Nipples/syringes and bowls

[Mommaluvy]

Ok.. Now a question about the healthy ones :)
These guys are nothing like my last batch of cooperative semi easy babies.

So.. 13 weeks . Some of them have begun biting the tips of the nipples off! Twice this has happened and were very fortunate to have come off in one long piece that I was able to retrieve . ( it is two of the big girls... Hickory and Pruney ) I am hand feeding them through the bars.

I tried bowl feeding with the last batch and they got horrible milk burn on their faces ! So I would prefer not to go that route. Do they just need to wean? These three will be released in 2.5 weeks.

My other batch never behaved like this and never refused formula ever. Mine just seem to like it as long as I am offering.

[farrelli]

You're not overwintering? That's a very late release. How old will they be? Are you in a warm place? Will food, shelter, and trees with leaves be available?

[czarina]

I agree. I see you are in Ohio. I don't think I would release this late up there.

And that would seem kind of abrupt, to still be hand feeding, and then outside.

And I also agree with you, each batch is so different. Different little personalities, different coat textures. Just like kids, hmmm.

[Mommaluvy]

Well I have this problem and I am not sure how to handle it.
I am a sub permit and i am not sure exactly whose squirrels these are. I have been instructed to do this . Asap ..

Sure I know possession is nine tenths of the law but i am not sure how that works in a court ... Esp one on wild life possession.

I don't want to jepordize pissing this woman off and getting a visit from the dept of wildlife .. And never getting my license and repossessed potentially euthanized squirrels . I don't know how any of that works. Now maybe she wont do that .. I dunno.

She does check in on me periodically .. Its bad Enough that she actually told me to release my sick guy. She told me to release the one pooping blood. I intend to over winter him already. But i feel that I might actually have a legit defense with him since he is also under the care of a vet . ( Yes i have her message in writing too - pooping bood is normal apparently < sarc> ) But these guys are healthy .

I know tsb does not agree with release at 14/16 weeks. And its easy for yall to say. " do it our way" not your permit holders way. And in some ways i can do that. ( Like giving my sick one vet care , not STIMULATING 2 week olds, blocks and also medication . All things she did not think he needed nor agreed with . ) I could take TSB advice there ... But what if she demands the squirrels back? What if she finds out i am over wintering ? Telling her to take a hike is not really an option.


To answer your questions 14 weeks as per WMB book. These wil be 15 weeks . Yes .. I am feeding them. And watering them over the winter .. and have nest boxes with predator baffles . Some of our trees oaks - do keep ther leaves and evergreens .

Is it ideal ? No. But this discussion is not related to the topic of the op.

With all due respect .. if yall can find a legal way out of tis conundrum for me let me know. Otherwise please share advice and experience on how to keep them from choking to death on a broken nipple .

[czarina]

To your immediate concern, when they start chewing thru nipples, I stop using them. You can try offering formula just from the syringe, but chances are they will just chew that, tooSquirrels will be squirrels. Try offering a dish of formula, if they want it, they will figure out how to consume it.

And sorry, wasn't judging. And I feel for your situation. And. I think that most here do feel that 14/16 weeks is old enough for release, what I was worried about was if they would have time to be acclimated to their release cage, then have enough time to find their own territory, then build their drey and stock up on sundries before winter set in.

I think I would follow protocol. You do not want to be on the bad side of your state. They can and will do the unthinkable, if they find wildlife at your place when it shouldn't be there. And, they have the right to come and check anytime.

Don't know if you release by your home, if so, maybe supplement with nuts and blocks, (and maybe even a saucer of formula), throughout the winter. If you release somewhere else, I think all you can do is follow protocol and hope for the best.

I imagine it will cause you great worry, but I don't see what else you can do :dono
Maybe one day you could kind of just be "chit-chatting" with the woman you are under, and see how she feels about late releases. But if she's good to go to release them with rectal bleeding, then she probably is just by the book period.

Good luck, and be careful. Some states are stricter than others.:Love_Icon

[Mommaluvy]

To your immediate concern, when they start chewing thru nipples, I stop using them. You can try offering formula just from the syringe, but chances are they will just chew that, tooSquirrels will be squirrels. Try offering a dish of formula, if they want it, they will figure out how to consume it.

