My squirrel died

[Teeter]

I raised a baby squirrel, Teeter, from the time he was 3-4 weeks old (his eyes were still closed) when my son found him in mid August on the ground in the backyard. His nest or mom were nowhere to be found.
I had done squirrel rehab a few times many years ago, and this time I researched info on the web to refresh my mind as to the proper care of this little guy. I fed him Esbilac puppy formula with whipping cream added for fat, until I started weaning him when I began by offering monkey chow and rodent block and deer antlers which I purchased online. Then I offered gradually spinach leaves, cranberries, broccoli, carrots, apples, and several other fruits and vegetables, until he was about 8 weeks old when I offered him almonds, hazelnuts, some sunflower seeds, walnuts.
I released him into a enclosed tree fort with a wooden nest box until he acclimated to the outdoor sounds and wild squirrels, etc. when I allowed him free access to go in and out of the tree fort and nest box which he used nightly. I continued to feed him at my door, and he mostly wanted walnuts in the shell, hazelnuts, (didn't want peanuts - which is good), occasionally cashews and sunflower seeds.

At dusk last night when I didn't see him return to his box, I went searching in the backyard and found him dead at the base of he tree. I was stunned.
He didn't appear to have been attacked by an animal and appeared to have no external injuries save for a small spot of blood on his fur. I buried him last night. This a.m. I went to the spot where I found him and discovered quite a bit of blood on the leaves and under the leaves, so it appears as if he had suffered trauma. Perhaps the blood was seeping from his rectum - ruptured spleen perhaps? I'm thinking maybe the bully squirrels on our property chased him and he lost his footing and fell and died from his injuries?
I should mention that he had injured his back foot and had a slight limp, but could still climb trees, etc.

I am at a loss right now and can't stop crying for him. Just yesterday afternoon he was climbing up my leg searching for walnuts. Yesterday he climbed up to the second story window and chewed a hole in the screen to get inside looking for food. He was so hyperactive all the time. Appeared very healthy.
Any thoughts would be very helpful.

Thank you

[sid'smommy]

sounds like you did your part correctly, but mother nature took over. Sorry about your loss :grouphug

[Nemehoto]

I am very sorry for your loss. I dread releasing my two this spring for this very reason. Outside can be dangerous and joyous. I am not a squirrel expert by any means, I raised my first two this fall.

If there is a fair amount of blood it is likely it was from an animal attack (puncture wounds can be hard to see) quite often a cat, dog or other animal will grab and shake them. This can cause massive internal injuries and bleeding. A fall from height and landing wrong can be fatal as well for the same reason, internal bleeding. If he fell a head trauma can cause seizures that will exacerbate the internal injuries. Without an necropsy (autopsy) it would be hard to determine the cause of death.

I am very sorry for your loss. It's so easy to fall in love with them. I know I did.

[stosh2010]

I am so sorry for your loss. TSB is the best place to find info and compassion. So many great threads from Squirrel lovers all over the globe... Vietnam, India, Thailand, Japan, England,Costa Rica (me), and more.
In the wild our fuzz-heads are subjected to numerous threats, and we can not protect them. BUT, outside & free is where they belong.
Thank you for caring for Teeter all these months.
Could you post a photo??? of Teeter ? E-mail to me and I will post it HERE !
stosh@jpcfl.com

[djarenspace9]

I'm so sorry for your loss.
Life can be so fragile sometimes.
Thanks to you he had the chance to grow up and go free.

:grouphug

[virginia_arce2280]

I am so sorry for your loss. I have lost a couple and it's heartwrentching especially if you feel that something you did may have caused it.
I am not a liscensed rehabber, nor am an expert, but I read a lot of the threads on here and I know that the rehabbers are warning against esbilac that since the manufacturers changed their formula a couple of years ago, that it's been causing health problems in squirrels, even death. I may be wrong, but I believe intestinal bleeding was even brought up, (someone correct me if I'm wrong)

The rehabbers are now advising to use fox valley formula.
Also, how long did he receive formula? I was told to let the squirrel wean himself and that he should have it for at least 12 weeks.

