URGENT: Opinions and Advice requested about babies falling from tree

[Kristal]

I just talked with Alex on the phone, and another kit has fallen out of the tree behind his apartment. He's almost certainly from the same litter as the girl who fell last week. He told me that the neighbour kids saw another one fall in between these two, and the mom came to get it really quickly.

Alex is feeling reticent about returning the baby to the tree so that the mom can come and get it. He asked me if I can take the little guy. I'm willing, but I am concerned that it might not be the best thing for the squirrel, given that he has a mom already.

He is concerned that they may keep falling and eventually get picked up by a cat or dog.

I suspect that the mom is really hungry. We just had a brutally long and bitter winter here, and we are only just now getting a few buds on the trees. I have yet to actually see a squirrel in my neighbourhood streets this year. I suspect that they winter elsewhere in the city and come to the residential streets for the warm months - or that at least some do. There are a few tall stands of trees around in empty lots and by the train tracks near here... There would be some good dug out homes in those trees, I would think.

The other possibility is that the winter was so horrid that a lot of them just froze and starved to death. I can't say with confidence which because this is the first year that I am paying so much attention to their comings and goings.

All that is to say that I think the mom is starving, most likely. She has at least two kits, and the only things to eat nearby are tree buds. And the buds JUST started popping out this week.... But the kits are about four weeks old. Alex saw her climbing up the tree with a potato that she had fished out of the garbage, for example. So I think that means that she is pretty hungry. She is probably not getting the nutrition that she needs to make enough milk and has to forage widely to make up a complete diet with all the nutrients required to make healthy breast milk. Her fat stores are probably already gone, too. We have had some very, very windy spring days, and yet the kits are falling out when the weather is sunny and calm. That tells me that mom is foraging for a long time and at every possible opportunity that the weather gives her.

The kits are probably already hungry and falling out looking for her on the nice days because she is not there to keep them in their house as she must be on the awful days.

So that is my hypothesis about the situation. It is possible that this is the same mom from whom Alex got the 3 kits last year. Two of those died of aspiration pneumonia and the last is is alive and doing great. He still has her with him. Those kits from last year were badly injured, too, probably by a crow who tried to steal them from the nest. They had infected wounds with enough necrotic tissue for maggots to grow in.

So that is the history with this mom and the current situation over there. I want to do what is best for the kit. This is important to me. I am very hesitant about breaking up a wild family. Alex is feeling, at present, that he does not want to return the kit to the mom because he may fall out again. But I am wondering if some food support would make the crucial difference for this wild mom. I am also wondering if she will move them soon in the case that the nest is really too small. What are your thoughts on this?

The other considerations are: Mitch just got a call for another orphaned squirrel and does not want to take more than two at a time. So she won't be adding this one into the family there. It would be my solo baby. I just got a visit from the city pet patrol inspector yesterday saying that I may need a special license for the squirrels that I do have (he is looking into the situation as this is the first time he is dealing with squirrels). I don't know what is going to happen with that, but it is certain that I am now on their radar. Hopefully it will be fine, but there is nothing like a city inspector to make your life difficult... And finally, I have my four young adults already. I have no idea how they would react to or if they would accept a sightless kit into their world. My four squees seem to be very agreeable and tolerant guys from what I can gather by comparing them with the ones that I read about on the board, so it may well be worth chancing it. But I don't truly know how they will react, and that is a concern.

What if I wind up raising a solo with a complete phobia of other squirrels due to being picked on by my four spunky guys?

What do you think is the best course here? Some of you must have experience with similar situations... I would really appreciate your thoughts on this :)

We need to make a decision on this no later than tomorrow.

[mugzeezma]

Always best to try to unite baby and mother...
offer food if you feel she is hungry
Try nailing a box to the tree with some fleece in it.
Make it high enough to keep away from dogs or cats.
The baby will call for mom.
If you have him right now you may want to offer fluids regularly when you go to check on him.
If you need to place a hand warmed in the bottom of the box to warm him and watch quietly from a safe distance.

Good luck !

how are kids doing?

