Flying squirrel help-head cocked and eyes twitching

[Mud56k]

So I caught 6 southern flying squirrels in my attic, bought a bird cage for them and have them in the basement. Figured id hang onto them seeing how its winter and i dont want to release them out into the cold without a place to stay. So ive been feeding them pistachios, crackers with pnut butter. I went and cleaned the cage today and they all hang out in thus hamuck i have in the cage for them and when i was removing the hamuck to clean. One of the squirrels was hanging on for dear life and didnt want to come out, but finally he did and i notices that his head is cocked sideways and both his eyes twitch. I dont know if he had a stroke or is just old, so im looking for advice. Ever since i got them all out of the hamuck he has been staying in the corner by himself and the other 5 are in another corner huddled up. So something is definitly wrong if the oyhers are staying awat from him...any suggestions? Humane society?

[island rehabber]

Ok, first: the diet is completely wrong for flying squirrels. Please don't feed them anymore of that. You can give them almonds and walnut pieces, blueberries, apple slices, sugar snap peas and some yogurt and cooked chicken for protein. Do they have access to water? A bowl in the cage, or a water bottle on the side? They need water at all times or they will die.

They are traumatized, I think, having been captured and moved to a strange place. If they were mine I would first separate the one who seems "off" and then free the others back outside -- AFTER you have closed up the way they got into your attic in the first place. They will find another nest in a hollow tree soon enough and they are acclimated to the outdoors already (they're ot babies, in other words).

The one who is behaving oddly needs the help of an experienced rehabilitator; he may be having seizures. We have some in CT and can private message you with their contact info.

Again, I would free the healthy ones.

[SammysMom]

Where are you in Connecticut? I'm in new haven and have a vet locally.

[Mud56k]

Ok, great! Thank you for the information. And yes I also have 2 bowls of water in the cage that they drink daily out of. My mom has an old barn that she doesnt go into anymore so im going to release them in there. Atleast its some kind of shelter until they find their own nest and out of the cold weather. As for the one thats sick, i think its old age because another one has a blind eye. I can see the cataracts all foggy in his right eye. So im thinking that one must be the dad and the one with head tilt is the mom.
I live in norwich, CT but i honestly dont have to funds for medical treatment. I just wanted to keep the whole family together as i caught them in my attic and release them. So unless someone is willing to care for the one with the head tilt, i will just release them all. Thanks, and sorry for the late reply. This site is horrible with trying to sign in.

[island rehabber]

This site is horrible with trying to sign in.

Sorry if you had problems doing that. We have to run the site this way to avoid spammers from every corner of the earth, believe me.

PLEASE reach out to SammysMom here -- she is in CT, willing to help, and has access to a vet.

[SammysMom]

My vet does not charge me for wildlife treatment. The offer stands to take them in for you for him to assess.

[Nancy in New York]

My vet does not charge me for wildlife treatment. The offer stands to take them in for you for him to assess.

Thank you for this wonderful offer SammysMom! :Love_Icon

[Mud56k]

My vet does not charge me for wildlife treatment. The offer stands to take them in for you for him to assess.


Ok good news, I spoke to my vet and they reffered me to a lady that does rehabilitation for wild life thats closer to my location and shes going to take all 6 in and treat the one whos sick and hang onto them for the winter for the same reasons i thought, they dont have a food storage or nest for the winter. But i greatly appreciate all the information and changing of the diet ive been giving them.

[island rehabber]

Ok good news, I spoke to my vet and they reffered me to a lady that does rehabilitation for wild life thats closer to my location and shes going to take all 6 in and treat the one whos sick and hang onto them for the winter for the same reasons i thought, they dont have a food storage or nest for the winter. But i greatly appreciate all the information and changing of the diet ive been giving them.

:bliss Excellent news! Thank you, Mud56k, for caring about these little guys!

[SammysMom]

That's awesome! Who is the rehabber who is taking them? Always like to know who takes flyers...:Love_Icon

[Mud56k]

That's awesome! Who is the rehabber who is taking them? Always like to know who takes flyers...:Love_Icon

Yes im happy too 😁 her name is Sherry, from moosup, CT. The plainfield animal hospital recommened me to her.

[SammysMom]

This is great! Sherry is part of a group I belong to and was just telling us about them. Small world when it comes to squirrels!:w00t

[Mud56k]

This is great! Sherry is part of a group I belong to and was just telling us about them. Small world when it comes to squirrels!:w00t

Haha awesome, so theyre going to a good place! She will have them tonight thankfully, really worried about this one, hope she or him pulls through.

[Mud56k]

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