HELP! Found baby squirrels!

[Oregonian]

Hi everyone,
My husband and I have a large (open) cage on our deck that has a squirrel box in it. We always leave it open and leave food out there and occasionally we get some overnight visitors.

Today we heard some squeaking and since we can't really see in the box we put a camera in there and found, to our great surprise, a pile of baby squirrels. It's been about 6 hours since we first discovered them and we have not seen mom at all. This cage is right up against our sliding glass door and we have been watching all day.

Our concern is that mom isn't coming back, that they may be starving, it's hot, and that one or more of them is already dead. Can you look at these pictures and tell if they are in a situation where we need to intervene? If so how quickly? I see too many ribs and at least one of them looks too gray to be alive to me.

If we do intervene there is no way we can take care of all of them and hope that there is someone nearby who will take them for us.

Tell me what to do please!!

[lennysmom]

Six hours does seem like a long time for mom to stay gone... they are several weeks old, but they do look thin.:( If mom doesn't come back soon, they may need some help. I'm no expert on this, but I'm sure others will chime in soon.

[Oregonian]

These pictures are all an hour or two apart. I'm very afraid that one of them on the bottom hasn't moved and looks very white/gray and may be dead. And we can see a couple of flies buzzing around too.

And I can't believe there are SEVEN of them. That's a huge litter.

We are sitting here so worried right now. We raised and released a baby foxer that we found in our back yard five years ago, which is why we have the cage and the box. We just love squirrels.

[HappyLittleSquirrely]

Oh dear. :(

[farrelli]

Where in Oregon are you? I'll PM a member (Duckman) who I think it from that general area. If he's not close, he might know of someone.

[farrelli]

Btw, is it dark there? Can you check in after dark and see if mom's there?

[Oregonian]

We're in Beaverton. It's about an hour away from full dark.

Does anyone think we should take them out and give them pedialite? Or should we continue waiting for mom?

[HRT4SQRLS]

Oh my, I have never heard of a litter of seven. That is huge. :eek
Six hours does seem too long to me also. I think you need to intervene. They do look very thin. If mom does come back, you could always return them to her. She will take them back, although with that many she might leave a few for you to raise. :tilt

If one looks dead and flys are coming I would take them inside. The first thing I would do is warm them on a heating pad. The heating pad should be on low under 1/2 of the container. After they are warm I would hydrate them with homemade hydration fluid. The recipe is 3 Tablespoon of sugar, 1 teaspoon of salt Mixed in 1 quart of warm water. Baby squirrels usually readily take the hydration fluid. That's the first step.

I would continue to watch for mom. Hopefully someone can link you up with a rehabber tomorrow.
Sorry, it's 11PM here so I have to sign off. Others will help you also but warming and hydration are the first steps.

[Oregonian]

Here's another picture. There is a fly sitting on one of the ones we think is dead. I think we are going to pull them out.

[HappyLittleSquirrely]

If it's after dark and no mom,(just my opinion) Time to break out the pedialyte.

[Shewhosweptforest]

Oh yes! Please get them out :shakehead Poor babies....as HRT4SQRLS said ...be sure to warm them before you hydrate...that is very important :thumbsup Poor littles :( I believe Mom may have left them at your doorstep...on purpose :eek Either way you can put them back out tomorrow, in a box in the cage (with a rice buddy to keep them warm), and see if mom comes back and moves them back into the nestbox. I sure hope nothing happened to her :( :thankyou for taking care of them :bowdown :Love_Icon

[Nancy in New York]

Pull them out, and warm them first slowly, before giving anything by mouth. At the bare minimum 45 minutes.
Remember to warm them slowly on low heat only.
Get a heating pad and place the container on half of the pad, set the pad temperature on
LOW. Put lots of fleece in the container so they can snuggle but also get away from the
heat if it gets too warm.
Do you have syringes, feed them in an upright position when you do start hydrating them.
Do you have formula?
You will have to stimulate them too to urinate and to defecate.

Have you ever raised squirrels before?