[Kristal]

Oh yes, and also if my four young adults don't accept a solo baby, I don't know if I can reasonably juggle 3 sets of animals and keep any of them happy. I have to isolate the dogs from the squirrels and vice versa already. It would complicate the situation in my apartment.

I expect that a solo needs more attention than four do, too. My little squee family keeps itself busy - and it is obvious that their social needs are really big. Given that, I don't think I am in the best position to be the entire world to a little squirrel all by himself in his life except for me.

[Kristal]

I know this is a long post.... but please read it through. I could use some good advice. :grouphug :Love_Icon :Love_Icon :Love_Icon

[mugzeezma]

I know this is a long post.... but please read it through. I could use some good advice. :grouphug :Love_Icon :Love_Icon :Love_Icon
I don't really think you should take this on Kristal...I know how hard it is but someone else has to do this.
If you are at risk of losing your own and needing a license/permit...and you are not working? How will you do this? It's expensive!
You need to take in what you can handle.
Hard as that is it's what we all need to do.
I know at some point I will be turning babies down and I dread it. DREAD IT!!!
It is the reason I got my license though.
SO
Do what you can to get this baby back to mama. If not then Alex or whomever needs to step in with your support of course.
I apologize if this seems harsh.
I know that ache so well...:grouphug :grouphug :grouphug
gotta run for now back later

[island rehabber]

I agree completely. The mom is ALIVE, and she's functioning, as she's shown that she WILL take babies back. Alex should do whatever he can to make it happen. :thumbsup

[mpetys]

I agree completely. The mom is ALIVE, and she's functioning, as she's shown that she WILL take babies back. Alex should do whatever he can to make it happen. :thumbsup

And maybe that would include offering whatever support she may need. If a nest box could be made and installed nearby, maybe she might be tempted to move in. If not, they perhaps she could be supported by some good, healthy food. My wilds look at me like I am crazy when I offer them sugar snap peas or avocado but they love HHB's. I would imagine a dish of fox valley set out for her if she will drink it would be good. Perhaps the booballs would be a good way to get some fox valley into her.

michele

[Scooterzmom]

I spoke to Alex earlier. He lives in a very urban setting, the tree from which they fell is not in his yard, it's at a neighbor's and therefore, sadly, there is no way he can go put a nest box in it. The problem is that the babies keep falling out and unless someone is there to watch ALL THE TIME this baby - and possibly its sibling(s) - risks being killed by dogs, cats or snatched by crows, or even getting run over by cars if they crawl onto the street... and Alex cannot go set himself up on the neighbor's property :(

I'm trying on my side also to see if I can work something out for Alex & this baby.

[Mrs Skul]

:wave123 Kristal
Have your friend start putting Fresh veg, and water out. He might even sit it on the T can where she has been digging threw.
If she is that hungry she will not move them to far because of the food source she has found. If she is week and the trees don't have leaves.
She will not build and wast the value energy it would take for this. If you or the friend know of any construction cites.
Stop in and ask if you can have the wood scraps, or pick through them.
That is all it would take to builds a Squirrel nest. There is a way to use old tiers also. Just need a electric saw and a few bolts.
The best thing is just like others have posted. Always always reunite. Adding the food will help allot. One more thing. If mama is needing food.
She can always have some FV sprinkled over the food. That will help her so so much.
Just have the kids who seen baby fall to keep an eye on the nest every time there out. Walk around the tree. It should be fairly easy for them to do. You can even offer a few dollars if they see it again to save the baby.
Kids always a few $$$ !:D
Good Luck Christal

PS
If the Tree where the mama is in isn't his tree.
Put the nest box on trees in his yard.
She will find the boxes. Same with the food.
He can cox her over with a few nuts or treats.
She will be moving in in no time.:thumbsup3

[mpetys]

I spoke to Alex earlier. He lives in a very urban setting, the tree from which they fell is not in his yard, it's at a neighbor's and therefore, sadly, there is no way he can go put a nest box in it. The problem is that the babies keep falling out and unless someone is there to watch ALL THE TIME this baby - and possibly its sibling(s) - risks being killed by dogs, cats or snatched by crows, or even getting run over by cars if they crawl onto the street... and Alex cannot go set himself up on the neighbor's property :(

I'm trying on my side also to see if I can work something out for Alex & this baby.

