HELP!!!

[Bugsie]

Ok my cats found this...I think it is a chipmunk. I can't touch it because it tries to bite me. I believe it has a cut on its side. How old is it?

[TexanSquirrel]

I don't know how old he is. Good luck with him though!

[digiandchipper]

Oh my gosh!! Poor thing! Who on here is a chipper expert? Does anyone know?

Also, are you keeping him warm - heating pad 1/2 under his container? What about rehydrating? How long has it been since you found him?

[Bugsie]

Just found it minutes ago. Has a heating pad cant hydrate him though. Shows me his teeth:soapbox

[Peaches]

He seems to be old enough to fed for himself so I would just keep him in a container he cant chew through or jump out of and give him a water bowl and some hampstery type foods. He looks healthy and I'm sure the cat just picked him up so he's not likely to be dehydrated. If the wound is just a scratch I would be inclined to let him go but if its a bite he will need antibiotics. You will need a pair of leather gloves to handle him, nothing crazy just a thick pair of winter gloves will do.

[JLM27]

Poor little guy! If he is in the squirrel family wouldn't he like squirrel food? I know the chippies around me like almonds and pumpkin seeds.

There are chippie threads on this squirrel board so maybe one of the chippie owners (Miss Ears, Wild and Wonderful??) could help with diet.

[tatcat]

oh my good luck darlin!!:grouphug

[Bugsie]

No antibiotics on hand. The cats were trailing him earlier today and I walked him to a tree. He climbed it really fast. Then tonight I heard something screaming and sure enough it was him with the cats. Does anyone know if their is a rehabber anywhere in Tennessee. I am scared to let him go in my yard again since this is the 2nd time they found him. Unless there is just a family of them and this is a different one. I have never seen chippies here before. I have 20 acres in the next county I could let him go in. Would that be a problem since he probably has a nest here

[Bugsie]

Thanks jlm27 didn't know their was a chippie section. Should we move this thread over their. Sorry I am still new here.

[squirrelsrule&bunniestoo]

Aww, poor little guy. You should NOT release him in another area. Chippies spend the winter underground and this guy has his stash of food for the winter already built up in the area where you found him. You would have to put him back there so he can get back to his tunnel, or he would not survive the winter. If you feel he MUST go somewhere else, you would have to overwinter him because in the spring they come back out and find food.

Is he really fast? A chippie that comes in at his age (older juvy or adult) should be super wild and crazy, like jump out of the cage and run so fast you can't catch him kind of crazy. If he is slow and you can handle him with gloves, I would say something is wrong, although they may slow down in the winter and he could be in that kind of mode :dono.

I would try to give him some food and see if he eats. Mine liked grapes, apple, and walnuts as favorite foods (I always cracked the walnuts for them since I am not sure they can crack them on their own since their mouths are so small).

[TexanSquirrel]

You posted this in the right section because you do need help.

I hope he's going to be alright. I think his chippie-tude is a good sign. At least he's feeling good enough to try and protect himself!

[Bugsie]

Thanks for the info squirrelsruleandbunniestoo. This afternoon he ran real fast and then tonight after I got the cats away from him again, but this time he ran fast and then just stopped. He is just sleeping right now in his storage container.(nothing else to put him in). So you think then If he acts like he feels ok to let him go where i found him in the morning. I put some almonds in with him but no eating yet. Still havent got the guts up to try to handle him

[tatcat]

he is prolly a lil scared at the moment...:grouphug

[Peaches]

Poor little guy! If he is in the squirrel family wouldn't he like squirrel food? I know the chippies around me like almonds and pumpkin seeds.

Well any small rodent type food will do short term. Its all pretty much the same unless its a rabbit or guinea pig your feeding. Other than that they all like veggies, fruits, nuts and rodent blocks.

He probably stopped running because he was in shock from the cat getting him. If you have one chipper you have a family of them, they are like potato chips in that respect. You will have to watch your cats carefully now that they know they are there. Give him a veggie or some lettuce for the water.

[ShesASquirrelyGirl]

If the chipmunk has been wounded by the cat give him to a rehabber. He needs to be examined and put on antibiotics if there is any blood. You can go to this site and look up which rehabbers are closest to you
http://www.tc.umn.edu/~devo0028/contactN.htm
Just scroll down to T and look up North , South , East etc until you find some close.
Good luck

[Bugsie]

Ok just double gloved (yes i am a chicken) and checked him out. No blood on his side just wet. I could barely get a hold of him super fast and lots of chirping I guess you could call it . He seems very depressed I am thinking about just taking him back outside and putting my cat in his carrier for a couple of hours to give the chipster a head start. What do ya'll think?

