Wildlife Rehabilitation Questions!

[Squirreleesi]

So, I have my personal Rehabilitation "bible" that i have been putting together for myself over the many years i've been rehabbing, but i would really like to expand on what i have and go more into little details. I also recently purchased the '2nd Edition Wild Baby Mammals: The First 48 Hrs and Beyond' and was kind of disappointed (as some of the pictures were wrong and i was hoping for more care information). I was hoping i could periodically post questions here and get peoples answers/opinions? Sorry if some of them seem kind of stupid, i just want to make sure my information is correct and up to date :)

[Squirreleesi]

What are all of the animals that rehabilitators with their State License in CT can take in?

i know we can do Squirrels, Cottontails, Mice, Rats, Groundhogs, (maybe oppossums? or are they RVS now?)
Am i missing any?

[UDoWhat]

I am not in CT. but groundhogs are RVS. Oppossums are not considered as RVS. Also, it does not matter what state you are in...there are NO stupid questions. We are all always learning. :thumbsup

[Squirreleesi]

Best formula to use for:
- Red Squirrels?
- Flying Squirrels?
- Cottontails?
- Opossums?
- Ground hogs?

i have it written somewhere only to use Distilled water when making formula for Opossums....is this correct?

[SammysMom]

You can rehab everything except raccoons, skunks and foxes and white tailed deer as far as I am aware.

[Squirreleesi]

You can rehab everything except raccoons, skunks and foxes and white tailed deer as far as I am aware.


what about Bats? Do you know? Not that i have the space or enclosures to rehab them :P

[SammysMom]

They are not RVS in CT so I believe you are fine with them as a mammal rehabber.

[Squirreleesi]

Does anybody have the week to week descriptions/weights of Wood rats/ Pack rats from birth to release???? I only have the # of daily feedings.

[SammysMom]

According to what I found, we don't have them here in New England. Not sure about the info you are seeking about them though.

[Squirreleesi]

According to what I found, we don't have them here in New England. Not sure about the info you are seeking about them though.

I was supposed to be taking a pair in today but they weren't willing to drive to me (CT)... they thought they were squirrels or mice but they definitely looked like rats, might not have been Pack rats though.

The info i am trying to get is the birth weight, when they start getting fur, when the eyes open, how much they roughly weigh at a week old, or two, or three weeks of age, when they get their bottom and top teeth in, just general descriptions so if, in the future i take in Rats i can figure out how old they are and such

[Squirreleesi]

What's the best formula to use for:
- Red Squirrels?
- Flying Squirrels?
- Cottontails?
- Opossums?
- Ground hogs?
- Bats?
- Porcupine?

[SammysMom]

What's the best formula to use for:
- Red Squirrels? Esbilac for pinkies and 50/50 Esb/FV 20/50 ofer 5 weeks
- Flying Squirrels? Esbilac all the way through because of the protein being higher.
- Cottontails?
- Opossums?
- Ground hogs?
- Bats?
- Porcupine?

The others I would go by the WMB book as I am not sure. Maybe others will chime in on them.

[island rehabber]

Just lurking....but WOW, SammysMom, bats are NOT RVS in CT? Wow....
I swear everything is RVS in NY.......half the humans, too.....:shakehead

[Milo's Mom]

Quoting the list from SM to continue:

What's the best formula to use for:
- Red Squirrels? Esbilac for pinkies and 50/50 Esb/FV 20/50 ofer 5 weeks
- Flying Squirrels? Esbilac all the way through because of the protein being higher.
- Cottontails? I've had the most success using the following recipe: 1/2 cup Whole Goats Milk, 1/2 cup KMR, 1-11/2 TBSP Colostrum, 1 teaspoon Probiotic, 3cc Heavy Whipping Cream - after mixing this MUST rest for a minimum of 4 hours to allow the colostrum to thoroughly breakdown. If feeding via syringe I've also found that they might prefer 1 extra cc of Heavy Whipping Cream. If tubing...it doesn't matter cause they don't taste it.
- Opossums? FV 32/40
- Ground hogs?
- Bats?
- Porcupine?

[Squirreleesi]

Quoting the list from SM to continue:

What's the best formula to use for:
- Red Squirrels? Esbilac for pinkies and 50/50 Esb/FV 20/50 ofer 5 weeks
- Flying Squirrels? Esbilac all the way through because of the protein being higher.
- Cottontails? I've had the most success using the following recipe: 1/2 cup Whole Goats Milk, 1/2 cup KMR, 1-11/2 TBSP Colostrum, 1 teaspoon Probiotic, 3cc Heavy Whipping Cream - after mixing this MUST rest for a minimum of 4 hours to allow the colostrum to thoroughly breakdown. If feeding via syringe I've also found that they might prefer 1 extra cc of Heavy Whipping Cream. If tubing...it doesn't matter cause they don't taste it.
- Opossums? FV 32/40
- Ground hogs?
- Bats?
- Porcupine?

For Opossums that get Fox Valley 32/40, do you need to add Acidophillus to the formula to help with digestion, or are they good without it?

[Milo's Mom]

For Opossums that get Fox Valley 32/40, do you need to add Acidophillus to the formula to help with digestion, or are they good without it?

I've never added anything to the 32/40. After they reach 45 grams FV has a formula specifically for Virginia Opossums...cannot remember the numbers right now.

The Opossums I've done have all had fur...I'm not sure what the itty bitty's get.

[Squirreleesi]

I've never added anything to the 32/40. After they reach 45 grams FV has a formula specifically for Virginia Opossums...cannot remember the numbers right now.

The Opossums I've done have all had fur...I'm not sure what the itty bitty's get.

Fox Valley Day 1, 25/30 for older opossums?