Cannot find my baby palm squirrel at home

[chickoo]

my husband came home today to feed him in the afternoon, and he was not in his room..........

unfortunately the door to his room doesnt shut properly, and it looks like the wind may have blown it slightly open...........

the worst part is, today of all days, chickoo's door apparently didnt latch properly this morning, and hubby found it very slightly open - enough for chickoo to come out.........is it possible for chickoo to have harmed the little one?

i had kept some melon seeds to dry in the sun in my bedroom, and someone has eaten them...........i dont know if it was chickoo or it could have been the little one............

he has not made any noises since i came home, and i have checked all rooms thoroughly.............

he has been trying to get out since yesterday (will post a video of this)

he seems to be a juvenile, but cannot run, jump or climb as efficiently as an adult...........(will post a video of this too)

we have both searched high and low for him, but cannot find him..........

im at my wit's end........please help

[Charley Chuckles]

I am so sorry...may he is frightened, put some food out maybe he will come to it ....sending some serious prayers your way to find him soon and safe :grouphug let us know :grouphug

[chickoo]

is it possible for chickoo to have attacked him?

im so worried he is injured and i have no way of finding him before sundown.......

[stosh2010]

Don't worry about Chickoo possibly attacking him...you're not sure and it is needless anxiety.
>> Start looking for small openings along the floor ( cabinets, pipes in wall, etc.) and realize that even a small hole can allow a smalll squirrel to enter and hide.
Be very still and listen for the slightest movement...If it is noisy during the day---do this in the quiet of the evening--and get a flashlight to peek into dark crevices...

PRAYERS from Costa Rica--for a sighting & capture.


REVIEW (LINK BELOW )these photos and suggetsions to protect from future "lost" fuzz-heads:

http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?t=33486&highlight=kitchen+nightmares

[CritterMom]

I would be "acting" sick and heading home to look... He is there somewhere. You need to "grid search" starting in his room. Bookcases have spaces underneath...beds can be hidden under - and even INSIDE the bedding material...books that have been pulled out a bit can be hidden behind. Be very careful with furniture - you do not want to accidently crush him moving things. Pick up and look behind and under everything in the room, then go on to any others he had access to. Do that first - then you need to address cabinets and things built in. Many have spaces underneath hidden by pieces in the front, but providing a hiding place. You haven't looked everywhere yet but you need to - trust me, I have had to do this with my mouse...

Look in clothing inside drawers and closets. That means checking all the sleeves. It is a lengthy process but you need to find this baby before...well, you know...

[island rehabber]

Since they are diurnal like our tree squirrels, they will get most hungry and active again around sundown. That's when I would put a nice spread out in one or two places in the room and see if he comes out for supper.....
I'm so sorry, Sowmya -- I can imagine how anxious you must feel right now, as last year I had three indoor 'escapees' myself :shakehead.

[chickoo]

hubby and i have turned the house upside down searching for the last 4 hours............we are exhausted and there is no sign of the little one :(

how long can he survive without food?

what kind of things do i leave out for him at night?

why wont he call out? he called out yesterday evening when he was hungry........

im worried that he is trapped somewhere and has no way of letting us know.........

[SammysMom]

Think weird places too. As an adult gray squirrel (so big in comparison) Sammy was missing for a couple of hours and when I finally fund him he was almost in plain site. I have a quilted cover on my electric mixer and he was curled up in the pocket that holds the attachments. I had walked past it 100 times looking for him and never saw him! He may be somewhere right in front of you. A coat pocket or in a pile of folded clothing etc.
I am saying a prayer for his safe return. I know ho scary it is and I don't envy you at all!:grouphug :grouphug :grouphug

[chickoo]

Since they are diurnal like our tree squirrels, they will get most hungry and active again around sundown. That's when I would put a nice spread out in one or two places in the room and see if he comes out for supper.....
I'm so sorry, Sowmya -- I can imagine how anxious you must feel right now, as last year I had three indoor 'escapees' myself :shakehead.


IR, please tell me you found your escapees??

[island rehabber]

IR, please tell me you found your escapees??

Sure did, and they were FINE. Amazing how willing they are to come out when they get a little thirsty....:).

[Nancy in New York]

Keep the lid on the toilet DOWN every single time you come out of there.

[chickoo]

Keep the lid on the toilet DOWN every single time you come out of there.

yep - doing that...........pathologically :(

[chickoo]

Sure did, and they were FINE. Amazing how willing they are to come out when they get a little thirsty....:).

what food do i keep out for him?

water and some peeled grapes? i dont even know if he will take solid food, although he does have teensy tiny teeth...........

i still cant figure out who ransacked the seeds i had kept out..............there was a puddle of pee there, and it seemed too small to be chickoo's.............

also i let chickoo out in the evening, and she sniffed the curtain in my room like there was no tomorrow.............that means she smelt a scent there right???

i am now so exhausted i am hearing tiny squirrel squeaks, even though they are not there :shakehead

[chickoo]

Think weird places too. As an adult gray squirrel (so big in comparison) Sammy was missing for a couple of hours and when I finally fund him he was almost in plain site. I have a quilted cover on my electric mixer and he was curled up in the pocket that holds the attachments. I had walked past it 100 times looking for him and never saw him! He may be somewhere right in front of you. A coat pocket or in a pile of folded clothing etc.
I am saying a prayer for his safe return. I know ho scary it is and I don't envy you at all!:grouphug :grouphug :grouphug

i know!!!

chickoo used to do this all the time, and i always found her............

this little one has me foxed.........:dono

[chickoo]

Don't worry about Chickoo possibly attacking him...you're not sure and it is needless anxiety.
>> Start looking for small openings along the floor ( cabinets, pipes in wall, etc.) and realize that even a small hole can allow a smalll squirrel to enter and hide.
Be very still and listen for the slightest movement...If it is noisy during the day---do this in the quiet of the evening--and get a flashlight to peek into dark crevices...

PRAYERS from Costa Rica--for a sighting & capture.


REVIEW (LINK BELOW )these photos and suggetsions to protect from future "lost" fuzz-heads:

http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?t=33486&highlight=kitchen+nightmares

stosh i did this in the kitchen, but in all other rooms, we dont have false walls/ ceilings..............and our home is new, so all the cabinetry/ furniture sits flush with the wall/floor :(............i cannot IMAGINE where this fella went!!!

still down on all fours with a flashlight.........

pray harder!!!

[Scooterzmom]

The boxspring of a bed is a tempting place, and so are pillows. They can rip a hole and go hide in there. Check the couches, the folds of the cushions, same thing they can rip a hole and go hide inside the couch (had a cat who went and hid inside the back of the lounger and made us search for her for 12 hours!); check inside shoes and boots, laundry basket or hamper... bread box, pantry...

Make sure no TV is going, or radio... early evening when things are really quiet is another time he may come out if he's really hungry or thirsty.

Praying for you to find this little Houdini soon. I know how you must feel, Ièd be pulling my hair out if one of mine disappeared :grouphug

[Nancy in New York]

I know I may be repeating, look under the refrig. actually even behind........and if they get under, there is a fan that circulates the air, so that is a really dangerous place.
Are you closing off room that you have totally gone over with a fine tooth comb? This little one could get back into something that you've already checked.
Do you have your washer and dryer in the house where it is accessible to him?

In a closet, he could eat a hole in the dry wall..........believe me I found that out the hard way.....:shakehead

[chickoo]

i have moved the refrigerator and checked behind and under.......

should i turn it upside down and check the bottom?

i do have my washing machine inside the house, but i moved it and checked it too :(

[Nancy in New York]

i have moved the refrigerator and checked behind and under.......

should i turn it upside down and check the bottom?

i do have my washing machine inside the house, but i moved it and checked it too :(


OK just wanted to make sure, because they CAN get UP inside of the washer too.....:shakehead

Not sure if you should turn it upside down. YIKES that woud be a project. BUT if you are really quiet when you pull it out, do some tapping on the side and see if you hear anything. :dono

[chickoo]

OK just wanted to make sure, because they CAN get UP inside of the washer too.....:shakehead

Not sure if you should turn it upside down. YIKES that woud be a project. BUT if you are really quiet when you pull it out, do some tapping on the side and see if you hear anything. :dono

you know thats the worrying part - i cant even hear the little guy anywhere in the house..........

and i always thought i was great with animals :shakehead

[Shewhosweptforest]

:sorry :hidechair :crybaby Great ideas from all...praying hard for your babies return:grouphug

[sid'smommy]

I guess I missed something... are the babys eyes still closed? What other squirrel or pets do you have ?

