Rehabber needed in Louisiana/Southern Mississippi area

[mishmao]

Hi there everyone,

I am brand new to this forum but I figured it would be the place to get help. I tried ringing some numbers I found on a different website but have had no luck so far. (I got through to one rehabber in Metairie who has no more room at the moment.)

Basically I spotted a barred owl in my garden this morning. It had a squirrel on the ground and I watched it fly away with something in it's talons. Afterwards we went outside and my dog discovered that there was another squirrel not far from where the owl had been. I'm not sure what happened exactly but this little guy is a baby I think, although his eyes are open. He has a pretty thin tail and from photos online I would guess maybe 6 or 7 weeks? He was pretty frightened and out in the open so we put him in a box with a little blanket and left him there so that his mother could come fetch him. Well, the mum didn't come.

So, I took him inside in the box and frantically searched the internet for what to do. I tried to get some periolyte into him but I was not very successful. I left some water and some cashew nuts and pine nuts in his box and I was worried that he would just fade away.

As it turns out, I went back to the box and he had eaten half a cashew nut. He also seems sleepy but warm to the touch and he has no visible injuries, nor does he seem tender in any limb or on his body. I tried to help him toilet and he did a little poo but no pee. I think he has to be dehydrated but I think he has some life in him yet.

So, therefore, my request is for a rehabber in the area (I am in Slidell, LA). I have never tried to care for a squirrel before - I will do what I can but would be very happy to find someone who is licensed to rehab squirrels who can look after this little guy and then release him into the wild.

Please let me know if you can help.

Thanks so much,

Lisa

[farrelli]

We will try to help, but for now, please read the following for care:

http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?21626-EMERGENCY-CARE-FOR-BABY-SQUIRRELS

He's inside, right?

If you don;t get a reply, ask again. The board is very busy lately. I will also ask to get this thread moved to a place where it'll get more attention.

[ALittleNutty]

I am not licensed but I am in the Gulfport area. I release on my property. I have two boys about the same age right now. If you can do the goat's milk formula and provide basic care until Tuesday I can meet you that afternoon and get him if you don't find anyone closer.

[ALittleNutty]

You can mix up 1.5 tablespoons sugar, 2 cups water and 1/2 teaspoon salt for a homemade re-hydrating solution. After the first 24 hours of this make it without the salt.

Powdered goat's milk can be found at most grocery stores and Wal-Mart. Mix according to the instructions on the can.

3 parts goat's milk
1 part vanilla yogurt with no artificial sweeteners. Yoplait Original with the red label is good.

Feed this for two feedings and then you can add 1 part heavy whipping cream.

Always feed very warm and to the warm squirrel.

[czarina]

I am a little further south in Louisiana, and just left your area yesterday, finally getting home about nine pm. I actually met up with A LittleNutty. She would provide excellant care for your baby.
If you cannot work it out with her, I could also take him.

[mishmao]

Hi everyone! Thank you for your replies.

I actually that "he" could be a "she"! :D

I currently have him/her inside a box with a little fleecy blanket. I am going to transfer her to one of my cat carriers I think.

I also have good news - she made it through the night and seems to be quite perky. I left a couple of cashews and some water in a little dish inside her box and she has definitely eaten some (she's not the tidiest of eaters, clearly.. lol). I don't know if she has taken in any fluids, although when I pulled her fur up a little it did seem like there had been an improvement in bounce back. I just can't tell though properly. Is it possible that she is urinating on her own if she is eating solids? I have tried to stimulate her but only poop came out last night and today nothing. It may be that I am not doing it right.

I will follow the instructions you've given me as best as I can and it would be great if I could transfer her to Gulfport on Tuesday. How well do squirrels cope with car journeys? Any advice for that?

Once again thanks for the replies. I was so worried that I wouldn't be able to find anyone and whilst I would have done my best to help her (I love animals and have three cats and a dog) I just don't know what I am doing. She is the second baby squirrel we have found in a year but last time the squirrel died very quickly as it had serious injuries from its fall I think. It's good to know what to do if we (well it's always my dog that finds them) find anymore.

[Shewhosweptforest]

:thumbsup Great news! I'm glad she made it thought the night, and help is close at hand :grouphug

mishmao :thankyou for taking it this little guy :bowdown You saved his or her life :hug That's makes you a hero in my book! And the help being offered in your area is the best :thankyou ALittleNutty and carzina....you guys are always ready :bowdown :grouphug

[ALittleNutty]

Just keep pushing the homemade hydration and formula. I will send you a private message this evening and work out the details.

[mishmao]

Thank you so much. :D

[ALittleNutty]

You are welcome. Have company in from out of town so I'll be offline until this evening. Enjoy your Sunday!

[mishmao]

I'm very happy to report that Cashew (as we're now calling her) has taken in some fluids. She absolutely gobbled back a couple of full droppers of the milk subsititute! I then tried to stimulate her again and she did another little poop.

She's been munching on the cashew nuts I gave her and we're going to pop to the shop in a while to get her some fruit and some of that plain yoghurt.

Thanks very much for all the info. I think she might just make it!

:D

Here is a photo of her feeling a bit snoozy after her drink.

243469

[ALittleNutty]

If you don't mind just give her the formula and nothing else right now. I will start her on blocks and veggies after she gets a good start on the formula. Giving her nuts right now is like giving a toddler dessert first. She'll be fine on just the formula until Tuesday. I can meet you about halfway around Bay St. Louis on Tuesday. I am not sure what time yet but it would probably be after lunch.

