Update: Earle the Squirrel......

[flintknapper]

Earle is getting bigger and stronger every day.

Has started eating solid foods….and is a real “ball of fire” now.

[alex e]

Oh hell yes!

Looking good there E!

[Spitpatch]

Ok, maybe I'm late here (since your post was an "update", and I assume you found him as an orphan and raised him up). What kind of a squirrel is he?

Anyway, pretty cool. When I was a kid in Nevada, a squirrel showed up at our house (where there are no tree-type squirrels). Lived in the rafters, and I'd wake up in the morning to hear him running laps around the circumference of the soffits of the roof.

Long story short, he was already tame, we lured him into the garage with peanuts, he'd eat from our hand, and Dad made a huge cage for him before winter set in.

Springtime came around, and we saw an ad in the paper from someone from California who'd lost their pet squirrel the summer before! (Talk about hope and faith!)

They came out to the house, and called him by name, and he leaped to them, so we had to give him up.

Again, pretty cool, and what the heck kinda squirrrel is Earle?

[flintknapper]

Originally Posted by Spitpatch

Ok, maybe I'm late here (since your post was an "update", and I assume you found him as an orphan and raised him up). What kind of a squirrel is he?

Anyway, pretty cool. When I was a kid in Nevada, a squirrel showed up at our house (where there are no tree-type squirrels). Lived in the rafters, and I'd wake up in the morning to hear him running laps around the circumference of the soffits of the roof.

Long story short, he was already tame, we lured him into the garage with peanuts, he'd eat from our hand, and Dad made a huge cage for him before winter set in.

Springtime came around, and we saw an ad in the paper from someone from California who'd lost their pet squirrel the summer before! (Talk about hope and faith!)

They came out to the house, and called him by name, and he leaped to them, so we had to give him up.

Again, pretty cool, and what the heck kinda squirrel is Earle?

Here is the original thread (read down at the bottom):

http://forum.ih8mud.com/hunting-fish...l-hunting.html


Earle is a Fox Squirrel....but is a "Melanistic phase" (black).

We have several "black fox sq's" around here....but they are not the norm. He is getting a little bit of brown showing up now that he is getting older, but he will remain kind of "grizzled" looking (salt and pepper) if he turns out anything like the other adults I've seen.

A couple more months, some more introduction back into the wild...and Earle ought to be able to make it on his own.

[Spitpatch]

That was fun!

The advice you got from someone about "bathing their privates" to make them excrete what they excrete was on the money. I raised a baby Raccoon when I was in high school, and had to do the same thing. Looks like Earle is past that phase now, though.

Also the fact that Esbilac is worth its weight in gold (in more ways than one) is accurate, as I can attest.

Squirrels I think are intelligent and adaptable enough to make the transition from hand-raised to wild (as are Raccoons), which is more than you can say for most wild animals.

Don't be surprised if ol' Earle keeps showing up for handouts, though. (After all, he is a product of the Welfare system.)

[flintknapper]

Originally Posted by Spitpatch

That was fun!

The advice you got from someone about "bathing their privates" to make them excrete what they excrete was on the money. I raised a baby Raccoon when I was in high school, and had to do the same thing. Looks like Earle is past that phase now, though.

Yes, I believe "Alex" posted that. He has raised 3 baby squirrels IIRC. Earle already had his eyes open and was furred out when I found him...so he was "relieving himself" already.

I read up extensively on the care of baby Squirrels before trying to administer any help. Incredible...all the mistakes one could make that might lead to their death.

Also the fact that Esbilac is worth its weight in gold (in more ways than one) is accurate, as I can attest.

Absolute truth! Almost $25.00 at the local PetSmart. Then you have bedding, bottles, fruit/seed bars, cage (optional but recommended) etc.... I am buying stock in "Esbilac" to help recoup my losses.

I've got about $100.00 in this Squirrel as it stands....and Mrs. Flintknapper thinks I have lost my mind. She quipped "Something is just going to kill him as soon as you turn him loose, or he'll get run over on the highway".

Probably true.

However, I am not responsible for...or charged with his welfare after he is reintroduced back into the wild (which will be done slowly).

I do feel obligated to give him a "chance" though. So...."come hell or high water"...this little rascal is going to be taken care of.... until he can do it for himself.

Squirrels I think are intelligent and adaptable enough to make the transition from hand-raised to wild (as are Raccoons), which is more than you can say for most wild animals.

I agree. Already he is beginning to notice things around him more. Loud noises and fast movement catch his attention...and he is now exhibiting a "startle response".

He is also starting to play more now than before....and will even "mock" fight me if I pin him down and pinch at his belly (funny).

Don't be surprised if ol' Earle keeps showing up for handouts, though. (After all, he is a product of the Welfare system.)

Well....that would be fine, but I think he will eventually range out away from the house and establish new territory for himself.

Anyway, I can't say for certain if Earle will stay around or go elsewhere. I just want to make sure he gets a chance at life.

I don't know how he will do... or if he will even survive his first year, that is strictly up to Mother Nature, (who may not be too happy that I have intervened to this point).