[Fireweed]

All great suggestions. Is there a place in chicoo's cage he could've got into and is hiding? Under fleece, in a cube, etc?

Look UP, too. On top of everything.

It's amazing the tiniest spaces animals can squeeze themselves into when they are frightened. Make sure you look in places you'd never imagine a squee could fit into and then re-look again and again!

C'mon little guy! Come out, come out, wherever you are! :grouphug :grouphug :grouphug

[chickoo]

I guess I missed something... are the babys eyes still closed? What other squirrel or pets do you have ?

nope.........eyes wide open, and obviously very curious.......

i have an adult female of the same species........am really worried she may have attacked this little one :(

[chickoo]

All great suggestions. Is there a place in chicoo's cage he could've got into and is hiding? Under fleece, in a cube, etc?

Look UP, too. On top of everything.

It's amazing the tiniest spaces animals can squeeze themselves into when they are frightened. Make sure you look in places you'd never imagine a squee could fit into and then re-look again and again!

C'mon little guy! Come out, come out, wherever you are! :grouphug :grouphug :grouphug

hi there :wave123

yeah looked inside chickoo's cage too.........wondered if she may have been harbouring the refugee while all the while i thought she was the bad guy ;)

looked in all the impossibly tiny places too..........

the house is a mess..........we are exhausted............going to sleep now (dunno if i will be able to though)........

i need a miracle by morning!!!

[ConkerChild]

I don't know if anyone has already said this, but DON'T DO ANY LAUNDRY, unless you have to and then be very careful. Hope you find him soon!

[SammysMom]

Leave a dish of formula out for the baby just in case! Little devil!:grouphug :Love_Icon :grouphug

[sid'smommy]

If you didnt have a heating pad in there, I would say thats what the baby was looking for. Make sure the adult is locked up tight until you find her. You must find her soon, or she will starve to death :(

[sid'smommy]

Are all your furnace ducts covered ?? dryer vent ??

[chickoo]

have woken up and started searching again..........

i cannot forgive myself for this carelessness............

someone please tell me what happens when an adult pet squirrel sees a baby wild one??..........i still think chickoo did something to hurt the baby...........but why cant i even find the hurt (or worse) baby???

we do not have false ceilings and roofs here - everything is cement and concrete...........no furnaces, no vents...........only windows, and they are all shut...........

the fact that he has not made the slightest noise - either scraping or squeaking tells me that my search is futile...........

how much longer before i figure there is no hope of survival?

[CritterMom]

If Chicoo attacked the baby there would be some sign - dead baby, blood - something. She wouldn't eat every scrap and clean up after herself.

I think she is still alive but likely not too much longer if you do not find her. She likely won't explore - scared and frozen in place somewhere. I know you say you have looked everywhere but you haven't or you would have found something. Every piece of clothing needs to be examined - closely - she is small, but could easily have jumped up and grabbed something in a closet and crawled into a sleeve or pocket.

The first time my mouse got out - the top popped off his hamster ball - I turned my first floor upside down. Looking in the saucers under my plants. Turning the furniture on end and slashing the dust cover on the bottom so I could look inside. Dismantled the entertainment center. Looked inside every fold of every drape. My fear was the refrigerator...then I got down on my stomach crawling around and saw something - the cabinet in the guest bath, unlike every other cabinet in the house, has a space above the toe kick where something could get UNDER and inside the cabinet. I KNEW he was there - closed the bathroom, shut the lights off, closed the blinds to make it dark and left...a few hours and I opened the door and there she was.

That little thing is in your house somewhere. Don't count on her moving around - she is frightened and getting weak...

[chickoo]

If Chicoo attacked the baby there would be some sign - dead baby, blood - something. She wouldn't eat every scrap and clean up after herself.

I think she is still alive but likely not too much longer if you do not find her. She likely won't explore - scared and frozen in place somewhere. I know you say you have looked everywhere but you haven't or you would have found something. Every piece of clothing needs to be examined - closely - she is small, but could easily have jumped up and grabbed something in a closet and crawled into a sleeve or pocket.

The first time my mouse got out - the top popped off his hamster ball - I turned my first floor upside down. Looking in the saucers under my plants. Turning the furniture on end and slashing the dust cover on the bottom so I could look inside. Dismantled the entertainment center. Looked inside every fold of every drape. My fear was the refrigerator...then I got down on my stomach crawling around and saw something - the cabinet in the guest bath, unlike every other cabinet in the house, has a space above the toe kick where something could get UNDER and inside the cabinet. I KNEW he was there - closed the bathroom, shut the lights off, closed the blinds to make it dark and left...a few hours and I opened the door and there she was.

That little thing is in your house somewhere. Don't count on her moving around - she is frightened and getting weak...

i agree - there is no evidence of violence whatsoever..........

do you think it was the baby that ate the seeds in my bedroom?? but the wardrobes are all tightly shut and i searched the entire room..........

i have no clue where else to look, other than the places i have already looked five times over..........

but i will try today too..........

[stosh2010]

Any furniture with cushions ??? Look for small rips..access to inside the cushion.
Under the couch ? The bottom couch lining sometimes covers an open area to hide in.
Do Kitchen or bathroom Cabinets have toe kicks ?? Need to lie on the floor, and look up under any ledges...and especially LOOK ABOVE wall cabinets...lots of open holes-invisible from the ground.
Do you think there was an opportunity for the little one to get outside?? Door or window?

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^

Still PRAYING for a Positive Outcome--

[SammysMom]

Have you looked in the far back of wardrobe drawers? Often the back has peonings that can be squeezed into from the back.

[CritterMom]

i agree - there is no evidence of violence whatsoever..........

do you think it was the baby that ate the seeds in my bedroom?? but the wardrobes are all tightly shut and i searched the entire room..........

i have no clue where else to look, other than the places i have already looked five times over..........

but i will try today too..........

I can commiserate. Mine happened when I was getting ready for work in the morning - I immediately blew off work and started looking - it was a goot 10 hours later, after spending literally every moment tearing the place apart that I had my epiphany. A little grub like that could climb up and get between the sheets at the foot of the bed where they tuck in...inside a pillowcase. If you have drapes, check every fold.

[SammysMom]

What about allowing Chickoo out under close supervision? She may help search the little one out. You must be sure to e close by to intervene if she does come upon her though. I had this happen with a hiding cat that another cat found for us.
Is Chickoo easy to catch?

[chickoo]

I can commiserate. Mine happened when I was getting ready for work in the morning - I immediately blew off work and started looking - it was a goot 10 hours later, after spending literally every moment tearing the place apart that I had my epiphany. A little grub like that could climb up and get between the sheets at the foot of the bed where they tuck in...inside a pillowcase. If you have drapes, check every fold.

just removed the drapes from my bedroom and searched them thoroughly.......

the house is deathly silent, but still no noise from anywhere........

sammysmom - i did let chickoo out yesterday, and she sniffed the drapes in my bedroom quite a bit, but other than that - nothing...........

chickoo is squealing since morning though...........so i searched her room, cage, bed , hammock etc. thinking maybe she saw some movement, but - nothing.........

[SammysMom]

Can you try allowing her to look again?

[Minaluvri]

How many rooms are in your house? Do you have an upstairs or downstairs? If the babies eyes are open and it's moving around well this baby can CLIMB! Check curtains, check above the cabinets, behind TV's, computers, anywhere with cords? Those are all hazards. Check IN cabinets. Not just around and under cabinets but IN them. You'd be AMAZED where they can get into even though the door may be shut. When my baby went missing in my house she found a pile of stuffed animals and burrowed RIGHT in. I walked passed I don't know how many times and she blended right in. Search any cloth that could be a heat source for the baby. I'm praying that you find the baby!

[chickoo]

How many rooms are in your house? Do you have an upstairs or downstairs? If the babies eyes are open and it's moving around well this baby can CLIMB! Check curtains, check above the cabinets, behind TV's, computers, anywhere with cords? Those are all hazards. Check IN cabinets. Not just around and under cabinets but IN them. You'd be AMAZED where they can get into even though the door may be shut. When my baby went missing in my house she found a pile of stuffed animals and burrowed RIGHT in. I walked passed I don't know how many times and she blended right in. Search any cloth that could be a heat source for the baby. I'm praying that you find the baby!

we have 3 bedrooms with attached bath, 1 hall-cum-dining, and 1 kitchen.....

one bedroom is occupied by chickoo..........

one bedroom is used by me and hubby.........

i had put the little squirrel in the guest bedroom - am trying to upload pics of this room...........

no levels - its all on a single floor..........

we just turned the washing machine over to look under - nothing...........

i really dont know where else to search............

