PLEASE HELP ME

[My Boy Earl]

Please help me I am so desperate! My squirrel, Earl, has started attacking me.
He's been a bit defensive/territorial over his food in the past, but nothing more than some chattering noises if I (or my fiancé) touch him while he's eating. But the day before last I was home alone with him and we were just playing and I handed him an almond and he got very defensive and started barking at me and ended up scratching my face and biting my hand quite hard. I yelled "NO" and gave him a flick and put him away in his room.
Last night I had him out and again gave him a nut and he started getting defensive so this time I froze, hoping he would calm down and just hop off me and run off with his nut. Instead he started REALLY freaking out and bit my hand so I yelled NO and then he bit my thumb so hard I truly felt his teeth hit my bone. I needed stitches and my thumb is double in size. He clearly intended to hurt me.
So, I'm just baffled. He has always been the sweetest boy and my hand to God I have NEVER hit him or been mean to him, we're very close. I have had him since well before his eyes were open and bottle fed him myself. He is on a healthy diet of Henry's Squirrel blocks mixed with veg and fruits and he gets a nut every day. I just don't understand this sudden aggressiveness and I just have no clue what to do.
Has anyone else had a squirrel that seemed to suddenly become very aggressive? Was it just a phase? He is about 9 months old, if that helps.
I feel like my only option is to start rehabilitating him to the outside, but honestly I'm scared to even touch him... I don't know what to do.

[SammysMom]

Can you tell us a bit more about Earl? How old is he, what does he eat? How long have you had him?

[lilidukes]

My heart hurts for you. This is totally normal
squirrel behavior. I have experienced this more
from the males than females.

[stosh2010]

You will hear from many--here on TSB-- that Earl is "wilding up". It is a natural transition from baby-to adolescent- to Mature adult. Some squirrels never get aggressive, but most do...between 8 months and 16 months.
We have a non releasable ( N-R) squirrel...Rama Rota...he is 4 1/2 years old. I experienced the EXACT same behavior (as Earl) at 11 months. One minute all is well and then Rama started chattering and BAM...bit on the hand and the face. No warning--no apparent reason... They are WILD Animals...and they react on instinct...not reason.
Some will go thru a phase and become "softie Boys" again. Rama bit me on two occasions within a week.Then he went CALM for 4 months...and BAM...got me in the face again...
From then on it was gloves and home made helmet.
Most squirrels that have no health reasons -that make them non releasable...should be adapted to a release cage and released. It is the way of nature. We are here to save, nurture and release.
If you have given your heart to a squirrel --and it sounds like you have.... there will always be other squirrels that will need your care...and depending on your location, and the local state laws, maybe a N-R will come your way...

Be careful--your LOVE will NOT protect you...

[HRT4SQRLS]

Friend, TSB is filled with stories JUST LIKE YOURS. It is actually quite common. That is the reason that TSB does not support keeping healthy squirrels as pets. They are wild animals at heart and even though you gave him love and care since he was tiny, he is still 'wild at heart'. I just raised one from a tiny baby that I had to overwinter. She was getting meaner and meaner and I was SO happy to get her to the trees. Even out in the yard, she doesn't mind biting me and she did jump in my face twice. She is getting better ... she is happy and I am happy for her.

Yes, it could be a phase caused by hormones and he could change back to his loving self but it is just as likely that he will always be mean and unpredictable. I think you would always be leery of him due to the severity of these attacks. He is sending you a message. He is wilding up and wants to be free. I would start making arrangements to slow release him. Do you have an area in your yard to release him? Do you have a yard? Do you have trees? Most importantly, is he releasable? Does he have disabilities? For your sake, I sure hope not. If he is healthy, give him the greatest gift you will ever give him. Give him his freedom. He will love you for it.

I'm so sorry about your injuries and about this problem with Earl.

[MJS]

I CAN ONLY SPEAK FROM MY EXPERIENCE WITH SERENA, NOW APPROX 13MO OLD. FROM ABOUT 7-8MO ON, SHE BECAME INCREASINGLY FOOD PROTECTIVE. THIS IS ESPECIALLY TRUE WITH HER FAVORITE FOODS OR WITH TREATS LIKE NUTS OR A PIECE OF PEANUT STICK FROM HENRY'S. FOR INSTANCE, WHEN SHE FIRST GETS HER SALAD PLATE EVERY DAY, SHE WILL CHATTER UNTIL THE AVOCADO IS GONE.