Has the neighbor been asked if they would allow a nest box in the tree? Or is this one of those kind of neighbors that don't want to be bothered?

[Kristal]

In fact I do have some scrap wood in my back yard because the new landlord is having renovations done. I don't know if any is good enough to use, but I am going to look it over.

My instincts were definitely telling me that it is not a good idea to separate a healthy kit from his wild mom. And I am glad that all you experienced folks can confirm that for me. I respect your opinion.

I think that human care is a poor substitute, at best, since, at the least, it must make it hard for them to return to the wild... And they don't make practical pets because of all their special needs and the fact that they will probably only ever accept one person. What if their person has a kid? Gets married, etc? It's a burden to place on the little guys, so it should only be a last resort - but at that point it is one that I would take with few, if any, reservations.

I am completely broke until Monday, but then I have a place where I can get shelled walnuts for about 2.5 per pound (really cheap)... Wild mom is DEFINITELY going to snap those up. So there is her protein, fat and a bunch of vitamins... Now she needs calcium because I would actually put money down that she is stripping her own bones with all of the milk she has to make... considering their special calcium needs, that is. How about eggshells?... or I have a few antler bits that I can send over, too. It should be compact and transportable and something that a wild knows is food, I think.

Thoughts?

[Rescue04]

offer the baby back to mom. and putting out some healthy food for mom to eat. sounds like she may be hungry if the winter was as hard as you say it was. good luck with it.

[mugzeezma]

In fact I do have some scrap wood in my back yard because the new landlord is having renovations done. I don't know if any is good enough to use, but I am going to look it over.

My instincts were definitely telling me that it is not a good idea to separate a healthy kit from his wild mom. And I am glad that all you experienced folks can confirm that for me. I respect your opinion.

I think that human care is a poor substitute, at best, since, at the least, it must make it hard for them to return to the wild... And they don't make practical pets because of all their special needs and the fact that they will probably only ever accept one person. What if their person has a kid? Gets married, etc? It's a burden to place on the little guys, so it should only be a last resort - but at that point it is one that I would take with few, if any, reservations.

I am completely broke until Monday, but then I have a place where I can get shelled walnuts for about 2.5 per pound (really cheap)... Wild mom is DEFINITELY going to snap those up. So there is her protein, fat and a bunch of vitamins... Now she needs calcium because I would actually put money down that she is stripping her own bones with all of the milk she has to make... considering their special calcium needs, that is. How about eggshells?... or I have a few antler bits that I can send over, too. It should be compact and transportable and something that a wild knows is food, I think.

Thoughts?
chicken bones!
boiled beef bones
cuttlebone for birds
anything you can put peanut butter on.

Squirrels get more nutrients than realized from those buds and the cambium.
Now that the sap is flowing there are more sugars.

[spykitten01]

Has alex had a chance to speak with his neighbor about the situation yet?

[alex39]

I agree completely. The mom is ALIVE, and she's functioning, as she's shown that she WILL take babies back. Alex should do whatever he can to make it happen. :thumbsup
I did it twice. I really don't have time to keep doing it...

[alex39]

Has alex had a chance to speak with his neighbor about the situation yet?
The neighbor are cool but they don't know how to handle squirrels.

The way I see it putting babies back with mommy will probably only make a cycle of falling/giving back to mommy.

I am currently about to start working any day now.

I have already a 9 month old squirrel owning my living room.

I don't have time to check on those babies and feed the mom.

I am also broke I have hard time eating myself.

Building a nest box and hanging it would be hard and there is no guarantee that she wont just go put it in the same spot.

This all need to stop I don't know what I'm going to do but for now I will feed the little boy.

I'm thinking they need to cut the tree so they don't build their nest there anymore.

The babies have fallen at least 3 times that we know of. I am not going to let this cycle continue. Last year 2 of them fell and they died because of the trauma. I saved 1 by climbing in the tree. They were 5 weeks and those one are 2-3 weeks so as they grow older they will go out even more.

So basically my options is:

1 - Leave them there and if they don't get killed after dropping a couple of time (they fall directly on flat wooden stair or concrete) or getting bit by a crow (that hang near the nest) or snap by a dog or cats or even raccoon when we see them on the ground put em in the box ?

