terrific question to ask and important info to have to make a good decision. I bet ToriSacco comes up with an informative, thorough, and helpful description. Rikki is a beautiful baby. If her demeanor matches that sweet face, she'll find a loving home.

Regarding the downsizing for Mom - if it is the HOA or condo board with rules against pets, I wonder (seriously) if Rikki could be claimed by Mom as a therapy or support animal.

Jamie

[ToriSacco]

This group is turning out to be really amazing and helpful. Thanks so much, all!

My mom sent me the following information:

Rikki is short for Rikki Rikki Tavi, and she is a rescue from 2020. A Falcon got the mom. There were two females, one of which I released when old enough. I tried not to handle them because I intended to release both. To start, Rikki had a skin issue. She would get abscesses so I didn't feel that she would make it on her own. She no longer gets the abscesses, but in the early winter she scratches herself raw/bald. Within a couple months, her coat comes back to beautiful. I can only assume she has an allergy to something, but I haven't been about to determine to what.

Since I did not handle her when she was little she has never become cuddly. She allows me to pet her but not hold her. Sometimes she will jump on my shoulder and we walk around the house and sometimes she will get inside my shirt and rarely will fall asleep if I sit.

When younger she used to run around the cage, climbing up and down the walls. I had gotten a large wheel for her but she ignored it. Her cage is the largest that would fit in my house. It is the Congo cage from Exotic Nutrition. She sleeps a lot. I'm betting she is bored. I have tried several chew type toys but she is not interested. When she was younger she would chew antlers and wooden beads and sola balls but eventually she got bored with everything.

If I open the cage she will get out and gradually got bold enough to explore a bit. I have two small 15lb dogs that she is not afraid of at all. If they come in the room when she is on the floor she will run back to the cage but usually hang on the outside so the dogs are able to get close enough to sniff her. That's the extent of their interaction.

Now she has discovered my plants and that is the first place she goes. I have had to stop letting her roam because she digs and spreads the dirt everywhere.

I have been feeding her walnuts, pecans, almonds and hazelnuts, all raw and from Exotic Nutrition. I buy walnuts in the shell which she loves. I've tried all kinds of fresh fruit, dried fruit, broccoli, carrots, snap peas, green beans, spinach. She ignores everything except for the spinach and snap peas so that is what she gets routinely. I put a squirrel powder supplement on the greens. She gets calcium drops in her water. I started her out with Squirrel Complete food but she didn't eat much. It has everything, dried fruits and veggies, dried bugs and meal worms, calcium supplement. That is why I switched to mostly nuts. She used to really like dried veggies but won't eat them anymore. Very occasionally she will eat a little bit of a strawberry, a grape or cherry. And even less frequently I will offer her a graham cracker which she takes sometimes.

She does not get outside. I have a sun lamp on her every day.

I don't think she is bonded to me. She is afraid of visitors, but I rarely have them - usually just utility people/someone who comes to do a job and leaves shortly. I had to bring a cat into the house for one evening and Rikki seemed paralyzed with fear. Even though the cat left in the morning and was in a cage, Rikki was traumatized for a couple days after.

She prefers not to be held. If I leave the door open she's not all that adventurous. If at all, usually in the morning. I leave the back door open during the day for the dogs so I was afraid she would explore and get out. I really don't think she would survive. I had called the wild animal rescue when I first rescued her and her sister. They said that they would be put down because I had handled them and they didn't have room anyway. That was during the Covid lockdown.

Rikki does seem to enjoy when I pet and rub her. But there have been times, maybe seasonally, when she gets very protective of her bed and she gets very aggressive. She has never bitten me but she scratches me and growls at me when she deems me to be too close. I have to think it is hormonal.

I feel that if Rikki got to be with someone who loves squirrels, she could get used to them. Definitely someone who understands squirrels could probably do wonders with her. But I think she needs that one special person.

[SamtheSquirrel2018]

This group is turning out to be really amazing and helpful. Thanks so much, all!

My mom sent me the following information:

Rikki is short for Rikki Rikki Tavi, and she is a rescue from 2020.

I have been feeding her walnuts, pecans, almonds and hazelnuts, all raw and from Exotic Nutrition. I buy walnuts in the shell which she loves. I've tried all kinds of fresh fruit, dried fruit, broccoli, carrots, snap peas, green beans, spinach. She ignores everything except for the spinach and snap peas so that is what she gets routinely. I put a squirrel powder supplement on the greens. She gets calcium drops in her water. I started her out with Squirrel Complete food but she didn't eat much. It has everything, dried fruits and veggies, dried bugs and meal worms, calcium supplement. That is why I switched to mostly nuts. She used to really like dried veggies but won't eat them anymore. Very occasionally she will eat a little bit of a strawberry, a grape or cherry. And even less frequently I will offer her a graham cracker which she takes sometimes.

Hi ToriSacco:

I feel that if Rikki got to be with someone who loves squirrels, she could get used to them. Definitely someone who understands squirrels could probably do wonders with her. But I think she needs that one special person.