SO...THE NEW RULE HAS BECOME...NO FOOD OR TREATS OUTSIDE OF THE CAGE FOR NOW...AND I LET HER EAT ON HER OWN SO SHE DOESN'T FEEL THREATENED. SOMEHOW SHE QUICKLY FORGETS THAT I'M THE ONE WHO BROUGHT THE FOOD TO HER. ALSO, I CLEAN (EMPTY INTO A BIN) THE FLOOR PANS IN HER CAGE EVERY DAY WHILE SHE'S HAVING HER OUT OF CAGE TIME. THIS WAY, NO STASHES CAN BUILD UP THAT SHE WILL FEEL OBLIGATED TO PROTECT. THANKFULLY, SHE DOESN'T TAKE FOOD INTO HER HUT WHERE SHE SLEEPS...SO I PRETTY MUCH LEAVE THAT ALONE AND LET HER KEEP IT THE WAY SHE LIKES IT.

AS FOR THE BITING...ITS JUST INSTINCTIVE. TRY NOT TO TAKE IT PERSONALLY...WE'VE ALL BEEN HAMMERED GOOD AT LEAST A TIME OR TWO (OR MORE). IF YOU HAVE A BANDAGE OR BAND-AID ON YOUR WOUND, YOU'LL HAVE TO WEAR GLOVES AS SQUIRRELS FIND BANDAGES IRRESISTIBLE. TRY THE LIGHT WEIGHT WHITE GARDENING GLOVES. EARL WILL GET USED TO THEM EASILY.

[Shewhosweptforest]

My Boy Earl....Earl may be feeling his Wheaties....it is mating season in many locals .....if not, with respect to the food aggression....remember if Earl hides nuts in the room...he can become aggressive in the room....our Baby showed aggression when her room was a giant "food stash"...not as violent...but she would chatter and charge at times...no bite Once, I started her on the healthy diet and stopped giving nuts like a bubble gum machine....she stopped. The other scenario that he's wilding up...well, there isn't much you can do about that...besides release..that's the most humane thing for everyone involved....even tho it hurts

I'd try cleaning the room "thoroughly" limit any nuts...wear gloves ....as MJS said, for some reason they are less likely to bite a gloved hand...also, you might want to wear some safety glasses to protect your eyes just until you figure out what's up with Earl.

I wish you luck...I have a little over wintered girl who is showing some aggression....especially while eating...I just ack, ack, ack back at her when she starts growling...that usually sends her running off to another spot in the room.
I've never had any attack my face....I have had them jump for the top of my head...and scratch my face...protect the eyes ...all else will heal

[My Boy Earl]

You will hear from many--here on TSB-- that Earl is "wilding up". It is a natural transition from baby-to adolescent- to Mature adult. Some squirrels never get aggressive, but most do...between 8 months and 16 months.
We have a non releasable ( N-R) squirrel...Rama Rota...he is 4 1/2 years old. I experienced the EXACT same behavior (as Earl) at 11 months. One minute all is well and then Rama started chattering and BAM...bit on the hand and the face. No warning--no apparent reason... They are WILD Animals...and they react on instinct...not reason.
Some will go thru a phase and become "softie Boys" again. Rama bit me on two occasions within a week.Then he went CALM for 4 months...and BAM...got me in the face again...
From then on it was gloves and home made helmet.
Most squirrels that have no health reasons -that make them non releasable...should be adapted to a release cage and released. It is the way of nature. We are here to save, nurture and release.
If you have given your heart to a squirrel --and it sounds like you have.... there will always be other squirrels that will need your care...and depending on your location, and the local state laws, maybe a N-R will come your way...

Be careful--your LOVE will NOT protect you...

Thank you so much for your reply! I guess I was romanticizing his and my bond, and I really should be more realistic. I have always intended to rehabilitate him to the outside, just wasn't planning on doing it until he was a full year old. But I suppose now is the time. Again, seriously thank you so much. I was feeling so desperate and I feel much better now that I've read all the responses here.

[TubeDriver]

Thank you so much for your reply! I guess I was romanticizing his and my bond, and I really should be more realistic. I have always intended to rehabilitate him to the outside, just wasn't planning on doing it until he was a full year old. But I suppose now is the time. Again, seriously thank you so much. I was feeling so desperate and I feel much better now that I've read all the responses here.

There are some great tips from folks here about what is happening. Food stashs will create big problems. He also might be wilding up.


If you plan on releasing him, please search here for "soft release". This will give your little friend the best chance of successfully making the transition from indoor to outdoor squirrel.

[My Boy Earl]

Friend, TSB is filled with stories JUST LIKE YOURS. It is actually quite common. That is the reason that TSB does not support keeping healthy squirrels as pets. They are wild animals at heart and even though you gave him love and care since he was tiny, he is still 'wild at heart'. I just raised one from a tiny baby that I had to overwinter. She was getting meaner and meaner and I was SO happy to get her to the trees. Even out in the yard, she doesn't mind biting me and she did jump in my face twice. She is getting better ... she is happy and I am happy for her.

