A released squirrel will generally not "come back" to its human caregivers or the immediate release point in a sustained manner, as its primary instinct is to re-establish itself within its familiar wild territory. Once a squirrel is successfully rehabilitated and released, its natural behavior drives it to reintegrate into its natural environment, focusing on survival and independent living.
Understanding Squirrel Behavior Post-Release
Squirrels are highly territorial animals with an intricate understanding of their home range. Their survival depends on this familiarity, which includes knowledge of:
- Food Sources and Stores: Squirrels meticulously bury and remember food caches throughout their territory. Returning to their home area ensures access to these vital resources.
- Safe Havens: They know the best trees for nesting, escape routes from predators, and secure places to rest.
- Familiar Landscape: Navigating their known territory allows them to efficiently find what they need and avoid dangers.
When a squirrel is released, especially an adult, its immediate priority is to return to this known environment. This is why it's crucial to release them in the area where they were originally found or recovered.
Why Returning to Their Home Area is Critical
For adult squirrels, releasing them back into their original territory is paramount for their long-term survival. This practice ensures:
- Successful Reintegration: They can immediately access their existing food stores and familiar landmarks, reducing the stress of adapting to a completely new environment.
- Natural Behavior: It allows them to resume their natural foraging, nesting, and social behaviors within a known context.
- Reduced Risk: Being in a familiar area minimizes their vulnerability to predators and competition from other squirrels establishing new territories.
What to Expect After Releasing a Squirrel
After release, a squirrel will typically explore its surroundings and quickly move towards its known territory. While it might linger for a short time if food is provided at the release site, its ultimate goal is to become an independent wild animal once again.
- Initial Observation: You might see the squirrel briefly, perhaps exploring trees or the ground near the release point.
- Rapid Dispersion: Within hours or days, it will likely move deeper into its familiar territory to re-establish itself fully.
- Independence: The goal of rehabilitation is to enable the squirrel to live independently in the wild, which means it will not rely on human interaction or return to a domestic setting.
In summary, while the bond formed during rehabilitation can be strong, the success of a release is measured by the squirrel's ability to thrive independently in its natural habitat, rather than its "coming back" to human contact.
