Wednesday, Aug 14, 2002
I'm heading to work on the bike and right in front of the house, I see a little dog playing with some small animal. I slow down. It's a baby squirrel. It has some spunk as I chase the dog off and it staggers up the hill towards the woods. A few blocks down the road, I stop and turn back. This is no way for some little critter to die. I figure I can put it in a box in the house and it can die peaceably. So, I get back to the house and the dog is worrying it again. I pick it up, bring it in, and put it in a box. I give it some milk in a saucer and it drinks. Head to work. In my neighbor's driveway is another little squirrel, obviously a sibling. This one seems healthier; not surprising seeing that it had not been mauled by a dog. I put it in the box with the other and again head to work. At work, I look up squirrel care on the net and realize that these things can be saved.
So, at noon, I go home and give them some water through a straw. They are very affectionate. Earlier, they had struggled against capture; had bitten (without effect, no teeth), and displayed great fear. Now, they are clinging to my hand, and climbing on my arm. The one who had the encounter with the dog seems less active. I think its tail may have been bitten off some as it is much shorter than the other’s. I go to the Petco.
I got a cage and a water bottle and a nursing bottle and some puppy formula. They didn't have the recommended syringe, so I got a baby animal nursing bottle with a nipple. Mixing the formula as advised on the web, I feed them. They both eat well. The more active one suckles the bottle. The other, I have to put it in its mouth and squeeze a little. It drinks. I have to clean formula off its chin and chest with a wet cloth. Then, I put water in the bottle and get the same results from each. After eating, they go separately to places in the cage and go to sleep.
I go to the bar rather than back to work, always an attractive alternative, for 2 hours. When I return, they are curled up together, sleeping. Mario, next door says he saw a squirrel in his front yard searching. He says it is unusual for squirrels to linger in his yard because of the dogs. It may be the mother.
I guess from the web, that they are 5 to 6 weeks old. The healthier one stands up on its legs and the other is more of a crawler. I figure it is just less developed, rather than injured, because it doesn't seem to show pain or limping kind of behavior. I hope this is correct. It does get up all the way sometimes. Maybe it is still dehydrated. It may be in shock from having its tail violently truncated.
It is time to determine their sex and name them, and to give some more water. The websites all talk about warmth, but it's 100 degrees today, so I am not concerned about that.
Sat out front hoping to spot the mother. I could put them in the cage in the yard, with fishing line attached. If the mother comes around the cage, I could pull the top off from a distance and see what happens. They would surely be better off with her.
It looks like critter number 1 is a girl and critter number two is a boy. Named them Annie and Rush.
Thursday, Aug 15
I'm very concerned with Annie. She seems worse. She threw up everything I fed her this morning. She falls over and seems extremely skinny. It would be horrible for Rush to be alone. I think I will go back to hydrating with her. Rush is very strong active and alert. Annie feels a little cool, especially her feet. Set up a lamp under the cage. The bottom is hot but the upper surface seems reasonable.
At lunchtime, I got a one-millimeter eyedropper so I can better monitor Annie's hydration regime. The pharmacy section at the supermarket had a good selection of syringes and droppers with milliliter measurements on them. I also got some heavy cream, Karo syrup and vitamin E tabs. These were recommended additives on one site, though they say use them with whole milk. I plan to use them with the puppy formula. They are sleeping separate in opposite corners away from the lamp. It may be too hot. Annie is very warm. Moved the lamp away a little. I used the new mixture with Rush and gave Annie just water. She really seemed to like it. She drank more energetically and suckled the dropper a little for the first time. Rush attacked the dropper. He sucked so hard that I could feel the bulb contracting with no effort by me.
After work: Gave Annie water again. She seems to be a little better. Rush is the same. He is climbing all over the cage. My main concern is Annie. Gave her half cc each hour all day and night. Regular 4 hour feedings for Rush. I am adhering strictly to the amounts I found on the web. Assuming 5 to 6 weeks of age, I cut them off at 1 and a half-ml of formula at a feeding. I will monitor their stool and belly size for problems. Rush is using the cage water bottle.
Friday, Aug 16
Mixed more formula with Annie's water. She suckled more on the dropper. Rush is fine. Annie is walking up on her legs. She still sleeps way more than Rush. He tries to get her to play. She won’t. They are back to sleeping together. To work.
Lunch. gave Annie more formula with her water. She pooped while I was gone. Had to clean her butt off a little. This is the first real poop I've seen from either. I just see watery yellowish spots on the bedding (cut up t-shirts). Moved them to a box to clean the bedding. Annie is drinking from the cage water bottle! Otherwise, no real change from last night. The poop is a good sign though. I had worried about constipation. Rush chewed up a couple Cheerios. Annie is as warm all over as Rush now. Went out and looked for the mother for a while. Tomorrow, Saturday, I will spend more time doing this.
5:00 - Bedding is clean, moved them back to the cage. Annie seems a lot better. She's more active and enthusiastic about eating. Gave her half formula to half water. She seems to have trouble pooping. She is walking around dragging her bottom and hunching her back like she's trying to go, just as a dog does. Some little brown spots resulted. That's all. Rush is stronger and more active than ever. Rush has a longer, bushier tail. Annie’s is about ¾ the length. Rush seems like a little wise guy, smart aleck. Annie is sweet and gentle. She will probably change as she feels better. I am optimistic. They both went right to sleep.
The recipe I am trying now is:
1/4 cup formula (Esbilac)
1/4 cup whipping cream
1/2 cup water
1 tablespoon Karo
200 i.u. vitamin E
The first 4, I heat to just before boiling. Then, add the vitamin E after cooling. This goes in the fridge to be slightly heated before feeding time.
8:00 - Kathy, next door, came by and wanted to see them, so, I fed early. I actually mistook Annie for Rush. She was the first one awake and active. She ate vigorously, holding the dropper with both hands and sucking more strongly. Yippee. Rush was his usual rambunctious self. I will watch Annie for reaction to the full formula.
Midnight - feeding is the same as previous.
Saturday, Aug 17
6:00 - Same. Found some tiny round black stool. Squishy little balls.
10:00 - Normal feeding. Annie pooped in my hand while feeding. It was tan colored, oatmeal consistency. Rush didn't want to stop suckling. He sucked on the cage bars and then climbed suckling all over Annie who was trying to go back to sleep. She complained, so I let him suckle the empty dropper for a while. He than snuggled in with Annie and went to sleep.
Kept them in Mario's yard for about an hour (in the cage). No squirrels showed. Put some strawberry pieces in, but they showed no interest.
2:00 - Annie ate so vigorously, I thought it was Rush. She seems way better. Saw an adult squirrel out front. Put the cage in front of the house and the squirrel came right over to it. It was a female with prominent nipples. She sniffed around, then left.
Normal feedings at 6:00, 10:00, 2:00 am.