[chickoo]

Can you try allowing her to look again?

yep - going to do that shortly

[chickoo]

here is the layout of the guest bedroom, where i was keeping him.........

you can see in the first pic that the wood is flush with the walls and floor...........its impossible to get into the wardrobe unless he chews his way thru...........and there is no evidence of that........

also the bed has drawers underneath........there is a gap at the corner where he could have fallen thru into them, but hubby and i have checked the drawers and their contents - pillows and sheets - three times over.............should i check again??

also the distance between his tub and the bed and between the tub and the drapes seems to much for him to have jumped.............he was mainly moving around clumsily on the floor........

[sid'smommy]

Did you look in the back of that printer ?? There is an opening there to clear paper jams..... Hes gotta be in that room. . Inside the box spring? storage boxes under bed ??

[chickoo]

i just looked in the back of the printer - no opening there........

still opened the whole thing and looked inside - nothing.........

[magna]

Came home a couple weeks ago and one of my prairie dogs was gone, cage open. They live in the garage and it doubles as an everything room. My daughter and I searched everything for over an hour and nothing. I had a large box of timothy which we had already looked in twice good I thought. I dumped it out. Guess what, there he was and these aren't little guys either, so don't give up it could be in a sock or anything. Our pickles (grey) got out and we couldnt find him anywhere in the bedroom not a sound. Checked all the furniture and it was sealed...we thought...he was in my wifes underwear in the top drawer of our chest. He has been in there twice now, little perve LOL, still not sure how he gets there???

Keep looking and hang in there.

[stosh2010]

Just Wishing we missed something--...
Maybe under/inside the iron board cover??
Remove the under bed drawers--maybe hiding under them and moves with the drawer--when you open them ( or view under drawers with flashlight )
Anything that hangs--they can hook their claws into it and FREEZE there

[Anne]

Praying for you and a good outcome.

[Charley Chuckles]

:grouphug :grouphug :grouphug

[sid'smommy]

I know this may sound dumb, but... did you take that box out of the round tub and look underneath ?

[chickoo]

Just Wishing we missed something--...
Maybe under/inside the iron board cover??
Remove the under bed drawers--maybe hiding under them and moves with the drawer--when you open them ( or view under drawers with flashlight )
Anything that hangs--they can hook their claws into it and FREEZE there

i know...........i also keep wishing i have missed some place and suddenly there he will appear, my little bundle of fur.........

did everything you said, thrice over, and turned the beds, drawers and their contents inside out..........lay down under the bed with a flashlight too............

he has simply disappeared............its almost like magic...........all the other bedrooms in the house are pretty much similar, and i even searched chickoo's cage, hammock, bed etc..........

just so many regrets - wish i had put him in chickoo's travel cage, wish i had somehow jammed his door shut, wish i could have gotten home earlier from work.............now that poor poor baby is tired, hungry and cold somewhere, or possibly worse, dead...........

[chickoo]

I know this may sound dumb, but... did you take that box out of the round tub and look underneath ?

yup, did that several times.........no squirrel miraculously perched under the box..........or anywhere in his room.............or anywhere in the house...........

i cannot believe this.........

its probably too late now right?..........36 hours since his last feed..........

[Fireweed]

I bet you are exhausted, frustrated, sad, terrified, all those things... and you've gone over everything again and again... but here's what I would do right now:

Start in one corner of the guest room and meticulously go through EVERYTHING again. So this means you are looking at one inch of space from the ceiling to the floor and removing slowly every single piece of clothing or bag or box or whatever is in that tiny section and laying it out across the bed/floor and then searching slowly through it all, inch by inch. Then and only then, move on to the next inch. Go around the room like that...inch by inch...Think TINY. Move SLOW.

Then I'd move on to the next room and do the same thing. Then I'd go outside around your house and do the same thing--just in case, by some strange coincidence, he has snuck outside.

That PD story that Minalurvi just posted made me think about a cat I had that was in hiding--same thing--went by the space so many times and looked--but I didn't look deep enough and my brain also thought "there's no WAY she'd fit into that tiny space!" Sure enough, she was in there, standing on her hind legs, arms against the wall, smushed into the tiniest space possible. So it's VERY possible he is somewhere you've looked many times. This is why I suggest you take it real slow and be extra meticulous...even if you think you've already done that. He's got to be in there somewhere!!!

No, it's not too late. Don't give up yet.

:grouphug :grouphug :grouphug

[CrazySquirrelLady]

poor little squirrel. Maybe call one of those psychics? wonder if they could tell?

[chickoo]

I bet you are exhausted, frustrated, sad, terrified, all those things... and you've gone over everything again and again... but here's what I would do right now:

Start in one corner of the guest room and meticulously go through EVERYTHING again. So this means you are looking at one inch of space from the ceiling to the floor and removing slowly every single piece of clothing or bag or box or whatever is in that tiny section and laying it out across the bed/floor and then searching slowly through it all, inch by inch. Then and only then, move on to the next inch. Go around the room like that...inch by inch...Think TINY. Move SLOW.

Then I'd move on to the next room and do the same thing. Then I'd go outside around your house and do the same thing--just in case, by some strange coincidence, he has snuck outside.

That PD story that Minalurvi just posted made me think about a cat I had that was in hiding--same thing--went by the space so many times and looked--but I didn't look deep enough and my brain also thought "there's no WAY she'd fit into that tiny space!" Sure enough, she was in there, standing on her hind legs, arms against the wall, smushed into the tiniest space possible. So it's VERY possible he is somewhere you've looked many times. This is why I suggest you take it real slow and be extra meticulous...even if you think you've already done that. He's got to be in there somewhere!!!

No, it's not too late. Don't give up yet.

:grouphug :grouphug :grouphug

i would do it a hundred times more, and then some...........

but why would he stay silent for so long??............i know he's wild, but he is still a BABY right?...............why wont he wander out for food?..........just a little squeak, a little scratchy noise - thats all i ask for.......

i just hate this situation............if i dont find him today, i dont ever want to find him.............

[chickoo]

poor little squirrel. Maybe call one of those psychics? wonder if they could tell?

yeah there's nothing in the world that i wouldnt give right now to know where he is

[Sara89nicole]

When I had my flyers we had a scare when we couldn't find one of them one night, we turned the house inside out fearing he'd gotten out through the batroom window. We ended up finding him awhile later...in a cereal box. Squirrels hide in strange places. Check inside shoes, all clothes, curtains, etc. there are far more places in a house for a little squirrel to hide than we could ever think of.

Sorry if I've repeated anything I didn't have chance to read all the way through.

[chickoo]

When I had my flyers we had a scare when we couldn't find one of them one night, we turned the house inside out fearing he'd gotten out through the batroom window. We ended up finding him awhile later...in a cereal box. Squirrels hide in strange places. Check inside shoes, all clothes, curtains, etc. there are far more places in a house for a little squirrel to hide than we could ever think of.

Sorry if I've repeated anything I didn't have chance to read all the way through.

all valid points...........but why would a baby hide?............and why for so long?

[SammysMom]

Hi Chickoo, Silly girl...he hides because there's a giant looking everywhere for him! Stop, take a breath and start in one corner and pretend you are looking for a diamond ring. They can seem that small when they are hiding. His every instinct is telling him to hide! Is there any way he is NOT in that room? Could he fit under the door? Did Chickoo seem to be interested in any particular place when she was out today?:grouphug :grouphug :grouphug

[Sara89nicole]

Most wild animals have that instinct, for example a baby bunny will hide and stay deathly still when frightened or danger is nearby and wait for mom to come get them. Although your other squirrel may not of hurt the baby I take it he's bigger? Maybe the baby saw him and got scared and hid. Take a breath and try to calm down, animals sense ur emotions. Try to think of unusual places. If u were that small and scared u would try to find probably a space fairly small to keep larger animals away.

