HOW TO TREAT FLEAS ON WILD 2 WEEK OLD BABIES

[Trooper]

My wild outdoor living eastern female Runty has had her second litter of pinkies, four in total. Her sister Scratchy has also her litter, but we don't know how many on her batch.

Because runty lives in our homemade nest and she has her babies there, I was able to rig a infra-red camera and took some pictures as they grew up. Today after I was analyzing some pics, I noticed a lot of fleas on the babies (see yellow circles on closeup).

I can get the babies when Runty goes foraging and treat them, but wanted to know what is the best approach:
1- I have Revolution for Kittens and puppies, shall use it and how much (babies are about 2.5 to 3 weeks old, closed eyes and fur starting to grow on tail).
2- If I use Revolution, what about Runty when she comes back, will she lick the babies off the Revolution and make her sick?
3- Shall I rub on the babies diatomaceous earth food grade I got for food storage to combat bugs, and know that it is used successfully on dogs and other pets?
4- Any other advice on how to treat the babies?
5- Since Runty is kind of skittish from being a mommy, it is very hard to touch her, but she gets food right out of our hands several times a day and from her own personal dumbwaiter. What can I give her to help her with her fleas other than Revolution?

Any help or comment on what to do will be appreciated.

Regards,

Trooper's dad and Runty and Scratchy….

[Rhapsody]

Revolution can not be used on squirrels under 8 weeks of age, therefore, that is out of the question.
You could sprinkle some DE around in the nest area and hope the fleas crawl through the dust so the
fleas will get the DE dust on them then dry up and die.

Rosemary spray made from Rosemary clippings & boiled water is a natural way to go with fleas.
(google it)

[squirrelsrule&bunniestoo]

Dawn dish soap works great. Just give them a bath with that and then rinse them and blow dry them and they should be good to go!

[Trooper]

Rhapsody: Thank you very much!!!! I thought Revolution would be too much for such a tiny baby, that is why I wanted to double-check the right age at which it can be: 8 weeks or older.

Regarding the DE: of course sprinkle around the nest, but what about the babies back?

Also can I sprinkle it on Runty's back?

Lastly, do you know if Runty would be bothered by the rosemary spray. I would hate to do it and have her migrate to another nest at this stage. She is very safe and we get a kick out of seeing the whole process go by day-by-day. Attached pic of Runty on top of nest, old "Missing Feather" red hawk that we need to scare off every once in a while with a laser show box and Runty begging food from my favorite T-shirt.

Thanks,

Trooper's dad

[Sweet Simon's Mommy]

I am with Rhapsody here

If you take a wet paper towel with , add dawn dish washing liquid to it. Wipe babies gently with it , they will come off.
Rosemary water
Boil 2 cups water,
add a few sprigs of fresh rosemary or 2 TBs. dried,
simmer for 20 minutes.
put in spray bottle and spray the bedding

[Trooper]

I am with Rhapsody here

If you take a wet paper towel with , add dawn dish washing liquid to it. Wipe babies gently with it , they will come off.
Rosemary water
Boil 2 cups water,
add a few sprigs of fresh rosemary or 2 TBs. dried,
simmer for 20 minutes.
put in spray bottle and spray the bedding

Sweet Simon's Mommy: thanks for the additional details. Can you venture to say, since this is my first wild nest I ever had interaction with, if Runty could be bothered by the rosemary spray? We are concerned about shooing her off if the smell of rosemary is something they would not like in a squirrel nest.

Are you or Rhapsody commenting on the rosemary spray being used before on a nest or on NR in captivity? Sorry to emphasize on this point, but I am only trying to give Runty and her 4 babies a better chance of growing up pest free, but on the other hand I don't want to stress them with mi interaction.

However I have great respect for past experiences and empirical knowledge, so I will heed your advice if you think it might not bother Runty (even if it bothers the babies, they have no choice in the matter).

Thanks,

Trooper's dad and Runty & Scratchy Grandad now!

[Rhapsody]

You can just spray the rosemary around the nest box on the bottom of the nest box (inside) and
the fleas will leave the area if you are concerned about placing it on the squirrels..... as some
animals, while rare, could have an irritation to the rosemary. Some people use this spray or mix to
wash their dogs in while others just spray or wipe the dogs (and cats) fur down with it to keep fleas
off their beloved animals.

[Rhapsody]

Are you or Rhapsody commenting on the rosemary spray being used before on a nest or on NR in captivity? Sorry to emphasize on this point, but I am only trying to give Runty and her 4 babies a better chance of growing up pest free, but on the other hand I don't want to stress them with mi interaction. This spray can be used in captivity or in the wild...... around or in the nest box. I am using it on my house pets as we speak...... :grin2

[Trooper]

This spray can be used in captivity or in the wild...... around or in the nest box. I am using it on my house pets as we speak...... :grin2

Rhapsody: thanks again, I will do tonight and hope it will not bother Runty. Thank you for the quick response.

Regards,

Trooper's dad

[Sweet Simon's Mommy]

Are you sure Mom is still going in that nest?? Usually babies who still have mom dont have fleas ?? :thinking
Maybe I'm wrong.....
But Yes spray away.

[Trooper]

Simon's Mommy: Oh yes, every day we have a routine feed in the morning by hand and dumbwaiter, mid-day by hand and self feed in the late hours, Mommy sits on the nest with her head poking out like Leo the Lion of MGM! Runty was a rescue girl along two other sibblings that became our permanent backyard fixture. She is there allright. Now the comment you made about babies with mom don't have fleas, is that a fact?

I will try the rosemary spray and diatomaceous earth approach.

Thanks,

[Sweet Simon's Mommy]

I always thought so, doesn't mean I am right...

[Trooper]

I wonder since Runty, Scratchy and Blackie were raised in captivity until release time without ever having had fleas, if they could possibly not know how to deal with them. it is like cats that don't know how to catch mice unless they were trained by their moms when they were kittens: it has to be shown or taught.

On the other hand grooming could be engrained in their DNA as an instinct. Funny that my Runty does not clean her babies up.

Learn something new every day, for sure!

Thanks,

Trooper's dad

[CritterMom]

I know everyone says it is ok...but I propose a compromise. Make up the spray and put a little on a cloth and put it near her when she is out and about and observe. I would hate to see her desert her nest because of the smell. I LOVE rosemary but it is really strong.

Do you have another box? You could set it up with CLEAN bedding near this one - she might move which would let you get the dirty stuff out.