Sunday, Aug 18
7:00 - Normal feeding. They get right up and active when I come in the room now, and stay active for a while after feeding.
11:00 - After feeding, I soaked a small piece of whole grain bread in the formula for Rush to suckle. He really got into it. I don't know if he actually ate any. Annie had gone right to sleep.
15:00 - Normal with the formula. Annie seems great. She suckles differently than Rush in that he sucks it all down real quick and she stops with her hands locked to the dropper for a few seconds from time to time like she is in deep thought and then goes back to vigorous feeding. One web site mentions this and calls it feeding seizures. Says this is okay. This time Rush really worked on the bread after eating. He may have eaten some. Each worked on a small piece of broccoli stalk and may have eaten some. Brought them to the living room by the window, so they can hear the world and feel a breeze. After a while, I heard some activity and found Rush eating the bread. Went out and got a six-pack and put some ice cubes in a bag. The bag is on my head under a baseball cap. Man it feels good. It has been in the high nineties all day. Brutal. I realized that I have been trying to learn, "The Entertainer", all week. This song might give them a reaction all their lives.
17:15 - They both woke up and started clamoring to be fed, so I fed them early.
21:00 - Normal feeding. Both very energetic.
Monday, Aug 19
Got a bigger cage today. I'll use the small one for cleaning. Both little guys are doing great. They munched ineffectively on broccoli. They like to worry at a Cheerio
Tuesday, Aug 20
Cleaned out their room, moved a lot of stuff to the attic and put their cage up in the window. Their cage had been shoved into a dark corner of a cluttered storage room.
Wednesday, Aug 21, 1 week
They each chewed on a piece of apple after eating. Rush was swallowing for sure. Annie seemed to eat some too. Both chewed it up with gusto.
Thursday, Aug 22
They both ate apple and broccoli. They are eating after nursing every time. They love to shred Cheerios. Annie is doing so well. She is often first to my hand at mealtime (I no longer have to grab them, they climb onto my hand). She is climbing real well. She no longer has feeding seizures at all. When I come home at lunch, I peek in the window. They are up and playing. Being in the window probably helps get them active during the day.
Friday, Aug 23
Got some endive and kohlrabi today. They ate the endive after nursing at the 2:30 feeding. They don't eat anything with the relish that they pay to apple though. I have settled on a 5 time a day feeding. 5 am, 9 am, 1 PM, 6 PM, 10pm or thereabouts. This is very flexible because of work. Today is Friday and we get off at 2:30, so, I didn't come home at lunch. They get 2 ml of formula each time and a solid food at each meal. For solids, I rotate between apple, broccoli, and endive and (I haven't tried kohlrabi yet, but I will try it at the next feeding). Every other day, I will give them some whole grain bread to chew on. They seem to be in excellent shape. They are energetic, curious, alert and frisky. They both love to climb on the branches in the cage and they both seem to be non-gravocentric. They will hang upside down from a branch while holding their food in both hands. When I cuddle and pet them, they relax completely and seem to enjoy it. I hope this replaces some motherhood attention. I see them groom a little. Annie rubs the sides of her chin on the tee shirts after eating and they both lick their hands clean.
9:30 PM: They are not interested in cherries at all. Annie will take a Cheerio over anything. Rush will take apple over anything.
Sunday, Aug 25
Annie is acting strange. Until today, she competed with Rush to be first in my hand for feeding. Now, she hides and I have to pull her out. Then she acts as before. Started them on sweet potato today. They like it.
Wednesday, Aug 28, 2 weeks
Everything has been going the same. I cut down on their formula a little because their stool seems too watery. Annie is back to her old self. She gets onto my hand first as often as Rush.
1:00 pm. I am sick. I saw some blood on the eye-dropper while feeding Rush. It was broken on the tip. It is very sharp and could have cut him while feeding (rather than pieces of loose glass). I only pray that he didn’t swallow some glass. Why did I continue using the glass eye-dropper after they were able to chew hard things like Cheerios? He ate normally after feeding.
I was sick with worry at work. A girl at work said she will think good thoughts for him. I guess that’s like praying. He seems absolutely normal this evening.
11:30 pm - Rush still seems great.
Thursday, Aug 29
All is well. They are both into sweet potato as their after formula snack today. Rush stole Annie’s piece and she snatched it right back, cursing a blue streak. The plastic eyedropper has a bigger opening and the first time he used it, Rush bubbled out his nose. I tried the syringe I got that first time at the supermarket but it is too abrubt. By the time you apply enough pressure for it to work, it dumps the whole load. He is doing better today, but I need to make the hole smaller somehow. I tried using a dish, and Rush got the hang of it right away, but Annie just sloshed around in it. When they get into their nest, they push and shove and squeak and growl for 5 minutes before sleeping. Very cute. The noises remind me of Chip and Dale.
Friday, Aug 30
I used epoxy to close up the end of the dropper. I blew through it while it was drying, leaving a very small opening. This should be much better. After adjusting the formula down for a few days, their stool is much better. I am giving each about 1 and a half ml each feeding. They were doing two at least at the beginning of the week. Their tails have really gotten bushy. They were just fuzzy two weeks ago. Their ears have also changed dramatically. They are now upright and bigger.
Sunday, Sep 01
They’re eating sunflower seeds now (un-shelled… or shelled, or whatever it is when they are out of the shell). I want to move them over from just fruits and vegetables to more dry food. When I take them out to eat in my left hand, they have both figured out that the dropper is always in my right hand. They run up my arm and across my head or shoulders and down my right arm to the dropper as quick as a flash. Rush likes to sit on top of my head. They are a riot. They are very smart too. Way smarter than gerbils.
Monday, Sep 02
Geggy and Clarissa came by to see them. Got some good pictures.
Thursday, Sep 05, 3 weeks yesterday
Couldn't get on the computer for a few days, the startup register was corrupted. It has been a great week so far. On Wednesday, I got some rat chow. I put it in a glass ashtray (thick, un-squirrel-breakable), with veggie and fruit pieces. They like the brown balls and the dried corn. They ignore the oats and the brown and green cylinders. Their teeth are really getting strong. They are also opening sunflower seeds. Their stool is perfect; small brown balls that just fall out of their butts while feeding. I still feed every 4 hours, 1 and a 1/2 mls. Each feeding, I give fruit and vegetables, changing them each time; apple, kohlrabi, and sweet potato one time, endive, broccoli and carrot the next. Annie doesn't put up with any crap from Rush. They get along great. There is no imbalance in their relationship. Tonight, I'm turning the lamp off. It's warm in the room and it seems natural to let them have nighttime. They are getting so strong. Rush is getting muscular. After having the formula, I give them something they like to eat and they sit in my hand eating while I scratch their backs and head.
