out of control

[Agnieszka]

I've been rasing thischipmunk for about 2 months. We found it abandoned as a baby (around 2 weeks old,not much fur, eyes still closed) and decided to take it in. The plan was to let it go back into the forest after its healthy and old enough. But after a couple of weeks we notice our little chippy is blinde, so putting it back into the wild was out of the question. If it cant find its way around the house it will definetly not survive on its own. She is also very slow in nature. We decided not to give up and took her in for good. Everything went fine until after about a month we noticed that she has wierd episodes where she turns very aggressive and out of control. We concluded that she might be acting this way from hitting her head too much on objects as she walks around the room/cage. She also has had this wierd tilt of her head, shes never able to keep it up straight and it always drifts to the side or down, but keep in mind she's been doing this for a while now. She doesnt get startled easily by us and is very aware of people being around her. She responds well to our voices and loved to be touched and gently wrestle with the hand, she never bit hard while playing like this but only nibbled very gently. She greets a hand by licking it nonstop, I think this is associated with the fact that she knew she was going to get food soon when she was a baby. She also loved being around people, where ever there was someone siting around she would fallow the voices or noises, find the person, and sit calmly around the feet, sometimes nibble them gently. Now, there are many problems with her. She'll be running around the hous eand attack people's feet, or lick my hand as to greet it and then attack it fiercly (scratch and bite) sometimes to the blood. Throughout the day she'll attack random things around the room like the broom, and in her cage, like her sleeping towl andwont let anyone touch her. She doesnt act like this everyday, sometimes shes good for a day but then it starts again. Our chipmunk seems to have gone mad. I still love the poor little thing but I dont know what's going on with her. I dont know what to do. Is there a reason for the way she's acting? should I be worried about some disease from when she bites me through to the blood? What should I do? :dono please help!

[Sciurus1]

No, she is not mad! If she had some disease before she came to you, it would have shown up longtime back. This is not diseased behavior, but rather Teen behavior, the wild is coming out in her! She is just a bundle of fun, ranbunctious at times, and kissy at others.All Squirrels and chipmunks go through this, in fact all mammals do, nothing there to worry about! You will need to discipline her, with your voice, let her know you don't want her to bite. Just speak in a lower voice, calm, but assertive, NO, when she attacks you are other things. You can teach them, but it takes time and allot of patience. If she ends up not allowing you to handle her, that is another matter. If that happens, she may have to be released, but give it some time, for she may calm down. For now, she is just coming into her own, having a BIG COMPLEX, not considering her own size!

[Mars]

It sounds like a possible head injury perhaps from before you found her. Can you tell me morre about how you found her - under what conditions? Chipmunks nest are in holes that reach several feet deep and it is highly unusual to find a baby of that age. Perhaps the clue is hidden in her story. It maybe possible to attempt a homeopathic remedy - If you are interested I can PM you my thoughts. I always ask first as some people are more comfortable with alternative meds than others. :)

[Crazymunk]

It does sound like some kind of head injury...If she was abandoned than maybe the mother sensed something...a baby of that age would be have been tucked up in a nice hole somewhere as Mars said. She is still very young so I would keep going with her and give her more time. My babies will have days when they are a bit grumpy but it must be very scary when you are a tiny baby...one minute you're all safe and cosy in a warm nest ..then theres this big wide world and you have to leave the only place you've ever known. Take up Mars offer of help and see if there is any improvement. If she is blind then she can't be released so she will need you to carry on the good work.

[thundersquirrel]

my rat was tilting and moving in circles as well. it kept getting worse, so we took her to the vet and she diagnosed it as an inner ear infection. she gave us medicine for rosabella- the meds stopped the tilting from getting worse, but she always had a bit of a tilt. i highly advise you do the same- if the infection continues, she might lose her ability to walk at all, for lack of balance.

also, since your little one is blind, you should create a strict floorplan for the cage. figure out the toys she wants, and use those forever- and ALWAYS put them in the same place. if you ever have to change something, gently rub her against it with your hand, make her touch it, so that she can try to remember it's there. this will make her den into a safe and cozy place.

keep us updated.

[Sciurus1]

I missed the part about the chippy being blind, and the tilt to her head. Sorry, I should have been more careful to read your post! Of course then she is not releasable! As for the behavior, that may be in reaction to her blindness in part, but as the other members have shared, it could be from an injury, yet as you have noted she BEGAN to have wierd episodes sometime AFTER her arrival. That is very suspicious, as to it being from a previous injury alone at least, and points to something going on presently, like what TS shared, a possible ear infection. I would take her to a Vet for a professional evaluation. Let the Vet know she is biting, so that doesn't become another issue.

TS suggestions were excellent as to how to set up her habitat!

[Crazymunk]

Good advice from everyone so far...Please keep us informed as to her progress...I have Chippies and it may come in usefull one day.. :thumbsup