Rehabber needed in Daytona, FL area, squirrel with excessive fear and anger

[malsprower]

I have a 4 week old that I found at 2 weeks of age that is cooperating with my care but I also have a 6 week old (he was found at 5 weeks with eyes open) that was doing alright for a couple days but today he expresses excessive fear and anger. I am feeling hopeless about it and I am afraid he will seriously hurt himself or me.


For the 6 week old, I've tried everything to keep him calm and all he is a ball of fear and anger. He clicks his teeth a lot and groans. He is about 6 1/2 weeks now and he bit the baby squirrel and when I was trying to put him to bed, he just kept running away from me. I don't have the energy to chase him around in the porch. I finally caught him after a long twenty minutes and put him in his cage. I tried to send him off to rehab but they dont have the funds to care for him. I am not comfortable letting him back out of the cage just to watch him tear up the porch and run away from me all the time. Since we found him at 5 weeks, he is sure imprinted on his mother, he rarely approaches me and is not socializing or playing at all whatsoever. He knows anger and fear before he even knows how to climb or eat hard foods. What can I do? I don't want to let him free just to watch him get eaten by one of the 10 types of predators lurking around here. Anyone willing to take him in the Daytona Florida area? :sad

[HRT4SQRLS]

malsprower, I have posted on another board about this baby. I hope we can find someone to take it.

The baby is not vicious. It is afraid. It is VERY normal for them to go through a stage around 6-8 weeks where they are afraid of everything. They spook easily and will growl at anything. I picked up a 6 week old in the spring that was lunging and growling like crazy. I put a soft glove on and reached in and grasped it in my hand. It calmed right down when it knew it was overpowered. As soon as I offered hydration and formula I made a best friend. She was one of my friendliest releases. I really believe that this little one will calm down if you give it time. It is a stage that passes. In the mean time I have put out the word that the baby needs a rehabber.

Please give us time to see who is available. :thumbsup

[malsprower]

Thank you for helping me out. I wish I could peacefully let him hang on the porch but that won't happen because I am afraid he will rip the screens open. I cannot feed him formula because he won't let me get near him. I really hope he calms down and asks for formula, I just put some solid foods and water in his cage because I dont want him to starve himself. He is constantly making growl noises and snapping his teeth when I get near his cage. :injail

[HRT4SQRLS]

Maybe you could put some formula in a small bowl thickened with vanilla yogurt. I have had several that loved yogurt. I have to believe he will eat it before he starves to death.

[HRT4SQRLS]

malsprower,
I received some information that will be helpful. This a vet clinic that takes in wildlife not too far from Daytona. It is my understanding that they have MANY rehabbers that they work with and will pass the baby to one of their rehabbers. I would call them in the morning. It was recommended by a TSB member. Let us know if this works out.

INFO: Florida Wild Vet Hospital
115 E. Euclid Deland FL
386-734-9899

[malsprower]

I talked to the neighbor and he told me this squirrel fell 20 feet from a palm tree, he is unable to climb right and either he sits still or runs like a bullet in fear. He sleeps a lot more than the younger one. We are suspecting he could have brain damage because he is not sociable whatsoever and his behavior is odd compared to the other one. the younger squirrel is very sociable and intelligent even when his eyes were closed.

[stepnstone]

:bump


malsprower,
I received some information that will be helpful. This a vet clinic that takes in wildlife not too far from Daytona. It is my understanding that they have MANY rehabbers that they work with and will pass the baby to one of their rehabbers. I would call them in the morning. It was recommended by a TSB member. Let us know if this works out.

INFO: Florida Wild Vet Hospital
115 E. Euclid Deland FL
386-734-9899

[malsprower]

I had the neighbor take the fearful one off my hands, he was too much of a handful for a first time rehabber like me. I am trying to take care of my life since I just moved to Florida. The younger squirrel is doing excellent, he is a quick learner and is way ahead of the game compared to the older one. he will nibble on my finger gently when hes hungry and his fear is short lived. I am looking forward to giving him the slow release three blocks away in a natural reserve. I cannot release him in my yard because its a predator haven here.