Friday, Sep 06
They are doing great. Joe Esposito came by at lunch to see them. It’s Friday, so tomorrow I will pick up screening and stuff to make a bigger cage. In 3 and a half weeks they have outgrown two cages. They seem to be doing okay without the lamp for heat. This morning when I picked them up, they were both warm all over even though they slept without the lamp. None of the websites specify warming schedules beyond incubation or first-finding. When I get a bigger cage, I will put in some rocks and bones for teething, and a water dish so they can get used to drinking from whatever, other than the cage water bottle.
Monday, Sep 09
On Saturday, I noticed that Annie’s stool was much softer (mushy) and green. Rush is still solid, dark brown BBs. As their food variety has increased, they are able to indulge their separate preferences. Neither likes apple as much as they did. I added more water to the formula, and cut down the Karo. Annie’s stool has firmed up a little, but is still much different from Rush’s. Greg called Saturday and told me that Derek works at a feed store in Riverdale and they have squirrel diet. I went Sunday (yesterday) and talked with Claire who is a rehabber. I talked to her for quite a while and showed her pictures. She said it seems that I am doing everything right. She had a few suggestions; a small amount of turkey baby food for protein. Contrary to the websites, she said squirrels sometimes take baby birds. She said they can eat egg too. She said I could begin soft release now until I showed her pictures. She said they may be two weeks younger than I thought. I don’t know how this is possible, since their eyes were open when I found them indicating 5 weeks. Also, even if they were two weeks older than I think they are, they would still be way too young for release. I have never seen squirrels this young outdoors. The one website that talks about age-at-release said 5 months! Many things she said seemed strange and contrary to all other information I have garnered. I will be keeping them through the winter. I got them monkey biscuits and they love them. They didn’t have any specific squirrel diet. I didn’t get around to building a cage. Next weekend.
Kathy came over Sunday and barged into the room talking loudly and went right up to the cage. I am never that abrupt. I always open the door slowly and speak softly from the door before approaching the cage. I also instruct guests to stay behind me and keep back until the babies notice them. Kathy just got ahead of me. She didn’t know. Any sudden noise causes them to bolt and hide, even the clinking of a dish. They were very frightened. Annie leapt back and forth off the front wall of the cage seemingly defying gravity and putting up a blustery display, clicking and huffing. She’s very brave. Rush just went to the back of the cage and got very still and watchful.
Friday, Sep 13, 4 weeks the 11th
They are getting big and strong and eating a lot more variety. Rush is getting wilder. He is very willful and difficult to control. Last week, I would put my hand in the cage, he would climb on, and I would feed him from the dropper. Then he would sit on my hand and eat, then I would put him back and get Annie. No longer. He is all over the place. He wants to explore the room. He wants to jump off my hand onto anything. Annie is the same as always, but I figure she will follow his example in this as with everything else. No problem here, this is to be expected. I never expected to feed mature squirrels on my hand. I will build the big release cage tomorrow, 2’ by 3 ½’ by 6’ high. I am drawing up the plans tonight.
They used to suckle and lick all over my fingers and up and down my arm after feeding. Rush no longer does this at all and Annie does it much less than she did.
They are eating pears, broccoli, peach, almonds and walnuts (sparingly, they would fill up on nuts if given a chance, and I want them to have more variety), monkey biscuit, endives, kohlrabi, rodent mix, sunflower seeds, cauliflower and more. All rotated and controlled. They seem to be perfectly fit and their stool is small, dark brown, firm, round pellets. Both are the same now in this regard. I am thrilled at their shit!
I leave the window open day and night and no longer use the light for heating. They really seem to love eachother.
Geggy calls them his neice and nephew.
Annie does something cute that she has always done and Rush has not; Always, after feeding, she looks up at my face for several seconds as if she is thinking, “man, I have one huge weird looking mother!”
Saturday, Sep 14, one month
I mentioned to Kathy that I was going to build the cage today and she told ne there was a ferret cage in the paper. It looks like it may work, 36x20x48. I picked it up for $35 from a nice lady named Leslie in Tenafly. Brought it home, cleaned it up and moved the little guys in. It has screen flooring, so I will need to get more t-shirts. When I put them in, they started running all over the place. They seemed to be learning routes up and down the ramps, walls and ceiling, and then running them as fast as they could. They also started wrestling more than I’ve ever seen them.
They no longer remain in my hand eating something after having formula from the dropper. I used to give them a little piece of apple or a piece of nut or a sunflower seed and pet them while they ate. Now, they turn their nose up at everything and just want to get off my hand and explore the room. Also, I can’t get just one out at a time like before. They are both out and all over me as soon as I open the cage. So, I get them to separate areas of the cage and close them from eachother. Then, I can get one out at a time. This won’t work much longer, as they will figure it out and both will run to the same part of the cage. This is a problem. I am giving each measured does of formula. If I put it in a bowl, Rush will probably hog it. If I put enough for both, will they over-eat?
Wednesday, Sep 18, 5 weeks
The cage is working out great! They use the small upper room as sleeping quarters. I put a towel around the cage at this room to keep it dark and private. They never poop or pee there. I saw Annie bury a piece of sweet potato in a tee shirt, so I got a pan (the tray from their first cage) and put some grass clods in it and placed it in the bottom of the cage. They imediately ran all over it digging and playing. They are extremely healthy. I can feel firm muscle when I handle them and they are very active, running and jumping all over the walls and ceiling of the cage. Also, their stool is uniform and excellent. I’ve increased the formula gradually to 2 and a half ml, 4 times a day. I think I will move up to 3 ml a feeding. They get much of their calcium here. They are eating nectarines, green beans and green pepper in addition to the other fruits and veggies I have been feeding them. Their favorite thing is the monkey biscuits. I give each of them one half a biscuit a day. If Annie finishes first, she goes right up to Rush and steals his out of his mouth. He barks and growls, but that’s all. If he finishes first, he just hunts around for crumbs. If I’m there, I give him small pieces until Annie finishes. They also get almond slices, walnut pieces and large sunflower seeds in the shell. They make quick work of the shells. I keep the bowl that came with the cage stocked with the rodent mix since they don’t gorge on it or eat all that’s there. They seem to like very few of the things in it. Then, when I give formula in the morning, they get the monkey biscuits and after work, they get the fruits and vegetables. I leave these in a separate bowl. I come back in an hour or so, and judge what they will get by how much they have eaten in that hour. They never finish all the fruits and veggies. Are they getting enough dry food (nuts, seeds, biscuits and rodent mix)? I don’t know. I have to go by their physical appearance, their stool, and their own eating patterns. I try to be consistent so that I can make calculated adjustments if necessary.
Rush buried a green bean tonight. He pulled a piece of cloth over it and then patted it down nicely. I just changed all the bedding. I clean the cage tray every day and wash the tee shirts every other day.
