jgtech
04-12-2017, 07:27 PM
Hello,
287169287170
First time squirrel dad here. I didn’t choose this path, but our new “toddler”, (estimated around 5 week old, give or take) did choose me. Literally, chased me down twice in one day across fields of grass, ignoring other neighbors! Little fella knew exactly how to pull at my heart strings. I followed all the protocols I could research on reuniting baby with mom, but it didn’t seem meant to be. Having just finished 24 hours of straight research and learnings on squirrel rescue and rehab, 3am trip to Walmart, careful observation and rehydration and formula introduction; I am happy to say thanks to your website and all it’s references I think our little “Nutter Butter” is doing well. We are providing him all his recommended nutrition and housing, while also waiting for several 2 day shipments of all the recommend but not locally available items to arrive as well. Again, thanks to all for the information!
However, our foster squirrel does have something strange going on with a substance that has accumulated and hardened in his hair, prior to his arrival. I have been unable to track down an answer, and/or have not been able to figure out the proper keywords to search on to find any information to a similar squirrel situation. Thus my posting now. I would describe it as something looking like hardened tar, pitch, sap, or something like that in nature. It moves when you force his hair around, so I don’t believe it was something from his skin, such as mange or pox. During my not very evasive or disruptive examinations during hydration and feeding, I detected no smell, and was unable to remove any, either by cleaning with a warm moist rag, or by just straight pulling on it. So, I can’t identify this substance yet. Please review the attached pictures and along with this description, please provide any insight anyone has or even a best guess. Please! My current plan is to attempt a spot clean on one part of his body with a very mild Dawn soap and water solution, if that works great, 2nd option will be to try to remove a small spot of it with vegetable oil. Thank you all so much for any help and insight you can provide!
Additional information relevant information; we are located in the Denver, CO area. Pictures are the best I was able to snap, the black residue is hard to differentiate from his black fur, and it at first might appear like hair free areas, but I believe this is just because the hair is hardened into the dark residue and pulled aside, but I am pretty sure he has all his hair intact (no bald or balding spots).
Full size image URLS:
http://jgimgshare.s3.amazonaws.com/Inked20170412_152620_LI2.jpg
http://jgimgshare.s3.amazonaws.com/Inked20170412_152615_LI2.jpg
Thank you!
287169287170
First time squirrel dad here. I didn’t choose this path, but our new “toddler”, (estimated around 5 week old, give or take) did choose me. Literally, chased me down twice in one day across fields of grass, ignoring other neighbors! Little fella knew exactly how to pull at my heart strings. I followed all the protocols I could research on reuniting baby with mom, but it didn’t seem meant to be. Having just finished 24 hours of straight research and learnings on squirrel rescue and rehab, 3am trip to Walmart, careful observation and rehydration and formula introduction; I am happy to say thanks to your website and all it’s references I think our little “Nutter Butter” is doing well. We are providing him all his recommended nutrition and housing, while also waiting for several 2 day shipments of all the recommend but not locally available items to arrive as well. Again, thanks to all for the information!
However, our foster squirrel does have something strange going on with a substance that has accumulated and hardened in his hair, prior to his arrival. I have been unable to track down an answer, and/or have not been able to figure out the proper keywords to search on to find any information to a similar squirrel situation. Thus my posting now. I would describe it as something looking like hardened tar, pitch, sap, or something like that in nature. It moves when you force his hair around, so I don’t believe it was something from his skin, such as mange or pox. During my not very evasive or disruptive examinations during hydration and feeding, I detected no smell, and was unable to remove any, either by cleaning with a warm moist rag, or by just straight pulling on it. So, I can’t identify this substance yet. Please review the attached pictures and along with this description, please provide any insight anyone has or even a best guess. Please! My current plan is to attempt a spot clean on one part of his body with a very mild Dawn soap and water solution, if that works great, 2nd option will be to try to remove a small spot of it with vegetable oil. Thank you all so much for any help and insight you can provide!
Additional information relevant information; we are located in the Denver, CO area. Pictures are the best I was able to snap, the black residue is hard to differentiate from his black fur, and it at first might appear like hair free areas, but I believe this is just because the hair is hardened into the dark residue and pulled aside, but I am pretty sure he has all his hair intact (no bald or balding spots).
Full size image URLS:
http://jgimgshare.s3.amazonaws.com/Inked20170412_152620_LI2.jpg
http://jgimgshare.s3.amazonaws.com/Inked20170412_152615_LI2.jpg
Thank you!