Permanent Pet?

[JaneTheKidd]

Due to my squirrel being apparently blind in one eye, I fear releasing her is less of an option. She is still healthy, running around, climbing, etc. She's just blind in an eye, is all.

With that said, I have ordered her food and such online from an exotic food sight that supplies food to science centers (and donates part of my purchase to them, which is cool). I was curious on how I can begin training her to use a litter box/specific area in her cage. I've heard of people doing it, and she knows when she's out of the cage to pee on a towel I have, but as for in the cage, I need some guidance. I also have a cage that is about 5 and a half feet tall and 2.5x2.5 ft. She's only just nearing 7 weeks, so when is it safe to up her into such a big cage (it will have levels, but not to the very top, yet). I also plan to buy a little potted tree to put in there for her, so she gets that experience.

So, with all that said, all pointers for keeping her are appreciated. I know where I live, its illegal to keep her but being she's blind I'm afraid she'd die in the wild. Maybe I'm wrong, but I just want the best for my little girl.

[Rocky1]

Maybe there's a rehabber near you who could keep her legally immediately or if you need that later...

[Milo's Mom]

If the only thing wrong is that she is blind in one eye, she is totally releasable. It sounds like she's been like this since she opened her eyes...she's never known any different so she doesn't know what she's missing.

A few years ago I had a little one, Sami, that had a white eye when she opened her eyes. She was one of the meanest, biggest, fastest squirrels I've raised. She was so mean the BF and I would tease her and say "Sami, you a bitch!". (she really was)

She did very well and was released with her siblings in the Spring. (I did overwinter them due to our freaky weather that Fall) She hung around for a few months then moved to a tree a few yards over. I saw her sporadically for 2 years after I released her. Mean as heck the entire time and she looked very healthy.

[JaneTheKidd]

If the only thing wrong is that she is blind in one eye, she is totally releasable. It sounds like she's been like this since she opened her eyes...she's never known any different so she doesn't know what she's missing.

A few years ago I had a little one, Sami, that had a white eye when she opened her eyes. She was one of the meanest, biggest, fastest squirrels I've raised. She was so mean the BF and I would tease her and say "Sami, you a bitch!". (she really was)

She did very well and was released with her siblings in the Spring. (I did overwinter them due to our freaky weather that Fall) She hung around for a few months then moved to a tree a few yards over. I saw her sporadically for 2 years after I released her. Mean as heck the entire time and she looked very healthy.

My only other worry would be that she's gotten use to my kitten and mom since she feeds her when I'm at school. I left my bedroom door open on accident and the kitten got up to her and when I got home they were best buds through the cage. (I know that sounds stupid because cats are 'designed to hunt them', but she was acting like it was another member of her litter. It sounds weird to type, honestly.)

Hopefully I can release her, and she'll stick around near my house. But I just fear something won't go right. (Maybe it's a mommy paranoia?)

[JaneTheKidd]

Maybe there's a rehabber near you who could keep her legally immediately or if you need that later...

There's none near me /: I've searched up and down. All I have is me and my friend (who's a vet tech and checks up on her) and my mom who feeds her when I'm at school