Rocki and four babes

[Skul]

Last night, C caught a coon trying to raid Rocki's nest.:nono
We knew she had at least one baby, and most likely more.
Coon got popped with a BB gun, several times.
It managed to somehow hide inside the nest.:frustratedx
That was the last straw.
C cut the darn tree down to recover/save the babes. :eek:

We now have Rocki, and four, one week old pinkies in the house.:Love_Icon

[CritterMom]

Of COURSE she did! I can totally see this. Did Crystal use a chain saw or her bare hands? I would not want to be a coon threatening one of C's babies!
:overkill :overkill :overkill

[astra]

Last night, C caught a coon trying to raid Rocki's nest.:nono
We knew she had at least one baby, and most likely more.
Coon got popped with a BB gun, several times.
It managed to somehow hide inside the nest.:frustratedx :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:
OMGoodness!!!! Coon hid inside the nest?!....

That was the last straw.
C cut the darn tree down to recover/save the babes. :eek:

We now have Rocki, and four, one week old pinkies in the house.:Love_Icon
How is Rocki taking all this?... Are the babies intact?...:grouphug

[Skul]

Heh, only half of the post showed up.

This all started about 1:00am.
C came and drug me out of bed to stand guard while she went potty.
I took the saws-all along.
There was very little movement inside the nest, and we figured the coon had left, when she came to get me.
I went back to bed, and C stayed to watch.
A little later she spotted the coons tail, and went after the tree with the saw.
It fell quite gently into some bushes, so there was no sudden stop.
She then had to drive the coon out before retrieving Rocki and the kids.

Rocki and babes are doing well.
She was out a short time ago, mooching food and running around the room.
She's now back inside the new nest, probably nursing.
We are trying not to disturb her as much as possible, thus, no photos at this time. :(

We don't think it best to keep her in the house for more that a few days.
If any of you have had a similar experience, we'd like to know how you handled it.

[Skul]

Three photos.

Rocki nursing her babies. (no flash)
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The cut down tree and nest.
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The nest.
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[pappy1264]

Wow.....no experience at all with this! Sending good thoughts and prayers. Poor Rocki girl....she must have been so scared and upset!!! Way to go, Crystal!!!

[Rescue04]

way to go!! nice save!!

[stosh2010]

Silly racoon...you messed with the Skuls...
You're lucky you still have yours...

[astra]

Silly racoon...you messed with the Skuls...
You're lucky you still have yours...
:D

[MiriamS]

Of COURSE she did! I can totally see this. Did Crystal use a chain saw or her bare hands? I would not want to be a coon threatening one of C's babies!
Exactly :bowdown Go Mrs Skul.

Skul, can you go take a thousand photos of the nest? Maybe even dissect it? I don't know about everyone else but I've always wondered what it was like in one of those.

I bet Rocki is loving the safety and air conditioning in her "new nest."

[gs1]

jackie has spice raise her babies in the house... (or at least spice insists and jackie gives in ....)

and kelly brady had paco do the same thing....

i think leave her in the house... because this will be the first time in ? 5 litters that the babies survive and hopefully live longer than poor little junior....:grouphug

maybe a squirrel size pet door in a window ...like jackie has... a piece of wood with a hole inside ....

i'm sure you'll figure out something....

i can't imagine how the racoon was in the nest and not eating the babies???

i could believe that crystal cut that tree with her bare hands....:grouphug

[Skul]

Rocki doing fine.
Still haven't seen the babies.

[MiriamS]

i think leave her in the house... because this will be the first time in ? 5 litters that the babies survive

maybe a squirrel size pet door in a window ...like jackie has... a piece of wood with a hole inside ....
BRILLIANT!

[Skul]

Rocki went outside for about four hours this afternoon
She had a great time.
Roll in the dirt, roll in the leaves, dig through both.
She went back to the old nest, and checked it quite closely.
It took a bit to get her back in the house.
Took the opportunity to finally check and photo the babes.
We have three little girls and one boy.

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[astra]

Rocki went outside for about four hours this afternoon
She had a great time.
Roll in the dirt, roll in the leaves, dig through both.
She went back to the old nest, and checked it quite closely.
It took a bit to get her back in the house.
Took the opportunity to finally check and photo the babes.
We have three little girls and one boy.


