THE SHORT STORY: WHY ANOTHER RC IS NEEDED ASAP
The last stage of a squirrel’s rehabilitation is the 10-14days he spends in the release pen. My squirrel rehabilitation facility, Sugar Hill, desperately needs another release pen and set of nest boxes.

The necessity is especially pronounced in the fall baby season, when rehabbed babies must acclimate to being outside full time and learn valuable skills for survival before the winter weather becomes too severe and the leaves drop.

This fall, approximately 127 squirrels were admitted to rehab but , so far, I have only been able to release 32 due to the limited release pen space. Another release pen will double the number of squirrels that could be released, and expedite this crucial phase of their rehabilitation. The developmental window for squirrels to maximize their release pen time is when they are 3-4months old. After 4months of age, the longer a squirrel has to wait for his turn at the release pen, the more difficult it will be for him to learn the skills needed for survival
Release pen materials are expensive: treated lumber, and steel hardware cloth provide adequate protection from predators, elements, and wear and tear. Nest boxes must be heavy enough to withstand both a determined raccoon and a rambunctious group of teenage squirrels.  Labor costs for a skilled builder will be almost as much as the materials.


***I personally pay for all the rehabilitation expenses for the animals in my care (mostly squirrels and bunnies, and a few groundhogs). I do not receive any government or organizational funding, which is why this fundraiser is dedicated specifically to squirrels and their need for nest boxes and a larger release pen***


While the project seems daunting right now, I’m confident that enough people value the rehabilitation  of orphaned, injured and sick squirrels to help me raise the money to begin this important and exciting enterprise. Thank you for helping me help them!


THE LONG STORY: WHY RELEASE CAGES ARE SO IMPORTANT Many people realize that rehabilitation of orphaned squirrel requires numerous feedings, food preparation and cleaning. But the last stage of their rehabilitation, the release pen, is essential to their survival in the wild. The goal of rehabilitation is always to return animals to their natural habitat, with the best possible chance of surviving .


1. Release pens (or RC's for release cages) provide a safe environment for the rehabilitated babies to acclimate to being outside full time. After being inside, the great outdoors can be overwhelming for a squirrel youngster. Aside from adjusting to the climate and weather variations, the babies learn to interpret birdsongs, and recognize alarm calls that indicate danger during their time in the release cage.

out the door

2. The newbies become familiar with the resident squirrels. Many residents are former patients and still visit the release site to get a drink or snack. With the release cage, the older residents they can get an up close view of the new kids without being able to get in a scuffle or chase them off . These interactions decrease the potential for conflicts and bullying once the youngsters are out on their own.

3. The young squirrels develop the strength and motor skills required to move through trees quickly and escape predators, The release cages are outfitted with various forms of enrichment, ledges, shelves, branches and fabric bridges. These items keep the squirrels busy practicing their balancing, climbing, and jumping.
first day in the trees



Squirrels are born in litters and should always be raised and released with other squirrels. Foster siblings are necessary for multiple reasons: sleeping in groups is a key way squirrels stay warm during the winter. babies will often play and wrestle, in part to develop agility and balance and in part to learn that they are a squirrel. Squirrels that grow up alone can become confused about which animals are safe and which are not. Being too comfortable around humans, dogs or cats can cause obvious problems once those rehabbed babies are out on their own.

4. The size of the release pens allows me to integrate groups of squirrels to form larger release cohorts.  The adage “safety in numbers” certainly applies to rehabilitated squirrels. These groups tend to stick together when they venture into the trees, and individuals are less likely to be bullied or chased when they are part of a little gang of friends. Plenty of space and several nest boxes in the release pen make it the perfect place for introductions, while limiting the chances for conflicts over space.

After the release pen door is opened and the new squirrels venture out, they will continue to return to their nest boxes for the night until they build a nest somewhere else. Squirrels need green leaves to build their nests, so the autumn season can be a difficult time to find nesting materials.

If squirrels can be released when they are ready, rather than when there is release pen space, they will have more time to build their nests and start caching food for the winter.

I would like to begin this project soon, so that it can be completed by March when the spring baby season begins.  The winter is generally the slow season for rehabbing babies, but it is the ideal time for building another release pen. Working in the woods will be much easier when the vegetation has died back, and mosquitoes and ticks are not a concern.  
If you'd like more information about Sugar Hill and our rehabilitation mission, please 'friend us' on Facebook and checkout this video, courtesy of UTC Media & Communications.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aXslngcFOCs


I am so grateful for each person who has taken the time to read this, who has brought me an animal, contacted me with questions, sent donations and supplies, and marveled at the resourcefulness, resilience and beauty of our native neighbors.  Helping wildlife has expanded my heart and my world in a very humbling way. It is exhausting, expensive and heartbreaking.  It is also immensely rewarding and worth the emotional, social and financial expenses incurred daily to care for such stoic little patients. They need our help right now. With your assistance, we can give them the care they deserve, from intake to release. Thank you so much for your support!!