[chickoo]

Hi Chickoo, Silly girl...he hides because there's a giant looking everywhere for him! Stop, take a breath and start in one corner and pretend you are looking for a diamond ring. They can seem that small when they are hiding. His every instinct is telling him to hide! Is there any way he is NOT in that room? Could he fit under the door? Did Chickoo seem to be interested in any particular place when she was out today?:grouphug :grouphug :grouphug

i dont mean to be argumentative, but how come he never seemed scared of me the first two days i had him??..........did he just get stronger, and then instinct kicked in??

his room was not latched (due to a problem with the door, and my over-confidence that he wouldnt wander around OR be hard to find).............it was just pulled shut, but it seems to have opened a bit more during the day..........i didnt see it, but when hubby came home, he said it was large enough for a squirrel to pass thru............which means he could be anywhere in the house............

yes, chickoo did seem highly interested in my bedroom curtains both yesterday and today..........i pulled them all off the rods and searched them, including the lining............however, she seemed more interested in eating her grape and then sunbathing on the windowsill.............BIG help...........

oh, and also, chickoo sometimes squeaks in the mornings when she wakes up, sometimes if she has been startled by something, and other times for no apparent reason..............so she did that this morning............i immediately went into her room and combed the place...........including her bedding and hammock etc.............no baby squirrel...........

i need an answer to this - is there ANY way chickoo will leave the baby unharmed??..............AND if chickoo has harmed the baby, will she hide him somewhere??

[CrazySquirrelLady]

They might beat up a baby a little, but doubt they would kill/hide one surely.

Since the door was open and he could be in the house anywhere, I am going to try to channel your squirrel with my tiny psychic ability. Worth a try... hang on....



I keep getting those vents in the floor. sorry I think it got into the house duct system. Look inside the grates in the floors, lift them up and feel in there.

[SammysMom]

She might have seen and not harmed her. It just seems to me that there would be signs (blood) somewhere that you have looked. Have you taken the whole house apart piece by piece or just his room? I'm so sorry to ask such silly questions, but sometimes we do not see obvious things while we are so upset.:grouphug

[Sara89nicole]

It definitely possible she didn't hurt the baby, stay positive and don't give up. I don't know if she would hide the baby or not if she had hurt it :dono I wish I could be more help, I do hope u find the baby. Leave food out for baby in various places, keep an eye out for signs that it's been ate off of. Try to narrow down where baby is and go from there.

[Sweet Simon's Mommy]

What type of ceiling do you have?
Is it a tile that lifts up?? Could he have climbed high enough to bump up a tile and be in the ceiling somewhere else by now in the house?
How about under a door leading to another room?
What is the possibility of someone taking him out of your house??
If the room were completely secure, you need to take everything out of it piece by piece so to inspect every inch, you may feel like you have checked everything, but if there is no way out, he is there.

[xHiCCUPx]

I'm sorry to here this :( I can't even imagine how stressed you are right now :(

If I were in this situation I would start a grid search. Start in the babies room (by the way, how old is he?) look through EVERYTHING. As CSL said, look in heating vents, if your house doesn't have them, check base board heaters. Some of them have a gap that he could be laying in. Take the drawers out from under the bed, search through each one and then leave them out until the baby is found. Once you are thoroughly positive you searched the entire room, leave a small bowl of food and then close the door. Go to the next room and do the same. Each time you search a room, leave food and then make sure you close the door and seal the gap under it with a towl. That way, if he is in one of the rooms (which he pretty much has to be) he is pretty much stuck there. After ALL rooms have been searched give it some time. Depending on how old the babie is he is going to get hungry and they won't starve themselves so the food will be disturbed. If you want you can also take chickoo into each room and let her run around. As others have said maybe she will sniff him out, just make sure she has nothing to distract her (food, toys, etc) Also do u have a basement? And attic? If so I'd be searching these as well.

I really hope you find the little fella :grouphug

[SammysMom]

Stoves are a place that has LOTS of was to hide. Be VERY careful if you are going to use it. Inside the oven lift the bottom (floor) of oven if it is gas. Drawer under stove has held many mice hiding in many kitchens.

[xHiCCUPx]

Also check BEHIND the toilet. Hiccup has a weird obsession with being back there, though I don't know why. And if I were you I'd do a "perimeter" search and make sure there is no possible way he could have made it outside. Check windows, doors ect. Do you have any other pets? I know you are very worried that maybe chickoo harmed him but what about other animals? Do your sinks have drain plugs? My bathroom sink doesn't have a plug in the drain and the whole is big enough for a curious baby squirrel to go through. Do you have any tissue boxes sitting on end tables? A baby could have crawled in one to hunker down for warmth. What about potted plants? Could the baby be hiding in one?

[chickoo]

baby is eyes open, fully furred, can run well, seen him jump very short distances (clumsily)...............has teeny tiny teeth.............how old is that??

what food do i keep out for a baby this age?

kept formula yesterday, but it spoiled by afternoon (summer here).............then kept some sugar water and a peeled grape............

how do i know if the water has been disturbed??

[CritterMom]

baby is eyes open, fully furred, can run well, seen him jump very short distances (clumsily)...............has teeny tiny teeth.............how old is that??

what food do i keep out for a baby this age?

kept formula yesterday, but it spoiled by afternoon (summer here).............then kept some sugar water and a peeled grape............

how do i know if the water has been disturbed??

I would set out all of chicoos favorite foods and several very shallow dishes of water.

[chickoo]

i KNOW he is in the house somewhere - he could be anywhere..........by some stroke of bad luck both his door and chickoo's door were slightly open that day...........

i need to know - how long can this baby go without food and water??
its been around 48 hours since last feed.........

[SammysMom]

Honestly there is no correct answer to that question. It can be so different.
Maybe a skim of peanut butter around the dish if you sit it on a piece of paper? You would see marks in it if it walked on it. A very light skim of it just to attract it and leave marks in. Not enough to get all over him.

[chickoo]

on a more practical note, do i take off from work today and continue the search??..........need to know in the next hour or so.........

if there is even the slightest chance he can survive this long, i will take off..........just tell me

[SammysMom]

I would take off and do an inch by inch search. Blocking off each "searched" area as it is completed.

[chickoo]

They might beat up a baby a little, but doubt they would kill/hide one surely.

Since the door was open and he could be in the house anywhere, I am going to try to channel your squirrel with my tiny psychic ability. Worth a try... hang on....



I keep getting those vents in the floor. sorry I think it got into the house duct system. Look inside the grates in the floors, lift them up and feel in there.

sorry, but we dont have vents or ducts in the floor............the floors are fully tiled, with no access to the area below.............as are the walls and ceilings...........we dont have false ceilings etc..........

which is why i simply cant for the life of me figure this one out...........there are only so many places, and i have searched them all, bit by little bit............

[SammysMom]

No trash brought out, right?

[chickoo]

No trash brought out, right?

no

[CrazySquirrelLady]

stuff is always in the last place you look, cuz you quit looking once you find it.

take off work. there is hope. stay up all nite and search, and LISTEN.

My squirrel's mother was dead for 5 days before he came out the tree for help, age 6 weeks or so.,

[SammysMom]

stuff is always in the last place you look, cuz you quit looking once you find it.

take off work. there is hope. stay up all nite and search, and LISTEN.

My squirrel's mother was dead for 5 days before he came out the tree for help, age 6 weeks or so.,
Just what I think CSL! I know Sammy was barely eyes open when he ventured out seeking help an fell. He had obviously been days with nothing!
What is around where the drapes are? No way to get inside the curtain rod right?

[chickoo]

Just what I think CSL! I know Sammy was barely eyes open when he ventured out seeking help an fell. He had obviously been days with nothing!
What is around where the drapes are? No way to get inside the curtain rod right?

have estimated age at around 6-7 weeks..........

no, the curtain rods have caps at both ends, but i checked them anyway..........

i have searched assuming he can chew through metal...........

dont know how much longer i can carry on...........no rest for 48 hours

[xHiCCUPx]

Leave out some avocado if he has little teeth he should still be able to eat some of it. Its a very soft food. I would take off work and as for the length of time he could survive, it's hard to give an exact time span. Every animal is different, but if you fed him good he should be able to survive a week at least I would say. They wont just sit back and let themselves wither away and die. They are wild animals and will actively search out food and water when they get hungry enough.

Its a long shot, but Sammysmom made me think of it. Since your floors are tile, sprinkle some flour or baby powder on the floor, a thin layer. That way, when he walks on it, it will show his foot prints. I would do one or two rooms at a time and leave it over night. If there are no foot prints when you check back, seal off the room and move on to the next. It's a messy process but to me, I'd be worth trying in order to find the little guy.

[SammysMom]

I think it is unlikely that it involves much chewing. More likely in clothing or bedding or something else soft. Also the bathroom where he might find a bit of water is possible.
If I remember correctly, a member lost a flyer and found it in a bra in her closet. They are just so darned LITTLE!!!:sanp3

[chickoo]

Leave out some avocado if he has little teeth he should still be able to eat some of it. Its a very soft food. I would take off work and as for the length of time he could survive, it's hard to give an exact time span. Every animal is different, but if you fed him good he should be able to survive a week at least I would say. They wont just sit back and let themselves wither away and die. They are wild animals and will actively search out food and water when they get hungry enough.

