chipmunk injured

[9567dawn]

hi, a chilpmunk has been living in my basement, thought it got out, long story short, it got injured in an old mouse trap, i forgot i had behind the freezer. anyway it was running in circles last niight, so i got it in a towel and put it in a warm dark safe place. this morning he seems better both eyes are open, and hes still doind circles, but also moving around. i moved him to a hamster cage with some soft bedding an place to hide, a water bottle, and some small animal food(seeds,nuts,dried fruits). i dont want to let him outside now, since hes been planning to hiv=bernate inside, and its now getting quite cold here in canada. i called the wild life society this morning they never returned my call, are obviously not that concerned. i would love to be able to rehabilitate this chipmunk back to health, and release it in the spring(april). this little guy lived in the rocks in our backyard with three others all summer, and i am sure he will return there. any advice please

[SammysMom]

I don't know about chipmunks but I am sure someone will be along. What sort of an injury did he sustain?

[9567dawn]

a head injury, maybe a concusion, he still looks off balance, making those circles im sure he got wacked right on the head/nose, and managed to get free, but i read somewhere that running in circles means head trauma, no blood or anything like that but he is definatly got an injury

[9567dawn]

okay, so i heard him drinking and eating last night and now he is curled up sleeping in the little igloo thingy, i think thats good

[9567dawn]

:)

[SammysMom]

Seems like it is a good thing. Hopefully someone who knows a bit more about chipmunks will be along soon.:grouphug

[pappy1264]

Quiet, dark and warm. With food and water and a nest to snuggle into and bed down for the winter. The less stressed he is the better.

[9567dawn]

should i worry that he would have fleas,???, thats exactly what i want for him to do, and hi=opefully come spring he can return to the wild, thanks for the support posted on yahoo, and was basically verbally assulted for one having a mouse trap to begin with and two, for not taking him to a vet, and paying for some surgery, thanks for the support, and for not judging, this thread is great.

[pappy1264]

I am not sure if you can use revolution on him (maybe others will respond) that is what you would use for a squirrel (or bath with Dawn). How is he today?

[9567dawn]

he's good, eating drinking, and sleeping in his little hut most of the time, he was a wake through thr night, i refilled the food dish, and gave him a slice of pear, im saying he i think its a she, i will hold off on the bath for a bit, but what the best way to do that with out scaring the poop out of him, hold him and just make it quick with warm water???? i have faith he will be alright, its been amost 72 hours, and taking care of him for the winter is the least i can do, my kids named him rippy, so we are optimistic, thanks

[SammysMom]

Personally I don't think you need to worry about giving her a bath unless you see evidence of a flea problem. Way too stressful for a possibility of fleas.

[pappy1264]

I agree, unless you see evidence, I wouldn't. Glad to hear he is eating and such. He actually is quite lucky...safe, warm, and food delivery...doesn't get much better then that!!!

[9567dawn]

thanks, do you know how many people, were like put him out of his misery, let him go out side, i just dont understand how people can be soo cruel, obviously he is going to heal better in my care as upposed to in the street hurt. thxs all, and i will wait on that bath, i was just curious, as his cage is in my bedroom, and my dad was like for sure it has fleas, but here in canada its been cooler climate for a while, so probalyy not oh and i just checked he ate the pear slice already, YAY

[pappy1264]

Thank you for doing all you can to take care of him. Some people just don't get it. You won't find that here!

[9567dawn]

just an update, we got a warm weather spell here , about 5 days, 10 degrees celsius, i released my chippy and he had been in the rocks, where i know he spent all summer. i have been putting piles of fruit and nuts out there which he is hiding somewhere. in the next few days temperature will be getting cooler, i hope he will hibernate and be okay. i believe he may be blind on one side, and is moving a little slower then he did pre-injury, but everyday out there he is getting faster. in my backyard he is oretty safe from other animals, so i think everything will be okay, thanks for all you advice, i appreciate it
:) :thankyou