A baby squirrel this late in the year?

[Dittoz7]

Keep or ban!

At least try to get him eating a cookie and replace your avatar.

[audtatious]

That's an idea.

Nah, we won't be keeping him. He's "squirrely" enough as it is at this size, I'd hate to see how he would be as an adult when out of a cage. He is a wild animal and should be outside.

[AZhitman]

Too damn cool.

Matty is teh awesomeness.

[tigersharkdude]

I wouldnt release him in the wild IMHO I dont think he could survive (since you have been feeding him and such, he doesnt know how to find his own food)

KEEP HIM OR BAN

[audtatious]

KEEP HIM OR BAN

Since I don't see us keeping him I guess I will just have to ban you

[s0m3th1ngAZ]

I'm sorry but as cute as this is...squirrels are like rats here. I'd shoot them sooner than keeping them as a pet. They destroy my garden if I don't heavily poison it. It's a hobby of mine to figure out better ways to trap them.
Some of them are waddling around with their bellies scraping the ground just BEGGING to be shot.

[audtatious]

I don't have a garden to worry about. They don't get into my attic either so there's no problem.

We have 3-4 that are eating out of my back yard daily and we've had a fat woodchuck eating alongside the squirrels a couple times this past week.

[PoorManQ45]

I'm sorry but as cute as this is...squirrels are like rats here. I'd shoot them sooner than keeping them as a pet. They destroy my garden if I don't heavily poison it. It's a hobby of mine to figure out better ways to trap them.
Some of them are waddling around with their bellies scraping the ground just BEGGING to be shot.

You have an interesting problem there.

We have a bunch of squirrels around here, but have never had an issue with them in the gardens.

@Matt: Be careful, you are going to get attached to the little fella. I had one for about about a month that I found in the same situation as you did.

Another food to try is unsalted nuts. They love them.

If your ferret doesn't kill the thing they could live side by side. They're similar to rabbits in personality, but they can climb too!!!

[audtatious]

You have an interesting problem there.

We have a bunch of squirrels around here, but have never had an issue with them in the gardens.

@Matt: Be careful, you are going to get attached to the little fella. I had one for about about a month that I found in the same situation as you did.

Another food to try is unsalted nuts. They love them.

If your ferret doesn't kill the thing they could live side by side. They're similar to rabbits in personality, but they can climb too!!!

I don't care how attached I or anyone else gets to him, it's better for the squirrel to be outside with his own kind. While I doubt the ferret would harm it as it's domesticated there is no guarantee as ferrets are known to kill prairie dogs, attack cats and such. The squirrel is too small, at least for now, to chance it.

I value my home too much to have a squirrel running around. They are too destructive.

[Urabus GodofTraction]

That sucker is adorable, but seriously, there are squirrel rescues?

[Encryptshun]

Before you release him, don't forget to pick up that $60,000 in grant money to string a rope across the street outside your house.

[audtatious]

That's a very good point. I'll have to look into that.

[audtatious]

Update...

So, the little bugger is now staying up most of the day instead of sleeping. He does sleep all night at least. He hangs around the bed at this point so he has not been relegated to a cage. He likes to eat grapes now and loves to play. He's a fast fukker for realz.

New pic of him with a stuffed animal buddy to play with:



He's starting to show his climbing skillz, YO!

[fiznowler]

Cute little bugger.. kinda makes me feel bad for shooting one with a deer rifle a couple years ago when I was hunting.

[Bubba1]

Cute little bugger.. kinda makes me feel bad for shooting one with a deer rifle a couple years ago when I was hunting.

Agree, very cute.

[nissangirl74]

He's awesome. I know you don't want to keep him, but make sure he goes to a good rescue. Don't just turn him loose.

[Razi]

So cute!

[PoorManQ45]

This thread is full of the cuteness!

[audtatious]

He's awesome. I know you don't want to keep him, but make sure he goes to a good rescue. Don't just turn him loose.

We can't turn him loose with winter here. If it were Spring it would be a whole 'nuther matter. If we kept him with us until spring then he could probably never be re-introduced into the wild at all which would be a shame.

Within a couple hours of here there is a rescue that specializes in squirrels. They will get him re-associated with other squirrels and will eventually release him around late spring to one of the local national forests.

[AppleBonker]

Wait, you're going to drive a couple of hours to drop it off at a rescue? I think I'd turn that into an appetizer before spending that kind of time in the car, regardless of its inability to diminish my hunger.

[audtatious]

I've checked his BMI and it would cost more in food and care to raise him to "appetizer" level than the food would be worth

[audtatious]

Some updates....

He loves to play and will take a dive off the bed onto me if I try and get away. Only if I'm wearing jeans tho or he shoots for my shirt. He loves company and has started running around on the floor, jumping about. I'll have to see if the video came out of it. Anyway, next week is our target for taking him to the rescue. Any longer and he may never be able to be released.

Pics from today...

[PoorManQ45]

I almost guarantee that you will miss the little critter!

[AZhitman]

...too awesome.

[audtatious]

I almost guarantee that you will miss the little critter!

Yep...I get him wound up where he runs around and jumps up on my shoulder only to run around my back and go hide again. Then come running back at me again.

Regardless, he will have a better life in the wild where he's supposed to be.

[nissangirl74]

Just enjoy him while you have him. You did a nice thing. Most people would have just left him for dead.

[audtatious]

It's been a good experience. When the daughter first called about it I told her to put it back so it's mom could find it (I was traveling back home at the time). When I got home a short time later, Christine sent me out to get it (Lisa was at a friends house) since she realized it was abandoned, dehydrated and wouldn't last long by itself in the cold. Was the right choice as it probably would not have made it through the night. If I had known my non-action had caused it to die I would not have been pleased with myself.

So, I've now raised a baby bird and a squirrel. It's a shame I won't be there to let the squirrel go as I did the bird. It is satisfying.

[PoorManQ45]

I say you need to raise an army of squirrels!

[audtatious]

Uhm...no

Raising one baby animal every few years is more than enough.