Thursday, Sep 19
Ran out of biscuits yesterday, so I went to Mike’s Feed again this morning. They open at 10:00 so I got to work late. Met a girl there who has a baby squirrel, 5 weeks or so. Apparently, it runs around the house and plays with the dog! I wanted to talk to her more, but another customer came in. When I opened the cage to hand Annie her biscuit, she attacked me! She came charging up and butted my hand with her nose. She is very protective. If I lift the towel that covers their sleeping place she starts growling. Rush went down to the low level and pissed through the screen in a spot where there were no t-shirts. I looked around and noticed that there was no pee on the t-shirts anywhere. I guess they have some fastidiousness regading this activity. They poop anywhere.
Saturday, Sep 21
I put a pop top on their cage today. The wood came to 4 dollars and the screening was about $20. It just extends the cage up 3 feet. I made it exactly the same width and depth as the current cage so that by dropping the screen down a few inches it acts as a skirt to keep the addition positioned. The top of the old cage then fits on top of the extension. I used a 1 x 16 as a roof to their bedroom. I was then able to screw some hefty limbs to that. I put some leafy branches in too. They immediately started exploring the little trees, chasing eachother up, down and all around on them. Annie is very agile and acrobatic, leaping from one branch to the other at lightning speed. She started chewing and ripping the smaller leafy branches off and placing them methodically on the deck over their room. Rush just watched.
When I was ready to put the thing on, I had to lure the guys out of their room and get them to the bottom where I could seal them out of the top. I lured them with the formula dropper and Rush jumped off my hand onto the outside of the cage. I just left him to run around while I installed the top. It was tough to get him back in.
Sunday, Sep 22
They have ignored all fruits and vegetables for a week or so now, and I was concerned about their diet. They have been living on formula, monkey biscuits and sunflower seeds. So, I got some new stuff today. They sat side-by-side and devoured some collard greens. This is good. Green leafy vegetables are recommended. I’ll try cale this week. They also ate endive leaves again. I ran out two weeks ago and have forgotten to get more. They also had snow peas for the first time. For fruit, I got a little bag of Sun Maid dried fruit. They picked through it, eating stuff I couldn’t recognize. I gave them a few peanuts. Annie grabbed one, ran up a tree, and started shredding the shell. Once the first nut was exposed, she tried to figure out how to eat it without dropping the shell and other nut. Rush rescued her by running up and trying to take it. The exposed nut fell to the bottom. She was eventually left with just the shell. Both nuts had fallen. The reason Rush wasn’t busy with a peanut of his own is that he buried them as soon as he got them. Then he would run up and try to get Annie’s. The place they have chosen to bury food is under the leaves on the deck. Almost all the leaves have been transferred there. I also got some pecan halves. I couldn’t find any in the shell. I gave them one each and they loved them. So, they have some variety back in their diet. I saw Rush once again go to the bottom to pee through the grate. He used the exact same spot as before. This is great as their piss really stinks. It reminds me of Mystery, the rabbit we had in Denver. She always peed on the newspaper, but the whole house stank. Same smell. But, as long as I clean the tray everyday, it’s not bad at all.
Tuesday, Sep 24
Nissa slipped into their room with me this evening, so I let her explore. They will have to get used to eachother sooner or later, and I know that Nissa does not consider rodent pets as prey. Once a critter is in the house, it’s home-free. She brings mice in unharmed, lets them go, and never bothers them again. Same with birds and even bats. Besides, I have never seen her go after anything as big as the squirrels are now.
So, they noticed her immediately. They were up in the top and both froze with their heads cocked so that one eye was pointed right at her. She explored around on the floor, sniffing everything. After a while, they started moving around and drew her attention. She watched them for a while and then went back to exploring the floor. She didn’t show much interest. After that, while their food was heating, I heard a strange bird-like noise from their room. It was Rush, and he was very agitated, making a chirping sound, combined with loud clicking. A delayed reaction to Nissa being in the room, maybe. Annie stayed still watching him.
They haven’t been eating much fruit and vegetables. Tonight , they had cauliflower and green beans. For the first time, neither was interested in the monkey biscuits.
Annie had stripped all the leaves off the fresh branches I had placed in the top, so, yesterday, I brought in some more. They have a favorite spot to sit on the branches where the fork is. When Annie has something to eat, she takes it there. No matter how much Rush harasses her, she stubbornly remains around that spot eating. I saw Rush go down to the bottom and piss in his usual spot. He sure takes a long time and pisses a lot.
They haven’t touched peanuts since the first time. Walnut halves are also left untouched. Their preferences seem to change constantly. The went wild for pecan halves the first time and now, leave them for later or never. They bury some portion of everything they eat. Their stool is excellent though and they are strong and active. They play endlessly.
Thursday, Sep 26, 6 weeks yesterday
Midnight. Went in to feed them, turned on the light expecting them to be in their room sleeping. They had dragged a tee shirt to the very bottom and were sleeping under it. Maybe I should change the bedding in their room. Done. Nissa was in the room for a while today while I fed them. Same as before.
Wednesday, Oct 02, 7 weeks
They went right back to using their room after I cleaned it. They are getting bigger. An ant pissing on cotton couldn’t be much quieter than two little squirrels eating mushrooms. Another new thing they like is swiss chard. The rat wire on the new cage reflects light and ruins pictures. The next time someone is over when I have them out to eat, I’ll get some new pictures. Speaking of rats, Nissa just brought in a mouse and let it go behind the stereo. Got it. Trapped it in the bathroom where it hid in my bathrobe. Took the robe outside and turned it loose out back. It was very cute, tiny with huge eyes. It would have had to contend with the current house mouse and it’s bigger. Every night between 10:00 and 10:30 it makes a wild run from under the kitchen table, across the living room and into the fireplace. I haven’t gotten close to catching it and Nissa couldn’t care less.
They are eating peanuts again. They still love sunflower seeds and green beans. They also make quick work of acorns. I try to find small brown ones that they can get their jaws around. They have never refused acorns. I guess they’re about 3 months old now. I still give them formula, but only 3 times a day. I figure with their self-feeding, I don’t need to get up in the middle of the night or come home at noon. So, it’s 8:00 am, 6:00 pm and midnight, 5 mls each, each time. I use 3 containers, the bowl that came with the cage is hooked to the side and trouble to take out so I keep the dry stuff in there. Then there are two porcelin bowls, one big one for fruit and vegetables, and the smaller one for dried fruit. I have to clean these regularly because they perch on the edge and sometimes poop in them. Old, rotten or spoiled fruit and vegetables is useless to worry about concerning the bowls because they remove the stuff and stash it all over the place. I saw Annie tuck a green bean between a branch and the screening and then pat down the branch. Rush was burying a peanut in the dirt and then Annie would immediately dig it up and hide it behind the tray. Then Rush would get it and bury it again. They did this over and over with much discussion and chatter. They seem absolutely fantastic in every way. They are beautiful with their fine fur and white bellies. Their heads are a triangle shape from the top that is very cute.
