Outside Squirrel seems disoriented and falls over

[GJ34]

I have a trio of squirrels that live on the trees outside my house. My family and I bring them food everyday (carrots, apple slices, pecans, celery, walnuts, pumpkin seeds, etc.) Yesterday, my mom noticed one of the squirrels was falling over and leaning to one side while he was eating/walking. He seems disoriented. My mom called Animal Control yesterday and left a message which we are still waiting for a response. Could this be due to it being cold outside? The weather in NJ has been pretty extreme the past few days going down to the low 20's. Another possibility is we think the neighbors behind our house are trying to poison the squirrels. There's a huge fence set up between our houses; we never even see each other. However, my Dad talked to them once about a year ago and told me they were having a problem with the squirrels eating the vegetables in their garden and that the sick fu** actually grinded up glass and was putting it in various food items that squirrels would eat. We've been trying to keep the squirrels comfortable so they stay in our yard with squirrel houses and food. If in fact my neighbors are poisoning the squirrels, what can i do to put an end to it? My mom left on the message that she thinks the squirrels might be being poisoned by them and that it's not only a hazard to the squirrels, but our cat goes outside, the neighbor across from us has a small dog that goes outside as well as a small child.

I'll take a video of the squirrel and post it up here tomorrow.

Thanks,
Gill

[island rehabber]

GJ34 there are a few things I can think of that would cause a squirrel to be disoriented and off-balance:
* it may have fallen and gotten a head injury
* it may have been poisoned from an outside source
* it may have an internal infection (I had a squirrel like this necropsied and it
turned out to have an enormous abcess inside the ear which eventually killed it)
* It may have racoon roundworm (baylisascaris procyonis) if you have racoons in your part of NJ...

There are many other things that could cause this but I'm not a vet. The problem with your neighbor is that I don't think it's illegal to kill squirrels on your own property in New Jersey . However if the person is using poison they MUST follow certain guidelines or they can be fined....check into the rules in your state and town about putting down rat poison, etc. You are not allowed to do it indiscriminantly....you have to put up signs, etc. I think. If you can get the local authorities to harass your neighbor enough maybe he'll stop his $#@&ing horrible activity!

[ShesASquirrelyGirl]

Please do not call animal control. Most will just pick it up and kill it.
Where in NJ are you? If you want I can come pick him up tomorrow or even tonight if you can meet somewhere.

[Sciurus1]

Please do not call animal control. Most will just pick it up and kill it.Where in NJ are you? If you want I can come pick him up tomorrow or even tonight if you can meet somewhere.

[Peaches]

NO not animal control. Thats like calling an exterminator. But they wont come out for a loose squirrel anyway.

[Peaches]

I dont know what the laws are in NJ for feeding wildlife but a friend of mine recently got fined $1500. for feeding the squirrels in her yard because a neighbor complained. No warning or anything. She got a lawyer and went to court to fight it but the judge upheld the fine and she had to pay. Do not tell anyone that your are feeding them.

[ShesASquirrelyGirl]

Just so everyone knows I am talking with him in emails and trying to help him figure out a way to trap him. From the video he doesn't look like he would let anyone get close enough to net or blanket him. All we might be able to do is try the have a heart...

[jhsteele58]

I've got the same thing happening to a squirrel in my backyard in Burnsville, MN, suburb of twin cities. It falls over on its side when standing or rolls when sitting on all fours. It has difficulty maintaining balance in trees. Reading these posts, I suspect it may be suffering from poisoning. I think I have a neighbor who tries to control chipmunks with rat poison. But I don't know if that is what the problem is.

In any case, I searched and found this site to see if I could figure out the problem.

[jhsteele58]

Thanks for the welcome and response. What would I do with him if I trap him? Yes I could probably trap him. I have a live trap.

[jhsteele58]

I am not sure that is such a good idea. I have two cats - indoor only - and a cockatiel and a chinchilla. Bringing a squirrel into the house would likely result in further head trauma... to me at the hands of my wife.

[Frickster]

if you could trap him i'm sure the board will take care of the rest.....the squirrely folks on here are FAST in finding places for needy little furballs!

[gutermuth]

I live in northern IL and one of the many squirrels we feed is also disoriented and falling over. He otherwise looks healthy and has an appetite. Trapping him would be very difficult since we have 10-15 squirrels in our yard any given morning. Would it be safe for me to put a small amount of clavamox (my cat is on clavamox for chronic upper respiratory infections) on the peanuts that I throw to him (just in case he has an infection)?
Thanks!

[gutermuth]

I forgot to mention that we have alot of raccoons that actually eat the leftover corn from the squirrels at night. What can I give him in case it is the raccoon roundworm?

[Sciurus1]

Though I have no idea about this drug, please do not medicate any wildlife for unverified conditions, but leave that to those that are expert in doing so. As for raccoon worm issue, 'Giardia', cleaning up the feeders before nightfall is the best way to deal with that, 'Prevention is worth a pound of cure'.

[joec]

I know this is an old thread but it seems to be one of the few that describes what I am seeing and I don't know where to get help.

I woke up this morning and noticed one of the squirrels in my backyard exhibiting the same behavior described in the beginning of the thread (wobbly walking, falling over, etc.).
He seems to be of good weight but is not able to stand up or eat normally.
With the extreme cold we've had, I thought he may be dying and tried to catch him this morning, maybe just to warm him up. Nope... he ran away and up a tree.

I did some research and realize he may have raccoon roundworm, a head injury or may have been poisoned.
I'd like to try and get him some help, if even to have him humanely euthanized.
I have about 6 squirrels that feed in my backyard and have no idea how i could trap just this one.
Furthermore, I don't know what to do for him if I trap him.

Is there anyone in Jackson, NJ or the surrounding area that can help with this squirrel?

It pains me to see him slowly dying in my backyard.

Thank you!

[island rehabber]

I know this is an old thread but it seems to be one of the few that describes what I am seeing and I don't know where to get help.

I woke up this morning and noticed one of the squirrels in my backyard exhibiting the same behavior described in the beginning of the thread (wobbly walking, falling over, etc.).
He seems to be of good weight but is not able to stand up or eat normally.
With the extreme cold we've had, I thought he may be dying and tried to catch him this morning, maybe just to warm him up. Nope... he ran away and up a tree.

I did some research and realize he may have raccoon roundworm, a head injury or may have been poisoned.
I'd like to try and get him some help, if even to have him humanely euthanized.
I have about 6 squirrels that feed in my backyard and have no idea how i could trap just this one.
Furthermore, I don't know what to do for him if I trap him.

Is there anyone in Jackson, NJ or the surrounding area that can help with this squirrel?

It pains me to see him slowly dying in my backyard.

Thank you!

How far are you from Howell, NJ? Jean Parker, who runs Garden State Wildlife, is extremely knowledgeable with squirrels -- she may be able to help. www.gardenstatewildlifecenter.org