[SQUIRRELSAREME]

I would bring them in for the night. They do look very skinny. Put in small container with heating pad under half container set on low. Lots of fleece so they can hid under neath or crawl on top if they get to warm.They need to be warm befor feeding.

[Oregonian]

We opened the box. Sure enough, five alive, two dead. I'm so SAD!

We're warming them now and going to the store for pedialite.

[Nancy in New York]

We opened the box. Sure enough, five alive, two dead. I'm so SAD!

We're warming them now and going to the store for pedialite.
Do you have a 1 cc syringe?
Do they have maggots? If so you need Capstar.



Do you have a 1 cc syringe?
Do they have maggots? If so you need Capstar.
Thank you for helping these poor innocent little lives.

[farrelli]

You might also pick up a can of Esbilac puppy powder with probiotics (at many pet stores) and a few 1cc syringes without needles. Many pharmacists will give them for free if you say they're for a puppy/kitten.

240732

[Nancy in New York]

Where in Oregon are you? I'll PM a member (Duckman) who I think it from that general area. If he's not close, he might know of someone.

farrelli, did you get ahold of Duckman?

[farrelli]

I PMd him.

[tree-queen]

Glad you are helping them. I could pick out the two that looked "wrong" in the pictures..

So sad.

Keep them warm and hydrated. Hopefully tomorrow Duckman can be reached for help.

I also want to know where in Oregon you are. I am in Idaho, but Oregon border is a an hour or two away so in an emergency I may be able to help you as well if Duckman or another member cannot.

[SQUIRRELSAREME]

Are you going to try to raise them yourself? If so I can over night some supplies . Or meet half way to pick them up. I am in Kirkland Wa. Duckman is closer. He is in Vancouver

[Nancy in New York]

I PMd him.

Thank you!
I think that SammysMom has his phone number to text him.
I have it somewhere, but WHERE? :dono
I will contact her and perhaps she can text him.

[farrelli]

I see Duckman back online. I think he'll respond shortly.

[farrelli]

Oh, and follow proper feeding technique for food and hydration so as to avoid pneumonia:

http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?36777-PROPER-FEEDING-TECHNIQUE!!

[Nancy in New York]

I see Duckman back online. I think he'll respond shortly.

Perfect! :thumbsup

[Duckman]

Squirrelsareme called me and I have sent a PM. I can get them tomorrow (hopefully they can be fed soon).

[tree-queen]

I found where you said your location. Far for me but the other lovely members that are closer will help you.

[Nancy in New York]

Squirrelsareme called me and I have sent a PM. I can get them tomorrow (hopefully they can be fed soon).


I just heard that you are up to your eyeballs too with little ones.
You are really earning your angel wings lately. (as Chickenlegs would say.....:grin2)

[Duckman]

Oregonian is on her way here now. They should be in my hands in the next 45 minutes to an hour.

[SQUIRRELSAREME]

Glad to hear this. Nice to know you didn't have to go get them this time. Looking forward to meeting you this week end at the squirrel festable.

[Nancy in New York]

Oregonian is on her way here now. They should be in my hands in the next 45 minutes to an hour.

WOW......seriously, you are absolutely the hero of the week!~ :bowdown

[farrelli]

You have time for a squirrel festival? Clearly you don't have enough on your plate! :rolf

[SQUIRRELSAREME]

Ops guess I shouldn't have said that.:)

[Duckman]

Babies are here. 3 boys and 2 girls. SEVERELY dehydrated, but they all took pedilyte (yeah! No sub-qing the poor babies!!) and tomorrow morning I will start on diluted formula. Many thanks to Oregonian for bringing these little angels to me, because I don't think they would have been around for me to pick up tomorrow.

[lennysmom]

Wow, now this is what I call fast response time for these precious babies! Duckman, you are just wonderful! I am so glad to know these five little ones are in very capable hands now being cared for. :thumbsup Great save Oregorian! :) Without you, all of these babies would have probably died. Thank you for caring and for finding help for them. :thankyou

[pappy1264]

Thank goodness you looked!!! Wow, that was alot of babies! Duckman, you rock!!! Great save, praying very hard!!

[ctmom]

Praying for these little ones.