Its a long shot, but Sammysmom made me think of it. Since your floors are tile, sprinkle some flour or baby powder on the floor, a thin layer. That way, when he walks on it, it will show his foot prints. I would do one or two rooms at a time and leave it over night. If there are no foot prints when you check back, seal off the room and move on to the next. It's a messy process but to me, I'd be worth trying in order to find the little guy.

ok, dumb question but - how will i know if there are squirrel footprints unless i walk onto the flour-sprinkled tiles?

[chickoo]

I think it is unlikely that it involves much chewing. More likely in clothing or bedding or something else soft. Also the bathroom where he might find a bit of water is possible.
If I remember correctly, a member lost a flyer and found it in a bra in her closet. They are just so darned LITTLE!!!:sanp3

thats what i thought too.........cannot imagine that tiny thing chewing through much............he hasnt so much as nibbled my finger even..........

unfortunately bathrooms and wardrobes were shut when we got home..........

[SammysMom]

When I suggested flour on another thread, I think it was Skul, said breathing it wasn't good for flyers. I was going with that as similar here when I said peanut butter on a piece of paper.

[SammysMom]

Could he go under the bathroom door? Sammy a large gray squirrel can still at 2 years old, fit under our spare room door.
Comb that bathroom carefully if there is ANY possibility.
I had a kitten escape under a bathroom door years ago too!

[xHiCCUPx]

Lol you just walk on it, being careful to mind where you put your feet so you don't tarnish any little squirrel tracks that may be there or you can make stripes with the flour or powder and leave places to walk. Either way works. If you do it the first way, though, all you gotta do is re-powder the spots you stepped on.

EDIT: o.O I didnt know it was bad for them to breath in. Is it just flyers?

[chickoo]

Could he go under the bathroom door? Sammy a large gray squirrel can still at 2 years old, fit under our spare room door.
Comb that bathroom carefully if there is ANY possibility.
I had a kitten escape under a bathroom door years ago too!

no he absolutely cannot go under the bathroom door........all three bathrooms were TIGHTLY shut, with no gap underneath.........

[SammysMom]

You can't even fit your finger under the door?

[xHiCCUPx]

I'm at a loss as to what to do here :dono If I were you, I'd put some avocado out and do the peanut butter "trap" as Sammysmom suggested and then I would just search through each and every room meticulously and once you are POSITIVE he's not there, seal it off so he can't get in and move on to the next room. I would also continue to utilize Chickoo by seeing if she can sniff him out.

I really hope you find him.

[Shewhosweptforest]

Chickoo I'm praying for you both...maybe he hasn't felt bad enough yet to call out...I assume in nature that would be instinctive for survival from predators...I just wish you were closer so this army of TSB could come help you search:Love_Icon it's a big job ...hang in there and I pray you get the sweet baby cry soon:Love_Icon

[chickoo]

You can't even fit your finger under the door?

no, cannot fit finger in there

its interesting you mentioned it though - because i can easily fit my fingers under the baby's room door, and i watched him attempt to squeeze himself under (it was hilarious - i have a video but it wont upload) and he couldnt............however, its irrelevant now, becasue the door itself was open..........

[chickoo]

I'm at a loss as to what to do here :dono If I were you, I'd put some avocado out and do the peanut butter "trap" as Sammysmom suggested and then I would just search through each and every room meticulously and once you are POSITIVE he's not there, seal it off so he can't get in and move on to the next room. I would also continue to utilize Chickoo by seeing if she can sniff him out.

I really hope you find him.

will utilize chickoo in the evening..........she is hungry in the morning and lazy in the afternoon.......

she is however squealing for no apparent reason this morning............she did it yesterday too.............what could it mean...........she does it very rarely and only when something alarms her...........

[chickoo]

Chickoo I'm praying for you both...maybe he hasn't felt bad enough yet to call out...I assume in nature that would be instinctive for survival from predators...I just wish you were closer so this army of TSB could come help you search:Love_Icon it's a big job ...hang in there and I pray you get the sweet baby cry soon:Love_Icon

do older babies also call out - like 6-8 weeks old fully furred ones with tiny upper and lower teeth??

[SammysMom]

She knows he is there even if not where he is...that is probably freaking her out... I am surprised he isn't responding to her noises, but then again, he may be hiding from her...:shakehead
God help you...I will say many more prayers for your predicament...:grouphug

[Nancy in New York]

will utilize chickoo in the evening..........she is hungry in the morning and lazy in the afternoon.......

she is however squealing for no apparent reason this morning............she did it yesterday too.............what could it mean...........she does it very rarely and only when something alarms her...........


Something is telling me that chickoo knows or sees where this baby is. This squealing which is not her norm is concerning, because I feel that chickoo could be holding the cards to finding this little one.
Where is she looking when she is doing this, is she fixated on something? Can you divert her attention away? How long does she keep it up. What makes her stop?

[Shewhosweptforest]

One of the three I raised together got frightened once and started :thinking an almost keening sound..our cage was in the kitchen at the time and I ran in "the call worked" she was just perched on a top rung and when I opened the cage she scrambled up into my hair at my neck...I don't remember exactly how old she was, but she was furred, eyes open and able to jump around. Chickoo being upset really makes it seem like the baby is near....also could some of the calls be coming from the baby?? It amazed me how loud the call was this little one made...:thinking Sending you :Love_Icon and good thoughts:Love_Icon

[devmorales123]

When my squirrel Rosie was younger she got scared by a noise and ran out of my sight while I was making her food bowl and when I went to find her I could not find her ANYWHERE. I looked everywhere for hours and I was panicking. It was about 1 in the morning and I was standing at the foot of my bed crying not knowing what to do, and when I calmed down and sat on the bed I heard faint breathing. So I started looking through the blankets on my bed and sure enough she was sleeping under a pile of blankets. So where I least expected her to be that's where she was at.

[Shewhosweptforest]

Awe..she probably could smell you:Love_Icon :grouphug see..hang in there Chickoo:Love_Icon

[sid'smommy]

House plants ? What is in chickoos room ?? Squirrels can hear very slight noises of other squirrels... gasping, purring, teeth grinding.... she may have wandered into chickoos room being nosey, and was scared into hiding.

[chickoo]

Something is telling me that chickoo knows or sees where this baby is. This squealing which is not her norm is concerning, because I feel that chickoo could be holding the cards to finding this little one.
Where is she looking when she is doing this, is she fixated on something? Can you divert her attention away? How long does she keep it up. What makes her stop?

i have a gut feeling that chickoo either did something to the baby or knows where he is...........

chickoo squeals like this once in a couple of months............its different from her estrus squealing............

this is high pitched, disjointed...........one staccato squeak at a time...........

i have never been actually able to figure out why she does this.......

once she did it when there was no water in her bowl, but most of the time, she appears fixated on something invisible when she does this............

its almost impossible to make her stop..........i can distract her with a treat, but there are times when she will continue to release involuntary squeaks even in the midst of eating the treat.............

she is usually agitated for a short while, and normally calms down on her own in 20-30 min or so...........

today i gave her the baby's blanket to sniff while she was squeaking, and she sniffed it very intently, then turned around and went back to squeaking............it may have been a little louder and more agitated after sniffing the blanket, but it may be my imagination also............

as you can well imagine, my nerves are shot........my eyes are burning from lack of sleep and too many tears, and i still dont know where this helpless little thing is..........hubby told me to let it go, but i refuse to give up.........

had to come to work today, but will be at home for the next three days...........

pray hard, all of you.............

[chickoo]

been at home for the past hour and a half.........

food that i left out is untouched........

took chickoo room by room to search..........

she sniffed the drapes in the master bedroom again, but didnt find anything.........

i offered her the baby's blankie to sniff, but everytime she smelt it, she peed on me - territorial i suppose?

starting to search the baby's room again now.........the idea that he may have clung to the underside of the bed or drawers has gotten stuck in my head, so im emptying and inverting the drawers again.............will then lie down under the bed with a flashlight...........

there really arent that many places to hide - i wanted the home to be dust-proof so i got everything made with tightly fitted doors and covers...........he would have to chew thru an inch of solid wood to get into anything that is closed...........there arent that many open places to hide..........we dont have vents/ ducts/heating systems etc..........where could this guy have gone????

