Emergency found frozen baby boy in snow please advise

[sdreamcatcher]

about 8 weeks? One of Star's (resident girl) babies; went out to feed a little before 6 30 lots of squirrel tracks then saw a squirrel laying in the snow. Thought he was dead but he moved his head up when I went over. Warming on rice pack I should warm slow, right? He is moving a bit more since coming in he was in a few inches of snow. Please help.

[squirrelsrule&bunniestoo]

Warm her up and don't feed until she is warmed back up. Does she seem injured or just cold?

[sdreamcatcher]

went out "just in case" another baby gender unknown on other side of tree covered in snow :(. not sure if alive but eyes are open..... If it's easier I can PM my number to a rehabber.... I know you are all crazy busy this time of year......

[sdreamcatcher]

Warm her up and don't feed until she is warmed back up. Does she seem injured or just cold?

MOstly cold moving more now, the other one no movement but eyes open. No sign of blood or injuries we had a storm overnight very strange April these are both Star's no sign of her.....

[sdreamcatcher]

both babies alive moving very slow first boy is shivering and squeaked a few minutes ago just once. second Boy was moving when I came in and checked just now :).
Went back out looked for more babies she had at least three. food in maple tree untouched no sign of Star :(

[sdreamcatcher]

Baby Boy #1 has a tiny bit of blood coming from nose :(. Baby Boy # is warming up he was almost completely covered in snow.

[island rehabber]

Yes go reallllly slowly, sdreeamcatcher -- resist the urge we all have to want to get some warm liquid or food into them! Their cells must wake up slowly or they will crash. Wait until they truly feel warm to you -- even if it's hours from now -- before you try to feed them. Poor babies!

[Nancy in New York]

Yes go reallllly slowly, sdreeamcatcher -- resist the urge we all have to want to get some warm liquid or food into them! Their cells must wake up slowly or they will crash. Wait until they truly feel warm to you -- even if it's hours from now -- before you try to feed them. Poor babies!

Perfect advice........slow and steady is the ONLY way. Just like they would do with us humanes. :thumbsup

[sdreamcatcher]

Baby Boy #1 is warm, still shivering he may not have been in the snow that long. He is fully awake scared to death and combative poor love. also jumpy and its gonna be near impossible getting anything near him....:shakehead

Baby # is like ice rice pack and holding him he is very wet was almost buried in snow. Star and other baby nowhere to be seen. two neighbor cats out no sign they have caught anyone. lots of squirrel tracks were under maple.....

[squirrelsrule&bunniestoo]

for the wet guy, since he is already wet, I'd put him in some luke warm water to start then slowly increase temp to get him warm then blow dry him off really good. Glad the first guy is coming around. I'd wait til later this afternoon to feed.

[sdreamcatcher]

OK, Baby #1 is warm, not shivering so much anymore but scared and VERY wild. Baby #2 is sitting up, seems alert, and also looks like he could bolt out if given the opportunity. Syringing fluids into these boys? I have no idea how to go about it :dono . Any movement on my part and Baby boy #1 (Max?) would bolt out for sure :shakehead . No name ideas yet for Baby boy #2.....:thinking

No sign of Star or any other babies; I am almost positive she had at least 3; also almost positive I saw her before the storm rolled in yesterday. 24 hours ago all was right in their world; they were up playing and exploring in their tree close to their nest.

[island rehabber]

They will probably be the type of babies who attack the syringe, but if you squirt a little good stuff right into their mouths while they're doing that they suddenly go "hmmm! That's not bad!" and slurp slurp slurp :D
Never take NO for an answer from a baby squirrel.....

[CritterMom]

Poor babies. You may need to try to get them burritoed in a piece of fleece and pull a little flap of it over their eyes to feed them. They will calm down when they figure out that it is food.

If they are warmed up no you will need to start getting some hydration into them. Make sure it is nice and warm, You can use the homemade hydration formula - they usually like the taste so they may wind up being more cooperative than you think once they get a taste.

[sdreamcatcher]

These guys are so wild, i dunno. Covering eyes worked for Jasmine for a while, then she refused handling of any sort so I feed her food soaked in formula right now. I can maybe try syringing through the mesh top? They are in a funky storage bin Max is outside the shoebox and Baby Boy #2 is still in that box. Ugh.... I feel like such a wimp :shakehead

Hoping too I didn't warm them too fast???? I found Max right before posting; second boy right after.... They have been pretty warm for about an hour, it's almost 10am our time....

[sdreamcatcher]

Max (Baby Boy #1) is sleeping, (kinda). He looks good but did get a bloody nose I think. Baby Boy #2 (Scooter??) is still in the shoebox that's in the bin. The bin is on my bed (top bunk) where it is nice and warm.

Will be cold today up to 75 by Sunday go figure. No sign of Star or any other babies but I will still keep looking (maple tree is in our front yard). Other wild squirrels have been out eating and look good. My gut tells me something happened to Star; we have had bad snow days like this and the babies have always been safely tucked in the nest. Star is the girl I credit with turning me back onto loving squirrels. She has been known to join me in the driveway garden and munch peanuts while sitting on my knee. She used to follow me outside even did that to my Dad last year; he got a big kick out of her and thought she was pretty neat (He passed last September). Losing Star would be like losing a dear friend/family member :(.