[digiandchipper]

Oh, no! Please let someone check him first! What if he has sustained injuries you can't see? He might not survive:Cry :Cry :Cry


EDIT: And did you try to contact one of the rehabbers on the list first???????????

[Bugsie]

No I didn't call anyone on the list. I will call my vet tomorrow and see if there is anyone closer to us. He is sleeping right now. I put almonds, apple and kale in his box not interested though.

If there is no one closer I will call one from the list. There is one about 60 miles from me, but I can't take the little fellow until Tuesday. I have school all day tomorrow. I am just worried about him not eating in captivity.

[ShesASquirrelyGirl]

Ok this is my opinion. If its something like a small injury he will heal on his own. As long as nothing is broken, bleeding, punctures, cut, and he can run, etc. I would just let him go back to what he is used to.
Keeping him longer will stress him out more and if there is nothing obvious ( you would have noticed by now I think?) then you might be wasting your money at the vet who might end up destroying it.
I say just release him.

[kackoff]

You might try putting bells on your cat collars -- to warn the chippies a bit. Just a thought...

[squirrelsrule&bunniestoo]

I would agree, releasing in the same area he was found would be the best option if you don't see any obvious injuries. There is a chance he has a puncture and needs antibiotics, but there is also the chance that he will stress and die if kept much longer, so I say let him go. Wild animals have an amazing ability to heal. I keep thinking of Shakespear on meerkat manor that survived the bite from the cobra. I think he will be just fine and will be much better off if he is put back and left to return to him burrow.

[Abacat]

I also agree with SASG and SR&B2...if the chippie doesn't have life threatening injuries, keep the cats away, and release him near where he was found. The stress alone can cause him far more problems.

[Bugsie]

Ok well I just got home and not good. I supose he is weak from not eating. didn't run from me or try to bite me, just let me do whatever to him like he has accepted some horrible fate. Tried to give him a syringe full of water but he wouldn't take it. Heated up some of bugsie's formula and he went crazy held on to that syringe with both paws. very sweet. I am going to give him more formula at 9 tonight and then release him may be at least this way his blood sugar will be up some. I wish I would have let him go last night I hope I havent done more harm than good

[Frickster]

have no idea...so just asking....if he did in fact get punctured...would that explain the lethargy and thus make antibiotics necessary? could be totally off so just wanted to ask... :)

[Bugsie]

I really don't believe that he has any punctures. He let me handle him alot tonight and I checked him all over. I didn't see anything and my cats are huge with huge teeth. I think he is just a little lethargic from not eating for 24 hours. When I fed him again a few minutes ago he latched back on to the syringe and then when he was finished he calmly walked off my hand back in his box. I am still very concerned since he is no longer acting like he wants to bite my hand. I am going to have to call a rehabber in the a.m. to see what to do.

[Peaches]

I think he just associates you with food now. Makes me wonder if he is alot younger than he looks in the photo. Maybe he's still a nursing baby, can you see if he has teeth? Its weird that he's not eating anything but formula. If he's really young I'm afraid if you let him go he will not know how to get back home and will just sit in the grass till the cats come back. If you do decide to release him you should follow him to make sure he goes home.

[Bugsie]

Peaches I think you might be right about the age. The pics make him look bigger than he is . He/she reminds me of a house mouse. He is taking formula 3 ccs every 4 hours. Still will not eat any solids but yes he does have teeth. I have sent a pm to chippy tails I hope she will get back with me soon.

[SkwerlGirl]

:alright.gif You're doing a good job!!! Keep up the good work!!!:alright.gif

[Ardilla]

Awww :Love_Icon Poor little guy. I hope he perks up.

[Chippy Tails]

What a little sweetie. Fortunately I have never found a baby that I had to rehab. The chippys are pretty safe here in the yard. There is a sight you might want to look at: http://www.orphanedwildlifecare.com/chipmunkcare.htm

This is a wonderful sight that has all kinds of information about what to feed a chippy, how often, how to determine their age, how to set up a cage, etc. I'm sure you'll find what you need there.

As for releasing this little one, I would advise against it this time of year. It probably wouldn't make it over the winter. My chippys are already snug in their beds with enough food to last 10 years. Maybe you'll be lucky and find a rehabber.