[chickoo]

House plants ? What is in chickoos room ?? Squirrels can hear very slight noises of other squirrels... gasping, purring, teeth grinding.... she may have wandered into chickoos room being nosey, and was scared into hiding.

chickoo's room has a bed, wardrobe and bookshelf.............all the cabinets are fitted onto the wall, and are closed with wooden or glass doors...........

if he were in chickoo's room, chickoo should have found him by now.........

but i cant deny the fact that chickoo is definitely spooked by something.........

[Shewhosweptforest]

Did you check inside the wardrobe ? When we first brought Baby back in it was one of her favorite places to go...she would squeeze through the cracked door...and she was larger than your little guy:dono she would burrow way into the back and get into my sweaters. There couldn't be a predator in the house? Like a snake? Where you live does that happen? That could explain the disappearance and Chickoo's nervousness? Well as much as you've searched you surely would have seen it:thinking Going to work..will keep praying:grouphug

[chickoo]

Did you check inside the wardrobe ? When we first brought Baby back in it was one of her favorite places to go...she would squeeze through the cracked door...and she was larger than your little guy:dono she would burrow way into the back and get into my sweaters. There couldn't be a predator in the house? Like a snake? Where you live does that happen? That could explain the disappearance and Chickoo's nervousness? Well as much as you've searched you surely would have seen it:thinking Going to work..will keep praying:grouphug

nope.........no predators..........we live in an apartment in the city..........although snakes are common in india, we dont usually see them in apartments..........

about the wardrobe - no i didnt check inside because the doors are tightly shut..........but i dont mind opening and checking.........should i?

[CritterMom]

What is the bar spacing on chicoo's cage? Could this little one squeeze in there?

[island rehabber]

nope.........no predators..........we live in an apartment in the city..........although snakes are common in india, we dont usually see them in apartments..........

about the wardrobe - no i didnt check inside because the doors are tightly shut..........but i dont mind opening and checking.........should i?

YES! I know of a squirrel who hid out in someone's (tightly closed, she thought) wardrobe for an entire day....

[chickoo]

What is the bar spacing on chicoo's cage? Could this little one squeeze in there?

chickoo's cage is always open - she only eats and sleeps in it........

i checked her nest, hammock, bedding etc - no baby squirrel...........

[chickoo]

YES! I know of a squirrel who hid out in someone's (tightly closed, she thought) wardrobe for an entire day....

ok, i will do that then.........will check all three wardrobes.......

but honestly IR, im beginning to lose hope that i will find him alive.......

[SammysMom]

You know, is there a chance that your husband had something open and the baby got into it or got out of the apartment? Definitely check the wardrobe!:thumbsup

[chickoo]

You know, is there a chance that your husband had something open and the baby got into it or got out of the apartment? Definitely check the wardrobe!:thumbsup

you have no idea how many times i wish i had been the first person to get home on saturday, instead of him...........he means well, but i am the one with the hawk eye and the extendable ears :(

[Sara89nicole]

I was praying I'd log on today to a happy ending. :( so sorry you haven't found the baby yet, still praying for a safe recovery. Sounds to me like you need some time to recharge, take a hour or two nap. Getting overtired can make you delerious and can even cause hallucinations (I've had it happen) and you may start to hear things that aren't there and drive yourself crazy chasing sounds your mind created.

Since you have thus far combed the house start thinking of odd places, some lamps have a big enough opening where the power cord is attached for a small critter to fit in, backs of box tvs, etc.

Good luck

[chickoo]

I was praying I'd log on today to a happy ending. :( so sorry you haven't found the baby yet, still praying for a safe recovery. Sounds to me like you need some time to recharge, take a hour or two nap. Getting overtired can make you delerious and can even cause hallucinations (I've had it happen) and you may start to hear things that aren't there and drive yourself crazy chasing sounds your mind created.

Since you have thus far combed the house start thinking of odd places, some lamps have a big enough opening where the power cord is attached for a small critter to fit in, backs of box tvs, etc.

Good luck

you are right, you know...........i am hearing things now............how i wish i could think of a new place to search :(

did the wardrobes n left some water and grapes inside just in case.........

i AM exhausted..........will sleep a while now.........tomorrow will be another long day...........

[chickoo]

chickoo's room

please tell me if im missing anything

[SammysMom]

You have totally emptied the shelves and gone through pillows etc. individually, correct? Is it possible that he squeezed behind the shelf? Open every single box book and container. Everything removed all at once and then carefully examined as you return each item to its place.
You are doing a great job!!!:thumbsup

[Gina]

Just to be safe I would pull every piece of furniture from the wall to check under and behind it. It could be that he managed to wedge himself into a spot he cannot get out of. Same with mattress/boxspring. My squirrel was able to get into drawers that were tightly shut... he went underneath and found a way. Also..be sure to check under cabinets like where dishwasher, stove are as he may have sqeezed in there.

Are you keeping his bedroom door open during the day so he can return to it if he is in the main house? I would keep all doors open, even bathrooms until he is found. Someone had a missing critter and put flour or powder near water/food bowls to check for lil feet prints.

I am praying that you will find him soon:Love_Icon :grouphug :Love_Icon

[stosh2010]

Please take some deep breaths...You have worked so hard looking and worrying.
I agreee--all books removed-slowly-and put back after all shelves are open and exposed.
Remember --drawers are lower in the back than in the front. Once inside a chest of drawers--access is simple from the rear.
Wardrobes--absolutely--every pocket--every cuff-- every collar--SLOWLY...
I wish you RESOLUTION...your stress level. at this point, is unhealthy.
WE LOVE You...Good Luck

[chickoo]

Are you keeping his bedroom door open during the day so he can return to it if he is in the main house? I would keep all doors open, even bathrooms until he is found.

i am unsure about this..........have been keeping all rooms sealed at all times............should i open the rooms and leave his box of bedding out in his room???

[chickoo]

I agreee--all books removed-slowly-and put back after all shelves are open and exposed.


are you SERIOUS??

the reason i posted the pics is because i cannot see a way for him to get into the bookshelf...........all wooden/ glass doors from the front..........glass doors have only a few millimeters gap from the wood frame...........AND there is no space at the bottom or sides.........

ok, i guess its not mine to reason how or why............i will go do it now...........

[CrazySquirrelLady]

are you SERIOUS??

the reason i posted the pics is because i cannot see a way for him to get into the bookshelf...........all wooden/ glass doors from the front..........glass doors have only a few millimeters gap from the wood frame...........AND there is no space at the bottom or sides.........

ok, i guess its not mine to reason how or why............i will go do it now...........
unless the squirrel went out the door outside, it IS in the house somewhere.

You got to search EVERYWHERE, even places you don't think it COULD BE.

[Nancy in New York]

Perhaps a little late for this suggestion, but is there anyway that once you go through everything, piece by piece by feeling up and down sleeves etc. that you can bag it. We just don't want him to go back into a place that you've already checked. If you go that route, I would make sure that everytime I left that bag, that it is sealed up tightly so he cannot get into it.
Just throwing it out there......:dono

[chickoo]

when i went out for a while and came home after 2 hours this morning, the radio in my room was on...........

i first got a fright because of the noise........

now im wondering whether this squirrel is living in hiding somewhere and coming out when noone is around??

can they be that clever at this age?..........."living off the land" as my husband calls it...........

[chickoo]

Perhaps a little late for this suggestion, but is there anyway that once you go through everything, piece by piece by feeling up and down sleeves etc. that you can bag it. We just don't want him to go back into a place that you've already checked. If you go that route, I would make sure that everytime I left that bag, that it is sealed up tightly so he cannot get into it.
Just throwing it out there......:dono

i dont know..........i just finished checking most of the stuff............can bag from now on though..........

[Jackie in Tampa]

I can allow my grey sqs to run free in the house,
but a flyer..:shakehead
there are always going to be places we just do not know of...
and the sqs will find those secret places...
fingers crossed he is found soon:grouphug

[SammysMom]

How does the radio turn on? Is it a button that he might have hopped on and turned it on? Is there any chance your husband left it on?

[chickoo]

How does the radio turn on? Is it a button that he might have hopped on and turned it on? Is there any chance your husband left it on?

yes, its a button that needs to be pressed.........can be turned on by hopping on it, i suppose, but it would need an adult squirrel's weight i think........

anyhow, no sign of baby.............water, fruit etc all untouched............

