Did I do the completely wrong thing?

[ZackTheMan]

My little sister recently found a young squirrel on the road, it was not moving much but she decided to take it home for me to look after it.
I got a box, but some paper towels down and tried to get him comfy and warm.
I put some nuts close to him and I think he took them (not sure as was not there at point) as I heard lots of noises and he had moved around in the box.
Now came to getting the squirrel to drink. I got milk and he was so lifeless and fragile we just tried putting it around his nose. He seemed to take it but it was very hard to tell, he opened his mouth a lot so he must have drank some. He was very very very lifeless although had his eyes open a lot and occasionally opened his mouth and made noises and would lift his right leg up occasionally. Only about 20 minutes though, he died, which is obviously very sad as I tried really hard to keep him alive. Also it was easter sunday so nothing was open.
What did I do wrong? I am just interested as I live in the heart of a wood and see quite a lot of squirrels but can never take them in as I only see the on dog walks and I am only 21.
Thanks :thankyou

[ZackTheMan]

There was also this very mushy brown stuff dotted around the box. It was not poop (sorry to use the word), The squirrel would not move much and then suddenly this brown stuff would be in front of it, I was very worried about what it could be :(

[gs1]

:grouphug not sure what happened... but it had so many problems before you even started with it....

most squirrels won't need you to take them in ... if they're too young ...usually they have mothers....

welcome....

have a look around.... there's so much information here....

maybe if when you know a little bit more you could volunteer with some wildlife groups in your area... i know that greys aren't always welcome in england but i think that there are some wildlife areas that help them considering there's no chance of them leaving after almost 100 years of being in england.

[ZackTheMan]

Well, thank-you for trying to help the little guy! You have come to the right place for information.
The very first thing is to get the baby warmed up. When they are babies they don't regulate their boy temp to well so they need an outside heat source. It is recommended that you use a heating pad that doesn't have an automatic shut-off feature. You want to put the baby in a plastic container with old tee shirts flannel or fleece. NO towels or other loopy material. They get their nails caught too easily on the loops. You want to put the heating pad under half of the container so that the baby can get off of the heat if they are too warm.
The best thing to do now is try to find a local rehabber that can take the baby Especially if there is only one baby, the rehabber may have others to raise them with.
If you go to the thread below there is lots of helpful information.
http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?t=24133

:thankyou

[ZackTheMan]

:grouphug not sure what happened... but it had so many problems before you even started with it....

most squirrels won't need you to take them in ... if they're too young ...usually they have mothers....

welcome....

have a look around.... there's so much information here....

maybe if when you know a little bit more you could volunteer with some wildlife groups in your area... i know that greys aren't always welcome in england but i think that there are some wildlife areas that help them considering there's no chance of them leaving after almost 100 years of being in england.

:thankyou

[ZackTheMan]

Oh, turn out the whole thing was my fault :( I'm annoyed now.

I just used ordinary skimmed milk instead of goats milk, ohh i feel so bad for the poor little guy! :(

I looked it up on yahoo answers and all the threads just said 'milk', they did not say not to use anything :( :shakehead

[gs1]

no you didn't do the wrong thing at all because i'm sure he was close to dying anyway .....

first of all .... how old was he furred/non furred? eyes open?

secondly i'd say he was either hit by a car/injured in some way ....

first thing is get him warmed up really slowly ....

then hydration ... then a squirrel formula....

you didn't have a chance to do anything ...he died too quickly....

but ofcourse learn about how to treat them before you ever try to help another and learn where the wild life centers in your area is and ask what they do with them ... (making sure they help them and not put them to sleep)

once you've had one squirrel find you there'll be others, be prepared.:grouphug

ps: you'd need a heating pad, set on low, underneath only half the box .... that's heating him up .... i really hope you'll read many of our threads and learn .... it's the best time ...before you need it.....

[ZackTheMan]

Sorry about what I did guys, didn't reilize at all, may aswell go now then, bye

[ZackTheMan]

no you didn't do the wrong thing at all because i'm sure he was close to dying anyway .....

first of all .... how old was he furred/non furred? eyes open?

secondly i'd say he was either hit by a car/injured in some way ....

first thing is get him warmed up really slowly ....

then hydration ... then a squirrel formula....

you didn't have a chance to do anything ...he died too quickly....

but ofcourse learn about how to treat them before you ever try to help another and learn where the wild life centers in your area is and ask what they do with them ... (making sure they help them and not put them to sleep)

once you've had one squirrel find you there'll be others, be prepared.:grouphug

He was furred and had quite a small tail and his eyed were sometimes open and sometimes closed

[HRT4SQRLS]

:Welcome ZackTheMan ,
Is it possible that the young squirrel was hit by a car. It sounds as though it had injuries. The brown stuff could only be poop or old blood. Do you think he threw up blood? Was he near a house? If he ate rat poison, that would cause internal bleeding. I think only living 20 minutes indicates that he had serious injuries and your compassionate efforts to save him probably could not have saved him.

Thanks for trying!

[HRT4SQRLS]

:nono Zack,
Skimmed milk would NOT have killed him that fast! It is NOT your fault!

[ZackTheMan]

:Welcome ZakeTheMan ,
Is it possible that the young squirrel was hit by a car. It sounds as though it had injuries. The brown stuff could only be poop or old blood. Do you think he threw up blood? Was he near a house? If he ate rat poison, that would cause internal bleeding. I think only living 20 minutes indicates that he had serious injuries and your compassionate efforts to save him probably could not have saved him.

Thanks for trying!

It was near my granddads care home, and he might have had injuries as I do not think he could stand up properly. I am still curios about what the brown stuff was, I am guessing maybe vomit.

[ZackTheMan]

:nono Zack,
Skimmed milk would NOT have killed him that fast! It is NOT your fault!

Oh Okay

[SammysMom]

Oh no! You did nothing wrong! You tried to help him and that can never be wrong. He obviously had something terribly wrong and you kept him warm and comfortable rather than alone, cold and frightened or being caught by a predator.
Read up here and if there is ever a "next time", you will be ready to help!:grouphug

[ZackTheMan]

Oh no! You did nothing wrong! You tried to help him and that can never be wrong. He obviously had something terribly wrong and you kept him warm and comfortable rather than alone, cold and frightened or being caught by a predator.
Read up here and if there is ever a "next time", you will be ready to help!:grouphug

I guess so, thanks again :)

[ZackTheMan]

:Welcome ZackTheMan ,
Is it possible that the young squirrel was hit by a car. It sounds as though it had injuries. The brown stuff could only be poop or old blood. Do you think he threw up blood? Was he near a house? If he ate rat poison, that would cause internal bleeding. I think only living 20 minutes indicates that he had serious injuries and your compassionate efforts to save him probably could not have saved him.

Thanks for trying!

Thanks for helping :)

[ZackTheMan]

no you didn't do the wrong thing at all because i'm sure he was close to dying anyway .....

first of all .... how old was he furred/non furred? eyes open?

secondly i'd say he was either hit by a car/injured in some way ....

first thing is get him warmed up really slowly ....

then hydration ... then a squirrel formula....

you didn't have a chance to do anything ...he died too quickly....

but ofcourse learn about how to treat them before you ever try to help another and learn where the wild life centers in your area is and ask what they do with them ... (making sure they help them and not put them to sleep)

once you've had one squirrel find you there'll be others, be prepared.:grouphug

ps: you'd need a heating pad, set on low, underneath only half the box .... that's heating him up .... i really hope you'll read many of our threads and learn .... it's the best time ...before you need it.....

thanks for the help :)