Squirrels play almost constantly from sunup until sundown. Once he didn't have to sleep in a box with a heating pad, he got a large cage with branches to climb on, toys to play with, nuts to hide, and a nest box to sleep in.  

 
When I released George into the wild he was so excited he didn't know which tree to climb first. He would run up one and  
then run back to me.....investigate something else and back to me. I was his touch base for those first few hours.  

About a week later, when I walk into the woods, as the other animals scatter, one squirrel stops, sits up and looks at me. He stays as I say, "Hi George...it's Mommy," hesitates a little, then goes to join his friends. I know he is happy and I have done the right thing. It's  a very good feeling.  

Bless you George, for coming into my life and teaching me so much. Be happy wherever you are!

 
I let him out several times a day for playtime and eating. He used me as his "tree", running up and down my arms as I stretched them out. He would try to hide his nuts on me under my legs or hands.  I was the only one he trusted and he never bit me. He was only around other people a few times and I never let anyone hold him. I didn't want him to lose his fear of humans, depend on us, or become a pet. I knew he was never mine to keep and it would be cruel to grow up in a cage when he belonged  outdoors. I kept him only as long as I had to.  
 
George slept in his nest box from home with some food for the first night. He had been playing for 3 hours while we put this up. He ran right in when he saw it, arranged everything, and was asleep before dark.  On the third and fourth days of freedom,   George still preferred eating in his box, but sometimes I would have to wait for him to come. He spent a little less time with me each day. The last four times I went and left food, he didn't come. I sat for a long time in the quietness of those woods and listened to the leaves rustling and animals playing.  

I know he is out there.