[Rhinoliner]

That's really cool. I hope he makes it.

On the other hand, I've been thinking seriously lately about making some of those things in my backyard into some form of dinner.

[Spitpatch]

My Raccoon I had for just over 2 years (she weighed 32 lbs at that point)!

I found her on the property after a huge springtime windstorm, and the old hollow maple she was born in was flattened. Baby coons on the ground. A buddy took one, I raised two, and sold one, keeping Rosemary Cooney. (Older guys might get a kick out of the name).

After two years, word got out, and I feared the Game Commision would come knocking on my door any minute. Illegal here to keep a wild animal without a permit. My veterinarian was supportive through the whole process, and kept my secret. Also, she ripped the hell out of a German Shepherd/Wolf that a neighbor had that got off his chain, and came into my yard. Even though he was already deemed a "Dangerous Dog" (from previously attacking kids), the owner threatened to turn me in. I paid his vet bills for his "tough killer dog", to keep him quiet, but I knew it was time for Cooney to make it on her own.

She'd always been allowed to come and go as she pleased from the house (we lived in a semi-rural area), and she'd sometimes disappear for a week or so, and then come back and be sleeping on the porch. Numerous trips in the field with me and on the property taught her how to catch frogs, crawdads and mice and eat blackberries and such, and so she had all the skills she needed to get by.

When the time came, I drove her out about 30 miles from the house to an area with multiple creeks and ponds and near a State Campground, and turned her loose leaving a 10lb bag of her favorite dog food under a log which she promptly began munching and I'd never cried so hard in my life walking back down the hill to the truck. I had fallen in love.

I'd read all the books I could find, and all said that raccoons are one of the few wild animals that when raised in captivity can make the change to the wild, but that didn't quell my misgivings about the whole deal, even though I knew she knew how to feed herself.

Six months later, my brother chose that campground for his base camp for elk hunting. Cooney came in to his campfire with a "troop" of 4 other coons (her babies?) and bummed, (none the worse for wear in her new surroundings). She sat in his lap (the other coons kept their distance), and then made the rounds to the other campsites. She showed up every evening at his camp for the 4 days he was there. We knew then she had made it.

[flintknapper]

Originally Posted by Spitpatch

My Raccoon I had for just over 2 years (she weighed 32 lbs at that point)!

I found her on the property after a huge springtime windstorm, and the old hollow maple she was born in was flattened. Baby coons on the ground. A buddy took one, I raised two, and sold one, keeping Rosemary Cooney. (Older guys might get a kick out of the name).

After two years, word got out, and I feared the Game Commision would come knocking on my door any minute. Illegal here to keep a wild animal without a permit. My veterinarian was supportive through the whole process, and kept my secret. Also, she ripped the hell out of a German Shepherd/Wolf that a neighbor had that got off his chain, and came into my yard. Even though he was already deemed a "Dangerous Dog" (from previously attacking kids), the owner threatened to turn me in. I paid his vet bills for his "tough killer dog", to keep him quiet, but I knew it was time for Cooney to make it on her own.

She'd always been allowed to come and go as she pleased from the house (we lived in a semi-rural area), and she'd sometimes disappear for a week or so, and then come back and be sleeping on the porch. Numerous trips in the field with me and on the property taught her how to catch frogs, crawdads and mice and eat blackberries and such, and so she had all the skills she needed to get by.

When the time came, I drove her out about 30 miles from the house to an area with multiple creeks and ponds and near a State Campground, and turned her loose leaving a 10lb bag of her favorite dog food under a log which she promptly began munching and I'd never cried so hard in my life walking back down the hill to the truck. I had fallen in love.

I'd read all the books I could find, and all said that raccoons are one of the few wild animals that when raised in captivity can make the change to the wild, but that didn't quell my misgivings about the whole deal, even though I knew she knew how to feed herself.

Six months later, my brother chose that campground for his base camp for elk hunting. Cooney came in to his campfire with a "troop" of 4 other coons (her babies?) and bummed, (none the worse for wear in her new surroundings). She sat in his lap (the other coons kept their distance), and then made the rounds to the other campsites. She showed up every evening at his camp for the 4 days he was there. We knew then she had made it.

What a great story, thanks for sharing it.

I have great respect and admiration for you....for having put forth the effort and trouble to be such a good steward of the wildlife.

No doubt.. turning your raccoon loose was a difficult and emotional thing to do. How wonderful though to be rewarded later by finding out she did just fine.. and was in fact reproducing more her kind. I mean.....that was whole purpose of raising her right?

[flintknapper]

Originally Posted by Rhinoliner

That's really cool. I hope he makes it.

On the other hand, I've been thinking seriously lately about making some of those things in my backyard into some form of dinner.

Nothing wrong with that. Someday (in the Grand Scheme of things) Earle might end up in someones pot, or in the talons of a hawk....who knows.

Having lived in the country most of my life...I am well aware of how the ecosystem works and have no illusions about it.

As much as I enjoy interacting with this Squirrel and have even given him a "name", I will never truly "personify" him.

