Sudden Aggression?

[Asos]

Not sure if I should start a new thread, but my original thread kind of fell by the wayside. (https://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/...s-from-NE-Ohio!)

I have 2 babies, my first ones. Clyde (male) is now 10 weeks and was raised from a few days old and Bean (female) who was given to me orphaned at an estimated 8 weeks -- she is now estimated to be 12 weeks. Bean has been more wild, but always friendly. They are still drinking formula (FV 20/50) as much as they'd like 3x per day and getting Henrys blocks and Mazuri rodent blocks offered in the morning (they dont like the mazuri), fresh veggies at lunch time and in the evening, along with formula.

I made them a nesting box and put it in their cage this weekend and they've slowly been checking it out and putting some nesting things inside. They still have their original cardboard nesting box on the floor of the cage too. Well... I went home at lunch today and gave them their veggies and reached up toward the new box that they were both in to give Bean a leaf and she started lunging at me! She was chattering her teeth and making angry squirrel noises too.. It broke my heart! I have to overwinter them.. so I am concerned about this. She scratched me (no big deal) but didn't seem to be attempting to bite. Usually she happily takes new foods from me.

My cat ran in the room a few minutes prior, but was only in there for a few seconds. I know the dangers, the door is always shut and the cage closed. Could she have been freaked out by him? Was it bad that I put the nesting box in and it's making her too territorial? I also had a beanie hat on, but she didnt change her attitude when I removed it. I usually wear hoodies with them anyway due to the crazy climbing. i dont want her to put Clyde in danger, or attack me for the 6-8 months..

Any words of wisdom from experienced overwinter-ers? See photos of the box and Bean below:

[HRT4SQRLS]

That is an awesome box.

Sometimes we never know what sets them off. It could have been the cat. It could be a different smell on your hands. Did you just shower? That makes them go nuts. Do they have nuts in the cage? Stashed nuts make them go nuts as they feel the need to defend the stash.

It’s a little early for them to start wilding up. They can be territorial so just putting your arm in the cage might have been enough to agitate him. One thing for sure when they are flicking the tail and chattering the teeth you pay attention. Don’t try to pacify them when they are agitated.

Try to work through this because it will be a LOOONNNNG winter if they get mean. Many times you can’t let them out of the cage any longer because they get so crazy. Hopefully this is a one time event and your sweet baby will return.

[Asos]

Thank you! I have Bean and Clyde out right now playing jungle gym on me. She seemed a little apprehensive to come out at first but fine now that she's warmed up. I'm going to assume it was the cat or smells? They haven't had nuts yet besides what's in their Henry's blocks. It just startled me because she's never acted like that!!

And thank you!! The box wasnt too hard to make! I followed (loosely) instructions from the squirrel refuge page. I have a wood panel for where the plexiglass is that will go in once they move outside.. pine from Lowe's, 1.5" screws, a jigsaw and a drill.