[ALittleNutty]

Got back in a little earlier than I expected and I forgot to answer you about travel. Most of them do just fine in a cat carrier with lots of fleece to snuggle into. You can make her a rice buddy to help keep her warm. If you put about a half a cup of rice in a tube sock and twist it closed and wrap it back over itself, twist again and wrap again place it the microwave for a minute and then squish it around to make sure there aren't any hot spots, then tuck this under her fleece to snuggle with. It will last for an hour or so.

Love the pic! Just adorable and I love the name too! She will be buddies with Oak and Ash so a tree name will fit right in. :)

[mishmao]

Oops! I'm sorry about the cashews - I was just thinking it was good that she had eaten something... but she seems pretty strong at the moment so I'm more positive about her chances. :D

Also, I'm so glad she will have squirrel company. She seems to miss her family so much. :( I think the owl ate her mum and took away a sibling.

[czarina]

:poop:poop:poop:poop:poop:poop:poop


I love it! Nobody gets as excited about poop as squirrel folks do!


:poop:poop:poop:poop:poop:poop:banana:hyper:banana :bow:poop:grin3

Glad you got things worked out.

:thankyou. So much for caring for this baby. Its folks like that make this planet better.

[ALittleNutty]

It's okay. Most people think squirrels = nuts. :grin2 At this age though momma is still nursing them. So sorry about the momma and the sibling. Hopefully Cashew will straighten these boys out, lol! They are full of themselves.

[ALittleNutty]

:poop:poop:poop:poop:poop:poop:poop


I love it! Nobody gets as excited about poop as squirrel folks do!


:poop:poop:poop:poop:poop:poop:banana:hyper:banana :bow:poop:grin3

Glad you got things worked out.

:thankyou. So much for caring for this baby. Its folks like that make this planet better.
What would these squirrels do without all of us nuts?!?!?! :rotfl:rotfl:rotfl

[farrelli]

No droppers. Use a syringe. You can pick one up from most pharmacies. ANd follow proper technique - head pointed down, syringe up:

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

[RobinTN]

:wave123 Hi mishmao, so glad you found TSB, this place is :Love_Icongreat:Love_Icon


:grouphugYou've done a wonderful thing by helping this little cutie pie, so :thankyou:thankyou:thankyou

I did the same thing when I 1st found my little girl, gave her a cashew right off the bat before I knew any better. It didn't hurt her, but boy did she love it!!!
The part that really has me tickled is that I named my girly Cashew, too:grin3 That quickly shortened to Cash or Cashie, which further mutated into :Love_IconCassie:Love_Icon
I got a huge kick out of hearing you'd named your little nut Cashew too! :poke

[mishmao]

Lol! I have just seen these replies. :D

Well, I got a bit better at looking after her (I think). I switched to a syringe and dropped the cashews but she did manage to stash some I think and she also escaped a couple of times looking for more and then called me to come help her. Lol.

She's a funny little girl. She began trusting me in the end. I'd put my arm in and she would happily climb up, then snuggle in or climb down the back of my top to fall asleep!

I shall miss her but it is best she is with someone who actually knows how to feed her, what to feed her and how much!

Alittlenutty now has the pleasure of her company. :D

Thanks again everyone for all your help. I'm so glad she survived! :D

[ALittleNutty]

Cashew is settled in and just sucked down her full 7% according to her weight of 64 grams. She's a little thin but it only took a few seconds for her to catch on how to suck on the miracle nipple instead of chewing it. She wanted more but I am going to give her a couple of hours and then check her milk line and if it's gone she will get more. I'll just go by that to space her feedings out right now and help her fill out.

She is a sweetheart but VERY vocal. She reminds me so much of Screech, a little male I had a couple of years ago.

I introduced her to Oak and Ash for a few minutes and everyone was very curious about each other. I'll give it a few days with her in a carrier next to their cage and keep a close eye before she goes in with them. For now she has a small stuffie to cuddle with for company.

I'll try to get some pics at the next feeding and will be posting updates on my "Eight Is Enough" thread in the Nursery.

[mishmao]

Oh wow! That is great news. :D

I did have troubles with her trying to bite the end of the syringe too. I just didn't quite get the hang of it I don't think. I was petrified of aspirating her the entire time. She also tried nibbling on my finger a few times. No pain, just kind of funny.

With her being vocal it kind of increased as time went on and she'd call me if she wanted some company or something to drink (I think). I guess she is finally getting over the shock of that great horned owl attack. She was kind of bewildered and quiet for the first day and I just didn't know if she had been injured but over time it was clear she was fine. She is a little rascal now! :D

So, I thought I'd post a photo of the person (well animal really) who I need to thank for saving Cashew. If it hadn't been for my dog Loki finding her and alerting me to her presence she may have gone unnoticed and perhaps experienced a different fate (and our garden is massive so we might never have seen her ourselves). I'll keep an eye out for updates. Thank you again.

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[ALittleNutty]

Thank you Loki! What a beautiful dog and an excellent squirrel locator. Keep your supplies you used handy. Seems like once a squirrel finds it's way into your life, more will follow at least that has been my experience. Take care and I promise to keep you updated on Cashew's progress.