I think this is insane.

2 - Save them and ... ?

anywayz thanks for caring everyone

[spykitten01]

What about the suggestion of nailing a large box under the nest? A wooden box would be best of course, but you can probably get a waxed cardboard box from a grocery store/produce supply warehouse - or even a plastic container with some small holes drilled in the bottom (to let any moisture drain out) in a pinch? That along with some rodent block and some low-cost fruits/veggies nearby might just do the trick, or at least help? Just a thought (or two)

[alex39]

way too high...

[CritterMom]

I would make it a lot easier. Make some modified Boo Balls. Grind up some rodent block, mix with something wet (yogurt is good, or applesauce) and add some peanut butter or almond butter. Sprinkle in some powdered calcium - you can buy it by the bottle at better health food stores or grind your own. Roll and bake at 200 for 30-45 minutes.

I am adding some calcium powder to the peanut butter infused rodent blocks I do for my wilds because the mamas are all nursing.

[Kristal]

Of course it is awful to see squirrel kits fall, but I imagine it must happen a lot, even normally. At that tiny weight they can actually fall from a great height with relatively little risk of injury. Even animals like cats can fall from a few stories and still be ok. Smaller animals hit the ground with much less pressure and also have more air resistance going down than larger things do. That's not to say that it is wonderful and a good thing to happen, but it is less awful than we tend to think, and it must be common - given that squirrel kits are born blind and live in trees. The mom has also shown that she is a good carer because she gets them back relatively quickly.

On the other hand, coming into our care is risky for them. I know that you know from experience how easily they can die while in our care. I almost lost Nibbler myself. They are not built to drink from a plastic syringe. In fact it's dangerous for them because of their mighty sucking abilities. Also, we can never teach them to be squirrels and how to live in a world full of wild squirrels.

I am thinking that it may yet be necessary to intervene, but I would prefer not to do so before the best options for the squirrels are exhausted. I have a chicken that I can cook tonight. I can save the bones and bring them with some peanut butter + get a big bag of shelled nuts. The same store has hazelnuts for 4$ a pound, so I can get both. The wild mom will go mad for those. Eggshells would work well to get calcium into her, too.

That will give her the basics to make breast milk, and she can get the rest of her vitamins by picking at dandelion leaves and tree buds. I have a feeling that that is going to turn things around on it's own. A happy and well fed kit does nothing but sleep and digest and grow and then eat some more. That's because it is not safe for them to wander around in trees before they can see. If they are doing so, it is almost certainly because they are hungry.

Do you have somewhere to hang a box? I am going to look out there tonight and see what I can bang together. I am not a carpenter by any means, but I have a hammer and nails and a handsaw, at least. :)

[astra]

Of course it is awful to see squirrel kits fall, but I imagine it must happen a lot, even normally. At that tiny weight they can actually fall from a great height with relatively little risk of injury. Even animals like cats can fall from a few stories and still be ok. Smaller animals hit the ground with much less pressure and also have more air resistance going down than larger things do. That's not to say that it is wonderful and a good thing to happen, but it is less awful than we tend to think, and it must be common - given that squirrel kits are born blind and live in trees. The mom has also shown that she is a good carer because she gets them back relatively quickly.

On the other hand, coming into our care is risky for them. I know that you know from experience how easily they can die while in our care. I almost lost Nibbler myself. They are not built to drink from a plastic syringe. In fact it's dangerous for them because of their mighty sucking abilities. Also, we can never teach them to be squirrels and how to live in a world full of wild squirrels.

I am thinking that it may yet be necessary to intervene, but I would prefer not to do so before the best options for the squirrels are exhausted. I have a chicken that I can cook tonight. I can save the bones and bring them with some peanut butter + get a big bag of shelled nuts. The same store has hazelnuts for 4$ a pound, so I can get both. The wild mom will go mad for those. Eggshells would work well to get calcium into her, too.

That will give her the basics to make breast milk, and she can get the rest of her vitamins by picking at dandelion leaves and tree buds. I have a feeling that that is going to turn things around on it's own. A happy and well fed kit does nothing but sleep and digest and grow and then eat some more. That's because it is not safe for them to wander around in trees before they can see. If they are doing so, it is almost certainly because they are hungry.

