Squirrel with tail issue. Releasable or non-releasable?
I've been rehabbing for about 4 years now, have released over 50 squirrels, and this is a first. One of my female squirrels came back to the open door release porch with an injured tail. She had apparently been bullied and it appeared that a portion of her tail was bitten off as it was degloved and the hair on the rest of the tail looked chewed. (It was definitely another squirrel and not self mutilation).
The tail was bloody so I took her to our wildlife hospital for evaluation and medicine.
The very tip of the tail had dried up so they cut it off. I brought her home and administered antibiotic for a good 2 weeks and pain meds.
More of the tail died off during the course of her care and a month later "Stubby" (yes, that's her name!) is now happy and whole but she only has 1/3 of her tail. I would say it's about 4 inches long. She is currently outside on the pre-release porch with another previously injured squirrel, but it's time to make a decision about her welfare.
I got to thinking about Stubby and am concerned about the tail affecting her balance and ability to jump from tree to tree, communicate with other squirrels, and shield herself from outside elements like rain. I was also wondering whether she would look different to the other squirrels since she doesn't have a tail and become a target for more bullying.
Bottom line, can a squirrel make it in the wild without a tail???
I have other non-releases with malocclusion issues so she if determined to be non-releasable, she would have a large indoor room/habitat to live in. My other non-releases, however, are male. if I keep Stubby, I would drive her to Dr. Emerson, my go-to awesome squirrel vet in Port Orange, FL (4 hours away from where I live) to be fixed so I could merge in with my other non-releasable male squirrels.
Wouldn't want babies!
Can I get some opinions on this? Need advice!
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I could pic out Dixie from afar. Stubby will be fine. I would be much more concerned about merging her with your males. It sounds like a fight waiting to happen. 
