Lots of questions HELP!

[vix66]

kay, I am not a squirrel expert, hence wanting to know all the correct answers to my questions. I knew squirrels should never be kept as pets and I agree whole heartedly, they do not make good pets, ever. My squirrel has special circumstances, being an amputee she can not be released, I would do anything for her to be set free if I thought she would survive.

May was attacked by a cat and had to have her left front arm amputated at 2 months old. Consequently she can not be released, which breaks my heart. Daily she sits and watches the wild squirrels enjoying life and she hates it, especially if she sees me feeding them. I give her a nut every time I feed them, but how can she understand, her little face tells me everything I need to know. she doesnt understand why she cant go and play with them and she gets angry and vicious towards me. I cant cuddle her now as she justs goes for me. Occasionally if I give her a treat she will let me fuss her. I love her so much, I just want her to be happy. Ideally I would like her to be able to run round the garden and come back to me, maybe in time.
I am also worried as I live in the UK and the government want to cull the grey squirrel and eradicate them. Despite our red native squirrel being extinct, through habitat loss and over hunting (the reds we have here are brought over from Europe to try and bring them back.......these reds are not the UK subspecies we had, DNA shows this. Obviously I am totally against the culling of any animal especially squirrels as they are so unfairly and dishonestly demonised. They would possibly take her off me and kill her, although officially I am fostering her through a rehabber and I hope this would prevent any problems. Any advice on this would be great. The wild squirrels around are more friendly to me and all ignore my 20 year old cat (he is half blind and 100% soft) cant have May out if the cat is around, its him I would be worried about as she would attack him. She has no fear.
Questions
1. have there been any amputee's released successfully and what are other amputees been like?
2. Is there anyway possible that she could have something fitted to help her to not fall? (she falls from 6")
3. Toys? any homemade toy ideas?
4. What tree branches are safe, are there any poison bushes or trees that could harm her?
5. She loves corn on the cob (raw) I have heard its not good for them?
6. Are yogurt treats (rat treats) harmful to squirrels)

Thanks in advance

[TubeDriver]

I don't have any experience with a full amputee. I think she would be at a BIG disadvantage all things being equal. However, you say that she can't really climb and often falls? In that case, she is really an NR, a squirrel that can't climb is and forgive the term...... hawk or cat food.

The fundamental cornerstone of indoor squirrel diet is rodent blocks, supplemented with fresh veggies. If that is her basic diet, than some corn or yogurt treats will not be harmful, but they are just treats. Corn is like junkfood, empty calories that do not really provide much in the way of nutrition.

There are lots of dangerous plants out there. Stick with the basics like oak tree branch sticks and you will not have to worry about it. I would not put anything in her cage unless you are 100% sure you have identified it and checked it for toxicity to animals (search the web).

Maybe don't allow her as much time to see the outdoor squirrels? That might just remind her of a life that she can no longer have? Try to get her comfortable in her indoor routine. Some folks have used soft gloves in order to hand wrestle with their squirrels and not get scratched up. Use the same glove and don't wash it, that way it will have familiar odors for her. A cotton glove might make a toy too. Stuffed animals can be used but use ones that don't have plastic eyes (choking/eating hazard). Remove plastic eyes and sew on some thread eyes. Others here will have more suggestions.

kay, I am not a squirrel expert, hence wanting to know all the correct answers to my questions. I knew squirrels should never be kept as pets and I agree whole heartedly, they do not make good pets, ever. My squirrel has special circumstances, being an amputee she can not be released, I would do anything for her to be set free if I thought she would survive.

May was attacked by a cat and had to have her left front arm amputated at 2 months old. Consequently she can not be released, which breaks my heart. Daily she sits and watches the wild squirrels enjoying life and she hates it, especially if she sees me feeding them. I give her a nut every time I feed them, but how can she understand, her little face tells me everything I need to know. she doesnt understand why she cant go and play with them and she gets angry and vicious towards me. I cant cuddle her now as she justs goes for me. Occasionally if I give her a treat she will let me fuss her. I love her so much, I just want her to be happy. Ideally I would like her to be able to run round the garden and come back to me, maybe in time.
I am also worried as I live in the UK and the government want to cull the grey squirrel and eradicate them. Despite our red native squirrel being extinct, through habitat loss and over hunting (the reds we have here are brought over from Europe to try and bring them back.......these reds are not the UK subspecies we had, DNA shows this. Obviously I am totally against the culling of any animal especially squirrels as they are so unfairly and dishonestly demonised. They would possibly take her off me and kill her, although officially I am fostering her through a rehabber and I hope this would prevent any problems. Any advice on this would be great. The wild squirrels around are more friendly to me and all ignore my 20 year old cat (he is half blind and 100% soft) cant have May out if the cat is around, its him I would be worried about as she would attack him. She has no fear.
Questions
1. have there been any amputee's released successfully and what are other amputees been like?
2. Is there anyway possible that she could have something fitted to help her to not fall? (she falls from 6")
3. Toys? any homemade toy ideas?
4. What tree branches are safe, are there any poison bushes or trees that could harm her?
5. She loves corn on the cob (raw) I have heard its not good for them?
6. Are yogurt treats (rat treats) harmful to squirrels)

Thanks in advance

[Mel1959]

How old is May? I have never had a NR squirrel but many other folks on here have. From what I’ve read after a period of time they learn to accept their circumstances and adjust to life indoors. Daily hands on interaction with you will strengthen the bond between you. I agree about limiting, or doing away with, the amount of time she sees the outdoor squirrels. Establishing your own routine with her will help, I think.

