NewMommy here

[NewMommy]

Hi!

On August 21st, I heard an awful screeching outside and looked out to find my cat bending over something in the yard. I ran out and there was a baby squirrel just screeching and screeching and two more way up high in the tree screeching back. Several months ago, I watched 5 little babies grow up and scamper off and this was a new batch. The little one on the ground was not hurt by my cat who never hurts his "discoveries" but did have blood coming out of his nose. I actually placed him back up in the tree and he started scampering way up but 15 minutes later when I came back outside, he was lying on the ground again so I brought him in the house. Not living near any pet supply stores, I fed him unsweetened milk. I also found this site online and began reading all I could. The next day, I found another squirrel on the ground and the following day, I found the last of the 3 on the ground. I named them Blackie, Whitey, and Red and marked two of their tails so I could tell them apart. On the 24th, Blackie died and the other two were doing so poorly..pneumonia I figured out so after reading some blogs, I put them on an antibiotic that I had (scared as hell that I might give them too much or too little). They both pulled through and are now thriving. This board helped me so much. I'm being pressured all around to release them but I've fallen in love with them and the timing seems wrong to let them go in a few months as it will be cold. I bought a huge cage to put them in. I have a million questions. One being, the cage I bought said that rats could be kept in it but the openings seem large. Can a squirrels squeeze thru small openings? I have 4 cats and am petrified the squirrels will squeeze thru and get caught by the cats. If a rat could stay in this cage and not get out shouldn't it by alright for a squirrel? Second question, do you set up some sort of litter pan for them to use or do they just go to the bathroom all over? Do they play with toys? What should I put in the cage to entertain them? Do you cook the vegetables or do they eat them raw? One of the babies is a male and the other female. I read about neutering? Will any vet do that and does it have to be done? Mine don't seem interested in drinking the formula any more. Do they wean themselves like this once they start eating food? I'm sure I have tons more questions but that's it for now.

[skye]

Hello there:wave123 Glad you found this board there are many good people here that will help you. I wanted to say :Welcome and wish you best of luck.

[foxsquirrels]

Hi New Mommy, nice to meet you!:Welcome You are going to love it here.:crazy You will get all the information you need.:thumbsup

[JudyB]

:Welcome :Welcome :Welcome
:jump :jump :jump

[luvs squirrels]

Glad you were able to post New Mommy and that the help I gave you on how to post helped. It can be a little intimidating at first, but once you get the hang of it, it's easy.

Here's a picture she sent me through e-mail. I've cropped it so her face doesn't show.

[NewMommy]

Thanks so much for the warm welcome from everyone. I LOVE this site!!! It has been so helpful especially you, Gammas Babies. Let me answer your questions. They are gray squirrels. They were about 5 weeks when I found them so now are around 8 weeks old. I am feeding them with little eye droppers. I was using a syringe but it went in too fast and that's how they developed pneumonia. I do feed them in an upright position. They have been eating the formula again. I give them First Born for kittens and puppies. I bought a cage called a Marshall Folding Ferret Mansion on Petco.com. It is huge and has 3 levels with 3 ramps and I put up a little tunnel hammock and there's a wooden box with holes they can go into and I have a bed with little fleece blankets they sleep in too. I also bought a little childs winter hat and they like to go in there and sleep too. I also have a hollow log they can go into. The bars are about an inch wide on the cage. One person tells me they can't get out of it and another person says that squirrels can squeeze out of anything so I'm sooooooooooooo paranoid that they will get out. I enclosed the whole cage with metal wire but I still have spots where they could possibly get out. I have 4 cats so I worry about them squeezing out of the cage. In one of the topics about habitats on this site I saw what looks like a dog's chew toy in the cage. Do they like to play with those (rope toys?)? I live in fear that someone will find out and come take my babies away from me as I know it's illegal for me to keep them here in NY. I'd love to get my rehab license but I don't want to go thru getting rabies shots. Do you have to get those to become a rehaber? Thanks for pointing out all it entails to keep the squirrels. What do you mean by winter-over the babies? Does that mean I could keep them for the winter and then release them in the spring? I really have fallen in love with them and I want to keep them. I just don't want to harm them and am trying to read all I can to care for them. I will get them the light you suggested. I read that they need to be let out of the cage to run. If the cage is big enough, do they still need to be let out of the cage? I think there's a vet who lives on the lake like I do that cares for small animals. I'll have to check that out. Sorry this is so long. I just have so much to learn!! Thank you so much for helping so much with saving these precious little ones.

