My squirrel story.

[bwhit1256]

Will never travel the legal road again in northern PA.
We head to walmart on Monday. It's a thirty minute drive and kind of hot out. After forever(3 hours) in the store we head out to the truck. There on the blacktop are two baby squirrel's. One in the hot sun that didn't make it, and one under the truck still crawling around. Both still had their eyes closed. Mad dash to tractor supply for formula then home as quick as possible. Several web sites later we have the little guy warmed up and fluids in him. Up to this point I feel we did things right. Then we called the game commision. That was the mistake. The officer my wife had to deal with thought the nearest rehabilitation was too far of a drive for him. He refused to touch or get close to it unless it was in a box. Keep in mind it is about 3" long,still pink, very little hair and eyes still closed. He made it clear that it would probably just be killed. He made sure to call the health inspector so they could chat with us.
Heard a saying a long time ago that rings true. (I never lose, I win or I learn.) well, we learned. Next time anything close to this happens, we have a new pet. Legal or not.

[cava]

Sometimes I feel like there are only two kinds of people in the world, people with empathy and people without. The ones without scare the crap out of me.

Thank you for doing all that you did for him. You're right, you learned what NOT to do next time. Come here instead and the folks here will be all the support you need.

So sorry about the baby:grouphug

[Shewhosweptforest]

:boohoo

[UDoWhat]

I am sorry you had that experience. Next time things will be different. You did what you thought was right. I just don't understand it. We all struggle with these stupid rules. Thanks for even trying. :Love_Icon

[Mel1959]

Thank you for trying! You will make remarkable squirrel "parents" if the opportunity arises again. :hug

[synisterkat]

It is SO frustrating to deal with these game laws. I understand they are there for a reason but..... The thing that hurts my brain the most is that I can turn my squirrel loose and legally SHOOT him but it was totally illegal to save his life :frustratedx

[Lighten-Up]

I love your saying: "I never lose, I win, or I learn." That is profound, and a lovely way to look at things.

I too am sorry that you had to experience this. And I have a feeling that you will be given another opportunity to use this "learning" that you have acquired. And I look forward to a wonderful next story that you share with us, because this one guided you to a new way.

I too find the laws frustrating when they don't really work for the good of the creatures that they were intended to help. Thanks for sharing. :hug

[bwhit1256]

Wow, thank you all for the support. Glad to know that we are not the only one's that thought this was a messed up situation. This seems like a really good group of like minded people. If the chance should ever arise again, we will seize it and be in touch.:serene

[DaSquirrelMom]

I'm sorry your experience was unpleasant. Game commission officers in PA rarely pick up and deliver animals to rehab centers unless they are a rabies vector species, a large (scary) animal including raptors, or a threatened/endangered species. I'm surprised one came out to pick up the baby squirrel you found. Usually the game commission dispatch employee just tells people who call with small animals that an officer can't come to get it and they should drive it to a wildlife rehabiliator.

Game commission officers in PA are extremely busy managing the huge Chronic Wasting Quarantine Zones (disease management area) issues. Check out their website. Chronic Wasting Disease is a horrifically frightening disease and our state refuses to publicly warn all citizens because deer hunting is a billion dollar industry in PA. :madd Everyone should read about Chronic Wasting Disease.
https://pagamecommission.wordpress.com/2015/10/23/chronic-wasting-disease-disease-management-areas-and-approved-locations/
http://www.cfsph.iastate.edu/Factsheets/pdfs/chronic_wasting_disease.pdf

I have to speak with PA game commission officers on a weekly, sometimes daily, basis for my volunteer position/job. They are well educated individuals. I've never met one who has less than a Bachelor of Science. Humane officers are separate/different than game commission officers.

[TubeDriver]

Thanks for caring and trying to help. :grouphug Sometimes you have to ask, what use are laws if breaking the law is not immoral?

Good luck in the future!