Jersey City, NJ injured leg

[rpvitiello]

Found a young squirrel with its hind leg stuck between 2 pickets in the back yard. When i got it free it was having lots of trouble with the leg.

It has what appears to be a sibling that wont leave its side.

I contacted the local animal control and they said they don't know of any local rehabilitates, so i am trying to find one. The city only has $200 budget per animal, so if they need any treatment it will just be put down instead.

In Jersey City, NJ need a good place to bring them both!

[astra]

Welcome and thank you for caring.

sorry, was unclear: do I understand that you have them both right now?

there are some NY/NJ people here, so please keep checking often - help might be available.

In the meantime:

1. could you describe the injury in more detail? can he move the leg? is it broken? what does it look like? pics?

2. if you have a cage, put them in a dark, warm, quite place that has no children, no TVs, nothing

sorry, can't think of anything else at the moment and have to leave, but someone will be here with more suggestions - please keep checking often

[rpvitiello]

They are in a big filing cardboard box right now, with some water.

Yea I have both, The one squirrel would not leave the injured one even when i was picking him up, and wanted to be by the side of the other so i put them together. They are not BABY baby squirrels but they are not full grown. Ihe leg is intact, no puncture wounds to it, but if you touch the leg, it starts screaming. It is trying to keep all weight off of it and it is a little floppy. It does not seem to really want to move around much at all, and the other one is trying to confort it and gets difensive when you get near it.

I can not get a good picture of the leg, because the 2 keep huddling together.
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-43vokhStL5g/UFI7Wlj-08I/AAAAAAAAE6Y/llS1eUKRsM8/s729/2012-09-13_15-45-30_982.jpg

[astra]

They are in a big filing cardboard box right now, with some water.

Yea I have both, The one squirrel would not leave the injured one even when i was picking him up, and wanted to be by the side of the other so i put them together. They are not BABY baby squirrels but they are not full grown. Ihe leg is intact, no puncture wounds to it, but if you touch the leg, it starts screaming. It is trying to keep all weight off of it and it is a little floppy. It does not seem to really want to move around much at all, and the other one is trying to confort it and gets difensive when you get near it.

I can not get a good picture of the leg, because the 2 keep huddling together.

actually, they are babies, just not really small babies, but they are still babies.
Thank you so much for caring!!!!!!!
Give them some old t-shirts to snuggle and hide (just not towels - nothing loopy for the nails to get caught)

[astra]

would you happen to have a heating pad?
if so, set it on low and put it under half of the box

trying to find NJ help for you

In the meantime,
keep them warm, dark and quiet

It will do for now

But please keep checking often, b/c if they end up staying with you for a bit longer, while help is being located, they might need a bit more things from you

again, THANK YOU!:grouphug

[rpvitiello]

I do not have a heating pad unfortunately, but it is 23°C right now inside, and the 2 are huddling together. I am not sure if i should give them something to eat, and also will their parents be looking for them? I would release the un-injured one, but it seems to want to stay by the hurt one no matter what.

[Milo's Mom]

We are looking for some help close to you.

I would keep them together.

Warm, Dark, Quiet is what they need right now. No kids, cars, TV's, dogs, quiet. They are very scared.

Heat will make them feel better. Take a tube sock, put 1 cup of rice in it, tie the top of the sock closed, microwave it for 30-45 seconds, mush it around to make sure there are no hot spots, then place it in the box with them. They will snuggle up to it.

Squirrels are a lot warmer than one would think, so the temp outside is actually a little cool.

[rpvitiello]

yea no kids or dogs in this household, they are in as quiet of a room as there is available (not exactly out in the country here we are just outside Manhattan along a main road, but its no more noise than they should be used to anyway)

What do they normally eat at this size/ age?

They also seem to be getting more restless as time goes on, not less...

[Milo's Mom]

Make a rice buddy for them and give them something to burrow down into like a piece of fleece or blanket or t-shirt/sweatshirt.

You may give them a SHALLOW dish of water, so they have something to drink. Put a few clean rocks or marbles in it to make it heavier so they cannot flip it over and also so they do not inhale the water.