Wednesday, Oct 09, 8 weeks
Usually when I go in, if only one of them is out and about, it’s Rush. Today it was Annie. She was very busy. She was carrying huge bundles of grass and dirt up to the deck. I heard peanut crunching noises inside… Rush. When I first put the sod in, they piled it up and tunneled around in it. I guess Annie decided it would be better up top. Now, mixed with the leaves, it makes a nice hut. In the last week I have seen them groom eachother. They take turns climbing on eachothers’ back and grooming the back of their heads and necks. They also stand up and box.
I’m still giving them the formula, 3 or 4 times a day, 4 mls a time. I get them separated and feed them through the cage. They need to be separated or they fight over it, and I rarely take them out now because they run all over the place and it’s hard to get them back inside. I give them as much food as they want. They eat all kinds of things. I rotate what I put in so they will get variety. They’re not fat.
Rush stayed in the hut all afternoon. Tonight (midnight) when he came out to eat, he was heavily favoring his right rear leg. He kept it tucked up, not using it at all. He got around okay, ate normally, had some water and went back up and into the hut. There was nothing visually wrong. I hope it will heal.
Friday, Oct 11
Rush’s leg has not improved. He has been the same in all ways. He eats well and comes out to get formula. Sometimes when I come in he is out being squirrel-busy with Annie, but he does not move around much and spends most of his time in the hut. Yesterday morning I had him out to feed him before work and he got loose on the outside. He ran all over the cage and I couldn'’ get him back in. So, I left the bottom open and went to work. I came home at noon and he was back inside sleeping in the lower hut (they’ve built two, one on the turf in the bottom and one on the deck over their room. Last night they carried grass into the old room and slept there. Today they have been using the hut on the deck.
Today, Joyce, my friend at work got me some great lists of rehabbers. I came home at lunch and called a bunch until I got hold of Carol Case in Hillsdale. We talked for an hour and she reassured me a little that it might heal. She suggested I give it 4 days. It’s been two now. She also directed me to a vet in Hackensack, that does squirrels. I talked to him and he said I should leave him with Carol over the weekend and she could bring him in on Monday. I don’t want to leave Annie alone all weekend and see no point in this. I’ll call Carol again tomorrow and see what she says. If he isn’t improved, I’ll take him to the doctor on Monday. It is torture to see him moving around with that leg motionless.
Saturday, Oct 12
Yesterday, Carol said that it is time to start soft release. This jibe’s with what Claire at Mike’s Feed said. This weekend it’s raining, and of course, I have to deal with Rush’s leg. But, I will make a squirrel box in anticipation of setting them outside next week. You attach the squirrel box to the cage and put the whole contraption outside. They get used to the box and the outdoors at the same time. Then, in a spell of good weather, you cover the entrance to the box, with them in it, and put it in a tree. The cage stays outside so that they can always come over to get food.
Rush seemed to move his leg a little today. He sat up on both legs and it twitched some when he moved. He also lifted it higher than before to scratch, still unsuccessfully. It seems that he has more motion at the hip, and it is the lower part that is still limp. He’s been out of the hut today playing with Annie and being busy. I looked in their old room and they have a full size hut in there now. That’s where they slept last night. They moved the grass and dirt hut from the bottom up there.
Thursday, Oct 17, 9 weeks yesterday
Rush’s leg has improved steadily. Geggy and Clarissa came over Sunday. We were watching them when he successfully scratched his neck with it. Each day there was some small improvement. Now, the hip moves normally. He sits up completely on both legs. He uses both legs to go up, but only the left to come down. The right leg doesn’t seem able to extend backwards as needed for climbing downward. The toes don’t seem very agile either. They don’t splay out for balance when sitting like the left ones do. All in all, after 7 days, he is racing around, up and down almost normally. He is out and about as much as ever.
Today I got a nesting box at Wild Birds Unlimited. The squirrel box they had was too small, so I got one for wood ducks. It is great! I put a shelf in it right under the opening so they can sit and see out. Also, this will prevent a raccoon from reaching in and down when there are babies in there. I put four finishing nails in the front, sticking out and angled down. They hook right on the screen, with the overhang from the box resting on top of the cage for extra support. Then I just cut 3 sides of a samll square from the cage screen to match the opening on the box and hung it on the side. Annie was very upset with all the activity and stayed down below. Though I waited 30 minutes, she never discovered it. She went into the room under the deck and stayed there. But Rush spotted it right away. He was in it 1 minute after I hung it. He was very excited. He went in and out, ran around and back in. He went in from every angle, jumping in off the trees, coming in from above and from all sides. His tail was sticking out twitching happily. I’m sure when Annie discovers it she will enjoy filling it with grass and leaves.
I have gradually cut back on nursing them. I only give them about 4 ml once or twice a day now. The rehabbers said they don’t require this anymore.
Friday, Oct 25. 10 weeks 2 days
I stayed home from work this morning to move them outside. I waited until they went into the nest box, trapped them in there and removed it. Then I took the cage out in two parts, reassembled it, and rehung the box. Rush poked his head out immediately. After about 15 minutes he came out, moving cautiously, tail twitching, rippling and whipping. It’s been 45 minutes now and Annie hasn’t made a showing. When Rush came out, he had an acorn in his mouth. He explored the whole cage without dropping it. Now, he’s just running all over the place. He is really going non-stop. If I had to judge his mood I would say exuberant.
It’s an overcast day, and chilly. There’s a good breeze blowing. There are dozens of birds around, Blue Jays, huge Ravens, one scarlet Cardinal and some little round friendly birds.. One landed right outside the cage on a branch to greet the newcomers. Rush was fascinated. He cocked his head at every angle.
Earlier this week, I went to a feed store in Westwood. I was concerned with their diet as usual. I got a brick of squirrel food called Bushy Tail. It’s the same stuff that I have been giving them except it has some oil, peanut butter and gelatin pressed into a block. I also got some hamster/gerbil/mouse mix. It’s pretty much the same stuff I got before. At a farm store in Westwood, I got chestnuts and corn on the cob. They liked both. Rush just ate the corn, Annie ate the whole cob.
Rush has been running in and out of the nest box. It’s been an hour now and he finally got Annie to poke her head out. She’s out now. Back in. Out again.
It’s been two weeks and two days since Rush hurt his leg. I really have to watch closely to see any problem with it now. When hanging head down, it doesn’t extend quite as far as the left leg and the toes on that leg may be less agile. He climbs and jumps just as quickly as Annie now. He is also back to running upside down on the ceilings of the cage. So, he will be fine.
Last week I was looking for pinecones and I found an old spare rib bone right about where I found Annie. It had squirrel gnawings on it, so I thought it would be a perfect teething bone for Annie and Rush. They went wild over it. Rush started chewing on it like crazy. When Annie saw him, she stole it from him. He chased her and they fought over it. Annie took it into the box and Rush followed her. There was much growling hollering and squeaking emanating from there for a while as they hashed it out. Rush came out and got involved with other things while grinding gnawing sounds came from the box. Annie chewed it for quite a while. Now, they just take turns with it.
