Wonkawillie
06-12-2010, 06:36 PM
Well, A while back ( about 4 years ), I took care of a tiny squirrel who was orphaned. I have a passion for all animals, but after this experiance I was amazed at how brilliant squrrels are!!! I did a soft release and all went well. After about a month of daily playing in the trees and then a lock up for the evening, she ventured off farther each day. I would followed her, and then this final day, she kept going, so far I could not keep up. I said my goodbyes, cried a bit, but knew this is what it was all about.
This spring a friend called with two baby squirrels in need of help. Mom killed in the nearby road, three babies on the ground nearby. One dead, the other two in very bad condition. No food for a few days and so cold they were stiff. I did the routine, warm them, hydrate and begin food. They were thriving. The super suckers that they are... the boy aspirated so badly ( from a pin pricked syringe only!!!). He was in imediate trouble, and just nothing I could do. He died by morning. The girl who was in the worst possible condition was doing great. Then she aspirated. Not sure how this can happen, as the syringe I use has simply the pin prick in it. They get food slowly, but suck uncontrolably. Anyway I felt useless she was in bad shape after aspiration. I thought for sure she would be dead by morning. In the morning she was alive and I managed to mix up some amixicillian mixture. After her first dose, a few hours later, she was greatly improved and looking to eat. She has since thrived into an amazing girl. She is now 4 months old about.
I intended to release her the same place I did the other. It is far from my house, but at the far end of my 30 acre property. I have dogs that will kill anything that moves outside, so I like to release far from them, where they do not go. After One night up in the location for release, I saw all kinds of footprints. Fox, raccoon, etc. All around the cage. She was scared!!!! I was heartbroke. I could not leave her there. I now have this cage on my kitchen patio. The dogs are left inside when I let her out to play, but human error may come into play and I dont want her to be killed by them. Squirrels are fast and I rarely hear of a dog catching one, but........ I simply do not know what to do. My biggest worry asside from the dogs. If I release her up on the hill, she will run to any person. Of course these people will be freaked out and think she has rabies or somthing and probubly kill her. I just do not know what to do. My husband says " keep her". He loves her too. I dont want to deny her of being a squirrel, but I dont want to put her in harm either. What to do??????????????
Not so sure I have ever been so attached to something. She is amazing!!!!!!
I would feel sick to just do a hard release into a state forest or something.
She would be so scared. At night she wants to come out of her cage ( where she has a fleece, fur lined ferret bed that she loves), and get into my sweatshirt!
Ideas anyone????
This spring a friend called with two baby squirrels in need of help. Mom killed in the nearby road, three babies on the ground nearby. One dead, the other two in very bad condition. No food for a few days and so cold they were stiff. I did the routine, warm them, hydrate and begin food. They were thriving. The super suckers that they are... the boy aspirated so badly ( from a pin pricked syringe only!!!). He was in imediate trouble, and just nothing I could do. He died by morning. The girl who was in the worst possible condition was doing great. Then she aspirated. Not sure how this can happen, as the syringe I use has simply the pin prick in it. They get food slowly, but suck uncontrolably. Anyway I felt useless she was in bad shape after aspiration. I thought for sure she would be dead by morning. In the morning she was alive and I managed to mix up some amixicillian mixture. After her first dose, a few hours later, she was greatly improved and looking to eat. She has since thrived into an amazing girl. She is now 4 months old about.
I intended to release her the same place I did the other. It is far from my house, but at the far end of my 30 acre property. I have dogs that will kill anything that moves outside, so I like to release far from them, where they do not go. After One night up in the location for release, I saw all kinds of footprints. Fox, raccoon, etc. All around the cage. She was scared!!!! I was heartbroke. I could not leave her there. I now have this cage on my kitchen patio. The dogs are left inside when I let her out to play, but human error may come into play and I dont want her to be killed by them. Squirrels are fast and I rarely hear of a dog catching one, but........ I simply do not know what to do. My biggest worry asside from the dogs. If I release her up on the hill, she will run to any person. Of course these people will be freaked out and think she has rabies or somthing and probubly kill her. I just do not know what to do. My husband says " keep her". He loves her too. I dont want to deny her of being a squirrel, but I dont want to put her in harm either. What to do??????????????
Not so sure I have ever been so attached to something. She is amazing!!!!!!
I would feel sick to just do a hard release into a state forest or something.
She would be so scared. At night she wants to come out of her cage ( where she has a fleece, fur lined ferret bed that she loves), and get into my sweatshirt!
Ideas anyone????