[sdreamcatcher]

Baby #3 was eating food in the crook of the maple tree but skittered back up when I came close. Another older squirrel was with him/her, did not chase and baby nuzzled that squirrel (other squirrel stayed nice). Don't know if older squirrel is a fall 2012 baby or???? IF the other squirrel is Star why would baby be down so low???? Baby is wet and cold but very wild :(. Very confusing telling squirrels apart because snow still falling and very cold :dono . Also every squirrel I have seen today has been skittery with me, even my tamer ones.....:shakehead

[sdreamcatcher]

Weeeird day today. Both Baby Boys found frozen in the snow SURVIVED. No sign of Star or other baby till about 11 30am or so; yes!! Star is ALIVE!! Not sure what happened the two boys I found must have fallen out some time before sunrise. Many of the tracks in the snow may have been Star's as she went from one baby to the other. BUT if they were there long enough to get cold and unresponsive, she may have thought they were already passed; that's why she didn't take them back?

[Shewhosweptforest]

Yay! Star is alive! Today has been a day for miracles:bowdown I hope someone comes on soon to let you know if you should try to reunite them or will it be too soon for the cold ones to be out in elements:bowdown

[SammysMom]

Yeah Star!!! Any chance she can still take them back?:thinking :Love_Icon

[sdreamcatcher]

That's my wondering too. Will she take them back? And when do babies wean? Only thing I can think of as to why the baby still with her is eating food I put out is we have NO leaves, buds, anything on the trees right now. Usually we have maple and elm seeds out by now and past spring babies have munched on those....:dono

Another consideration; the neighbor's cats. They are always out and a CONSTANT threat. On the plus side if I need to hover around Star would most likely be ok with that. She knows me well.

In other news, before I saw Star, I was in touch with a rehab place in Boulder (north of technically). She told me NOT to feed -- risks of aspiration I guess they got a call from a lady this morning where that happened :(. I did let her know I have raised babies and know how to feed and she asked if I was a rehabber :shakehead . They wanted my address and were going to try and find a volunteer to take the babies, but I got a bad feeling and hung up when they transferred me. This place does not slow release. IR had told me about another person up in Evergreen; and I may contact the lady who gave me Chipper because she had someone as well. I really prefer slow release; that's the best way, right? I hate to see any of these guys not make it (I know the high mortality rate but I wanna give these kiddos the best chance).

Akk. Baby boys are safe for now they will be warm and dry :Love_Icon :Love_Icon as it dips down to 19 again tonight. Star and the other baby have each other and that makes me feel better :Love_Icon :Love_Icon .

At the risk of being yelled at here, I could NOT get the babies calm enough to syringe. Scooter (Baby #2) actually tumbled out of his box to hide in the corner and cried when he climbed out. I hope he isn't hurt? Max (first guy), is too scared to swallow even if I get close. I used Rescue remedy on both when they came in this morning. I also tried to drip more on them from the top of the bin (I have mentioned these two are very flighty, right? :shakehead :shakehead ). So, I opted to offer them some food soaked in rehydration fluid. They took it. Then I tried food soaked in almond milk (always a favorite) They took that. I am making fresh fox valley tonight and will soak their food in that (Jasmine is doing very well on this plus extra veggies and fruits). The boys look good, when they aren't hiding. Poor loves. But they have some food in their tummies (small amounts for now). But a start....

[farrelli]

Could you put a box up in her tree with a rich buddy, back away for awhile (though keep vigil to make sure they don't climb down), and see if she'll take them? You might have to wait a few hours.

[Shewhosweptforest]

How are the babies:Love_Icon I hope all is well:grouphug :grouphug

[sdreamcatcher]

How are the babies:Love_Icon I hope all is well:grouphug :grouphug

The boys are doing very well; Star and her other little one are doing well too. I have lots of questions but don't even know where to start....:hidechair

[Shewhosweptforest]

I know what you mean:dono I have sooo many questions on release and it is hard to ask the right questions in this format....I have too many:jump I can't even imagine with what you're going through ....I would have so many questions on long term care and any problems to look for...I think it's a miracle your little ones made it:bowdown I'm so glad you kept looking:thumbsup Star is lucky she had you looking out for her and her little ones :grouphug

[CritterMom]

The boys are doing very well; Star and her other little one are doing well too. I have lots of questions but don't even know where to start....:hidechair


So can I assume that Star doesn't want her two back from you, having cunningly kicked them out where you would find them? Boy, that is one way to make early childhood care easier - pitch half of them out!:rotfl

[kastillo]

So can I assume that Star doesn't want her two back from you, having cunningly kicked them out where you would find them? Boy, that is one way to make early childhood care easier - pitch half of them out!:rotfl

:rofl4


At eight weeks, reuniting could be difficult. It's not like they are going to stay in a box and wait for mom to come get them.

You could rig a cage with a slide up door with a rope and pulley, set them outside in it, wait for mom to come near, have the rope going all the way back into your window, when you see mom near, pull the door open for them to go.