Does Rikki get any quality Blocks such as Henry's Healthy Blocks, Teklad 2018 or Mazuri Rat & Mouse Diet? I know that y'all love Rikki and are trying to find a good home for Rikki and hopefully between us here on TSB, we can find just such a person as you envision as ideal! BUT, in the meantime, quality Blocks (most of us are not too enthusiastic about the Exotic Nutrition food options for a number of reasons. A captive Squirrel should have at least 80% of his nutrition supplied by quality Blocks and less than 20% supplied by healthy options with very rare or no treats! And yes, nuts, are treats for a captive Squirrel. A proper Squirrel diet is good for a number of reasons that extend beyond just general "good nutrition" such as preventing Metabolic Bone Disease (MBD)! This is a very serious condition that occurs when a Squirrel gets inadequate Calcium or excessive Phosphorus or often some of both! A diet consisting of nuts and many other items that are on the "treat list" for captive Squirrels can easily lead to MBD no matter how much extra Calcium is supplied because they contain other Calcium robbing constituents such as phosphorus! Here is a link to the Healthy Diet Pyramid from Henry's Website. You will notice that the healthiest foods are at the wide base of the pyramid and this level contains Blocks. At the tip of the pyramid are the least healthy "foods" and there you will find Nuts and Treats! https://henryspets.com/healthy-diet-for-pet-squirrels/

We will actively help you with finding someone to give Rikki love and a good home. I was (am) tempted myself but the logistics of transfer of care pose some problems (certainly not insurmountable!) but my usual busy schedule at home is the main issue and I am about to head to work right now! We will all work on this for you! BUT, please start today with a change in Rikki's diet! This is extremely important!

Does Rikki have fresh pure water available at all times?

Regards,
SamtheSquirrel

[ToriSacco]

I will absolutely get the food changed, and I'll ask about the water!

Thanks so much for all the great information, @SamtheSquirrel - Whereabout are you located?

[TomahawkFlyers]

StS is a terrific resource, and the listed concerns about food and hydration are right on the money. It would not surprise me to see Rikki turn into a younger version of herself and see a path to the end of her seasonal scratching, with a truly healthy diet. At three years, she is far too young to be exhibiting such a lack of joy and exuberance. Loss of interest in favorite activities can easily be traced back to the squirrel just not feeling well. It is the same for them as it is for us humans. We humans are easily acclimated to a poor diet, and by the time we're not feeling 100%, we've lost track of why. We then head out to treat ourselves to a QPC and a large fries (and a Diet Coke to make up for the splurge.) We then get a little less well, maybe grumpy, lethargic, etc. Same for squirrels. Nuts are the QPC's of the squirrel world, and seeds are the fries. Not to beat this to death, but StS is right. A good diet will change Rikki's life and could easily make her a much more satisfying companion for her human. In addition, MBD can't help but be lurking right around the corner. It is so good that you are acting on the diet right away. If you see profound lethargy, heaving, arching, paralysis, signs of painful distress, limping, or broken limbs, get Rikki in a place where she can't run and jump and be se sure to check in here in Life Threatening Issues. MBD doesn't have to be fatal - if it is recognized early and treated immediately and aggressively.

We're all watching and rooting for you!

Jamie

[ToriSacco]

Thanks, Jamie! Mom has ordered new food, so we're back on track there. Now to find someone who wants a new little pet

[SamtheSquirrel2018]

Hi ToriSacco:
We haven't forgotten you or Rikki! How are things going with Rikki? Have you found someone with Squirrel knowledge and love for Squirrels to take her? I would like to ask that you keep this Thread going and continue to actively seek a qualified and experienced Squirrel-person who would like to adopt Rikki AS A PET and a member of their family (not a release candidate!), BUT if you have not had success with adoption after some reasonable period, I may be able to be a contingency for you and take Rikki but it would need to be some time after August as I will have commitments that necessitate extended periods away from home from now thru early September!
Regards,
SamtheSquirrel

[island rehabber]

I'm going to reach out to a friend and TSB member here from long ago-- anyone remember Nature's Gift? She is in a rural part of Missouri and is an excellent squirrel rehabber. She took some time off to raise four babies of her own but maybe she's ready to ease back in to the world of squirrels. I will invite her back here to this thread, or will let you know what happens.

[Charley Chuckles]

What part of MO? I may know of someone.
Oh I reread St Louis, I'll get back with you

[ToriSacco]

Hi ToriSacco:
We haven't forgotten you or Rikki! How are things going with Rikki? Have you found someone with Squirrel knowledge and love for Squirrels to take her? I would like to ask that you keep this Thread going and continue to actively seek a qualified and experienced Squirrel-person who would like to adopt Rikki AS A PET and a member of their family (not a release candidate!), BUT if you have not had success with adoption after some reasonable period, I may be able to be a contingency for you and take Rikki but it would need to be some time after August as I will have commitments that necessitate extended periods away from home from now thru early September!
Regards,
SamtheSquirrel

No huge changes in Rikki's behavior yet. We went with the "picky" blocks, and she still doesn't seem too interested. We'll keep trying of course.
I have not yet found anyone to take her as a pet, but I'm still hopeful! I love that you may be willing to be a backup. I'm starting to feel a bit of relief

tori

[ToriSacco]

I'm going to reach out to a friend and TSB member here from long ago-- anyone remember Nature's Gift? She is in a rural part of Missouri and is an excellent squirrel rehabber. She took some time off to raise four babies of her own but maybe she's ready to ease back in to the world of squirrels. I will invite her back here to this thread, or will let you know what happens.

Thank you so much! I have only 2 kids and can't imagine wanting to dive back into squirrels, but here I am hoping she is. haha!

Tori

[ToriSacco]

What part of MO? I may know of someone.
Oh I reread St Louis, I'll get back with you

Thanks so much! Please keep me posted.
To be more specific, we're in south St. Louis city.

Tori

[ToriSacco]

Good afternoon, all! I'm wondering if anyone has had any luck, and hoping you all are well!

Charley Chuckles - you said you might know someone?

island rehabber - were you able to find "Nature's Gift"?

SamtheSquirrel2018 - how's work going?