Do you have somewhere to hang a box? I am going to look out there tonight and see what I can bang together. I am not a carpenter by any means, but I have a hammer and nails and a handsaw, at least. :)
thank you, Kristal. :thumbsup :thankyou I hope, you can "bang smth together" or whatever, because reunion is the best option for all of them (poor squirrel mother must be grieving losing her baby, too). I wish I were close by to help with food and I'd sit there watching the baby till his mother came all day today and Sunday...

[Kristal]

I guess I will give a quick update, though I don't have all the facts. Alex decided to return the baby in the morning and start leaving the mom some food. She came to pick up the baby within 10 minutes. Unfortunately, the crying baby on the balcony attracted a couple of crows. They were probably a mated pair, is my guess, since they seemed to be cooperating.

Mom took the baby off of the balcony and safely home. Alex got it on video and might put it up later. Later on (I think it was later) the crows came and took a baby. I don't know if they got it out of her house or what happened. The squirrel mom did what Alex described as a "superman death jump" onto the roof and got the baby from the crow. She returned the stolen baby to her home, but the other crow had taken advantage of the situation and stolen another baby. The mom tore off like crazy in pursuit of the second crow, but Alex is not sure if she was able to recover the second baby or not.

She's clearly a pretty great mom... But Alex was upset about the situation. It can be so awful to see these kinds of things :( I chatted with him online last night... He was sad, though, and did not want to talk about it anymore. :(

I asked the contractor guy to leave me some nice wood because he is cleaning up the scrap pile today. He said he would do so. Wild mama would be so much better off if she had a crow proof house. She is probably Daisy's mom, too, and Daisy and her brothers came with horribly infected wounds from being picked at by crows. It seems like this crow pair are a real blight on poor, wild mom :(.

Of course I have no idea how to hang a squirrel house securely... from the wind, too... Does anyone have pointers for me? What's the minimum height that I could hang it at for her to accept it?

[alex39]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-1HAVflyoI

[alex39]

reunion

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ICxds5m9xjM

nest box attempt

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KL_CkiAo3ak

[4skwerlz]

I read this thread with breath held.... I know, so horrible to watch Mother Nature, "red in fang and claw." I saw a crow take a baby dove from a nest; before I could run to the place, it was too late. The crow flew off, but it was too late.:shakehead

It's nature's way, but not in MY yard, okay? The birds work together to warn and fend off predators (this helps squirrels too). Everyone's seen mockingbirds and jays fight off a hawk, harrying it away from their nests. I'm on their team.

If you can REACH the nest (don't risk your own life), perhaps a piece of hardware cloth strategically placed around the nest... Squirrels can climb through and around an obstruction; mostly, a bird won't wiggle through a tight space. If you can't reach it, I don't know. Crows are "protected" by Federal law; most songbirds are, except for pigeons, starlings, and grackles....that I can think of.

Trying to think of a better idea.

[mugzeezma]

I read this thread with breath held.... I know, so horrible to watch Mother Nature, "red in fang and claw." I saw a crow take a baby dove from a nest; before I could run to the place, it was too late. The crow flew off, but it was too late.:shakehead

It's nature's way, but not in MY yard, okay? The birds work together to warn and fend off predators (this helps squirrels too). Everyone's seen mockingbirds and jays fight off a hawk, harrying it away from their nests. I'm on their team.

If you can REACH the nest (don't risk your own life), perhaps a piece of hardware cloth strategically placed around the nest... Squirrels can climb through and around an obstruction; mostly, a bird won't wiggle through a tight space. If you can't reach it, I don't know. Crows are "protected" by Federal law; most songbirds are, except for pigeons, starlings, and grackles....that I can think of.

Trying to think of a better idea.
I've see that exact scenario with doves vs crow
silly doves continued to build a nest in the EXACT SAME PLACE that entire season and never had a baby fledge.
Crows plucked them out everytime.

From what I read earlier the nest is very high up isn't it?

[crazysquirrels]

A super soaker on the crows. Or hose.