I wish you luck with your little one. So, so precious. I'll check back to see how you're doing. Thanks for taking this little one in. :grouphug

[wheezer]

Bugsie, you are doing a fantastic job. From the photo's I too was thinking it was old enough to get along on it's own. So trying the formula was a blessing.
:bowdown

[Buddy'sMom]

Comparing your picture with the wilds chippies I see outside, this one is quite a bit smaller, and somehow also looks younger. Combined with its eagerness with the formula and not wanting any solids, it would seem that this is a youngster that should still be with Mom. But the fact that it was out and about indicates that something has happened to mom.

I agree with all those who suggested release -- but I believe those suggestions were based on this being an older chippie that has a well-stocked burrow to go home to.

If this really is a youngster, Chippie will need a foster mom/dad and also need to be overwintered in a setting that allows him to become wild, not turn into a pet.

If you don't have luck with the rehabber list you have, let us know. Are you by chance anywhere near Memphis? We have members there who might be able to help or provide other contacts.

Pls note that TSB will be offline at least part of Wed., so ask your immediate questions today!

:grouphug :Love_Icon :grouphug

[Bugsie]

Thank you Chippy for the information and Wheezer for all the encouragement. I tell you this has stressed me out. I only want to do the best for these little critters. He is as skinny as a mouse and I read they should be fat for the winter So I guess that is what I will attempt to do. It was 28 degrees here this morning. Here in the south that is pretty COLD. The only thing I feel like I am just fattening him up for the cats:nono It would be great if I could have him released some place safe, like say.... Chippys yards hint hint:poke :poke
I guess I will worry about that when the time comes.

[Bugsie]

The last thing I want is a chipmunk for a pet. Not that he isn't the sweetest thing I have ever seen but 2 months ago I just got a NR squirrel and between school , work and a ten year old daughter , 3 cats a dog and a chinchilla I have my hands full. I would prefer that he goes to a member of this board, so I could keep track of him and be able to know when he has his BIG day. If you truely believe that this person in Memphis or whoever will be able to release him in a very safe enviornment then I will let them have Theodore (my daughter named him/her). I could meet someone half way which is about a hour and a half from my house. Please make sure we choose someone very responsible. Only had him for 2 full days but I already love him:Love_Icon mjs

Thank you very much,
Amanda

[Bugsie]

Is anyone familiar with Patty Varner? She is a rehabber in Tn

[ShesASquirrelyGirl]

Sorry this doesn't look like a "baby'' to me, young maybe but not a baby and an adult chippy will eat esbilac as well, especially if they are thirsty or hungry. Same as a grey Sq. They probably didn't eat because of stress and feeling threatened. They run about with out their mom as well at this age. They are now going to associate you with food and you are going to start to tame them which is bad if you ever want it to have a natural life.
I hate to be harsh but the best thing for this chip would be to feed it and let it go back to its other chippy friends and family. Put a bell on your cat or keep the cat inside and let him have his freedom back.
Its not to late to release since he came from outside in this season and probably already has a den, food, and everything else out there.
I think keeping him at this point will only cause him to become tame and live in capture or lessen his chances at survival when he is released.
Thats my opinion.
I'd hate to see it go to a rehabber now because they will look it over and release it more then likely and the best place to release it would be back where he came from to his family.

[Buddy'sMom]

Bugsie, ShesASquirrelyGirl is an experienced rehabber and her advice can be trusted. I'm not a rehabber and was just offering my thoughts based on casual observation of my wilds. I think you should go with the voice(s) of experience here ...... all of the rehabbers seem to be unanimous. Trust them.

:grouphug :Love_Icon :grouphug

[Bugsie]

I got him out to tell him bye and he got loose!! Have you ever tried to catch a wild chipmunk in your house???? It is not easy, but I caught him. I gave him a minute to calm down in his box, got him back out and gave him some formula for the road and let him go. When I sat him on the ground he didn't move at first I tapped him on his sweet little bottom and he looked like a rock skipping across water. That is one fast chippie. Anyways a bitter sweet good bye for the best. Good luck little Theodore.:Love_Icon :Love_Icon :Love_Icon

[ShesASquirrelyGirl]

Bugsie you did the right thing. I know its hard to let go of something so cute! He is going back to his family now and will be so happy once he reunites with them. Thank you for saving him!

[Peaches]

:alright.gif I'm glad you let him go. After seeing the photo's in your hand and with the syringe I can see he is a young adult. I'm sure he has a den full of food and a family waiting for him. Good advice shesAsquirrelygirl :thumbsup