ahendrix
03-15-2011, 09:13 PM
Hey all, I'll cut to the chase and say that I'm a newbie to squirrels. I have had pet store bought rodents in the past, as well as a slew of different reptiles and amphibians some of which I rehabilitated and released, but never a squirrel.
In most cases I would agree that nature should run it's course without human intervention, (example: a squirrel for some reason falls out of a tree in the wild and breaks it's leg..) but in the case of domestic pets intervening with wild life like what I have on my hands right now, I think that people have a right and maybe a responsibility to make things better if possible.
Blah blah blah no one wants to hear about my opinions they want to help some squirrels!
OK. So yesterday I was randomly standing there talking with a friend when his black lab runs up to us with a baby squirrel in it's mouth. My first reaction was to mentally prepare myself to have to find a way to put it out of it's misery, but on further inspection it seems to have no visible injuries. (Luckily for the squirrel the dog has a soft mouth for bringing back birds.) I knew that had it been any smaller than it is it would not make it much longer than the rest of the day given the circumstances, but I warmed it up, cleaned it off and I've re-hydrated it successfully as now it loves to pee all over my leg between sleeping.
From what I have read online I would judge that it's about five weeks old. He's a boy, fully haired seemingly, tail is filling out (still doesn't curl up though), I can see his little teeth are out of the gums, and his eyes are open.
I went to my local feed store and found Esbilac, and have been feeding him the Esbilac, water, whipping cream deal every four hours since I found him yesterday.
I have two concerns, the first being that his left eye seems to have a cataract, and the second is I can't seem to get him to defecate. He's pretty squirmy while awake and I haven't been able to tell if he has partial vision out the eye or not. With the pooping, I can't be sure how long he was on the ground and I have no idea when his last meal was.
From pictures I've seen he seems kind of small too, which may have lead to him falling (or getting kicked) out of his nest.
So survival for this guy seems like a long shot, but he's been extremely lucky so far, maybe he will be able to have a chance at a squirrel's life.
I was wondering if there are any good rehabers in my area (Southeast GA). This guy is going to need an awesome person to help him learn to get along with one good eye I would imagine, and too I know he needs other squirrels to interact with. (I had a lone guinea pig one time and that was a disaster...)
I have found numbers for a few in Savannah but was just wondering if you squirrel lovers had any insight on this.. I'd hate to give him up just for him to be put down.. I don't know of any good sanctuaries near me either..
I do realize too that the food is not optimal.
In most cases I would agree that nature should run it's course without human intervention, (example: a squirrel for some reason falls out of a tree in the wild and breaks it's leg..) but in the case of domestic pets intervening with wild life like what I have on my hands right now, I think that people have a right and maybe a responsibility to make things better if possible.
Blah blah blah no one wants to hear about my opinions they want to help some squirrels!
OK. So yesterday I was randomly standing there talking with a friend when his black lab runs up to us with a baby squirrel in it's mouth. My first reaction was to mentally prepare myself to have to find a way to put it out of it's misery, but on further inspection it seems to have no visible injuries. (Luckily for the squirrel the dog has a soft mouth for bringing back birds.) I knew that had it been any smaller than it is it would not make it much longer than the rest of the day given the circumstances, but I warmed it up, cleaned it off and I've re-hydrated it successfully as now it loves to pee all over my leg between sleeping.
From what I have read online I would judge that it's about five weeks old. He's a boy, fully haired seemingly, tail is filling out (still doesn't curl up though), I can see his little teeth are out of the gums, and his eyes are open.
I went to my local feed store and found Esbilac, and have been feeding him the Esbilac, water, whipping cream deal every four hours since I found him yesterday.
I have two concerns, the first being that his left eye seems to have a cataract, and the second is I can't seem to get him to defecate. He's pretty squirmy while awake and I haven't been able to tell if he has partial vision out the eye or not. With the pooping, I can't be sure how long he was on the ground and I have no idea when his last meal was.
From pictures I've seen he seems kind of small too, which may have lead to him falling (or getting kicked) out of his nest.
So survival for this guy seems like a long shot, but he's been extremely lucky so far, maybe he will be able to have a chance at a squirrel's life.
I was wondering if there are any good rehabers in my area (Southeast GA). This guy is going to need an awesome person to help him learn to get along with one good eye I would imagine, and too I know he needs other squirrels to interact with. (I had a lone guinea pig one time and that was a disaster...)
I have found numbers for a few in Savannah but was just wondering if you squirrel lovers had any insight on this.. I'd hate to give him up just for him to be put down.. I don't know of any good sanctuaries near me either..
I do realize too that the food is not optimal.