Mwahahahaha, my elaborate plan just might work.....mwahahahaha!

No, seriously, there's probably an easier way.... :rotfl

[sdreamcatcher]

Star stays pretty high up most of the time, presumably keeping an eye on the remaining sibling (who is doing well)?

My best option may be transferring to a cage with Jasmine then? They are all around the same age, Jasmine is the baby who survived a tree trimmer and a cat and because of cats could not be reunited. Damn these cats; we have 4 and they are INSIDE ONLY the way cats should be.....

The cage is smallish though; an old bird cage I have to rewire (I have the 1/2 inch mesh). It's about 2 feet wide and 2 feet long and 4 feet high inside dimensions? I am also getting cage ready for Butchie and Joey but they need to be released separately :shakehead

THEN there is Rocky and Sammy, two fall 2012 boys Anyone planning a road trip to or through CO? No one here to slow release and this neighborhood is NOT squirrel friendly; Butchie, Joey and the babies are going to be tricky enough as it is.

It isn't the raising of the little ones that stresses me, I LOVE that part. It's trying to find safe places to release. I Have very limited finances and transportation (I don't drive) and still need to find work. My dream would be finding an awesome person to take Rocky and Sammy to start, and work from there. I thought I had someone lined up (a friend of the friend who gave me Rocky and Sammy) but I can't keep waiting around. These two are ready NOW. They are awesome boys too; won't be easy to give up but if they are in the right hands I can do it.... They NEED to be free.


Ack!!!!! The stress will get me soon I just know it.....

[sdreamcatcher]

these were taken a day after their ordeal:



http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i30/sdreamcatcher/squirrels/Stars%20boys/IMG_0799_zpsd0c14175.jpg (http://s68.photobucket.com/user/sdreamcatcher/media/squirrels/Stars%20boys/IMG_0799_zpsd0c14175.jpg.html)

http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i30/sdreamcatcher/squirrels/Stars%20boys/IMG_0798_zpsf0f862b1.jpg (http://s68.photobucket.com/user/sdreamcatcher/media/squirrels/Stars%20boys/IMG_0798_zpsf0f862b1.jpg.html)

I have never cared for any critter so close to being gone, without actually being gone, or passing very soon after rescue. These boys have amazed me. They wrestle, play, eat on their own, and continue to be shy. Miracles do exist....

[Shewhosweptforest]

Yay! Miracle Babies...just what we need! Love these guys and you too:grouphug Great Job:thumbsup I wish you were closer:shakehead you could release here:dono

[sid'smommy]

Heres what you need to do: Get a wire cage, and set outside by the tree when you see Star nearby... Hang the babies one at a time by the back legs, head down... It will make them start peeping for mom. Set them inside, and lock door. Go inside and watch. If they are her babies, she will be down there sniffing. The babies will know if its thier mom, and the will call out even more. If its not mom, they will most likely hide and be quiet. When you are sure its a match, open the door. Just be out of site, watching... (its best to have the cage tipped up so that the door is on top, rather than on the side)

[sid'smommy]

From what I can tell, by looking at pictures, I think they are younger than 8 weeks. ... They dont wean until 14 weeks (approx) ... plenty of time for mom to finish raising. if they dont peep holding thier legs, get a recording and play it... it might prompt them to start calling

[sdreamcatcher]

Hang the babies one at a time by the back legs, head down... It will make them start peeping for mom.

Are you serious?? Sorry,I wouldn't try that -- I found a recording online and played it under the tree. Star may be off foraging because I didn't see her. I did get the attention of their sibling though, wondering why I'm down here torturing babies he or she can't see :hidechair

I discovered this morning that my theory as to how the babies fell may be pretty close to actuality. They are still in a bin on my top bunk, in case they need anything in the night. They woke me up with their wrestling at 5;30 am, before sunrise -- wild boys!!

[Shewhosweptforest]

Ok so I was right:thumbsup you have Jazz too:) wow you are one lucky momma and they are sooo lucky you saved them....all's good in this part of the world:thumbsup

[sid'smommy]

Are you serious?? Sorry,I wouldn't try that -- I found a recording online and played it under the tree. Star may be off foraging because I didn't see her. I did get the attention of their sibling though, wondering why I'm down here torturing babies he or she can't see :hidechair

Yes, Im serious... and No, it wont hurt them at all :) just dont hold them up high, and be careful not to drop em

[quagmire]

Really liked that they both made it. Good Job! :thumbsup

[sdreamcatcher]

I found a video of a baby fox squirrel crying and it attracted Star from three trees away. Unfortunately I think I made her nervous as she raced to her nest and is staying in there with the other little one :/. Hopefully she will venture out soon and come down looking for treats. Normally she doesn't come down the tree till late evenings.

[Shewhosweptforest]

Ohhh she's a great mother:grouphug :thumbsup Have you decided to try and reunite:grouphug that would be great if you could....has the weather gotten any better....so it will be easier for her:dono well what ever happens the babes are safe and so is the mom...how often do we have that happy ending:thankyou :bowdown :grouphug

[Chickenlegs]

...how often do we have that happy ending:thankyou :bowdown :grouphug

Not often enough! Good job!