Solo Squirrel Not being accepted-how to introduce before everyone's too old?

[Heartsquirrels]

Hi!! I am hoping to get some advice from some seasoned rehabbers on squirrel introductions.


I had 3 female orphan eastern grays (none of them related) that I’m raising to release that live happily together in their enclosure. (Still in top part of a critter nation habitat for now)

I just received a 4th, 160 gram female.

I put her into the enclosure for about 60 seconds and the biggest squirrel was aggressive, so I pulled her out. I really don’t want to raise/release a solo squirrel so what to do?

Here are their specs:

Squirrel 1 - Female, Biggest/Oldest - 200 grams - Aggressive towards new squirrel
Squirrel 2 - Female, 101 grams
Squirrel 3 - Female, 103 grams


New Squirrel 4 - Female, 160 grams-want to include with the above 3


I feel like I’m racing the clock-do I just split them into 2 different families-pull the youngest one out and put her in with the new squirrel - sounds cruel.

or try to take a few days and house new Squirrel in the adjacent enclosure to see if Squirrel 1 will accept her?

Or could also call around quickly and try to find younger squirrels from fellow rehabbers and hope they are healthy and see if she’ll accept them? But I really can't take on any more


Thanks

[Charley Chuckles]

[Heartsquirrels]

Ok, so I am going to reply to myself as I figured it out-and maybe someone else will have this question one day.

I pulled out the new squirrel and the bigger aggressive squirrel and had them play in a neutral space for about an hour, then put them back into the main cage together with the 2 younger squirrels and everyone is getting along just fine.

[Mel1959]

Sorry no one answered you. A neutral space is always a good idea when introducing animals because there’s no established territories. It’s interesting that all were accepted when reintroduced to the original living space. Thank you for sharing and I’m glad it all worked out.