Rodent block is crucial for a captive squirrels long term health. A lot of folks buy Henrys Healthy Blocks online from Henrys Pets, but they may be cost prohibitive due to the shipping, if they even ship to the UK. The next best rodent block, IMO, is Envigo Harlan Teklad 2018. It can be purchased online from many different sources. It’s not as readily accepted by older squirrels, but it can be ground and have ingredients added to it to make it yummier. We call these boo balls and there’s many variations of the recipe in the Nutrition section of this forum. I do give fresh corn occasionally, but always sprinkle it with calcium carbonate powder (no vitamin D) to help make it healthier.

As for toys, I buy hanging wood bird toys. I don’t buy the ones that are made in China or other foreign countries. I’m not sure what you may have over there. A box of tissues or toilet paper is a great time consumer as they pull them out or unwind pieces to line their nest. Take paper towel or toilet paper rolls once empty and put a piece of a nut inside then tape the ends closed. This will provide some enrichment as they have to tear it open for their treat. Lots of safe tree limbs are great for shredding and larger ones can be secured in her cage for her to climb on and chew on. Dried marrow bones, clean sea shells, antlers and rocks are also good for squirrels to chew on to wear down their teeth. The bones and antlers also provide calcium. A pan of clean dirt can be fun for her to bury things in and play in. These are just a few ideas. I think there are other toy suggestions located in this forum.

I agree, I think it would be a death sentence for her to be released. She’s lucky to have you looking out for her. ❤️

[vix66]

WOW thank you both very much.
May is about 5-6 months old. I have never heard of rodent block, I will check it out. Her diet is fresh veg and fruit, sunflower seeds, walnuts and hazel nuts. She has an antler and she has a spoon of formula every evening as a treat when she goes to bed. When I am feeding her she will let me stroke her. The wild squirrels are orphan boys that were slow released and a couple of wild ones. There is a wild female, the matriarch, (Mrs Wildie) that chased the released squirrels off, but I think she may have mated with one as she has been scarce for the past week.
One question, one of the boys is very red, he is a grey, but just very brown/ginger. I have never seen one this colour and could there be red DNA in there somewhere? Not sure they mate, I know they can live together though???

I am on all the advice starting now :0

[stepnstone]

WOW thank you both very much.
May is about 5-6 months old. I have never heard of rodent block, I will check it out. Her diet is fresh veg and fruit, sunflower seeds, walnuts and hazel nuts. She has an antler and she has a spoon of formula every evening as a treat when she goes to bed. When I am feeding her she will let me stroke her. The wild squirrels are orphan boys that were slow released and a couple of wild ones. There is a wild female, the matriarch, (Mrs Wildie) that chased the released squirrels off, but I think she may have mated with one as she has been scarce for the past week.
One question, one of the boys is very red, he is a grey, but just very brown/ginger. I have never seen one this colour and could there be red DNA in there somewhere? Not sure they mate, I know they can live together though???

I am on all the advice starting now :0

You really need to adjust that diet and get her on a good quality rodent block.
At this point considering the seeds and nuts she's likely gotten used to I would
suggest the Henry's picky blocks.
Below link is the healthy diet for captive squirrels, please read and adjust her diet asap,
too many seeds / nuts in a captive's diet is counter productive to any healthy foods
that are given and would be setting them up for mbd. Mbd cripples, mbd kills.

https://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/...-Pet-Squirrels

[vix66]

You really need to adjust that diet and get her on a good quality rodent block.
At this point considering the seeds and nuts she's likely gotten used to I would
suggest the Henry's picky blocks.
Below link is the healthy diet for captive squirrels, please read and adjust her diet asap,
too many seeds / nuts in a captive's diet is counter productive to any healthy foods
that are given and would be setting them up for mbd. Mbd cripples, mbd kills.

https://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/...-Pet-Squirrels

I looked for rodent block and all it showed me was rat poison!
I will get her some rat and mice food for the time being.
Thank you

[RockyPops]

Try this...

https://www.henryspets.com/

[TubeDriver]

Henrys blocks are EXCELLENT.


One other alternative are Envigo Teklad blocks.

https://www.amazon.com/Envigo-Former.../dp/B00N0EPSLO

[Mel1959]

I looked for rodent block and all it showed me was rat poison!
I will get her some rat and mice food for the time being.
Thank you

Make sure whatever you get is a solid, nugget-looking block and not a colorful ? seed mix. I use both Henrys and Envigo which I grind and make into boo balls....even my wilds will eat these.

[vix66]

She is getting more aggressive unless she has her baby formula treat, then I can stroke her head. Outside/inside huge cage coming soon, and I can walk in it. Hopefully she will make friends with me...... 4 months and I feel I am going backwards. This furbaby is one strong girl, a fighter from birth.
How can I get her to be happy with me, trust me? And having red rimmed eye lids, anything to worry about, May obviously. Every few days they look red then they are okay, back to normal?....... I'm confused.

Also, I have a wild one that visits who has really red fur, yet I know he,s a grey. Did reds and grays cross breed in the UK? If this is so that means our grays are a sub species and with the laws in the UK coming this could help us help them from a huge cull. Its in the air at the moment but many of us are fighting to stop any cull.

Thanks guys I really appreciate your advice
Kindest regards
Vix

[RockyPops]

Can you get pics of her "red rimmed eyes"? That would help.

I don't know about there but in the US our Eastern grays can have quite a bit of red or rust color, brown, gray etc.