I guess I have a new pet

[Jinh]

Been super busy the last few weeks closing in a new home, moving, prepping the old home for rent, and my husband getting a new building for his business.

Pretty sure all the stress took 5 years off of my life, anyway…

First morning in the new home and my Malinois brought me some interesting finds. The larger one immediately died 😔. The smaller one I left in a box, to see if the mom would retrieve it. Left it all day and it was still there at dusk. I brought it in, and immediately started googling.

Anyways, 1.5 weeks later, the little fellow is doing great. Very active and putting on weight.

Just had to share his cute little face.

[rbarata]

Don't forget to vaccinate it if you keep it, especially anti-rabies.
Otherwise you might bring a lot of problems indoors.

[Jinh]

Originally Posted by rbarata

Don't forget to vaccinate it if you keep it, especially anti-rabies.
Otherwise you might bring a lot of problems indoors.

Ah well, we aren’t keeping it forever. Just until it is old enough to survive on its own. It will be weaned and released into the back yard. We will probably build him a shelter and put food and water out as long as he needs it.

[rbarata]

I don't know how adaptable they are. Some animals can't be released after they've been grown with humans.

[19 Below!]

My mom rescued one and bottle raised it when we were kids. He thrived. When he was older she released him in the back yard, we made him a squirrel house out of a wooden box with a door. He gradually went "wild". But he did LOVE to run up and down people as they came to the door. I can still remember the time he did that to the mailman....HA

[WaterWitchin]

Many decades ago my cousin bottle-fed two orphan squirrels. Released to the yard when older. One ran up a tree, the other up my cousin's leg. He sat it on a branch and went inside. Pretty soon heard scratching at his bedroom window. Yup, squirrel. He left his window open a bit, and the squirrel spent part of its time outside, and part of its time in the bedroom. For a couple of years. I think life was just easier for it than being a totally wild squirrel.

[Subrosa]

Don't trust them. As adults, they can go from docile to a roid raging chainsaw and back to docile before your blood hits the ground.

[Jinh]

Originally Posted by WaterWitchin

Many decades ago my cousin bottle-fed two orphan squirrels. Released to the yard when older. One ran up a tree, the other up my cousin's leg. He sat it on a branch and went inside. Pretty soon heard scratching at his bedroom window. Yup, squirrel. He left his window open a bit, and the squirrel spent part of its time outside, and part of its time in the bedroom. For a couple of years. I think life was just easier for it than being a totally wild squirrel.

I’ve read most people do a soft release. Usually the squirrel will return to a hutch that gets locked at night to keep predators from getting it, and then that opens up in the morning. A lot of people provide supplementary food and water as long as the squirrel needs it.

---------- Post added at 03:34 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:33 PM ----------

Originally Posted by Subrosa

Don't trust them. As adults, they can go from docile to a roid raging chainsaw and back to docile before your blood hits the ground.

Yes, I did read they can get quite aggressive when they start nearing sexual maturity around 1 year old. Hopefully by then, he will be with his peoples.