we saved a flyer and don't no what to do now please help

[stephammons]

we saved this flying squirrel from are cats.but when we found it and tryed to let it go. it did'nt go anywhere.It just starting drinking the water off the leaves. where not even sure if it is a baby or not.we did'nt think it would make it by just hidding under leaves and it did'nt seem to go up the tree's.But it was dark out side and it seemed stunded.
so now where not sure what to do with it. should we bring it in for the night or leave it out side in safe place tell morning. are they night cridders or day cridders? It is'nt the first time my cat has done this.last time alls we found was the tail.that is it im putting bells on the cats!!!!!!!!!

please help i dont want it to die

[muffinsquirrel]

Hi, and Welcome. Bring the flyer inside. Put him in a cage or plastic box with a lid and some holes so he can breath. Put the box half on-half off a heating pad set on low. Put some fleece or an old tee shirt in for bedding. They are nocturnal, but he will sleep some during the night. You can offer him a few cherrios or a few nickle-sized pieces of peeled apple to eat, and a shallow dish of water. Cat bites, or even just cat saliva, is very dangerous to squirrels, so you should call a rehabber in the morning. The rehabber should have everything they need for the flyer. If you can not get hold of a rehabber, take him to the vet as soon as possible, as he will need to be given aantibiotics. If you can post a picture of him, it would help in telling how old he is, so that you would know what to feed him.

He may or may not try to bite - depends on how scared he is. Flyers DO NOT carry rabies or any other disease that could be transmitted to you. Usually flyers are very gentle, and adapt to humans very quickly.

Post again in the morning, and let us know how he did through the night.

Good Luck,

muffinsquirrel

[Momma Squirrel]

How is the flyer this morning??? Please please put some kind of noise maker on that cat of yours so other little animals don't die because they don't see or hear him.

[Mrs. Jack]

How is the flyer? Welcome. You live in a gorgeous part of the state. You're so lucky to have flyers..

Please read this and think about it:

Do cats really injure and kill a significant number of wild animals? Yes. In one study, wildlife rehabilitators in Washington State reported that 17% of the animals in their care were injured by cats (compared to 2% hit by cars or 1% poisoned), and that accounts only for those cat-attacked animals taken to rehabilitation centers.

Can I teach my cats not to hunt wildlife? No. Hunting is an instinctive behavior that cannot be modified through training. Even cats that have been declawed may still able to hunt and kill wildlife. But you can prevent attacks by keeping your cats indoors or safely confined in an outdoor enclosure.

Predatory animals play an important role in keeping wildlife populations balanced and healthy. Since cats are predators, don't they help preserve the balance of nature? No. Cats are not a natural part of the ecosystem, but are predators introduced and maintained by humans. Populations of other predators are kept in balance by a variety of factors, but the number of cats continues to grow. A 1985 study by the Washington State Department of Wildlife found that there are at least twenty outdoor cats per block in a typical urban neighborhood, and this represents disproportionate predatory pressure on wildlife.

Since cats are hunters, don't they fill a niche in the food chain? No. The cats which do the most damage to wildlife are usually well-fed pets who do not need to hunt to survive. Although they have retained many of their hunting instincts, they are non-selective predators. They capture not only "pest" species such as rats and mice but many species of wildlife including migratory birds which are federally protected.

Can cats live happily indoors? Yes. Indoor cats leave long and healthy lives, more than tripling the expected life span of their outdoor counterparts. They avoid the dangers of traffic, diseases, parasites, poisoning, and other animals. Owners also benefit from knowing their cats are safe.

Even outdoor cats can make the change to indoor living. To ease the transition, you might consider building your cat a secure enclosure in the yard, or even walking the cat on a harness and leash. Contact PAWS Shelter at 425-787-2500, ext. 801 for more information about keeping cats safe and happy inside.

[GhosTS]

stephammons, the baby is in need of immediate medical attention.You need to get in touch with a rehabber and a wild life vet immediately.