5 month male still trying to hang too close to our house. - what do I do?

[pdurrett]

I released a male almost 2 weeks ago. I have been feeding him daily and see him often. The first week he came up on our deck and was trying to jump on our screens. He also was looking in the storm doors. He finally ran off and I would see him at his food station. Now other bigger squirrels have found where I feed him and he is not going there to eat. He is now hanging around our other back door which is under a breezeway and sometimes I am afraid to go out for fear he will jump on me. I threw some peanuts out to lure him away from house but a big squirrel came along and ran my little guy off. A couple of questions. do you think I should squirt him with a squirt bottle to make him go away from house? Should I squirt the big squirrels to make them go away. do you think he will stop hanging around my door? I fed him far enough away but he is now coming where we initially had him in a cage away from the elements when we first put him outside before he was in his release cage.
Should I be afraid of him? I am afraid he will jump on me and cut me with his nails. When he was little we only held to feed and then when older and more wiggly we fed thru bars on cage.

[SammysMom]

Tell us a little about how you did his release. When did you get him?

[pdurrett]

we got him in Feb. he fell out of tree on construction site all others killed on impact. His eyes opened March21. We put him in garage in a big parrot cage for 2 weeks, then moved him out side under our breezeway near our back door for 2 weeks and then out in the trees for 2- 3 more weeks. We only held him to feed him. My daughter did let him play when he was little. Then we got the parrot cage and put branches in it and he ran all the time so we did nt take him out any more.

[Shewhosweptforest]

Awww.....poor lil fellow....he's doing what I'd expect with a soft release....he's staying near his release cage that's why we do soft releases, so they have a territory they feel safe in. If you don't want him to jump on you be prepared with a hard nut...pecan, hazelnut, hickory or black walnut....give that to him when he approaches...he should run off and bury it. You may have to change your routine for a week or so....and not be in "his" area squirting him would deter him....but it is also cruel when he's only doing what we would expect and hope for...coming home when life gets tough....getting food and comfort from his adopted family

Also, I leave my guys in the release cage much longer lots of people don't...but it seems to have helped my guys be more independent and less afraid.

[pdurrett]

Unfortunately his cage was small and he was acting crazy pacing back and forth so I though he was ready. . should I move cage back and leave door open?

[Shewhosweptforest]

You could try that.....my guys continue to depend on their release cages....infact we have had to build more cages because we don't want to shut them out

he may stop trying to enter the house if he has the cage to return to....I would definitely try that

[pdurrett]

Thank you for the advice on the nuts. yesterday he came running when I got out of my car and thankfully I had a bag of nuts with me. he got with in 5 inches of me and I was scared to death that he was going to jump on me so I tossed a handful and he went after them and did bury them just like you said. I got a bag of mixed nuts, almonds, pecans, walnuts and peanuts. hope these are ok that is all they have.
His nail slipped into my cuticle when he was younger and it got so infected I had to get a hand surgeon to lance it and was on Keflex for 10 days. I think that is why I am so afraid of being scratched again... Typically do they jump on people or bite? he never did in his cage. he did use to jump towards me when I put food in but at least the bars were between us.

I plan to move the bird cage back to the area but am not sure he will get in. I hung the nesting box on tree above cage and he hasn't gone there that I am aware of yet.
Thanks for your help. I appreciate it.

Are you ever afraid one will hurt you?

[Shewhosweptforest]

I understand a bad experience can make you very nervous I can only speak from my experience...but I currently have two squirrels in my yard that were attacking or biting in the house and since they've been free they are little angels I do always have a nut for them you only need to toss them one at a time....or you're going to have a huge nut bill we order our's online....since they are so hard to find in the store....the nuts you mentioned are all good the only nut I wouldn't give out of a bag of mixed nuts would be the Brazilian nuts....they are not good for them...and can be deadly in large amounts.

You can leave a nut in his cage every morning....then maybe once he starts getting them, move his cage a little farther from your house each day I would always be careful but I can honestly say I've released 8 squirrels and they've either left...not to return or they've hung in the yard...and I've never been attacked by them....well, one time Ari scratched my arm....but I hand feed them their nuts and I think I held onto the nut a little longer than she appreciated so I just do a quick release with her....and she's been fine Good luck

[TubeDriver]

I have two recent releases and they will approach us. The boy will actually climb up our leg and twice he has used my wife as a springboard, he jumped on her leg and then bounced/jumped right off. It appeared playful and while they are hoping for treats, we have not experienced any aggression. They do have very sharp teeth and claws so it is possible to get scratched but we have not had any issues at this point. I think the longer he is out there, the less he will rely on you. You can minimize exposer to him, try to keep some distance and leave if he gets to close.

Thank you for the advice on the nuts. yesterday he came running when I got out of my car and thankfully I had a bag of nuts with me. he got with in 5 inches of me and I was scared to death that he was going to jump on me so I tossed a handful and he went after them and did bury them just like you said. I got a bag of mixed nuts, almonds, pecans, walnuts and peanuts. hope these are ok that is all they have.
His nail slipped into my cuticle when he was younger and it got so infected I had to get a hand surgeon to lance it and was on Keflex for 10 days. I think that is why I am so afraid of being scratched again... Typically do they jump on people or bite? he never did in his cage. he did use to jump towards me when I put food in but at least the bars were between us.

I plan to move the bird cage back to the area but am not sure he will get in. I hung the nesting box on tree above cage and he hasn't gone there that I am aware of yet.
Thanks for your help. I appreciate it.

Are you ever afraid one will hurt you?

[pdurrett]

I understand a bad experience can make you very nervous I can only speak from my experience...but I currently have two squirrels in my yard that were attacking or biting in the house and since they've been free they are little angels I do always have a nut for them you only need to toss them one at a time....or you're going to have a huge nut bill we order our's online....since they are so hard to find in the store....the nuts you mentioned are all good the only nut I wouldn't give out of a bag of mixed nuts would be the Brazilian nuts....they are not good for them...and can be deadly in large amounts.

You can leave a nut in his cage every morning....then maybe once he starts getting them, move his cage a little farther from your house each day I would always be careful but I can honestly say I've released 8 squirrels and they've either left...not to return or they've hung in the yard...and I've never been attacked by them....well, one time Ari scratched my arm....but I hand feed them their nuts and I think I held onto the nut a little longer than she appreciated so I just do a quick release with her....and she's been fine Good luck