[Nancy in New York]

Babies are here. 3 boys and 2 girls. SEVERELY dehydrated, but they all took pedilyte (yeah! No sub-qing the poor babies!!) and tomorrow morning I will start on diluted formula. Many thanks to Oregonian for bringing these little angels to me, because I don't think they would have been around for me to pick up tomorrow.

:bowdown Simply amazing!

[Shewhosweptforest]

:bowdown Such good news to come back on to :shakehead the picture of those babies was stuck in my head last night :( Soo sad about the two that were lost ....rest now wee little babies:boohoo At least the others have a chance now...thanks to Oregonian and Duckman :bowdown :Love_Icon

:shakehead Poor momma...I wonder what she was thinking :dono Get them to safety? :boohoo

[MsOakley]

Here in FL I've never seen a litter that large. Even 5 is rare. Another heart warming TSB save!!!!!

[Duckman]

Babies have had their second sitting of diluted food and are rehydrated fully. They are still calling mama every 30 minutes (which just breaks my heart), but otherwise they are adapting really well. They will probably be going to another rehabber today (I don't want to split them up), since 11 pinkies is just too much, while trying to also work full time and take care of the other juveniles here (and sleep. Yes, I said sleep. 30 minutes 3 time per night just isn't going to cut it! :grin3).

[Nancy in New York]

Babies have had their second sitting of diluted food and are rehydrated fully. They are still calling mama every 30 minutes (which just breaks my heart), but otherwise they are adapting really well. They will probably be going to another rehabber today (I don't want to split them up), since 11 pinkies is just too much, while trying to also work full time and take care of the other juveniles here (and sleep. Yes, I said sleep. 30 minutes 3 time per night just isn't going to cut it! :grin3).

Bless your heart and these little one's too! :Love_Icon
If they go to another rehabber tell her to join the board, and that
we need pictures. She probably has nothing better to do anyway. :rolf

[czarina]

Duckman, I've said it before. Hell, we've all said it. You absolutely rock! :rockin
I know they are going to another rehabber, but your heart is as big as Montana. There is no telling how many squirrel lives you have saved! There just aren't enough thanks to say.

This is a very interesting case. That is a huge litter, and we all know how smart squirrels are, is it possible mama brought them there because they feed the wilds, and she knew she couldn't feed them? Animals aren't susposed to be able to reason. I suppose it could of been a young mama, but that is a lot of work to carry 7 baby squirrels to a new location. I love Mother Nature!

[puppetgal]

I love reading happy ending stories like this! Thats what makes this board so amazing! You all pull together for the love of a squirrel! In this case 5! Ive learned so much from you all and still do! You are all so very special :) it takes a huge heart to do what you do:Love_Icon
This is truly a family on this board! :grouphug
Mr Duckman: Im sure I speak for all on this one: Thank you for stepping up to the plate! you have a houseful now and I know I we would love to see pics of them too!
my heart overfloweth!

[Doneva]

When I met Duckman last Saturday, he showed me photos on his phone of the babies in his care. He is a very busy guy! And he has a heart big enough to take on even more! Being so new here, and just now having time to make my way around, I'm going to say what many said to me. Duckman is the man! These little babies are fortunate, first, to be found in time by Oregonian. Second, for Oregonian to come to TSB where so many knowledgeable squirrel lovers are at the ready to help. And third, but by no means last, to have fallen under the immediate care of Duckman. The teamwork here is unbeatable! I will definitely be following this thread. RIP, 2 sweet little siblings. Oregonian...:Love_Icon:Love_Icon:Love_Icon

[Doneva]

Just checking for baby updates!

[anniedancer]

What a wonderful thing to read this morning!
I didn't know squirrels could even have 7 babies. That is amazing.
Annie

[Bravo]

7 Babies :eek What a save! One of the better stories I've read this week. :thumbsup

[Duckman]

The 5 babies that arrived on Sunday were stabilized and transferred to a volunteer on Monday night, because I got in 8 more pinkies (giving me a total of 11 on hand) and I am the only one who has any luck with pinkies. I am working on getting an update on them, but if there had been a problem with them, I would have been the first one notified.

:grouphug