Annie was out running around cautiously when Nissa came across the deck to come in and they went into the nest box. I set the cage up on a corner of the deck with tree branches touching the top. Nissa loves the deck, so they will have to get used to each other. I’m not worried about Nissa harrassing them. She has shown little interest when she came into their room.
I just realized that the opening in the nest box faces north. After they get settled down, I’ll spin the whole thing around.
They went back into the box to sleep after an hour or so.
4:00 pm. They have been in and out of the nest box all afternoon. They are playing, chasing and wrestling all over the cage.
Saturday , Oct 25
2:00 am. It’s been raining since about 11:00. They went into the box just before sundown. I imagine they are bundled up warm and cozy together. Probably cozier than most of their brethren out there. It hasn’t gotten much colder than it was during the day and it isn’t windy. I can’t help worrying about them anyway. I know that I love to be out in the cold and rain if I have shelter and blankets. I have confidence that the box is keeping the rain out and that they dragged plenty of grass and leaves in there. Well, I want to check on them at dawn, so I better get some sleep.
Sunday , Oct 26
8:00 am. I got up at 6:00 and there was no activity. It was still dark. Now they’re out. They’re running all over the place. It’s drizzling and they’re wet but don’t seem to care at all. A visitor just came by. A big squirrel, making trips up and down a nearby tree spotted them and came over. He sat on the deck rail right outside the cage for about 10 seconds. Annie and Rush went right over running up and down the cage. They didn’t hesitate or show any alarm. It’s 9:00 now and they are back in the nest box.
Friday, Nov 1
They’ve been outside for a week. I turned the whole rig around 180 degrees Wednesday morning so that the nest box opening faces South. I’m glad I did because it’s a windy, cold, wet evening. This morning I put long strips of toilet paper in the cage. Rush chewed on it but Annie knew what it was for right away. She grabbed one end and took it into the box, leaving the rest trailing down across the cage. Rush then got into it and they quickly transferred all of it to the box. I put more out and it was rapidly moved to their nest. I thought the leaves and grass might have become packed down and tried to think what would be good nest material.
All week they have been very active in the morning. When I get home it’s dark and they’re in bed. I see them looking out at the world and know that they want to go out. Especially Rush. So, tomorrow I will be away all day, but Sunday I will open the cage. I plan to leave everything as it is and just allow egress to the outside. They can come back to the nest box, through the cage whenever they want. I assume they will. I can’t wait to see them playing in the trees. I debated whether to set them up in front or in back. The front has overhangs that would shelter the cage from rain and snow, but I wasn’t too concerned with that since they have the nest box. Their mother lives in front though I think. However, there is a road in front, and nothing but woods in back. So, considering the shelter of the nest box, I will release them in back.
Sunday, Nov 3
Release day. I got up at 6. Around 8, after it had warmed up a little, I cut a small hole in the screen, 3 sides, so I could push it shut. Rush went right out. Annie saw him outside (he was running around on the outside of the cage) and she found the hole. The both hopped down to the deck and ran all over the place, jumping off every object including my legs. Nissa was down in the woods and caused some concern since I didn’t know when she would head back up, and if she would chase them. They behaved like kittens, jumping straight up into the air and running off crazily, rear legs getting ahead of the front. After a while, Rush headed up the branch over the cage and went tree-to-tree until he was out of the yard. I wanted to follow him, but I didn’t want to leave Annie alone in case Nissa should return. Annie went into the cage and I closed it up and went to check on Rush. As I approached from the front yard, I saw him low-down on a tree. He jumped to the ground and behind a bush. Just then Nissa came strolling up saying hello, right along the fence where I Iast saw him. This was 9:00 a.m. Nissa went in the house and I looked all around the area, but didn’t find him.
Annie was in and out a few times, but spent most of the day with her head sticking out of the nest box looking very lonely. Around noon she was out and Nissa wanted to go out on the deck, so I let her out. She had to have seen Annie running all over the outside of the cage, but she was completely uninterested. She went and sat under the bench looking out at the yard. Annie approached right above her on the bench looking down at her. Nissa ignored her.
Then, Nissa went over the fence and headed down to the woods. Around 1:00, I went down to the woods too to see if I could spot Rush. It had turned into a grey, cold Fall afternoon and the woods were quiet. I searched the trees and listened for rustling in the leaves, but didn’t pick up any sign of Rush or Nissa. I walked all over the place, front and back trying to spot Rush, but no luck.
Nissa came back in around 2:30. I watched out the back doors all afternoon. Annie just sat in the nest box looking out and all was still. Around 3:00, Annie ventured out for the third time. This time she went out the branch and onto the tree trunk. Unlike Rush who just kept going, she would go out a ways and then back into the cage and into the nest box. She went a little further each time. She was exploring relative to home. After a while she was exploring the other trees where Rush had gone. I stood at the bottom and tried to keep her in the area. When she went back into the cage, I closed it. About 3:45 she was very agitated looking out the back and trying to find the hole, so I opened it. I had a feeling that she saw or heard Rush out there. She went back into the trees. Joyce came over and we watched Annie from the patio doors. She was having a great time jumping from branch-to-branch and tree-to-tree. We tried to follow her. I lost sight of her and then I saw her and pointed her out. Well, Joyce had been watching her too and when I pointed she said, “There’s two of them!” It was Rush that I was looking at! He had just reappeared. Annie went over to greet him and they ran all over the place, chasing up and down the trees. We could see Annie trying to show him the route to the cage, but he wasn’t ready to head in just yet.
They chased up and down every tree in the area, going up to the tops and way out on every branch. At one point, Annie lost her grip and fell tumbling from 25 or 30 feet all the way to the ground. She got right up and continued playing with Rush. She almost fell again when she ran over a loose dead branch that was just hanging over a limb and it shifted. She went back to it and purposefully pushed it down to the ground! We lost track of them as it got darker. After a while, I shined a flashlight into the cage and Rush was having a drink and Annie was watching him from the box. Then Rush joined her and they disappeared below for a well deserved night’s sleep. I bet they sleep well!
It was as fun as I thought it would be watching them running free, but it came at the end of a stressful, worrying day.
Tuesday, Nov 5, 12 weeks tomorrow
Yesterday morning I wanted to see them come out and got up at around 6:15. It was just light enough to see, though the sun wasn’t up. After about two minutes I spotted Annie on a tree a ways out. I didn’t see Rush before going to work. I came home at lunch and saw Rush on the big tree close to the back fence. After about ten minutes, I looked at the nest box and Annie was poking her head out. Before going back to work, she went out. I came home early to see them both come back in. Annie was three trees away. I called out to her and she came jumping twig-to-twig, branch-to-branch and tree-to-tree and popped into the cage and nest box. After dark, I shined a flashlight at the cage and I think it was Rush poking his head out of the box and yawning.