And sorry, wasn't judging. And I feel for your situation. And. I think that most here do feel that 14/16 weeks is old enough for release, what I was worried about was if they would have time to be acclimated to their release cage, then have enough time to find their own territory, then build their drey and stock up on sundries before winter set in.

I think I would follow protocol. You do not want to be on the bad side of your state. They can and will do the unthinkable, if they find wildlife at your place when it shouldn't be there. And, they have the right to come and check anytime.

Don't know if you release by your home, if so, maybe supplement with nuts and blocks, (and maybe even a saucer of formula), throughout the winter. If you release somewhere else, I think all you can do is follow protocol and hope for the best.

I imagine it will cause you great worry, but I don't see what else you can do :dono
Maybe one day you could kind of just be "chit-chatting" with the woman you are under, and see how she feels about late releases. But if she's good to go to release them with rectal bleeding, then she probably is just by the book period.

Good luck, and be careful. Some states are stricter than others.:Love_Icon

Thank you :) :Love_Icon I probably did over react in my response. Which was my fault . It's been a long road this summer . I apologize to you and Far. Your only doing what is right when you see something wrong . I just hate feeling like my hands are tied.

Unfortunately that convo was had last night. I asked her what to do with him.. Or what's the latest release ? Where I was told to let Chrysto go ! Blood and wobbly ness included . That's a hill I am willing to die on so to say.. Because even our state code says they must be healthy.. He is release able.. He is going to be released... He is just not healthy yet. His small sibling is also under 200 grams .. So I might be able to make the case she was not up to par and he needed a buddy. It's a nightmare. I am very divided because I am thankful she allowed me to sub permit but there are places I know she is wrong. I feel wretched about it. I can not I. Any way - release him in good conscious . Not in two weeks.. Hell he is still on medication! I could not even discuss it further with her I was just amazed. " I just said ok will let you know."

But for the other three who are healthy.. I have no real defense .

The healthy ones are in their pre release. I do release here on my property as I was not instructed otherwise.. So I can supplement them with food /blocks and water etc ...

I am curious about something you said - leave to find territory etc.. Do they not stay together for the winter? Cause I was led to believe late babies stayed in their moms with siblings nest overwinter?

I did get some slip tip syringes today while I was grabbing panacur I am sure they may chew it.. But we will see.

I will breathe a sigh of relief IF I am granted my own permit. I have questions already written down for the mandatory training next month. And I am pretty sure our state allows over wintering to some degree as I have talked to other Ohio members herein TSB who do have over winter situations. I only wish I was close enough to them to beg a sub permit.

In fact I have a copy of our regs here.. So... I might spend some time combing them.

[HRT4SQRLS]

MommaLuvy, you might want to contact eric taylor. I would send him a PM and see if he is near you. He is a licensed rehabber in Ohio. He found a baby squirrel (a baby Downs squirrel ..Peepers.. , that didn't live long) a couple years ago and it turned his world upside. He become a licensed rehabber in Ohio and the last I heard is still very busy rehabbing wildlife. He might be a good contact for you and I'm sure he can give you some tips about the law in your state.

Last year I released three squirrels in November. (Of course, I'm in FL so late releases are possible). They did stay together for the winter. They had nest boxes but instead moved under the release cage roof. I fed them through the winter. In the spring they went their own way.

[Mommaluvy]

I'll try him. Thanks.

I ask about the "family group" cause
Three weeks later I see Pip and Sunshine still using the nest box.

I see Tessa every day.. I might see Basil but I am not sure about him. He was always the more aggressive of the four and the most skittish at the same time.. Hence the name Basil the biter ... But this fourth squirrel plays and eats with the other three.. I am just not sure where he and Tessa are spending their nights. There are baby squirrels all over my yard and only four of them are "mine" . I even have a momma with babies that visits daily.

[Mommaluvy]

I got ahold of Eric. The news was not great. Legally .. it is as I suspected.

