found young squirrel - looks just like the pics from the previous post

[taylorleeann]

I am currently raising a squirrel that is aprox. 5 weeks old. She is doing wonderful and is healthy. This evening someone contacted me with a squirrel that was found in their dogs mouth (EEEEK!!). He seems to be ok, he looks like the pictures from the previous post. He is hurt on his leg and is bleeding a little. I put neosporin on it. He is much bigger than my five week old though and I don't know what to do with him. My 5 wk old (storm) is still in a shoe box with a heating pad. What should I keep him in? Do I still need to help him poop and pee? Does he still need a heating pad? I gave him some pedialite because he is a little dehydrated. How much pedialite should I give him? How much Esbilac should he be eating? Should I offer him some solid food? If so, what? Should I have water available for him to drink? Sorry for all the questions but I just want to do a good job for him. Also he is kinda jumpy, will he bite me to the point where I can be injured at this age? I raised some baby squirrels years ago but I don't remember all of this. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks

[taylorleeann]

The one thats titled "found young squirrel" posted today right before mine

[taylorleeann]

His eyes are open and no I don't have any way to weigh him. He IS really cute though!! I know I need to get something to weigh both of them, it has just been too hectic around here and I always forget when I get to the store. I live on a farm with many animals and am currently house training two puppies along with caring for these squirrels and my four yr old daughter. CRAZY LIFE!! He seems really scared and so sad. I know he misses his mommy. Plus, he just had a very traumatic experience!! Poor guy

[taylorleeann]

any advice would be greatly appreciated...Please!

[taylorleeann]

I do have something to put him in, should I offer him any solid food? Does he still need help pooping and peeing? When do they start going on their own? I wish he was closer to my other squirrels age, she could use a buddy. Thanks for the help

[JudyB]

Hi taylorleeann, :D
Good luck with the babies... pls take all of Gammas advice, it has been working for me. :jump

[taylorleeann]

thanks, I have been. She helped me with my other one...lots!

[taylorleeann]

he is sooo sweet! I am holding him now. its sad though because he will fall asleep and then wake up and realize that he's in a strange place and jump and squeal. then he goes back to sleep. i think i will keep him and release him in my back yard. i have 30 acres with lots of squirrels. thanks again for your help. i'll keep you posted. i'm sure i'll have more questions

[taylorleeann]

Here's the update - last night and this morning I noticed that the squirrel was not using his leg that was injured. It just seemed to hang - he was getting around ok but would not use that leg. It seems to be broken. He has been eating just fine and appeared healthy other than the leg. I decided to call a rehab center that I found on the internet in Punta Gorda FL. They told me that they would take him so I drove him (about 45 mins away). I thought this squirrel may not be able to survive in the wild with this injury and hoped that they could fix it. They told me that they would x-ray the leg and that if they can not fix it then they will put him to sleep :( It sounded to me that most likely they will put him to sleep. They told me that I can call them in a few days and find out the status. This was not what I expected to hear. I was upset. I thought that they would have a place to keep him if can not be placed back in the wild. I guess that was ignorant. Anyway, needless to say I was disappointed. I just hope that his leg is ok and they can save him. Pray for him. Thanks for all the help. I'll call and check on him in a couple of days and let you know.

[taylorleeann]

thanks for the prayers. I know that they will not release him to me because I had to fill out a paper when I brought him there and on the bottom it said in bold letters something like "we cannot release any wild animals brought in back to the public under any circumstances". I hope he does ok. I am kinda scared to call and check on him because I am afraid what they will say. I would definately ask more questions in the future PRIOR to bringing the animal in. I would not have minded keeping the little guy as a pet if he could not be released. My husband would have had a good time building him an outside cage. I just thought that if I brought him in, they would be able to fix his leg which would be the best case because a squirrel in captivity is sad. May be that will happen, they will fix his leg. thanks again

[JudyB]

Oh Im so sorry!! I know... when you try to do the "Right" thing.... it bites ya....
I hope and pray for him and that he will be ok.
Pls... you did a good thing... ty for caring!:grouphug :grouphug