[Milo's Mom]

I've also contacted a TSB member on FB to see if she knows of anyone close to you.

Are you willing to meet someone somewhere with the babies if they cannot drive the entire way? Not saying this is a must, I am just researching all avenues.

[astra]

still looking for help

Will you be able to bring them to a rehabber in Morganville, NJ tomorrow?

There is a great rehabber there, but she won't be available till tomorrow and she can't come to get them.
So, if there is a way you could bring them to her tomorrow, that would be great.

And please do keep checking often here!!!!!:grouphug

[rpvitiello]

Yea I don't mind giving them a ride. That is the reason i kept them from animal control to start with.

I messaged the rehab centre in HUNTERDON and left a message, but have not heard back. TRACY LEAVER (908) 730-8300

[Milo's Mom]

I just sent a message to another one of our members that is in NYC...by the map it looks like they are 17 mins away

we are still trying...bear with us

[pappy1264]

Was going to say is anyone in NY close enough. They are young, and would not normally be out of the nest, so something must have happened to mom. they both need help, cannot be released as they will not survive.

[rpvitiello]

Depends on where in NY they are, If they are on long island that means going through NYC and a few hour drive. It would be best if someone west of the hudson river can take them so I don't have to deal with a bridge crossing/ through manhattan, which is gonna add like an hour to the ride (depending on time of day) not to mention scare the hell out of them if they don't like noise! If that is the only people available though, it's the only people available.

What is the "ideal" ambient temperature for them btw?

So the mother squirrel is MIA?

I wonder if they got spooked by a carnival a few blocks away and left the nest.

Would they be eating normal food yet?

The main predator in this neighborhood is gonna be dogs or cats, not much in the way of wiled predators...

[shellyb1018]

Im in South Jersey, other side of the state. I did call a rehabber in my area for some kind of reference in your area...waiting on a response.
Hoping for the best here.

[Milo's Mom]

Depends on where in NY they are, If they are on long island that means going through NYC and a few hour drive. It would be best if someone west of the hudson river can take them so I don't have to deal with a bridge crossing/ through manhattan, which is gonna add like an hour to the ride (depending on time of day) not to mention scare the hell out of them if they don't like noise! If that is the only people available though, it's the only people available.

What is the "ideal" ambient temperature for them btw?

So the mother squirrel is MIA?

I wonder if they got spooked by a carnival a few blocks away and left the nest.

Would they be eating normal food yet?

The main predator in this neighborhood is gonna be dogs or cats, not much in the way of wiled predators...

temp...maybe 90ish

yes it looks like Mom is MIA, they are sorta young to be out of the nest

they might be starting on some solids, but they are still nursing from Mom

they might like an apple chunk...soft, juicy, sweet

have you given them a rice buddy and water yet?

[CritterMom]

How do you feel about feeding them, since it maybe tomorrow until something can be done? You would need goats milk, and some vanilla yogurt, and a small syringe, 1 or 3cc. If you go to a pharmacy and tell them you are feeding an abandoned kitten and need a 1 or 3cc syringe they will usually give it to you. If you can get these things we can tell you how to first hydrate and then get some food into their poor little bellies.

[rpvitiello]

ok the animal center i contacted just got back to me, and they want me to take them in tonight, gonna do that now then.

thanks everyone!

[astra]

Yea I don't mind giving them a ride. That is the reason i kept them from animal control to start with.

I messaged the rehab centre in HUNTERDON and left a message, but have not heard back. TRACY LEAVER (908) 730-8300
oh, that's great that you can drive them!
Because this rehabber in Morganville is wonderful and willing to take them!

I would be very careful as to whom they will go...
ALL wildlife centers WILL euthanize if the little one is deemed non-releasable in the future (if they assume that his leg won't recover fully) and/or if they are too shorthanded to provide the individualized care his injury might need

Rehabbers are to do the same by law... some try to find a way around it... some don't...

so, it's important to be really careful as to whom they should go...
no easy..

[rpvitiello]

HUNTERDON TRACY LEAVER (908) 730-8300

that is where I am gonna take them, they seem concerned and wanted them to come right away instead of waiting till tomorrow.

Unless someone has a reason not to, Im going to go right now. its gonna take me an hour in traffic to get there!