But it was hopeful for the sick ones in question.. sorta. There are a few options.

He said he would love to have me next year and I can always apply to him for sub status. :grin2

He also said to tell you HRT " Hi Ya Sweet heart ".

He spent nearly two hours on the phone with me. Nice guy. Wish I had run into him as a mentor first :P

[czarina]

Mommaluvy, really glad you found a "positive" contact. Hopefully that can help get some of the stress off your back. At least now you have a "go-to-person" who isn't all gloom and doom.:Love_Icon

And sometimes, sadly, I have to remind myself that I can't save the world, and just do the best I can to make my little corner of it a tad better. Sigh. But you kind sound of like me, and I get aggravated that I can't do more, or people just plain don't care. (I better be careful, I feel like I might be getting ready to hop back on my soapbox.)

Just know that you ARE appreciated for what you do, and your loving nature. Sometimes one has to bend the rules a little, to do what you know is right. (Just don't get caught!)
Perhaps have a safe place to keep an xtra animal that can't be inspected.

:Love_Icon:grouphug:Love_Icon:grouphug:Love_Icon:g rouphug:Love_Icon

[HRT4SQRLS]

I got ahold of Eric. The news was not great. Legally .. it is as I suspected.

But it was hopeful for the sick ones in question.. sorta. There are a few options.

He said he would love to have me next year and I can always apply to him for sub status. :grin2

He also said to tell you HRT " Hi Ya Sweet heart ".

He spent nearly two hours on the phone with me. Nice guy. Wish I had run into him as a mentor first :P

:grin2 Tell Eric Hi Ya friend from HRT. Tell him to check in occasionally. :tinfoil

I'm glad Eric is a good contact. I thought he might be close to you. He IS a very nice guy. It's good to get advice from a third party in a situation like yours. I think you would enjoy working with Eric and I doubt you would encounter the type of conflict that you're experiencing now.

Eric came here like most others (green as grass) and his love/heartbreak over Peepers motivated him to pursue wildlife rehab. Eric is a good man.

I really hope that you can work out the issues. If you release your kids you can support them through the winter. You'll be surprised how creative you can get when it comes to your kids. As far as the sick one, I just wouldn't do it.

[Mommaluvy]

:grin2 Tell Eric Hi Ya friend from HRT. Tell him to check in occasionally. :tinfoil

I'm glad Eric is a good contact. I thought he might be close to you. He IS a very nice guy. It's good to get advice from a third party in a situation like yours. I think you would enjoy working with Eric and I doubt you would encounter the type of conflict that you're experiencing now.

Eric came here like most others (green as grass) and his love/heartbreak over Peepers motivated him to pursue wildlife rehab. Eric is a good man.

I really hope that you can work out the issues. If you release your kids you can support them through the winter. You'll be surprised how creative you can get when it comes to your kids. As far as the sick one, I just wouldn't do it.


He said he would be checking in soon now that the season was winding down. I forgot how many animals he said he still had but it made my nine look like a drop in the bucket.

[Mommaluvy]

Mommaluvy, really glad you found a "positive" contact. Hopefully that can help get some of the stress off your back. At least now you have a "go-to-person" who isn't all gloom and doom.:Love_Icon

And sometimes, sadly, I have to remind myself that I can't save the world, and just do the best I can to make my little corner of it a tad better. Sigh. But you kind sound of like me, and I get aggravated that I can't do more, or people just plain don't care. (I better be careful, I feel like I might be getting ready to hop back on my soapbox.)

Just know that you ARE appreciated for what you do, and your loving nature. Sometimes one has to bend the rules a little, to do what you know is right. (Just don't get caught!)
Perhaps have a safe place to keep an xtra animal that can't be inspected.

:Love_Icon:grouphug:Love_Icon:grouphug:Love_Icon:g rouphug:Love_Icon


Thank you . It is aggravating. To say the least. I mean this little guy has been through so much.

He seems like a great mentor. He spent more time with me on the phone last night than well.. Anyone else has collectively since July 4th. He seemed to actually LISTEN to my concerns.


Ill keep yall posted ;)