by Veronica James

Created on: August 01, 2008   Last Updated: December 02, 2010

Technically, it is illegal to release some squirrels into the wild in some states. However, there seems to be a fine line drawn between release' and return'.

If you have a squirrel to release in the first place, chances are that you have rescued an injured squirrel or an abandoned baby. The care and well being of your find' will, at this stage, be of the utmost importance.

Baby squirrels particularly need warmth and food and the general recommendation is that they are kept indoors in a safe and quiet environment. For the first 24 hours at least, provide a hot water bottle wrapped in a thick towel for protection or a fur type cushion cover to mimic the feel of its mother.

It's a good idea to keep the squirrel in a cat basket or hamster cage even a bird cage will do. Provide a thick towel for warmth and plenty of torn up newspaper for them to burrow in, and perhaps a couple of soft cat toys for stimulation.

Babies will need to be fed milk initially, until around 10 weeks old, it can be difficult to assess their age but you will have a good idea by size and amount of general activity. The older squirrel will need twigs, small branches, soft nuts (avoid too many peanuts) and some soil to furry around in as they would in the wild. Always provide a small bowl of water to prevent dehydration. As the squirrel grows or recovers, start hiding food in their cage to encourage them to search for it as they would have to do in their normal habitat.

Although you may get attached to your new pet', do not keep them any longer than is necessary, remember squirrels are not pets and do not always thrive well in these conditions. Once they are out of shock, are responding well to food and looking more energetic, either seek out a rescue centre where staff will be more experienced, or consult your local vet for advice. A squirrel is certainly not an ideal pet, particularly for children, as their teeth grow at a rapid rate and they can give a nasty nip'.

The squirrel is probably by now ready to go back to the wild. Careful consideration is required here, if you just leave it in a park or similar to fend on its own, chances are it will not survive. Go back to where you found it, look to see if you can spot other squirrels in the area, if not, then extend your search out bit by bit, it may be that your squirrel strayed from it's colony and was lost. Wait for a dry and bright day, the squirrel is going to be a little confused and will not pick up any familiar scents in bad weather.

If you cannot find the original environment, a new and suitable one has to be sought. Avoid anywhere near a busy road, or anywhere you see cats, dogs, or people. Look for lush woodland and evidence of other squirrels. Your release may take a few hours, possibly a few days. Having found the' spot, open the cage and move away from it, out of sight if possible. Let the squirrel become familiar with the sounds and smells of the new environment, when it feels confident, it will leave the cage, but do not assume that the job is done, it may return to the cage after a few minutes of exploration if this is the case, take it back home and return to the same spot the following day and follow the same procedure until the squirrel feels happy and confident in it's new surroundings.

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