[Milo's Mom]

I have never heard of them or her before, so I cannot comment.

Did you happen to ask what the treatment may be...my fear is that they may euthanize them right away....a lot of places do.

[astra]

Unless someone has a reason not to,
for me the reason would be that I know nothing about her or this place.
I know no one who would know something about her or this place.

BUT from personal experiences:
I DO know that, as I wrote before, most rehabbers and centers easily euthanize injured animals, especially, babies.
I also know that they can tell you that they will do (or have done) what was "best for the animal" which includes euthanasia.
I also know that they are not obligated to explain their decisions to the finder

I do not see why this cannot wait till tomorrow

Of course, it might not be possible to know ALL rehabbers,
and when there are no other options - yes
BUT...
if there is a choice between going to someone whom I know and to someone whom I do not know about at all, I'd rather wait a day and go with the one I know...

[daniellenc]

Wildlife centers are the biggest crock of poop I have ever encountered. I was flat out told with our 5 because of their age and condition at the time they would do the humane thing and euthanize them:soapbox When I asked why other than being malnourished and dehydrated, covered in larva, and weak they were otherwise ok she said and I quote "We do not employ overnight staff and without round the clock care because of their dehydration they would slowly die there which would be inhumane". So they would just kill all 5 fast:shakehead I did call a week latter to let her know the 5 babies who couldn't possibly make it through the night had nearly doubled in weight and were doing fine:D

The one with the gimpy leg will be put down immediately, but I hope the healthy one makes it out of there alive:(

[Garden71]

Sorry I just signed on...:dono

I could go to Manhattan and pick them up.

[rpvitiello]

Well I brought them in, the woman said she would rather I bring them in right away to be treated instead of waiting over night, She said the evening staff was there so it would not be a problem to bring them in this late.

When I got there, they took down my info, and gave me the case information to call them tomorrow to check on the injured one. Their was still several people on duty even at this time, I think there was like 20 cars in the parking lot at 9pm) They said they wait to see if it can recover and it would be at least a few weeks before they could be released. They prefer to release them back where they came from, so they would let me know when I can bring them back "home." They consider it "releasable" as long as it has enough mobility to clime, even if the leg does not fully heal.

They said they were borderline between being nest age, and being old enough to get out on their own.

I did not want the injured one to be stuck here over night without some care, so felt it was better to bring it in sooner rather than later.)

Will let everyone know how they are doing tomorrow when I call the centre.

I was just really nervous about keeping them in the house just in case they ever got out. The uninjured one was trying to dig his way out of the box they were in. The apartment was bated by exterminators so I was worried they might eat the poison if they ever got lose.

[Garden71]

Thank you for the update.:thumbsup
Keep us updated on the little ones as soon as you get more info:poke

[rpvitiello]

Well since I said I would get back to everyone, they messaged me the other day saying both squirrels were still alive and doing well so far. In a few weeks will know how it turns out for them. They have my number so when they are ready to be released I can go an pick them up and bring them back to their "home."

[Garden71]

:thankyou

Great news.:thumbsup

[astra]

Well since I said I would get back to everyone, they messaged me the other day saying both squirrels were still alive and doing well so far. In a few weeks will know how it turns out for them. They have my number so when they are ready to be released I can go an pick them up and bring them back to their "home."
a few things do not sound right...
they were about 8-9wks or so, so in a few weeks they will be what, about 12wks?
THat's too early to release.
Yes, some rehabbers release at that age, and most wildlife centers do, primarily because they cannot afford overwintering.
But for squirrels in NY to be released at an early age of about 12 weeks in later October is not right.
Fall babies spend their winters with their mother and siblings.
They have no mother to support them through the winter.
They will not have time to make food storage for the winter and build good nests, and establish their territory.

Another question: what do they mean you can bring them "home"?
Are they saying you can just take them and let them go where you found them?
That's called "hard release." and that's wrong. No matter what age.

Perhaps, there are details that I am no aware of. but...
for now, from what you've posted it looks like
two orphaned babies of about 12wks of age or so
will be released in late October in NY
without a regular release process- they will be just let go?

This is not right.