I appreciate him for what he his....but the truth is...he is part of the food chain (in one form or another). Its all a matter of time.

All I have done thus far...is to temporarily circumvent Mother Natures time table for Earle. In the end...She (MN) will gather what is hers.

Until then....I will do my best to make certain that Earle gets a decent "shot at it", that is my only intention.

It is very much against the law for me to have him for more than 48 hours, so that is always in the back of my mind.

I am going to let him start spending some time in the "Big Oak" starting tomorrow, so we'll see how that goes.

[Skillet]

Awesome.

[alex e]

20 bucks says he wants in the house a few days a month.......let DNA do the rest.

[flintknapper]

Well….I decided to let Earle go up the big oak tree today. I am confident this is the same tree he originally came out of. I want him to start exploring and to better develop his climbing skills.

I scabbed together a base out of old scrap wood and made him a “support camp” consisting of his cage…his bedding, his food and water, then I opened the door!


Earle jumped up onto the door of his cage, then onto the tree, then “rocketed” up the tree like his little tail was on fire! This is the first photo I had time to take (he’s already 15’ up at this point).



He kept going a bit more, then turned around and looked back down at me.



Finally…he settled on a limb about 20’ up.



After snooping around for awhile he relaxed and found a greenl limb to cut his teeth on.


It will interesting to see if he comes back down this evening.

[CJF]

Originally Posted by flintknapper

It will interesting to see if he comes back down this evening.

Oh great.

I'm honestly going to be wondering about this all day now!

Please try to post an update tonight either way.

[Skillet]

fuzzy little fawker.

to Earle.

[flintknapper]

Originally Posted by CJF

Oh great.

I'm honestly going to be wondering about this all day now!

Please try to post an update tonight either way.

Thank goodness Earle is back in his cage now.

I have been the whole day watching him, losing him, watching him, losing him....

At one point he found one of the many holes in the tree and of course... went inside.

This wouldn't normally worry me...but this is a really big tree (trunk is over 5' across) so entering into it is probably like going into a maze. I don't know exactly how many hollow spots it has...but Earle was gone for over two hours. My neck is killing me from looking up.

About 2 this afternoon I spotted him sunning himself on a large limb. I called to him, he casually looked my direction acknowledging my presence....but then completely ignored me after that.

About 4:30 he got hungry enough to come down (took his sweet time about it, real teenager like).

Anyway, I put him in his cage....he ate pretty good...then I got him out for his walk. He likes to ride on my shoulder while I walk around the property. I took him back to his cage...and he was acting anxious to go up the tree again.

I will continue this regiment everyday (weather permitting) until he doesn't come back down anymore.

So....we made it through today....and we will see what tomorrow brings.

I'm pulling for Earle.

[CJF]

T'anks!

[Skillet]

Crazy Earle.

He's gonna make it.

[alex e]

Don't be sad when he goes. He'll come looking for you at the house soon enough. Of course you'll try to talk to every squirrel in the yard thinking it may be Earle and the neighbors will think you REALLY are nuts.....

[splitshot]

Cool stuff flint.

You need to get a click-click chair to watch him (for your neck's sake).

[cruiser4life]

Ha, ha. The Earle saga continues...

This is better than most TV programming.

Cool stuff, good job.

[phatairman]

What's the Earl update today?

[flintknapper]

Originally Posted by phatairman

What's the Earl update today?

Earle has been scaring the hell out me with all of his antics in the Oak Tree!

He seems to have really “gotten his feet under himself” and just tears up and down the tree.

He will be 40’ up on a limb…and for no apparent reason ..jump up, spin around in midair…then run along the underneath side of the limb (crazy).

He likes to “pick a fight” with every supple green branch he can find… (way too funny)!

Next sunny day we have….I’ll try to get some video.

He’ll spend most of the day up in the tree, but will come down on his own to feed inside his cage/bed. Sometimes I can call to him and coax him down, other times not.

But so far…he has come back down everyday at evening time. That is when I put him up for the night in my shop.

In the morning I feed him before placing his cage/bed on the stand on the Oak Tree. I then open the door and let him do what he wants.

Sometimes he goes straight up the tree other times he runs up my arm to my shoulder where he likes to perch.

I am going to make him a nesting box and place it about 15’ up the tree in hopes that he will use it…and maybe learn to make his own nest….or spend more time inside the tree.

It is critical that he learn to feed himself and seek out shelter (but he’s still a little young).

He will hardly take any formula now (just a little in the morning)..so he’s almost weaned.

Earle is eating the dickens out of lettuce, apples, banana, raisin bran, bread, dog biscuits, dry dog food. He also eats some of the berries up in the tree and I have noticed him eating small “shoots” at the end of new branches.

It will take time….but I’ll get him to be “wild” again.

[flintknapper]

Originally Posted by alex e

Don't be sad when he goes. He'll come looking for you at the house soon enough. Of course you'll try to talk to every squirrel in the yard thinking it may be Earle and the neighbors will think you REALLY are nuts.....

Thats O.K.

Everyone that knows me...thinks I'm "a couple of fries short of making a happy meal" anyway...so nothing new.