This morning I got up at 5:00. To make sure they were both in last night, I closed the hole and waited. Around 6:00, at the first faint yellowing of the sky, I thought I saw a silouhette by the food dish. It was Rush having a pecan. He wanted to get out, so I opened the hole. He was out and away. A few minutes later Annie came out and went up after him. Now it’s 6:30 and they’re playing, chasing up and down the big tree. A ways out there is a huge oak and I can see 3 big squirrels running all over it. I saw them yesterday too. I wonder what they think of the young newcomers.
If they were 5 weeks old when I found them, they will be 17 weeks tomorrow. I am figuring their birthday as July 10th. Rush’s leg is completely better.
I still keep the cage stocked with every kind of food that they have been getting. The fruits and vegetables dwindle very slowly. In fact, they don’t eat much of anything. Perhaps they eat all their favorites that they have stashed in the nest box, as well as all the new type goodies they are discovering on the outside.
Wednesday, Nov 6, 12 weeks
I didn’t come home at lunch yesterday and got home after dark. I haven’t seen them since yesterday morning. So, with some anxiety, I got up again at 5:00 and closed the hole. At 6:10 Rush popped out with a walnut in his mouth. Then he went back in and both little heads popped out. I opened the hole and they were off. I can see them in the top of the trees behind the neighbor’s shed. It rained all night and is drizzling now. It’s a big world out there for two little squirrel youngsters, but they have the best home to come back to at night. It’s 7:45 and they’re both back in the nest. I guess this freezing rain and wind makes a snug dry box look pretty good.
I got home at 5:00. The weary wild ones appeared on the home branch at 5:11, just as it was getting dark. Annie went right to the nest and stuck her head out watching Rush do a quick check of the cage and then join her.
Thursday, Nov 7
Got up at 6:15, just in time to see Annie head up the cage branch to their big home tree. Rush was waiting on his first spot. This is where a large branch meets the tree. He sits there a while before going further. When she arrived he groomed her head for a minute and then they ventured forth. They are making breathtaking leaps from one trunk to another. They shoot off the trunk like a bullet. They leave together in the morning and come in together at night. I guess they keep track of eachother during the day.
They haven’t touched any of the food I put out yesterday. I wonder if they bring stuff back to the nest. I wonder if they’re burying stuff outside to retrieve in the Winter.
7:20 – Annie came back in at 7:00 and Rush just came back. The first thing they each did was take a big drink of water. I went out and said hello. They seem so big and strong close up. They are really maturing fast. Rush took an acorn from a bunch that I put in the cage this morning and carried it outside and buried it!
Friday, Nov 8
Got up at 6:10. Both were peeking out of the nest. It froze last night for the first time. The water bottle was frozen. I fumbled and dropped it and it broke. So, I put a bowl of water in there. Not many hamster bottles out there in the woods. They headed right out for a half hour, then Rush came back in. Annie was right behind him but she stayed out. Rush just went right to the bowl and had a drink, hanging from the branch above it.
Tuesday, Nov 19
Sunday was 2 weeks of freedom. There has not been much to report since I only see them on the weekends, or if I get up real early. It has been fun to watch them outside. Annie has a definite territory around the area, but Rush wanders. I can’t tell if they come in at night because I get home after dark. So, I got a video camera. I point it at the nest box at 6:00 am and go back to bed. Then when I get up, I fast forward it and see them both head out. Sometimes I don’t see one or the other, but usually I see them both. On the weekends, I can keep an eye on them all day. Yesterday, I spotted them on a tree a ways out grooming eachother. So, besides sleeping together, they are still close.
On Saturday, a big squirrel chased Rush and Annie all over his tree. Then he singled out Annie and chased her down and across the neighbor’s yard. He turned back at our yard and went back up his tree. Then, he spotted Rush still up there. There was a loud yell when they met and then he chased Rush down. It seems there was no deadly intent, just territorial considerations.
Sunday, Rush went around front and crossed the street. Annie went a little ways, then turned back. He went right up the tree where I first found Annie and where I found the gnawed bone that they liked so much. It was a cold rainy day. I lost him in the trees. I watched for him the rest of the day, but he never came back before dark. I was worried since it was a miserable cold rainy windy night. In the morning, Annie came out and watched for him. I looked out around 11:30 and there were two squirrels in the cage. Annie was sniffing and checking him out, but he was concentrating on eating. He ate one nut after another and then ate a piece of sweet potato. I haven’t seen them touch sweet potato in a month. I still put a variety of vegetables out though. Maybe he spent the night at his mom’s. I guess he’s looking for his own territory. I hope he stays through the Winter in the nest box.
I haven’t seen Rush today (I am home, sick), but Annie is out and about very busy exploring the ground and burying things. I put hazel and brazil nuts in the cage and she takes them out and buries them. A flock of huge ravens alighted on the trees over where Annie was working. I saw two of them on the ground right where I had last seen her. These are mean and nasty birds. I went out and they flew away. A minute later I saw her in the same area. She went up the home tree and sat for a minute and then went back to work. I don’t know if there is a danger to a squirrel her size from these birds.
Friday, Nov 22
I saw one of them go out this morning on the video. Tonight, I saw a head poking out of the nest box as it was getting dark and then the other (probably Rush) came in after dark. The closest I ever get to them is when they are in the cage , but not in the nest. Rush isn’t bothered at all and stays put if I go right up to the cage, but Annie heads for the nest or the trees. So, actually, I can’t get close to Annie at all.
Sunday, Dec 08
I Don’t see much of Rush anymore. Annie is a homebody and goes in and out of the nest all day. I see her everyday. I saw them both Thanksgiving going in and out. Then , the following Saturday (last weekend) I saw Rush go out. I think I saw him go out yesterday morning, but it was still pretty dark. I think he may have set up his own place.
Tuesday, Dec 10
This morning when I put out unfrozen water and nuts (around 8:30), Annie was on her usual morning branch checking out her territory. I hollared hello as usual, but she didn’t ignore me as usual. She came running as fast as possible over her branch trail right to the cage. She looked at me for a second from a few feet away before going into the nest box. Then, two heads popped out. Rush was home! Was she being protective by coming back to the cage because Rush was inside, or was she so happy he was home that she wanted to show me. Whichever, I was happy all day to know that he’s still around and stays in the nest box sometimes. I know that Annie misses him when he’s away.
