Level of Contact with over-wintered squirrel

[Stanley1234]

I need some advice. I am a first time squirrel caregiver. I have singleton 18 week eastern grey squirrel called Honey. She was found at age 7 weeks. She has her own room, in which I’ve built a forest and dig box. She has window seats to watch the world go by. She has outside time in a cage to hear and smell the wild. I add toys and challenges to her room for her regularly. I visit her in her room several times per day. From day one, Honey has loved me. She is happy to runaround and play alone, though she often tries to engage me in play with her. She (gently) wrestles my hands and mouths me. She hops and pounces around me, climbs me like a tree, buries things in my pockets, sits on me, and grooms me (those little lick and nibbles (not painful)).
She seems to have good instincts- hiding food, nest building, climbing. Though she doesn’t have a lot of fear. She does react to bird and squirrel alert calls outside.
I feel it would be cruel to not interact at all with Honey. Though I want to give her the best chance to make it in the wild (and not to bury her acorns in my neighbor’s pockets!).
Thank you all!

[Rock Monkey]

As a singleton you are her only companion. Play is critical to learning survival skills and building agility. A lot of the wrestling is practice for escaping from a predator. I have always praised my singleton for her speed and leaps and ricochet moves.

They need that close physical bond to keep them healthy emotionally. Normally they would have spent a lot of time cuddling with siblings and mom. The grooming is an integral part of the forming and maintaining of that bond. That strong bond is also what will allow you to redirect them when they start doing something dangerous or destructive. They can be trained with gentle, persistent 'No's' and praise when they disengage or do what you would like them to do.

In the Spring, when you initiate the soft release procedure they will become more wild and independent as they have less and less contact with you.

They know your scent intimately and are pretty good at reading people, whether they are hostile or intend no harm. On their own their wild instincts will continue to get stronger.

[Buddy]

I need some advice. I am a first time squirrel caregiver. I have singleton 18 week eastern grey squirrel called Honey. She was found at age 7 weeks. She has her own room, in which I’ve built a forest and dig box. She has window seats to watch the world go by. She has outside time in a cage to hear and smell the wild. I add toys and challenges to her room for her regularly. I visit her in her room several times per day. From day one, Honey has loved me. She is happy to runaround and play alone, though she often tries to engage me in play with her. She (gently) wrestles my hands and mouths me. She hops and pounces around me, climbs me like a tree, buries things in my pockets, sits on me, and grooms me (those little lick and nibbles (not painful)).
She seems to have good instincts- hiding food, nest building, climbing. Though she doesn’t have a lot of fear. She does react to bird and squirrel alert calls outside.
I feel it would be cruel to not interact at all with Honey. Though I want to give her the best chance to make it in the wild (and not to bury her acorns in my neighbor’s pockets!).
Thank you all!

Great topic! I have the same situation with my Buddy. He loves playing with me; and not only with me; but with my kids as well. I was thinking the same way as Rock Monkey that I would reduce my contact when it's time closer for his release.

[tgramsey]

From my experience, she will wild up when you put her in her outdoor enclosure in the spring - and just growing older in general. In the meantime, enjoy loving on and playing with her while she will let you Plus, young squirrels need to roughhouse and cuddle just like human babies. It's how they learn. Have fun!