Living like Rat Kings

I attached the Purple Igloo to the back of the nest box. Now it is a super-deluxe two bedroom nest box to make any New Yorker envious.


And yet, they are still crammed together.


Happily.

Unpacking Winter Wear

Fall is here, and it is time to unpack all those long sleeve shirts and sweaters.

Polar Bear has his own custom-made winter attire in a shoe box I pulled down. He has gained so much weight, the yellow vest I made him last year was the only one that fit. Even it looks too short.

Let's be honest, Polar Bear doesn't really need winter attire, but he does like the attention. Even people who are terrified of ...ehum... bears, are downright friendly if they see him in a scarf and sweater. Once an old lady said, "I have never seen such a small dog!" And she never will again, I bet.

They say the clothes make the man.

In this pic Theodore is sporting one of Polar Bear's old sweaters circa 2011. I don't intend on taking him on any outings, but I was amused to no end by the fact that he fit in the sweaters.

Next month is October. I might make him a superhero vest for Halloween, if he has not grown up and moved out by then (even the thought makes me sentimental).

Polar Bear is going to be superman with a blue vest and a red cape. The trick or treaters are going to love that.

I know what you are wondering.

He was dressed as a cat last year.

The Nest Box

The first day we brought Theodore home we purchased a wooden tissue box from the craft store. It was perfect, because the back slides off for easy cleaning.

As you can see, Polar Bear fits. Kindof.

He has a weight problem. It doesn't help that he is eating all the extra shredded pecans, fruits and veggies.
It is courtesy of the little squirrel food processor that hasn't fully mastered solid food.

The first day we left them in a cage together, I put both Nest Box and Purple Igloo inside. My reasoning was that the squirrel might prefer to sleep alone, even though the temperature drops at night.

When I checked on them, Polar Bear was sleeping halfway in the box and the squirrel was asleep outside next to his tail. It quickly became apparent that the Nest Box is the preferred nighttime sleep spot.

In the end I slid the back half-way off the box. It was the best solution. Polar Bear's rear is still outside the box, but as you can see, they are very content.

There are some great squirrel boxes available for sale online. Here is what other squirrel rescuers have to say about types of safe wood for nest boxes and toys:
http://mothernaturesrescue.webs.com/food.htm, http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?21422-Safe-Wood-for-Squirrels

The Art of Escape Day 10

Friday, Theodore broke out of his hamster cage.

My friend spotted him hanging out on one of my sculptures by the window. He looked so at ease there, I grabbed the camera.


I was both worried and proud that he figured out how to get the door open. Now I am locking the door at night with dog leash clips.

Last night they broke out again. I say they, because I have reason to believe it took both of them to push the cage to the edge of the tray it was sitting on.

 For now there is a book on top of the cage, while I work to prep the office room (a glorified walk-in closet) into a free range habitat.

A Very Squirrely Situation Day 9

The reason I named this blog Squirrel Manual is because baby squirrels should come with one.

There are wonderful moments: Theodore's tiny teeth began to appear on Day 9.

And there are anxious moments. Here is a prime example of avoidable terror:

I noticed Theodore started gasping out of nowhere while I was feeding him. His mouth opened and shut and his little arms stretched out in front of him. Choking? Heart attack? It sure looked like it, until he inexplicably went back to normal and insisted on finishing his meal.

It happened the next time I fed him. Exactly the same. I tried feeding him slower. I tried feeding him less. I tried positioning him different ways. Each time the gasping would last about 3 to 5 seconds and then he would go back to eating as though nothing had happened.

With concerns of pneumonia, I scoured the online squirrel community and discovered what other rehabbers call "the feeding trance."

Turns out it means he's really enjoying his meal. So much so that he is trance-ing out on me.

Squirrel Rescuers
Don't panic if you notice your squirrel stop eating and start gasping during feedings. It is called the Feeding Trance and it is perfectly normal. They grow out of it eventually. You should only worry if you see milk come out their nose.

If you see a small amount of blood while milk feeding around 6 weeks, it is likely the teeth coming in. Teething squirrels like to nibble on everything. Give them plenty to chew on. Be sure to squeak and pull away if it pinches you (even if it doesn't much hurt), so as to convey pain and teach the squirrel to be gentle with these new teeth.

Theodore learns to use the wheel

Day 5 Pecans

I read somewhere that pecans are a good nibble food for squirrels around 6 weeks.

What a mess.

One or both of these guys has crumbled all the pecans, taken down the water bottle and knocked over the litter box.

Polar Bear loves pecans. He loves nuts and seeds of any kind really, but I wanted to tempt him with a big pile of pecans to see if he acted any differently towards his new buddy.
Surprisingly, he left the pile untouched for at least half an hour. I don't know. Maybe I fed him too much that morning.

Anyhow, I read that squirrels have to practice eating for a week or more before they figure out how to swallow solid food. This must be the practicing. Good thing I bought a ton of pecans!

Polar Bear meets Theodore (Days 3 and 4)

Before you make any hasty judgements about Polar Bear, you should know that he is one of the sweetest, gentlest creatures on the planet. He and his kind...ehum...bears are misunderstood.

Anyhow, he knew something was up Day 1 when I brought the squirrel home. From his vantage point on his purple plastic igloo, I am sure he could see and smell the new comer. On Day 2, he wanted to know what I was "squirreling away" in that tissue box across the room. He inspected the empty pockets of my bathrobe where Theodore had been sleeping.

Day 3, he sped up the introduction by hopping off his home and trying to get in the hamster cage I was keeping Theodore's nest box in at night. They got a chance to sniff at each other. Polar Bear was single-minded about getting to know the squirrel after that. Granted, he is a lonely old Bear these days, but he has always been friendly.

Well, so much for trying not to confuse the squirrel!

Polar Bear is channeling his paternal side and has taken it upon himself to teach the squirrel acceptable grooming practices. They both like to sleep, so all Day 3 and 4 they just slept and groomed. Each time they are reunited after feedings they pile into or onto the igloo (because the bear can't fit all the way in the tissue box.

I don't know. Maybe Theodore thinks Polar Bear is a squirrel that has lost all his tail fur. That to me is the main aesthetic difference between ehum...bears and squirrels, and also why humans like the latter more.