Found baby squirrel, need advice

[harrythethird]

Hello!

I found a baby squirrel in my driveway curled up in a ball. At first I thought it might be dead, but I poked at it and it squeaked and blinked its eyes at me and went back to sleep. I put it in a cat carrier, and called my local wildlife rehabilitation center. They asked if it has fur, to which I said yes. They asked if its eyes were open, to which I said it was mostly sleeping, but it had opened its eyes, yes. They told me to attempt to feed it, and that if it ate, I should drop it off at my nearest stretch of woods, and if it refused to eat, to call them back. They advised me to feed it something soft, like applesauce. I didn't have any applesauce, so I smashed up a ripe pear, which it seemed to thoroughly enjoy. So I've checked the boxes, furred, eyes open, eating, and seemingly uninjured, but I still feel irresponsible just dropping it off on a random tree, because of it's behavior otherwise. It is very lethargic, slow moving, and slow breathing, like it can barely stay awake. I wrapped it in a towel, and gave it some heat, along with adding a small water dish to the cat carrier. It responds to my prompting, but it's still very slow, and sleepy, and disinterested in pretty much everything. I don't want to keep the squirrel, I want to return it to the wild, but I don't want to just abandon it to die. Are baby squirrels normally so sleepy and despondent? Is there anything else I should be doing or checking for?

Any advice would be much appreciated!

[stepnstone]

Hello!

I found a baby squirrel in my driveway curled up in a ball. At first I thought it might be dead, but I poked at it and it squeaked and blinked its eyes at me and went back to sleep. I put it in a cat carrier, and called my local wildlife rehabilitation center. They asked if it has fur, to which I said yes. They asked if its eyes were open, to which I said it was mostly sleeping, but it had opened its eyes, yes. They told me to attempt to feed it, and that if it ate, I should drop it off at my nearest stretch of woods, and if it refused to eat, to call them back. They advised me to feed it something soft, like applesauce. I didn't have any applesauce, so I smashed up a ripe pear, which it seemed to thoroughly enjoy. So I've checked the boxes, furred, eyes open, eating, and seemingly uninjured, but I still feel irresponsible just dropping it off on a random tree, because of it's behavior otherwise. It is very lethargic, slow moving, and slow breathing, like it can barely stay awake. I wrapped it in a towel, and gave it some heat, along with adding a small water dish to the cat carrier. It responds to my prompting, but it's still very slow, and sleepy, and disinterested in pretty much everything. I don't want to keep the squirrel, I want to return it to the wild, but I don't want to just abandon it to die. Are baby squirrels normally so sleepy and despondent? Is there anything else I should be doing or checking for?
Any advice would be much appreciated!

Idiots! Wildlife rehabilitation center my azz! http://www.sherv.net/cm/emo/angry/enraged-smiley-emoticon.gif
Unbelievable! Do not do anything they suggested, do not call them back!
Can you post a picture of baby for an assessment on age, condition, etc.
Go to this link this will be a HUGE help.
It's 6 pages long with the next button on the top right corner.

https://www.henryspets.com/1-basic-setup/

[harrythethird]

https://1drv.ms/u/s!ApgcWRVxmPNxgZdoVnNfSVMQ-XOYaA

[stepnstone]

You were not fully registered when you tried to post the picture.
You are registered now, please try to post again.

[harrythethird]

Idiots! Wildlife rehabilitation center my azz! http://www.sherv.net/cm/emo/angry/enraged-smiley-emoticon.gif
Unbelievable! Do not do anything they suggested, do not call them back!
Can you post a picture of baby for an assessment on age, condition, etc.
Go to this link this will be a HUGE help.
It's 6 pages long with the next button on the top right corner.

https://www.henryspets.com/1-basic-setup/


Thanks so much for your reply and the resource. I didn't feel confident in my ability to care for the little guy in my home, as I have two dogs, two cats, and no experience with rodents. I reached out to a few friends, and a friend of a friend is currently fostering another abandoned squirrel under the supervision of her local vet. I went to drop the little guy I found off with her, and she seemed to know what she was doing, and was set up with everything she needed. The squirrel she already had is 7-8 weeks old. The squirrel I found is 4-5 weeks old, male, she bathed him, checked him for bugs, checked his teeth (bottom are in, top aren't), and she got him to bottle feed. I left him very bundled in a blanket and heating pad in his new temporary home. She plans to release the squirrels into her yard together once they're old enough to fend for themselves. Hopefully he will do well at his new home.

[stepnstone]

Thanks so much for your reply and the resource. I didn't feel confident in my ability to care for the little guy in my home, as I have two dogs, two cats, and no experience with rodents. I reached out to a few friends, and a friend of a friend is currently fostering another abandoned squirrel under the supervision of her local vet. I went to drop the little guy I found off with her, and she seemed to know what she was doing, and was set up with everything she needed. The squirrel she already had is 7-8 weeks old. The squirrel I found is 4-5 weeks old, male, she bathed him, checked him for bugs, checked his teeth (bottom are in, top aren't), and she got him to bottle feed. I left him very bundled in a blanket and heating pad in his new temporary home. She plans to release the squirrels into her yard together once they're old enough to fend for themselves. Hopefully he will do well at his new home.

Considering your circumstances, a facility that tells you to feed him applesauce and, if he eats dump him in the woods.....
You made the better choice, thank you! :grouphug I hope the little fella does well.