Saturday, Dec 14, 4 months
Every morning this week, when I put out water and nuts, Annie has come running back to the cage when I call out, whether I see her or not. I haven’t seen Rush since Wednesday morning. This morning I was putting the dish of nuts in the cage and hadn’t called her, but she came running in from the trees. She came right up to me and took a nut from the bowl in my hand. I watched as she quickly empied the bowl, burying every nut in a different place. She seems to be getting friendlier to me! She also gets close to Nissa when they are both on the deck. Nissa ignores her completely, while Annie darts all around her watching her from every angle. When they are down on the ground in the woods the other squirrels are all around them. They are all working busily eating things off the ground and burying stuff. The other squirrels are much bigger in back. In the front of the house there are squirrels their same size. I have seen Rush among them. I know that Annie and Rush are learning a lot from the big squirrels in back. There a about a dozen of them. When its cold or rainy or snowing, Annie is always out, maybe just sitting on her branch, or working on the ground. I look around and she is often the the only squirrel out.
Sunday, Dec 22, release plus 7 weeks
Rush was around yesterday; the first time I’d seen him in a week and a half. I see Annie every day. I first spotted him being chased all over the outside of the cage by Annie. Then, he approached a bowl of nuts I had put out right outside the patio door. Annie chased him away from there. Then, he was eating an acorn by the big Oak in the backyard and Annie chased him out of the yard! It looked like she doesn’t want him around. But, this morning, after watching Annie for a while, he came down the tree, went in the cage and took a nut into the nest box. Annie watched him from her tree. Then she came in the cage and they both worked the nut bowl perfectly amiably. Now, she’s out working in the woods and he’s taking nuts into the nest box and eating them inside. Maybe that’s what she gets mad about. She never eats nuts in the house.
Annie comes to the patio door and stands up looking in. I open the door and hand her a nut and she takes it from my hand. She is very wary and cautious, but Rush is now the one who won’t let me approach too close.
It’s been 7 weeks since release day. They’re 5 months and a week old. They are doing so well. When I’m close to them, I notice how big they are. They are still smaller than all the other squirrels, though there are many that I can see were Spring babies and are not full grown. They have found their place in the squirrel community. I see them out there on the ground digging and hunting with the group. Sometimes it seems there are 10 or 15 of them out there. I rarely see any other squirrels on Annie’s near trees. The deck and surrounding trees belong to my little guys.
All my worries and concerns over the last 4 months and a week, from Annie’s sorry state when found, to diet, to stool, to temperature, to Rush’s various injuries, to release, to Rush’s absences have been laid to rest. These are two successful wild teenage squirrels, happy and healty. It’s 11:00 am and Annie just came in on the cage branch and Rush came out of the nest after an hour’s sleep. They greeted eachother, touching noses. Rush watched from the top of the cage as Annie took an almond from my hand. Having not seen much of Rush lately, I noticed that he has a double chin! He has a flap of furry skin running from right under his chin to his chest. Very mature looking.
Sunday, Feb 02. 2003
It’s almost 3 months since release and they’re almost 7 months old.
I saw Rush twice this week after no sightings for 3 or 4 weeks. Tuesday, before work, a squirrel that looked exactly like Annie came on the deck except he had a full tail. I opened the patio door and he just looked over. I approached the table he was on and dropped some pecans right in front of him and he didn’t even flinch. Then, this morning he was back and he took a nut right from my hand and was unafraid of Nissa. Rush, no doubt. Got some pictures.
Annie has had a rough time lately. The weekend before last, I noticed full grown squirrels going into the cage and nest box. Annie would rush at them and then run and either hide in the nest box or go up the trees. One time, a big male came down and right into the nest box and chased Annie out. Then, during the week one morning I looked out and Annie was on top of the cage. I went out and she ran away! Unusual. So, I banged on the nest box and that big squirrel came running out and up the trees. I haven’t seen him in the nest box since, but I have also not seen Annie go in there. This was all during the coldest week of the winter.
I do see Annie every day. She is so easy to spot because of her tail. She hangs around the cage and nearby trees and she still goes in to get water and nuts, and take nuts from my hand. But, I miss seeing her poke her head out of the nestbox first thing in the morning. She also goes around front much more now. There is a group of squirrels Annie and Rush’s age in front. They may be siblings. Annie and Rush are a little bigger and Annie chases them around. Annie just now came down to the cage and got an almond. That means that they are both in the area at the same time. I am going to watch and see if they meet.
Annie just came down and went in the nestbox! Maybe she’s taking it back.
Annie has a suitor. He’s a little bigger than her, maybe born last Spring. He follows her slowly around the tree sniffing her butt. She acts silly, teasing him, jumping and twisting in the air.
Sunday, Oct 17, 2004
I haven’t seen Rush in over a year. Annie was here every day or at least once a week taking nuts from my hand. She had 2 litters last year and two this year. Although she took up new homes in nearby trees, she always came down to the deck regularly. I haven’t seen her in 7 weeks now.
Saturday, Dec04, 2004
Annie showed up out front today! Ha ha. I was sure something happened to her. I saw a squirrel on the tree with a truncated tail. I went out and called to her and she came right down. I ran in and got some nuts and she came right up and took them from my hand. What a relief. I haven’t seen her in 3 months!
Monday, May 15 2006
The last entry, 12/4/2004 was the last time I saw Annie. This summer it will be 4 years since their birth. I did see Annie have 4 litters around my house in the first two years, so I know I am looking at her progeny when I watch the squirrels around here. Around the time she left the area, I had quickly acquired 3 new cats. I figure that she figured it was no longer a great place to raise babies and moved on down the road. Two of the new cats were very interested in chasing her, unlike Nissa.
Who knows what became of Rush. He was a lovable little guy, full of adventure and fun. I would have to be very close to recognize him. The last time I saw him he had tears in both his ears from fighting with the other males around here. I know I would recognize those v-shaped anomalies up close. I'm sure his life has been interesting.
I still check out every squirrel I see for Annie's distinctive tail. I absolutely expect to see her again someday.
Sunday, January 24 2010
It's been over 5 years since I saw Annie. I look at the tail of every squirrel and probably will for the rest of my life. Today, almost 7-and-a-half years since I rescued Annie, I saw her on my deck! It's a drizzly day and I have a casserole dish on the table out there with bird seed. Recently, a few young squirrels have been coming around hitting it cautiously. There are 4 cats looking through the patio doors. Today, I was watching a young female snatch some seeds and run to the tree with them when a larger squirrel chased her away a bit. The squirrel had a shortened tail. I assumed Annie was long gone, but I looked very closely. I couldn't tell how the tail ended from that angle, but shortly, she hopped to the railing and faced me. I could not miss that tail-end. It was her! Unless another squirrel survived having her tail bitten off by a dog, at the very same spot, leaving the same hair pattern, it was Annie. My video camera had a dead battery and my other camera stopped working. By the time I had the video camera plugged into an AC power source, she was back on the tree. But, I got some good videos. Here they are. Note the Char-Broil which I have only had for two years, and the carpet in the kitchen - new this year.
She looks spry and healthy. I will watch for her and see if she will come to me for an almond someday.