our 9 month Freddy wants to be free

[Freddy'sKeeper]

Would you be able to put him through the soft release process, involving an outdoor cage?

Are you saying that he no longer lives with you and he never will be able to again? Is there anything wrong with him which would prevent release, like friendliness with house pets?

What has his diet been?

Well he'll bark/chatter at cats if he feels threatened and he used to be scared of dogs, probably cuz his mom got eaten by one. He was eating squirrel food which i buy from the feed store supplemented with walnuts, pecans, fruit

[farrelli]

Please, please specify the diet in detail. It sounds very bad. Define the "squirrel food". List the ingredients. It's often seeds and corn, both of which are horrible.

[Freddy'sKeeper]

Would you be able to put him through the soft release process, involving an outdoor cage?

Are you saying that he no longer lives with you and he never will be able to again? Is there anything wrong with him which would prevent release, like friendliness with house pets?

What has his diet been?

I hate to give you more things to worry about, but with that diet and the lack of natural sunlight, Freddy is an excellent candidate for Metabolic Bone Disease. He needs to be soft-released.

I will reach out to our members in Oregon to see what options there are for Freddy. He wants to be a free squirrel, and he will most likely start to get more and more aggressive if that is denied him. More importantly, letting him store nuts in his cage will make him territorial and overprotective, i.e. biting anyone and everyone who comes near. For Freddy's sake and for his caretakers;, let's see if we can get the release process going.

Thank you so much! Maybe Freddy is a mix of the red and grey squirrels. He's the sweetest guy you've ever met

[SammysMom]

It is imperative thst he has rodent block. You can get a blue bag of kaytee rat block at petco or other big stores, but better to go to henryspets.com and get squirrel blocks that are perfect for squirrels. He needs a better diet before you consider releasing him.

[Freddy'sKeeper]

Please, please specify the diet in detail. It sounds very bad. Define the "squirrel food". List the ingredients. It's often seeds and corn, both of which are horrible.

He hates corn. Does have seeds tho...pumpkin, sunflower, black seeds, raisins, dried apple, few peanuts. He loves walnuts, most dried fruit, for fresh fruit: pear, plum, kiwi, pomegranate, apple and berries. He doesn't like many vegetables. He will eat fresh grass, pinecones, tree bark

[SammysMom]

Please read our healthy diet in the squirrel nutrition forum. He is on a very poor diet. What they like and what they need are very often quite different.

[farrelli]

Terrible, terrible diet. Please follow the advice of SM above. Consult the healthy diet thread. He needs help before being released. I would also start some variation of the MBD protocol:

http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/s...-Disease-(MBD)

[Freddy'sKeeper]

Please read our healthy diet in the squirrel nutrition forum. He is on a very poor diet. What they like and what they need are very often quite different.

Thanks i will. Light blast that hes getting too many treats, not enough calcium. 1 walnut a day or other nut, he's a picky eater. Will get him the block....so wish i had found you guys earlier...will paint off a wall make him sick? Jade plant? Caught him taking nibble off my friend's and i freaked

[Freddy'sKeeper]

Please read our healthy diet in the squirrel nutrition forum. He is on a very poor diet. What they like and what they need are very often quite different.

It is imperative thst he has rodent block. You can get a blue bag of kaytee rat block at petco or other big stores, but better to go to henryspets.com and get squirrel blocks that are perfect for squirrels. He needs a better diet before you consider releasing him.

Thank you so much

[stepnstone]

Jade plants are toxic to animals and humans alike.
Hopefully it was a harmless undigested "nibble"....

Additional Common Names:
Baby Jade, Dwarf rubber plant, Jade tree, Chinese rubber plant,
Japanese rubber plant
Scientific Name: Crassula argentea
Family: Crassulaceae
Toxicity: Toxic to Dogs, Toxic to Cats
Toxic Principles: Unknown
Clinical Signs: Vomiting, depression

[Freddy'sKeeper]

Please read our healthy diet in the squirrel nutrition forum. He is on a very poor diet. What they like and what they need are very often quite different.

Jade plants are toxic to animals and humans alike.
Hopefully it was a harmless undigested "nibble"....

Additional Common Names:
Baby Jade, Dwarf rubber plant, Jade tree, Chinese rubber plant,
Japanese rubber plant
Scientific Name: Crassula argentea
Family: Crassulaceae
Toxicity: Toxic to Dogs, Toxic to Cats
Toxic Principles: Unknown
Clinical Signs: Vomiting, depression

Well now i think i know what's wrong with him... on his 1st escape venture i caught him in my friend's big jade plant and Yes he is showing classic symtoms of depression. I sternly scolded him with "no, no, no" and he got away from the plant. So what can i do for him? Does it mess their vision up? Because seems to me his vision is not nearly as acute

[stepnstone]

Definitely keep him away from the Jade plant, if he had consumed enough to have been
poisoned by it I believe he would have vomited and be in pretty critical condition by now.
I as other's, are seriously concerned with the diet. A diet of such without the balanced
nutrition a squirrel requires can effect their vision as well as causing other serious health
issues along with MBD.
Many squirrels can and will show signs of depression when they wild up and have
the desire to be free as is their nature. More then likely that is what he is
experiencing and what you are seeing.

[wheezer]

I just sent you a private message. I will help release if I can. I can not release Eastern Grey's in my area so I do need to know exactly
what Freddy is

[Freddy'sKeeper]

Is Freddy a red squirrel?
Is there any reason that he can't be released?

Hi Nancy,
I dont know if I've answered you. So sorry, just got overwhelmed with all the posts wanting to help beautiful Freddy.
He looks really good and healthy - bright shiny eyes. Calcium deficiency, i got him a deer antler and fed him tums bought organic vegetables, berries & fruit..
He's an Eastern Grey. So sweetand full of personaliy. I want what's best for Freddy. Wheezer is trying to facilitate help through a closer rehabber in my area. His diet is not bad like some say. Been feeding him a variety of fruits and vegetables and nuts too. Have a rodent block being sent, local feed store didn't have any. This is sooooo hard for me..:-(

[wheezer]

We have confirmed that little Freddy is an Eastern Grey. I can not release him in my area as there are none here.
I am hoping to contact Winky2 to see if she can help. She is also much closer.
I will help as much as I can. I am hoping he can be released

[California Squirrel Lover]

I'm so glad to see you all coming together to help sweet Freddy, I hope it all works out for him