Neuro squirrel in yard

[Chirps]

Heh, figures I come in here and see this thread jump out. Yesterday I actually caught the neuro squirrel I mentioned somewhere a couple of months back. I thought it had been hit on the head with falling snow/ice. Saw it, then no more, figured a hawk or the foxes or a cat got it, then saw it again a few days ago? And then yesterday there he was, eating green maple seeds by the chicken pen. He didn't move off when he saw me, so I got the idea I might be able to pop a cage over him. Went back up the hill for a cage, came back, he started this weird jumping-jerking-dragging himself away. He can jump 2 feet straight up in the air, but has trouble climbing. The other times I've seen him he always moved faster than me but for some reason not this time. I may have been more surprised than he was when I got him. . .

Maneuvered the cage to a flat place by the corral fence and weighted the top with firewood. Now what? Figured I could move Navvy's PR cage to a less stressful location and get him in there, but had/have a LOT on my agenda with Easter etc. Gathered him more maple seeds and left him alone. When I came back he was pretty stressed. I don't think he thought much about the seeds with being trapped and vulnerable. . .

Within the hour some annoying neighborhood kids showed up. Nice weather, no school, they naturally came to "the farm" as we're known because of the animals. Of course the one heads right down to where the squirrel is. I'm working near the back of the house but can see him see the cage and make a beeline for it. I yell down "Stay away from that." A minute later one of the other ones says "Let's go" or whatever. Good.. . .

But now I'm a bit worried they'll mention it to their parents or whoever and someone will want to investigate. No idea if he jumped around and the kids saw him or if they would even have a clue that he had issues but I DON'T need MYOB people thinking I have a "rabid" squirrel. I have learned to be paranoid about buttinskies.

So I let him out. I figure if he's survived the winter and the predators thus far he doesn't need me trying to help him and possibly hurt him more. I did video him on my phone in case somehow I could let people here see it (I am clueless about all that stuff) but it probably doesn't matter now. I can't imagine he'll let me anywhere near that close again after catching him once. Plus I'd still be weighing the cost/benefit of caging him to attempt any aid like B12.

I don't usually name things, but came to think of him as Rooster. As in Cogburn. Definitely has True Grit.

[Diggie's Friend]

Here on the west coast, there has only be one squirrel found to be infected with rabies in 20 years; likely it was bitten by a bat, the most numerous and most common of the rabies vector species in this region. With the four legged rabies vector species, it is rare that a squirrel would survive the attack; even if it did, it very likely wouldn't survive long enough to pass on the disease, save to another predator seeking an easy meal.

If a squirrel with severe, 'neuro' head tilting symptoms is observed to survive after a couple of weeks gets better, then it wasn't caused by rabies, and if they don't get worse, then not then either.

In rescuing injured squirrels, save in the case of infant squirrels, it is advisable to use protective animal handling gloves to prevent damage from biting and scratching.

For head trauma injuries, beyond rehabbers advising a dosage for meds, vitamin B-12 has been found in rats with TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury) was found to lend support to lowering pain and promoting healing in rats. For a wild adult squirrel, not fed a rodent block diet, give two needle-drops from a 1 cc (1 ml) syringe onto soft food, or if the squirrel is able to hold a nut, onto a small piece of walnut, one drop each AM and PM meals.

https://www.amazon.com/Trace-Minerals-Liquid-Ionic-Supplement/dp/B01MCYXPDB

In many States, including yours, it is often the sad case that squirrels found to have neurological damage from head trauma are not afforded long-term care, for according to the rehabber's lic. these animals aren't to be kept in captivity, but euthanized. One excuse given me by a rehabber (not on this board) in support of euthanasia, was that since the squirrel not able to live in the wild anymore they would become depressed from being caged. Yet from what I have seen this isn't always the case; for if the squirrel is able to get around well enough, and then is afforded care with the support of an appropriate indoor habitat, not left in a small cage, they show interest in life. Of course it takes the support of a person that is willing and able to commit their time, treasure, and care for a, 'neuro' squirrel for the rest of the animal's natural life.:Love_Icon

If after consulting a vet, or rehabber, the neuro symptoms aren't found to have been caused from head trauma, or ingestion of a toxic substance, then the animal should be evaluated for other possible causes of the, 'neuro' symptoms, like roundworm (an endo-parasite), and given appropriate meds and dosage as is then indicated.