Yes, it could be a phase caused by hormones and he could change back to his loving self but it is just as likely that he will always be mean and unpredictable. I think you would always be leery of him due to the severity of these attacks. He is sending you a message. He is wilding up and wants to be free. I would start making arrangements to slow release him. Do you have an area in your yard to release him? Do you have a yard? Do you have trees? Most importantly, is he releasable? Does he have disabilities? For your sake, I sure hope not. If he is healthy, give him the greatest gift you will ever give him. Give him his freedom. He will love you for it.

I'm so sorry about your injuries and about this problem with Earl.

Thank you so much for your response and kind words!! I was so panicked when I started this and feel much better now thanks to all of you. I do have a yard and do have a couple trees and yes he is releasable. I am going to start building his outdoor rehab cage tomorrow and will start the process. It will hurt but it's best. Thank you again, truly.

[SammysMom]

Thank you so much for your response and kind words!! I was so panicked when I started this and feel much better now thanks to all of you. I do have a yard and do have a couple trees and yes he is releasable. I am going to start building his outdoor rehab cage tomorrow and will start the process. It will hurt but it's best. Thank you again, truly.

No, thank YOU for coming here and asking the questions and being willing to listen to the answers. Stick around and we will all help you to get through this. Earl will be happy to be in your trees...and your life will return to normal. Just remember he is a wild animal and don't take any of his behavior personally. He loves you even when he does naughty things.

[HRT4SQRLS]

Earl's mom / dad I just thought of something that I thought you might need to know. I know nothing about the laws in VA regarding wildlife. I just wanted to give you a heads up though just in case. You sought medical attention for your injuries and Lord knows you definitely needed too. I have no idea about reporting of injuries due to animal attacks in your state. In most states it is required for injuries due to animal attacks be reported to animal control for follow up. I don't know if that type of reporting is required for wildlife. I would guess that you probably told medical personnel that you were attacked by a pet squirrel. In most states it is illegal to own a pet squirrel. SO, if they know you have a pet squirrel and they are required to report it, you might receive a visit from a Wildlife Officer. I'm not trying to scare you, but they would confiscate Earl. I would definitely start that cage and release process soon. Until he is released, I would be very careful. I would not open my door to anyone until I confirmed who was knocking.

Again, please don't let me scare you, you've been traumatized enough already but I just wanted you to be aware so that you can plan accordingly. I am so happy to read that you have a yard with trees that Earl can be released in. There is a good chance that he will hang around and be your friend, at least for a while. I have four in my yard that have stayed. 3 are friendly, one is SUPER friendly and then there is Susie and she is a brat but I still love her.

[farrelli]

Hopefully it;s just a hormonal phase, like so many others go through. Food stashes are obviously a possibility, but changes in sights and smells also often trigger this. Changing shampoo, using hand cream, just about anything can set off an attack.

I don;t think that you said what he eats daily. Can you tell us? That can also cause aggression issues if the diet isn't quite right.

[island rehabber]

Earl's mom / dad I just thought of something that I thought you might need to know. I know nothing about the laws in VA regarding wildlife. I just wanted to give you a heads up though just in case. You sought medical attention for your injuries and Lord knows you definitely needed too. I have no idea about reporting of injuries due to animal attacks in your state. In most states it is required for injuries due to animal attacks be reported to animal control for follow up. I don't know if that type of reporting is required for wildlife. I would guess that you probably told medical personnel that you were attacked by a pet squirrel. In most states it is illegal to own a pet squirrel. SO, if they know you have a pet squirrel and they are required to report it, you might receive a visit from a Wildlife Officer. I'm not trying to scare you, but they would confiscate Earl. I would definitely start that cage and release process soon. Until he is released, I would be very careful. I would not open my door to anyone until I confirmed who was knocking.

Again, please don't let me scare you, you've been traumatized enough already but I just wanted you to be aware so that you can plan accordingly. I am so happy to read that you have a yard with trees that Earl can be released in. There is a good chance that he will hang around and be your friend, at least for a while. I have four in my yard that have stayed. 3 are friendly, one is SUPER friendly and then there is Susie and she is a brat but I still love her.

And if you do receive a visit from Virginia Fish & Wildlife you are not required to give them access to your premises without a search warrant.

[stosh2010]

If you find the time----(Hint Hint )
We are addicted to PHOTOS...you can send them to my e-mail and I'll post them here, if you have trouble posting them directly.
Please be VERY careful during these coming days...You don't need and more injuries. Do not be fooled by gentle behavior-
There is much info here on SOFT-(slow) release and will make the transition to the wild easier on EARL.

stosh@jpcfl.com
put EARL in the message line--in case it goes to "junk mail"

[pjjere]

Trust me, you are not alone. See this thread (and there are plenty of other similar ones also). Good luck!

http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/s...as-turned-wild!