When is a Squirrel Ready to Be Released Back into the Wild?

Researching information from various rehabilitation centers for squirrels and wildlife, I found diverse opinions on when to release a squirrel back into the wild.

In the wild, a squirrel leaves the nest at 12 weeks old and begins an independent life. They often build a second nest with a sibling or another squirrel and share the nest until they reach sexual maturity.

Unfortunately, in the wild, most squirrels perish within the first year of life, mainly falling prey to predators or getting hit by cars. If a squirrel survives to one year old, it has a much better chance of survival.

Squirrels raised in the wild learn from their mother what to eat, where dangers lurk, and how to build muscle by chasing each other and jumping from branch to branch, giving them an edge in escaping predators.

Squirrels raised by humans lack these experiences, and their chances of survival are even lower than those of wild-born babies. Therefore, it is crucial to recreate the conditions they would have in the wild as much as possible to help them adapt after being released.

Do not think of keeping them, as squirrels are not pets. A squirrel values its freedom above all. It would take 28 generations in captivity for a squirrel to adapt to life as a pet.

There are specific conditions when a squirrel cannot survive independently in the wild.

More about this can be found HERE. But in most cases, a squirrel must be returned to the wild, and the question is how and when.

Prerequisites for considering a squirrel ready to return to the wild:

Regarding age, opinions vary. Some suggest releasing a squirrel as soon as it is 3 to 4 months old to adapt to nature and integrate into the environment as early as possible. Others say it should be 5-6 months old, and some advocate that a squirrel has the best chance if it is at least one or two years old. The former believe that the longer a squirrel stays with humans, the less chance it has of integrating into nature and being accepted by other squirrels. So, there is a lot of contradictory information from various rehabilitation centers for squirrels and wildlife.

It is important to gather information, consult with local centers with experience in this area, and make a decision based on your squirrel's development.

The Reality

Unfortunately, according to available data, the survival rate of hand-reared squirrels released back into the wild is very low, with most not surviving the first six months. But in the wild, the situation is similar, as most squirrels perish in their first year of life.

Observing "our" squirrels over the past three years, out of a litter of 3 to 5 squirrels, only one or none remains after a few months. Some likely move to another territory, but many fall prey to predators (mostly seagulls, dogs, and cats here) or die in traffic (both young and adults).

If you have hand-reared a baby squirrel from the bottle and cared for it as a mother, you may feel worried about its survival in the wild. Will it survive? Will it be scared? Will it manage to build a nest? How will other squirrels accept it? Will it be cold? Will it find food?

These are all normal feelings. It's natural to feel worried, afraid, and sad, as these little creatures easily get under our skin, making it hard to let them go. Often, the squirrels are ready to return to the wild, but we are not—don't let this prevent you from giving them a chance at a life in the wild, however short or long it may be. Squirrels are happiest in nature.

Would you rather spend a long life in a golden cage or a short but worthy life in freedom?

Even experienced rehabilitators who have released hundreds of animals back into the wild feel these emotions and question every decision. Still, they know that returning the animal to its natural place in the world is the right move. Rehabilitation does not provide guarantees. We cannot promise that every animal released back into the wild will survive, but we can give it a second chance to survive. Wild animals can never be happy when confined in a small cage without normal social interaction.

So, take a deep breath and pat yourself on the back. You did it! You gave a small creature a second chance.

When it is time to release a hand-reared squirrel back into the wild, it is crucial to follow a carefully designed process to ensure its safe and successful survival. Releasing a squirrel into the wild requires preparation, knowledge of the natural behavior of these wild creatures, and careful selection of location and conditions for release. Here are the steps to ensure the successful release of a hand-reared squirrel back into its natural environment. But before we proceed to the release steps, it is essential to mention the factors that improve survival chances.

Return the squirrel to the area where it was found, especially if it was a slightly older baby or an adult squirrel. This is its home, the place it knows and where all its food supplies are located. Every squirrel needs a home for shelter, food, rest, and raising young. If an adult squirrel is returned to the same place where it was found within a reasonably short time frame, it likely won't need a nest box, as it will prefer its familiar shelter or nest.

If it is a squirrel hand-reared from a very young age, find a location that is most suitable for it.