[alex39]

From what I read earlier the nest is very high up isn't it?
Yes above my duplex roof. Out of reach. In the video nest box I zoom on the neighbor tree near the nest so you can get an idea how high it is.

I got a cap gun coming on and im feeding her almond and peanut butter with eggshell on salad. Some HH blocks but im getting low on stock might order teklad because I don't have many financial resource.

I saw the crow came back and I scared them off while mother brang back one baby. Maybe they are all still alive. I'm thinking they just pull em out to the roof house but the mother have time to get em. The 2 crow try to team up together but it seem that I'm there at the right time to tag team with the squirrel mother. I scare the crow from the nest while she get the babies back. But I cant alwayz be there. So I hope by placing food near her tree she wont go far because she is the best protection for the baby.

[mugzeezma]

Yes above my duplex roof. Out of reach. In the video nest box I zoom on the neighbor tree near the nest so you can get an idea how high it is.

I got a cap gun coming on and im feeding her almond and peanut butter with eggshell on salad. Some HH blocks but im getting low on stock might order teklad because I don't have many financial resource.

I saw the crow came back and I scared them off while mother brang back one baby. Maybe they are all still alive. I'm thinking they just pull em out to the roof house but the mother have time to get em. The 2 crow try to team up together but it seem that I'm there at the right time to tag team with the squirrel mother. I scare the crow from the nest while she get the babies back. But I cant alwayz be there. So I hope by placing food near her tree she wont go far because she is the best protection for the baby.

Keeps you off the streets at least :tilt

[vdyhogan]

nest box make it a square, that is the easiest to do and put a hole on both sides of it one is for escape if needed! make it at least 12-15 inchs on all sides and bottom and the top make it larger so that it helps shelter the entry hole which should be about 2 and a half inchs / or you can even make it an reverse L shaped entry at the top but again make sure it has an escape hole as well on the other side, as well as a couple of air vent holes in the bottom so that any mosture will get out. place the box as high as possible, if the neighbor will not allow anything on there property have it installed on the side of a garage/garden shed/storage shed/etc; just get it high as possible, mentally squirrels need the height,

being in the box the babies cannot be grabbed/snatched up etc; this helps her so much and she is in need of human help, and with this the past problems will be eliminated hopefullly, but PLEASE do intervine and help that little mama, bless her heart she is trying so hard to help her babies, I do not think there falling out as much as the birds are knocking them out trying to get them!!

Place another smaller feed station that is easily reached by you or alex and place her foods on that even a peice of pvc tubing would be ideal as the birds cannot steal the food before she can eat! or as another had stated about the chicken wire around the area of her box/nest. squirrels are really extremely clean in the bed area with there babies, so putting food in with them is not good as well as it brings other predators into her nest to steal the food and will injure her and her babies so a separate place is ideal for the foods.

It is frustrating and exhausting to us humans to be in such a position but we all have been there with this problem and I have found this works pretty well, or helping protect her and her babies until there old enough to make it, but they need her guidance to teach them how and what to eat in the wild and we do not have that skill that she does that is why leaving with mom is always best whenever possible,

Please keep on doing what you can until the box is up and babies are safe, and then you will feel you have done what you can to help her and her babies, there are special places in heaven for people like you and alex so hang in there and help her!!!!mjs

[alex39]

Keeps you off the streets at least :tilt
I don't hang in the streets since a long time !

I will put the nest box on my roof since she often go there. She is eating some Fox Valley and peanut butter ball with eggshell crushed + shelled almond. She seems to be around. I scare the crow with a cap gun. Then I fired it after and I saw it in the distance hiding fly away. Maybe he will understand. In my other post about "how to scare a crow" someone mentioned putting a bird feeder to bring jays and mockingbird which don't tolerate crow it seems.

Also she seems to be pregnant again because she is thick and got some bumps on her side...!?! and I saw her go in another hole like 7 feet below.

Mom squirrel

[alex39]

This is the box Im going to use. Not sure if I should leave the "shelf".

Any suggestion ?

box is 12 inch heigh 14 inch long 12 inch wide
1 big open 6 1/2 x 11 inch
3 little open 7 1/2 x 3 1/2 inch