Whether you’ve raised a baby squirrel to adulthood or nursed a sick squirrel back to health, at some point you’ll need to return her to the wild where she belongs. However, this isn’t as easy as just dumping your furry friend into the nearest backyard. A successful release depends on both preparing your squirrel for independence and finding a good place for her to live.
When Should a Squirrel Be Released?
Basically, squirrels can be released when they’re able to find food and shelter while avoiding predators. Use the following physical and behavioral signs to determine whether your squirrel is ready to survive on her own.
Physical Signs1
- Is at least 12 weeks old
- Weighs 350 grams or more
- Appears overall healthy and in good condition
Behavioral Signs1
- Will eat natural foods
- Is able to forage successfully
- Can open hard shells, like those of walnuts
- Runs away from humans and pets
Choosing a Good Release Site
When you’re confident that your squirrel is able to be independent, it’s time to scope out a new home for her. Some characteristics of a good release site include a limited number of predators in the area, easy access to safety and shelter, and an abundant source of food. The ideal habitat for gray squirrels contains plenty of oak, hickory, and beech trees.2 These types of trees both provide shelter and produce some of the best nuts for squirrels. Since established squirrels can respond aggressively to newcomers,3 try to find a release spot that has fewer squirrels already in residence.
Preparing Your Squirrel for a Successful Release
To give your squirrel the best chance of thriving in her new home, it’s important to acclimate her to the site prior to release.1 This requires allowing her to spend some time in it in a controlled manner. Simply relocate your squirrel to a large cage on-site for a few days or, if you’ve raised the squirrel and she’s used to being handled, you can even let her roam freely for a few hours every day and she’ll still come back to you. Doing so will both familiarize your squirrel with the area and allow her to accustom herself to out-of-door temperatures and weather conditions.
On the Day of the Release
Squirrels are active during the day and sleep at night,4 so a good time for the actual release is in the morning. Make sure your squirrel is fed and fully hydrated before letting her go. She should be allowed to enter the release site of her own accord. For example, if you’ve housed her in a cage, just leave the door open and let her exit when she’s ready.
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References
1 Cherney, L. & Nieves, M. (1991). How to care for orphaned wild mammals. Iowa State University Veterinarian, 53(2), 94-99. Retrieved from http://lib.dr.iastate.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=3394&context=iowastate_veterinarian
2 Webster, D., Parnell, J., & Biggs, W. (1985). Mammals of the Carolinas, Virginia, and Maryland. Chapel Hill and London: The University of North Carolina Press.
3 Thompson, D. (1978). The social system of the grey squirrel. Behavior, 64(3), 305-328.
4 Reid, F. (2006). A field guide to mammals of North America (4th ed.). New York, NY: Houghton Mifflin Company.
I feed birds and squirrels ALL DAY LONG!! Should I not be doing that. I have many bird feeders , and bowls for peanuts.
They’ve grown so dependent on this food that it seems, they’re not looking for food anymore!? Am I doing wrong?
I love them so much, and I’m a feeder!! People, animals, doesn’t matter!!
Enjoy your wildlife, look around and see if they are also eating seeds and berries from the area. You will feel better. You may even want to gather some of the local seeds, berriws etc. andput it out with the store bought or kitchen food.
I have a male that attacked me yesterday so now I fear to let it loose in the room. Not able to open walnuts yet. It’s Nov. 6. Massachusetts. Will it go crazy all winter being kept inside in its 2 cages with tunnel? One’s a big parrot cage on wheels. I made the 1/2” wire cloth tunnel to the 2 x 2 1/2’ one with doors at each end so I can close him in one while I clean or put food in the other one. We’ll make a hutch soon. Don’t want to put him out til Spring. His wooden squirrel house comes today in the mail. He’s got windows I can open for air and sunlight into the cage. I’m going to make another tunnel into another cage like the smaller one. Is this adaquate? No rehabbers answered my many calls. He’s about 11 wks. old. I had tried to put him back in his cage when he bit me hard and got out and then bit me again and kept coming at me. I kept flinging him off trying to calm him down and he got on a stick I put him in with. I don’t dare trust him again. But I still love him and want what’s best for him. Our neighbors found one when we did but just let it go the other day and it was seen building a drey.