Never leave unprepared squirrels in an unfamiliar environment thinking you are freeing them into nature or giving them a chance. They have no chance—they will be chased away and killed. In one study, 97% of relocated adult squirrels were killed or driven away from the release site within three months (Adams, L.W., Hadidian J., and Flyger, V, 2004). These were healthy adult wild squirrels. Imagine how much harder it will be for young and inexperienced squirrels.

The ideal place to release a squirrel, if it cannot be at the location where it was found, is a park with many trees or a forest known to have squirrels. If there are no other squirrels, the location is not suitable for release. Never release a squirrel where there are no other squirrels. It should not be near a busy road. It is also important that there are no houses with pets like cats and dogs nearby. There should be a natural water source nearby, and the forest should be abundant in food for squirrels.

Choose a good day when nice weather is expected for the next few days. Do not release a squirrel when rain or a storm is expected that day or the next 2-3 days. The squirrel needs time to adapt and settle.

Release the squirrel in the early morning or dawn. Squirrels are diurnal animals, meaning they are most active during the day and spend most of their time climbing trees and foraging for food. Releasing a squirrel early in the morning allows it to adapt to its new environment as the sun rises and illuminates the area.

Additionally, early morning hours are characterized by quietness and less human and animal activity. This gives the squirrel a chance to slowly adjust to its new environment without sudden distractions or disturbances. The squirrel will have time to explore its surroundings, recognize potential dangers, and sense the natural sounds and smells characteristic of its wild environment.

Finally, early morning hours provide the squirrel with enough time to explore and find its shelter and potential feeding spots. The squirrel will naturally move through the trees and gradually approach high branches where it feels safe. Considering all these advantages, releasing a squirrel early in the morning gives it the best chance to adapt and survive in its natural habitat.

After raising a healthy squirrel in good condition and ready for release, follow these steps:

1. Mentally Prepare the Squirrel: A pampered squirrel will struggle in the wild. Therefore, gradually reduce interaction with the squirrel to help it get used to less human presence. Limit contact to feeding, cleaning, and basic care so the squirrel gradually feels comfortable without constant human presence.

2. Group the Squirrel for Release: If the baby squirrel is alone (without siblings), place it in a group of other squirrels ready for release to socialize and bond with them. This is best done at a rehabilitation center where it has the opportunity to do so. Growing up with "siblings" (even artificially created ones) creates lifelong relationships and social skills that will be the foundation for raising squirrels that know what they are and how to behave with their kind in the wild. The ideal group size is 3 to 5 squirrels per cage. The larger the release group, the less likely a resident squirrel will try to drive your squirrels away from the release site. After all, no squirrel wants to deal with a "gang" of big, healthy squirrels.

It is never advisable to release a single squirrel, especially one raised alone. A baby raised by humans before opening its eyes and later not given a chance to socialize with other squirrels will never behave correctly in the wild, similar to how humans would behave in a similar situation. Such squirrels will be outcasts. Always raise wild animals with others of their kind. A single squirrel raised alone after sixteen weeks is what rehabilitation centers call a pet. If a single squirrel came into care with its eyes open (after five weeks), it is often possible to successfully release it alone if returned to where it was found among genetically related squirrels.

Build or Buy a Nesting Box: How such a box should look can be found HERE. The squirrel must be accustomed to the box before release and have its scent in it. The box should be placed in the release location the day before or on the day of release.

4. Acclimate the Squirrel to Outdoor Temperatures and Natural Environment: Acclimating a squirrel to outdoor conditions requires patience and attention to ensure the animal successfully survives after returning to its natural habitat. This involves several steps:

5. Release the Squirrel – Gradual Freedom: Releasing a squirrel back into the wild requires careful planning and execution to ensure its safety and successful adaptation to life in nature. Here are the steps to follow on the day of release:

6. Post-Release Monitoring: After releasing the squirrel, regularly monitor its behavior and adaptation to the environment. Observe how it copes with finding food, shelter, and interactions with other squirrels. Visit the squirrel daily for at least the next few weeks. Monitoring after release is an essential part of the overall rehabilitation process and ensures that the squirrel has the best chance of successfully returning to the wild.

Careful planning and patience during this process help ensure that the squirrel has the best chances of successfully adapting to life in the wild.