mangy squirrels in the yard

[merluv16]

My squirrels in the yard eat from the bird feeders and from the ground. I have noticed three that have lost all hair or have partial hair loss. One is in terrible shape. i've been trying to figure out what to do for a long time. Do you have any suggestions on how I can treat all of the squirrels without capturing them? I fear it will spread to all the squirrels.

[Spanky]

Can you post a picture of them so we can see how it appears?

[merluv16]

I am trying!!

[merluv16]

squirrel pic258119 Obviously I don't know what I'm doing.

[Spanky]

Is it fairly easy to tell them apart? Would you be able to get each one a treat / nut with medicine and make sure none of them gets 2 of the nuts with meds?

[merluv16]

No, I don't think it is possible unless I capture it. There are 3 at different stages of hair loss and the one in the picture is really much worse now. And there are many still healthy looking. Will it spread to them, my dog and birds?

[Spanky]

Capturing / trapping these guys would be very stressful for them and they are already compromised.

Others have had success in treating mange/mites by tossing the squirrel a nut with a teeny bit of Ivermectin 1.87% paste for horses. I have never treated a wild for this so I am just sharing info I have read here on TSB. You can get this at a Tractor Supply store.
258122

But you'd have to be certain that each squirrel eats only one nut with the medication. Here is a link discussing this:
http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?48032-ivermectin-dose&highlight=ivermectin

[merluv16]

Thanks for your help. I'll let you know new developments.

[crazy4squirrels]

One drop of Revolution on a shelled nut will work.

[merluv16]

I have had some success! I bought Ivermectin paste, waited for my very sick looking squirrel to show up after all other healthy ones were taking their siestas. I took out an almond to see if he would eat it without the others around. He did so I prepared the tiniest amount of Ivermectin (half rice grain size) on a half almond and placed it on his box to see if he would be the one to get it. He was!! I've been trying to see him each day same time with an almond. I saw him the very next day but only for a moment. Today he showed up after two others had pigged out for a while. I couldn't believe my eyes. He has gone from no hair and black leathery skin to a little buzz cut, kind of like peach fuzz, but a little longer. The picture I posted last week didn't come close to showing how bad off he was. Now if I can just manage to give him a week 2 treatment tomorrow.

[merluv16]

258447

[kcassidy]

YAY good job! Looks like you are on the right track. You can also get liquid ivermectin from your vet (if they will give it to you) and that is more potent and easy to administer as well.

I se it for foxes that I can't catch.

I can't imagine having this proble and not being able to treat it. Poor Squees and poor animals who have no hoomins helping. 😣

[TubeDriver]

Stick with the 1.87% paste, it is effective and the dose is fairly easy to administer since it is oral and tastes good!

Give an identical second dose in 8-10 days and a final third dose after 8-10 more days.


The first dose kills adult mites, the second dose kills the recently hatched mites (the first dose will not kill the eggs) and the third and final dose is just for good measure and to kill any mites that are remaining in their nest.

Remember that ivermectin is a potent toxin so always err on the side of giving too little, that is much better than giving them too much.

They should be looking a LOT better in a couple weeks!:thumbsup

[merluv16]

Thank you. I'll keep you posted.

[merluv16]

I really can't believe I had such luck for the second treatment. I had been putting an almond out every day at the same time after the other squirrels seemed to have finished. My game plan has been to wait until I saw him looking for food, scurry out with his almond and come back in to make sure he was the one that got it. Then I would take more food out. Just like a charm, he came right back on his day for the Ivermectin (tiniest amount again) once I got inside and settled with the binoculars. He ate it! Just like last time, I did not see him the next day. But he came back and seems to be improving again. Today when I saw him by himself, I took out his untreated nut and he waited in the tree above and came right down as I was heading back in. Next time may not be as easy because he's venturing out to eat with the healthy squirrels again. They have not been chasing him away as fast which must mean he's much better. I never saw the others I originally identified as beginning to lose some hair weeks ago.

[TubeDriver]

:thumbsup So a third and final dose in 8-10 days. The amount needed to fill this "O".





I really can't believe I had such luck for the second treatment. I had been putting an almond out every day at the same time after the other squirrels seemed to have finished. My game plan has been to wait until I saw him looking for food, scurry out with his almond and come back in to make sure he was the one that got it. Then I would take more food out. Just like a charm, he came right back on his day for the Ivermectin (tiniest amount again) once I got inside and settled with the binoculars. He ate it! Just like last time, I did not see him the next day. But he came back and seems to be improving again. Today when I saw him by himself, I took out his untreated nut and he waited in the tree above and came right down as I was heading back in. Next time may not be as easy because he's venturing out to eat with the healthy squirrels again. They have not been chasing him away as fast which must mean he's much better. I never saw the others I originally identified as beginning to lose some hair weeks ago.

[merluv16]

After final treatment, he's still improving.

[TubeDriver]

Good job!:thumbsup You saved him from could have been a long, slow, painful death!


After final treatment, he's still improving.

[merluv16]

259010 This is the last picture I have of him.

[TubeDriver]

You can see his entire coat is starting to grow back in, all nice and even! :w00t

Great job!

Keep an eye on him for a while. He should recover completely but there is the possibility that he needs another course in the future (if some mites survived in his nest for example). But judging from that picture, he is on the road to recovery!

We will need pics when his fur grows in, I am sure he will be a handsome squirrel! :)






259010 This is the last picture I have of him.