Robynn
12-02-2011, 01:17 PM
Hi,
I'm new here and I was wondering what to do about a squirrel injured post release.
I found 2 3 week old squirrels in September, rehydrated them, fed them, transitioned them to a pre-release outside cage, and then finally released them 2 weeks ago. The little girl has always appeared larger, healthier, and wilder than the little boy. She comes and goes every few days and seems to interact a little with the other squirrels on the property. The little boy, who was always a little smaller and seems to have less wild instincts, has stayed close to home over the last 2 weeks. He has a swollen front leg (for the last 2days) and I'm not sure what to do for him.
I am thinking that if it is broken I should take him to the vet, but I am not sure how to tell. It also concerns me that he does not want to stay entirely off of it. Maybe that means he is not badly injured, but I'm not sure if he would stay off of it if he was. He's a squirrel, so he can only stay so still! For the time being he appears stable, his leg looks swollen and he keeps it tucked up towards his body, but he still uses it to climb around. There is no visible wound and he doesn't seem lethargic. I am wondering if I should intervene at all, unless things suddnely get worse.
Should he get worse, I do not want to bring him back in the house and encourage bad habits, but that all depends on what is absolutely necessary. I have tried to keep the squirrels from becoming too used to people. I am just curious what I should intervene for, and in what way, in order to keep him healthy without interfering any more than is necessary with the transition.
Thanks!
I'm new here and I was wondering what to do about a squirrel injured post release.
I found 2 3 week old squirrels in September, rehydrated them, fed them, transitioned them to a pre-release outside cage, and then finally released them 2 weeks ago. The little girl has always appeared larger, healthier, and wilder than the little boy. She comes and goes every few days and seems to interact a little with the other squirrels on the property. The little boy, who was always a little smaller and seems to have less wild instincts, has stayed close to home over the last 2 weeks. He has a swollen front leg (for the last 2days) and I'm not sure what to do for him.
I am thinking that if it is broken I should take him to the vet, but I am not sure how to tell. It also concerns me that he does not want to stay entirely off of it. Maybe that means he is not badly injured, but I'm not sure if he would stay off of it if he was. He's a squirrel, so he can only stay so still! For the time being he appears stable, his leg looks swollen and he keeps it tucked up towards his body, but he still uses it to climb around. There is no visible wound and he doesn't seem lethargic. I am wondering if I should intervene at all, unless things suddnely get worse.
Should he get worse, I do not want to bring him back in the house and encourage bad habits, but that all depends on what is absolutely necessary. I have tried to keep the squirrels from becoming too used to people. I am just curious what I should intervene for, and in what way, in order to keep him healthy without interfering any more than is necessary with the transition.
Thanks!