:grouphug :) :Love_Icon

[SammysMom]

OMG what a beautiful little family!!!tinfoil

[Nancy in New York]

Does Rocki know that you were looking at her babies....148057 148057 What a story! Crystal you are my hero!!!:bowdown :bowdown :Love_Icon

[astra]

I am just very curious: how was it that the coon hid in the nest, but didn't get to hurt the babies??... is there a way to see how the nest is constructed?... did it get ruined after the tree fell, or is there a way to see what's it like inside?:thinking

[RoadRunner]

Way to go Skulz:thumbsup

It's exciting to see Rocki having kids, I can't wait to see them in the pictures for years to come.

[MiriamS]

OMGOMGOMG :Love_Icon :Love_Icon :Love_Icon :Love_Icon

So that's what plump healthy pinkies are supposed to look like. They're beautiful. I love how they were buried in a box full of cotton. And I see Rocki standing watch over the babies. She's so tolerant and truly part of your family. Absolutely delightful. You must have felt like you were holding a slice of heaven.

Oh yes and like Astra requested, I was promised detailed photos of the nest. You'd be surprised but I've looked and there are no good professional photos out there of dreys!!! I'm dying to know how they're constructed to withstand the elements and predators especially one that's visiting for a half hour.

[lila01]

OMG I'm in love! Look at those sweet pinkie babies!!! I love the pic with mommy looking on to see what you are doing! lol They are so cute want to kiss their little heads and momma for letting yall help her!!:grouphug :bowdown

[Skul]

The original nest is pretty tightly woven in.
Going to try to free it from the tree this morning.
C said that when she went to get the babes after the tree came down,
there were two chambers inside.
The coon was in one, and had yet to dig the babes out of the other.

BTW, Rocki really didn't mind too much when we checked out the kids.
She kept a close eye on us, and wanted them back as soon as possible.

[stosh2010]

The original nest is pretty tightly woven in.
Going to try to free it from the tree this morning.
C said that when she went to get the babes after the tree came down,
there were two chambers inside.
The coon was in one, and had yet to dig the babes out of the other.
Cool...a Duplex Drey...
I love the photos...esp the one with Rocki watching from atop the box...

[Skul]

I did finally recover the nest.
A lot smaller than you would think.
Very small.
Crazy jumble of leaves and branches.
Rocki went outside for a few hours today.
Stayed close and guarded the backdoor.
She did a few runs into the woods, then ran home.
Back inside now, nursing the babes.

Opened and cleaned the box where she raised Junior.
Things I found were amazing.
Bits of paper, rag and a plastic bag.
Lots and lots of wood shavings.
It was surprisingly clean inside .
Just a few nut shells and no poop.

[astra]

I did finally recover the nest.
A lot smaller than you would think.
Very small. so, how could a coon hide in there? :thinking :thinking
those two chambers you mentioned before, are they on top of each other, or next two each other like rooms?...




Opened and cleaned the box where she raised Junior.
Things I found were amazing.
Bits of paper, rag and a plastic bag.
Lots and lots of wood shavings.
It was surprisingly clean inside .
Just a few nut shells and no poop.
clean little critters...
why poop in one's own nest, when it can be done anywhere outside?:)

[Skul]

so, how could a coon hide in there? :thinking :thinking
those two chambers you mentioned before, are they on top of each other, or next two each other like rooms?...

clean little critters...
why poop in one's own nest, when it can be done anywhere outside?:)
I wish I knew.
Remember, C had to dig it out, and the nest may very well been disturbed.
I have not been able to find any level indication, in it.

[MiriamS]

BTW, Rocki really didn't mind too much when we checked out the kids. She kept a close eye on us, and wanted them back as soon as possible.
It's because she loves you and trusts you, which is an absolutely phenomenal relationship to have with a virtually wild animal. Amazing.

[Skul]

It's because she loves you and trusts you, which is an absolutely phenomenal relationship to have with a virtually wild animal. Amazing.
Kinda neat, isn't it?
We're going to go back to her thread in the gray squirrel forum now.
The crisis (as such) is over.
Several folks have made suggestions, that we may very well follow theough with.
Big thanks to all that assisted us.:thumbsup

This was a hard one, folks.
Don't think for a minute that we didn't listen to you.