WILDING UP A 4 MONTH OLD GREY - NORTH FLORIDA

[muggsy'sgm]

Hey y'all. Muggsy's foster mom here. I once thought he was an NR because of a freezing thing he did. He's stopped that completely, but has started over-grooming/self-mutilating his tail. Like, as of yesterday. He did it when he was about 8 weeks old...but only when he was around another squirrel (for mere minutes...another rehab).
I know in my heart that he is doing this because he sees "what could be" through the window. Knowing he isn't neuro now makes it even more difficult to justify making a "pet" of him.

Muggsy has his own room in our house...with two cat trees that are over 6' tall, an even taller metal cabinet (with books, supplies, etc...inside, out of his reach) with a plush house on top, his 2 level critter nation cage (full of toys and natural stuff), and a more-than-adequate diet. The deal is, I think, there is a small, plump squirrel that I've seen checking Muggsy out through the window. I think it's a she, but her face is roundish, her tail is only about 3-4 inches long, and she just wants to hang out on the outside of the window and watch Muggsy. For the record, there are about a million squirrels in my yard right now.

Muggsy came from about 50 miles north of here. I know in North FL it is generally okay to release at this time of year. I understand the concept of baby steps with the release cage introduction, etc...

We've got plenty of nest boxes to put up, but I don't really want to release him here. There are so many hawks it is ridiculous. I really want Muggsy to stop eating his tail, and to be my baby forever.

So, TSB...should I send Muggsy back to where he came from (my parents' house, 50 miles north), and have them slowly release him?

Or should I roll the cage out to our sunroom...and see if he adjusts to the environment around here? And just hope for the best when he is releasable?

PLEASE HELP. I'VE APPLIED NEOSPORIN TO HIS TAIL, AND CORNSTARCH LAST NIGHT TO STOP THE BLEEDING. I am just worried for him , because it looks so painful. I know he would be sooooooo happy to be free with all the squirrels outside. I watch them everyday and feel bad for trying to make Muggsy into the indoor guy that I know he probably isn't.

Where to begin the wilding up? Here, or at my parents'? UPDATE: My parents are going to come pick up his entire set-up, let him stay in their sunroom, and do a slow release over the next couple of weeks. I'm beyond sad...but know it's for the best.

Thanks, y'all. I'm heartbroken, but much wiser. At least now I am confident in my abilities to rehab a baby squirrel, should the need arise again! And goodness knows I have hundreds of dollars worth of equipment to do so!!!