[chickoo]

its the two small on/ off buttons that are in the row of three, next to the sleep button

[stosh2010]

are you SERIOUS??

the reason i posted the pics is because i cannot see a way for him to get into the bookshelf...........all wooden/ glass doors from the front..........glass doors have only a few millimeters gap from the wood frame...........AND there is no space at the bottom or sides.........

ok, i guess its not mine to reason how or why............i will go do it now...........
The reason I suggested that ( books) is that with two people in the house, maybe one opened a door, went out for a minute, came back and closed the door--and during that time...entrance was made...now trapped inside, with no means of escape. CRAZY...but a possibility.

[chickoo]

The reason I suggested that ( books) is that with two people in the house, maybe one opened a door, went out for a minute, came back and closed the door--and during that time...entrance was made...now trapped inside, with no means of escape. CRAZY...but a possibility.

i know stosh.........its a good idea............but no baby squirrel inside bookshelf :(

[Gina]

I know exactly how you feel as I once lost a baby rat...same kind of thing. I looked everwhere I thought he could possibly be. It was day 5 that I found him, by the smell. I did not want to mention it before as it was not a happy ending and I sooooooo wish that I had NOT blocked off anything that I checked.

I was so horrified that I never posted it to TSB

I am now in the hopes that you find your little baby before it is too late. I just hope yours found a warm place that he is running to and from for food.

No one answered the question of keeping all doors open ... I think is important..maybe even like Stosh said about the bookshelf. I am thinking it has been too long..he is trapped somewhere or you would have seen or heard something by now.



Here are pics of underneath the bathroom cabinet that I thought
#1 He can't possibly fit (he was nearly grown, fully furred and fat)
#2 OK, I don't see him so I will block the whole just in case he decides to squeeze himeself in there

The sad thing is he did squeeze himself in there. When I checked with a flashlight and did not see him I blocked it off so he could not go in. What I created was his coffin:shakehead

197884

197885

197886

197887

[TessiesMom]

This may sound far out there, but do you know somebody who has a dog (preferably a hound, and young with good ears) who could come over with the (leashed) dog and let him/her look around?

[xHiCCUPx]

I think sealing off rooms is a good idea. After thoroughly searching through it and being absolutely sure he is not there make the room impossible to access (shove a towel or something into the space at the bottom, even if its a minimal space) just remember if their head can fit through the gap so can their body. Rodents are amazing in the fact that can compress their bodies to slip into extremely tight places. I would not, however seal off individual spaces as also mentioned by Gina. I would leave them open just in case you missed him in one. I would leave out food and water in the room after sealing it off and then check everyday to see if the food has been disturbed.

The dog suggestion is a very good idea as well. It would be especially good if you could somehow get a terrier (most are bred to seek out small game) Just make sure it is leashed and keep chickoo locked up.

I may be venturing too far here but did your husband enjoy having the baby? Could he have possibly let him outside? I'm not asking to upset you or accuse him, I only asked because its been a while since his escape and you should have seen and most definitely heard him by now :(

[chickoo]

I know exactly how you feel as I once lost a baby rat...same kind of thing. I looked everwhere I thought he could possibly be. It was day 5 that I found him, by the smell. I did not want to mention it before as it was not a happy ending and I sooooooo wish that I had NOT blocked off anything that I checked.

I was so horrified that I never posted it to TSB

I am now in the hopes that you find your little baby before it is too late. I just hope yours found a warm place that he is running to and from for food.

No one answered the question of keeping all doors open ... I think is important..maybe even like Stosh said about the bookshelf. I am thinking it has been too long..he is trapped somewhere or you would have seen or heard something by now.



Here are pics of underneath the bathroom cabinet that I thought
#1 He can't possibly fit (he was nearly grown, fully furred and fat)
#2 OK, I don't see him so I will block the whole just in case he decides to squeeze himeself in there

The sad thing is he did squeeze himself in there. When I checked with a flashlight and did not see him I blocked it off so he could not go in. What I created was his coffin:shakehead

dear gina,

thanks for sharing that awful experience with me..........i am so sorry you had to go through that..........

i have done everything in my power to find him...........if he is in this house, i think i would have found him by now (i am a "finder" - when friends lose small things, i am the one they turn to for help)............

i am now reconciled to the fact that he has either found an escape route, or he is dead.............however, there is no smell yet............and i hope there never will be, because then i know that he somehow escaped...........and that still leaves a slim chance that he somehow survived..............

about blocking off spaces - good thing you told me - had blocked off a (thoroughly checked) space under the kitchen cabinet...........have removed it now............

all doors are now open, because if he is here, i dont care about walling him off in any room anymore - at least he can get to the food/ water.........

but it seems like a lost cause, because the flour i sprinkled around the water and food plate is untouched............woke up hoping to find teeny tiny paw prints, but no..............

[chickoo]

This may sound far out there, but do you know somebody who has a dog (preferably a hound, and young with good ears) who could come over with the (leashed) dog and let him/her look around?

no i dont know anyone with a dog...........wish i did though.........

i did use chickoo (my other squirrel), and she acted weird for a couple of days, but never found the baby.........

[chickoo]

I think sealing off rooms is a good idea. After thoroughly searching through it and being absolutely sure he is not there make the room impossible to access (shove a towel or something into the space at the bottom, even if its a minimal space) just remember if their head can fit through the gap so can their body. Rodents are amazing in the fact that can compress their bodies to slip into extremely tight places. I would not, however seal off individual spaces as also mentioned by Gina. I would leave them open just in case you missed him in one. I would leave out food and water in the room after sealing it off and then check everyday to see if the food has been disturbed.

The dog suggestion is a very good idea as well. It would be especially good if you could somehow get a terrier (most are bred to seek out small game) Just make sure it is leashed and keep chickoo locked up.

I may be venturing too far here but did your husband enjoy having the baby? Could he have possibly let him outside? I'm not asking to upset you or accuse him, I only asked because its been a while since his escape and you should have seen and most definitely heard him by now :(

yes, my husband loved the baby (maybe even more than me), and would fight with me over who got to feed him............chickoo doesnt allow much interaction with him ever since she became an adult, and i think he misses the happiness that only a baby squirrel can give...........

in any case, i trust him completely, he loves me, and he would NEVER do something to hurt me, no matter what............

[Scooterzmom]

I have the same radio here, chickoo and a small squirrel could turn it on. That button is sensitive enough. However... are you sure you had not left it on? Or that is wasn't your alarm that turned it on instead?

I so wish your little one would come out and take this burden off you. :grouphug Praying he is there and still doing well. :grouphug

[chickoo]

I have the same radio here, chickoo and a small squirrel could turn it on. That button is sensitive enough. However... are you sure you had not left it on? Or that is wasn't your alarm that turned it on instead?

I so wish your little one would come out and take this burden off you. :grouphug Praying he is there and still doing well. :grouphug

yes, im pretty sure i didnt turn it on (havent been in a mood to listen to the radio for the last few days)..........

however, it does appear to have some alarm set for that time..........maybe factory preset............today it beeped again in the afternoon, but no radio...........

and if the baby is around, and frisky enough to run on the radio, why isnt he drinking the water im keeping out for him??.........no footprints in the flour around the water dishes in all rooms :(

yeah i just wish i knew where he is............such a mystery

[chickoo]

i need to know - if there is no smell even after a week, do i assume he escaped somehow???

or could he have gotten into some space which is so concealed that no smell will emanate even if he dies?

my poor poor baby.........if he escaped, he wont survive..........and if he is trapped he wont survive anyway.........i wish he didnt have to suffer this way..........

my husband told me to cage him in chickoo's travel cage on day ONE, but i didnt want chickoo's cage to become lice/ flea infested, and he was better after the bath, so i thought i would wait a few more days for him to get cleaner and then shift him............so small and thoughtless of me...........so big deal if the cage got infested..............i could have always cleaned it out thoroughly and put it out in the sun...........now im left with a clean cage and no baby.........

its all my fault, and i cant forgive myself for this.........

[Shewhosweptforest]

Chickoo stop that now:nono if any one looks at the choices they make any given day we would all go crazy :dono did I let my babies go free outside to their certain death:dono no one knows....that's life....and you must remember this baby you found had NO chance when you found it...and if the worst has happened at least you gave him comfort, love and attention :Love_Icon :grouphug :Love_Icon if he did escape he has a better chance than when you found him because now he is a little older and not hungry or dehydrated...maybe he would even escape and wander into another kind persons care:thinking he is use to human attention:thumbsup So stop beating yourself up and remember sometimes bad things happen when we're trying to do everything right ...not your fault...you're a good mommy mjs :Love_Icon :grouphug :Love_Icon with a huge heart:thankyou

[Charley Chuckles]

I am the first to always blame myself no matter what the outcome is....but don't :nono We can never predict the future and we always do what we think is the best at the time or we would do it different :poke And usually I have found that our first choice is our gut feeling which is always the best choice :thumbsup I am not giving up :nono I am focusing him on being found by you and healthy :grouphug

[Gina]

I was so hoping he was found and I feel so bad for all of you. This is something we all fear and hope never happens as the not knowing part is agony. And try not to blame yourself. You saved this little baby with all the very best intentions for his life. Sometimes we lose the battle despite our efforts and we learn along the way. I am praying that you find him alive and well. Hang in there and just keep leaving out food and water at different locations for him.