Again, I am sorry. It's so horrible to lose an animal friend you've been caring for.
I lost a no release about 2 months ago who had head trauma, (from when we found him dragging himself in the road) and I still really miss him, so I know how you feel.
:grouphug

[pappy1264]

I am so very sorry for your loss. It is the hardest part of rehabbing, knowing the risks out in the wild our babies face. From your description, I also believe it was an animal attack, esp. being at the base of the tree. Cats can very easily kill a squirrel, esp. a younger one. I have lost this way. Thank you for helping him and loving him and also giving him dignity in the end by burying him. RIP little one, sleep softly in the arms of the angels.

[HappyLittleSquirrely]

Sounds like a Dog attack.I'm so sorry. Breaks my heart.

[Teeter]

Thank you everyone for your heartfelt words of sympathy. It's making me sob even more, but it's all in the grieving process.
I can't bear to clean out the tree fort with his fuzzy fleece blanket and his stuffed toys he played with. Too heartbreaking. He loved to be scratched behind his ears and he would lift one arm up and back so I could scratch his little armpit. He would roll in my lap like a little kitten.
I will miss terribly his little face peering in my kitchen window waiting for treats. I am totally devastated right now. I worried every day that something would happen to him, but I never thought this soon. Ugh. It hurts.

I'm grateful to have found this forum where we have a common love for squirrels. My husband and kids understand, but my friends I know would not.

I hope that a squirrel will use his nest box to raise baby squirrels in the springtime, or maybe for a warm refuge on the coldest of days. Teeter would approve.

I'll post a picture via Stosh.

Thank you again.

p.s. to answer a post, he loved his formula until he was about 12-13 weeks old when he began to refuse it.

[patjones]

This is the only place you will find where people really appreciate the loss you have suffered We cry with you just because we understand how it feels. Living wild I am sure it was not something you did sounds like an attack. So sorry you lost yours.

[MJS]

:grouphug RIP Teeter

[Teeter]

My backyard is totally fenced in so a dog could not get in. Rarely do I see a cat running loose in the neighbourhood, but it is a possibility.
My own dog always wears a muzzle because she chases squirrels, but I let her out late afternoon after Teeter was already missing. I watched her go out, do her duties and come back in.

There are red tailed hawks that do come around our property. There is a ravine and lot of tall trees in the ravine and in our property. Is it possible that a hawk grabbed Teeter and then in the struggle dropped him and flew off?

He was about 5-6 months old and not quite as big as a full adult.

[quagmire]

So sorry for your loss. :grouphug

[stosh2010]

I will post other photos later today---
Say Farewell to Teeter

[Chickenlegs]

I'm so sorry Teeter isn't with you in this world anymore. Sad he didn't live many long years scamming nuts from "the big squirrel" but because you were selfless enough to give him his freedom he lived fully, rocketing through the trees, pancaking on a favored branch feeling the warm sun on his back, or coming home to his mama for a treat. That little spirit will always ride on your shoulder opening your eyes to nature at her best. We love them. They accept us as family and that's about as good as it gets. Sweet sleep Teeter. :Love_Icon

[stosh2010]

Adios my little friend.....your family will miss you--ALWAYS

[virginia_arce2280]

Yes, it does sound like an attack of some kind.
You know, I just recently posted about some of my releases this year and how sad we get when they are gone and don't come back and you just never know what happens to them. I had 3 females just go and haven't come back in 2 months, and one we had for a whole year and was our very first rehab, and we were all attached.
I tell my children, "We gave them the best we could and gave them 8, 10, or 12 months (depending on who it was and how long they lived) of extra life they would not have had. And it gave us an experience of a lifetime since we homeschool". And that has comforted them and helps me to feel better too.
Please know that we here do understand and feel your pain and cry with you. Most of us have friends and family that think we're crazy for what we do, but as a bible believing Christian, God told Adam he (the human race) was to have dominion over the fish of the sea and the fowls of the air. In other words, we are responsible for taking care of His creation. So it's an honor to care for these beautiful animals.
:Love_Icon :grouphug

[LindaR]

I am so very sorry for your loss :( I just lost my Hammie on Monday morning...I can empathy with what you are going through..many prayers & hugs :grouphug :grouphug :Love_Icon

[Teeter]

Thank you so much Stosh for adding pictures of Teeter on this forum.

All of you on this forum are incredibly warm and compassionate people and your support has made me feel so much better about the loss of my baby boy.

[Garden71]

RIP Teeter:sad

Sorry for your loss...:grouphug