[NewMommy]

I went to Chris's site to buy the Ott Lite but didn't find it anywhere on the site. Does he still sell them?

[jme2323]

hi there, welcome! you came to the right place!

i am a junior mom- i have had 2 squirrel babies...one turned out good, one i lost recently WAAAAAAAAH!

but what i found out, is that they can get really wild when they start bouncing around- you will see ;) this may make it easier to decide what to do about their future...they can be crazy, like monkeys!

of course it is't for everyone to release- or keep...but maybe it is a choice you don't make now, but will soon. just realize that if you are going to release you must prepare them, and you want them to have some healthy fear of people...and need to plan that. ask lots of advice here- and make sure that they don't have a problem that prevents them from living alone...

but in regards to attachment, i think you'll find releasing them might be easier than you imagine- plus it is very rewarding too...they will probably stay in your yard or nearby for a long time- my first baby lived there for YEARS. we could even call him and he'd come over...so your time with them isn't over when you let them go, but it is a whole different experience to see them grow up and have a fam of their own too, out in the trees.

anyway whether with you, or out there in the world, you will still enjoy your babies- and never forget the joy of having a squirrel in your life!!

good luck :)

[luvs squirrels]

Here are some pictures New Mommy e-mailed me. I know how hard it can be sometimes to get pictures on here.

[jme2323]

OMG how darling! what cuties!

[Tum Tum]

Such wonderful babies.

[NewMommy]

Thanks, thanks, thanks for all the help and advice. Thanks to Luvs Squirrels for posting my pics. I just haven't had time to explore how to do it myself yet. Gammas Babies..you are so wonderful to help everyone as much as you do!!! Don't worry about my cage..as you can see from the pic of it, it's very sturdy. The first time they were in it, they shoved and shoved with their head trying to get out but didn't so I think I'm safe. I have enclosed the whole cage with wire to prevent my 4 cats from getting their claws in and hurting my little babies and I've got the blisters to show for it from cutting all that wire.

I am a little worried as they both seem to be losing their fur on their hind legs. Is this normal? Also they are opening their mouth and gaping as if for air during some of the feedings the last couple of days. I was thinking they were just sucking too fast and got tired but could they possibly have pneumonia again? They had pneumonia once. Also, I've been offering them a wide variety of veggies and fruits but they don't seem too interested. They have eaten some unsalted nuts and some cheerios. I just ordered the rodent blocks.

I don't mind telling you that I'm petrified of hurting these precious little babies. It all seems so complicated and as the person from Canada stated, there are a lot of conflicting things that I've read. Thank God for this site because I didn't read anything about peeling the fruit first and have been giving them grapes with the skin on until I saw Gamma's post.

:thankyou :D

[skye]

Oh my what little darlings you have there:D great cage:thumbsup sending best wishes your way Good luck with them:D

[Sciurus1]

Hi New Mommy and welcome!. Sorry I have been so busy, I have not visited your thread. I want you to know, there is a wonderful lady on our board that lives in NY. and is associated with a wonderful group that rehabs gray squirrels. You can visit the thread in the Gray Squirrel forum, found under Breed Specific. Check out what they have to raise these precious baby squirrels, and where they release them. It is surely a bit of gray squirrel heaven! Our Adminstrator can direct you to a rehabber she recommends in your area, or to one associated with Tomo's if you are close enough to them, so your babies can have the very best of care, housing, and eventually a release into this wonderful forest, where there are no cars or houses, or people, just a wilderness area that is fit for squirrellie princes and princesses! So there is no need to worry about your babies if you then decide to place them into the capable hands those our board knows of personally. God bless you for your efforts so far, to give your best to help these sweet babies!

[Sciurus1]

Oh, just so you know, the name of that wildlife rescue group is Tomo's Tree House. I sure love that thread, some of the most beautiful area I have seen in many years. The housing for squirrels both temporary and perminent is beyond belief, everything has been though of for them, being very well cared for. They even winterover babies that won't be mature enough to release this season.