Do you have an attic and if so can you put food and water up there just in case?

[Gina]

I can't stop thinking about your baby squirrel . I'm sorry if this sounds insane but do you have a chandelier with open top lights? I ask because I fund a peanut in mine when I was cleaning. I have no idea how Wayne got up or down from there but he did or he used his super powers to stash a nut in one of them.

That got me thinking of other things like decorative vases, etc. Anything he might have climbed into but would have a tough time climbing out of.


Sorry if these suggestions just make you roll your eyes:shakehead I know you have searched and searched until you are sick but he is somewhere we have not yet thought of or perhaps he did make it outdoors. :dono

[chickoo]

i think i found his escape route........

this is going to take a while, so please be patient.........

and, no, this doesnt have a happy ending either - its just the ramblings of my disturbed mind..........

we have these large 6x5 feet sliding shutter windows in the bedroom where we sleep...........there are 2 glass ones and one mesh one..........

now, normally, we keep the glass ones shut, but on warm nights, we slide the mesh window shut and leave the glass one partially open, so that some air can get in.........

since we are on a busy road, a lot of dust and noise gets in during the day, so we normally shut back the main glass window during the day.......

now this morning, i found the left side glass window open just a crack - can just about fit a finger in............i was surprised, because i clearly remember checking all windows on the day that the baby went missing...........

i just assumed the wind blew it open or something, shut it and went about my business.............after a while, when i came back to the room, i found it open a crack again............this really spooked me since there is noone else at home today..........

then i fiddled around with the windows for a while, before realizing that when i shut the other side (right side), the window frame hinges on the frame of the other side (because they slide across each other), and drags it open.............normally this shouldnt happen, because the left side has a latch, which should hold it shut, but the left latch is not holding properly, and if the frames are tight against each other, it can get pulled open...........

so..............i have opened and shut the right window several times in the last 5 days, always making sure to shut it tight, but never looking at the left side while i do it..............because who would think that it would move, when it is obviously already latched??!

which essentially means that even if all windows were shut on day 1, there would have been times on the subsequent days, maybe even on the very next day, when the left window could have been open a crack............

i think thats enough room for him to have gotten out............

[Nancy in New York]

I bet you are right, mystery may be solved.
So if he got out the window, what is below, or don't I want to know?

[Sweet Simon's Mommy]

looks like quite a drop to the street, hope he is on the ledge

[chickoo]

now, outside this window, the outer wall of the building is rough - squirrel will get enough hold to climb or descend...........

my theory is, he scrambled out, and saw the AC tube on his left..........

so he used the tube and went down.............

reached the outdoor unit (which is on the next floor), and then either decided to stay there, or jumped down..............

i have already scoured the garden and walkway downstairs, over the past few days, (when i didnt even know this escape route existed) and have told all security guards to keep an eye out...........

however, i havent checked the outdoor unit of the AC..........yet.........

i need a ladder and another person, so hubby says he will come home in a few hours and get me up there..............

am really worried what i will find..........

[chickoo]

the other end of the AC tube joins the indoor unit thru a hole in the wall...........

i had blocked off this hole with a sock long ago, when the AC was installed 2 months ago..........if i hadnt had the "good sense" to do this, maybe baby would have climbed UP the tube instead of DOWN, and found his way back in.............

so.........he could be anywhere now...........there is a forest with PLENTY of squirrels across the road, but it has a high wall, and i dont know if this baby could have even made it across the road :(

[chickoo]

I can't stop thinking about your baby squirrel . I'm sorry if this sounds insane but do you have a chandelier with open top lights? I ask because I fund a peanut in mine when I was cleaning. I have no idea how Wayne got up or down from there but he did or he used his super powers to stash a nut in one of them.

That got me thinking of other things like decorative vases, etc. Anything he might have climbed into but would have a tough time climbing out of.


Sorry if these suggestions just make you roll your eyes:shakehead I know you have searched and searched until you are sick but he is somewhere we have not yet thought of or perhaps he did make it outdoors. :dono



no, i am not rolling my eyes - you all have gotten me through some very tough days............and i value any bit of advice or help you can give me.............it just means you care.........

but i think the baby made it outdoors after all............i just hope he is safe wherever he is..........although i seriously doubt he was in any shape to face the big bad world outside.............

[chickoo]

Chickoo stop that now:nono if any one looks at the choices they make any given day we would all go crazy :dono did I let my babies go free outside to their certain death:dono no one knows....that's life....and you must remember this baby you found had NO chance when you found it...and if the worst has happened at least you gave him comfort, love and attention :Love_Icon :grouphug :Love_Icon if he did escape he has a better chance than when you found him because now he is a little older and not hungry or dehydrated...maybe he would even escape and wander into another kind persons care:thinking he is use to human attention:thumbsup So stop beating yourself up and remember sometimes bad things happen when we're trying to do everything right ...not your fault...you're a good mommy mjs :Love_Icon :grouphug :Love_Icon with a huge heart:thankyou

thank you...........but i think its going to take DAYS before i feel any better...........

[chickoo]

I am the first to always blame myself no matter what the outcome is....but don't :nono We can never predict the future and we always do what we think is the best at the time or we would do it different :poke And usually I have found that our first choice is our gut feeling which is always the best choice :thumbsup I am not giving up :nono I am focusing him on being found by you and healthy :grouphug


i know.............thats why they say hindsight is always 20/20..........

[chickoo]

I bet you are right, mystery may be solved.
So if he got out the window, what is below, or don't I want to know?


looks like quite a drop to the street, hope he is on the ledge

mystery is right...........

i checked on the ledge below several times over the last few days - on a hunch, but no squirrel............

beyond that there is the garden and walkway inside the compound wall of the building..............

followed by the compound wall itself...........

followed by the road...........

followed by the forest.............

my baby could be anywhere...........

[Sweet Simon's Mommy]

so sorry, wonder if she went up?

[chickoo]

so sorry, wonder if she went up?

he can, but its a long climb to the top - there are two more floors above mine..........i guess he could possibly scramble around on the wall for a short distance, but scaling the full distance vertically? i dont know..........

[Shewhosweptforest]

Chickoo think positive, no body (sorry if that sounds cold) :) that means there's still a chance he made it :multi Hang on to that thought...don't torture yourself:nono think and believe the positive....I have a good feeling this brave little explorer has a guardian squirrel looking after him:grouphug Also, NO WAY can you feel responsible for the window not working properly:Love_Icon

[chickoo]

Chickoo think positive, no body (sorry if that sounds cold) :) that means there's still a chance he made it :multi Hang on to that thought...don't torture yourself:nono think and believe the positive....I have a good feeling this brave little explorer has a guardian squirrel looking after him:grouphug Also, NO WAY can you feel responsible for the window not working properly:Love_Icon

yeah.........thats my only consolation..........im sure he got out somehow...........impatient little fuzzer............

dont know how i would have felt if i had found him dead in the house...........

nevertheless, i learnt an important lesson.............always cage the squirrel, and lock the door...........even if its eyes arent open yet!!............painful lesson, but an important one for me.........i hadnt even named him, and now i miss him SO MUCH..........

[Jackie in Tampa]

I agree, appears he made it...Out..:)
but not before having you search and touch everything you own...:D
little rascal...

[Itchiku's dad]

We have those rough walls where I live, and the squirrels can walk up and down them like spider-man. Are you electric cables underground or above? In Bangkok they're above, so you never see dead squirrels in the road here.

Squirrels here seem to be independent real young too.

[stosh2010]

I see the sock on the inside of the A/C lines.
Please seal the outside hole in the wall around the A/C lines. Insects, lizards and worse can enter the block wall --Steel wool-packed tightly-- will keep most from entering.
I hope he made it to the wooded area...

[Shewhosweptforest]

Hello Chickoo:wave123 just checking in to let you know I'm thinking of you and hoping you're doing well....hang in there and enjoy your sweet Chickoo:) sending love across the world:grouphug