Need Help Now!

[OperaDiva]

I happened upon a baby squirrel today while walking a dog and this baby seemed to be having a hard time getting around and he didn't run away from us, he seemed dazed. I tried to get him in order to put him in a box and take him somewhere but he hid in the wheel well of a car and I couldn't get to him. I left a note on the car letting them know as I had to leave for work. When I returned later I saw that the baby was lying on the pavement soaking wet from the rain and barely breathing. I got some gloves and picked him up and put him in a box and now have no idea how to proceed. Animal control doesn't deal with squirrels here in baltimore. I would gladly try to save this little guy, but don't know what to do and am a little concerned about rabies. HELP!!!
Bonnie

[4skwerlz]

Rabies is not a problem. Squirrels carry no diseases you need to worry about. First you need to get the baby warm and dry. Dry him off good with paper towels. Warm him with a heating pad or a plastic bottle full of warm water or your two hands. Is he breathing okay?

[OperaDiva]

He is having a little difficulty breathing I think, but it's hard to tell. He is about the size of a chipmunk. I am a little scared of him biting me to tell you the truth, is there any particular way to handle him? What about feeding etc..?? Should I take him to a vet??

[OperaDiva]

I am also inside the house and worried about him getting out and running around. Any suggestions to deal with that?

[4skwerlz]

He is having a little difficulty breathing I think, but it's hard to tell. He is about the size of a chipmunk. I am a little scared of him biting me to tell you the truth, is there any particular way to handle him? What about feeding etc..?? Should I take him to a vet??

He won't bite you. Don't worry, baby squirrels are easy to handle. First you need to get him warm or he will die pretty quick. Dry him off and get him warm. You can cradle him in your two hands for now.

[OperaDiva]

Ok, I am off to warm him up. If you could answer the other questions in the meantime I would be so grateful. Thank you!!

[4skwerlz]

I am also inside the house and worried about him getting out and running around. Any suggestions to deal with that?

Without knowing how old he is, it's hard to say, but from your description he's pretty young. A cardboard box, anything like that, will be okay for now. It doesn't sound like he's "running" anywhere real soon. Can you get him warm and dry?

[hazel]

Hi-

I'm not a licensed rehabber, but I've raised a cast of thousands for a licensed rehabber.

Don't fret about rabies - your chances of being struck by lightning twice tonight are much greater!

We'll want to know everything you can tell us about the baby. Front teeth on top? Fully furred?

Did you dry him off? Place him in a warm area?

Forgot to look to see if you indicate where you are. Is a drug store and a pet supply store a possibility tonight??

Plenty of people will be here to help. Keep checking and welcome :wave123

[hazel]

See !!! Told you!

101 people all posting at the same time :D

[4skwerlz]

What's going on now Opera Diva? Stay calm and we'll help you through this.

Edit: I see Island Rehabber is online now. She can take it from here. You and your baby are in good hands.

[island rehabber]

OperaDiva, you have another rehabber and a major opera fan right here standing by, too -- hope you're warming up that baby real good and then we can take it from there....

[OperaDiva]

Ok, I've got the little guy mostly dry. He was soaked through and through. I've been rubbing him and keeping him in my hands and am also breathing hot air onto him. I'm not actually at my own house, so I'm not sure where a hot water bottle is or anything like that.
He sneezes every once in a while, but is mostly sleeping. He started moving around a little more after I dryed him off, tail twitching and walking a little bit, he even tried to nibble on my finger, so I guess he has teeth. He is fully "furred"? And very very sweet. He seems to be breathing a little easier now.
What next?

[island rehabber]

Ok, we'll want to keep him warm first, and then think about hydration since he is most likely dehydrated. For warmth, you can fill a rubber glove with hot water and put it under a cloth, next to him...or a soda bottle with hot water......or make him a "rice buddy": take a sock, fill it with uncooked rice or lentils (someone tried this yesterday and it worked great with lentils!) and microwave for about 45 seconds. Place it near the squirrel so it feels like another warm body to him and cover him up.

Hydration: best thing is if you can get to store for some Pedialyte -- they loved the flavored kind especially. If not, Gatorade is ok for short term. If you don't have access to that either, there is a recipe for homemade Pedialyte on here somewhere, I just have to find it. the best thing to feed him with is a 1cc or 3cc syringe with no needle. In the morning you;ll be able to get all this stuff at a pet supply, but I'm not sure what you have on hand now?

[4skwerlz]

IR is on the case.

[island rehabber]

:thankyou Gammas Baby! Once we have this little guy stabilized, i.e. hydrated and warm, we can start looking for Baltimore area wildlife rehabbers to hopefully take him until he is old enough to be released. He's OK on the Pedialyte for tonight and tomorrow morning, but he will need some nourishment soon and that will depend upon whether you can get him to a rehabber quickly or you will have to feed him yourself.

[OperaDiva]

Okay, he is now in a shoe box that is lined with a tea towel beside a sock full of warm lentils and covered up. I looked in the fridge and there is no pedialite or gatoraid. There is an odwalla citrus drink, some V8 and some 2% milk, plus some other similar drinks. I also looked around and couldn't find any kind of syringe or anything similar. I actually have to work early in the morning, so I'm not sure when I can get to a pet store or pharmacy. What should I do? I need to make sure he is ok before I sleep! What else can I do??

[OperaDiva]

Ok I can make that homemade pedialite. Is there any other way to feed him other than a syringe? What should I do with him overnight?

[LynninIN]

Can you find an eyedropper?

[4skwerlz]

For a start, here's a rough list of rehabbers and vets that see wildlife in the Baltimore/Maryland area:

Bel Air Vet Hospital, 410-838-4900, Bel Air
Darlene DeRoja 301-538-2488, sm mams,birds, Union Bridge
Frisky's Wildlife & Primate Sanctuary, 410-418-8899, Woodstock
Andrea Hicks, 410-668-8901, flying squirrels, Baltimore
Judith Holzman, 410-740-5096, sm.mams,birds, Columbia
N.Christina Lynch, 410-374-9677, sm mams, Hampstead
Wildlife Rescue, Inc, 443-507-0950, Greenmount
Kathleen Woods, 410-628-9736, sm.mams,birds, Phoenix

Anne Arundel County
Terry Moritz - licensed wildlife rehabilitator. Specialties: all birds. Call (410)255-8050 or E-mail woodduck@toad.net

Baltimore
National Aquarium in Baltimore - Marine Mammal Rescue Program. Call (410)715-8959 or E-mail dschofield@aqua.org.

Bowie
Chesapeake Wildlife Sanctuary - Specialties: fund-raising, conflict resolution, working with governmental officials, creating/operating an intern program, oiled wildlife response, grant writing, direct mail marketing, getting ongoing in-kind donations, wildlife center administration, co-dependent behavior in wildlife rehab.
E-mail cheswild@erols.com.

Gaithersburg
Second Chance Wildlife Center - Call (301)926-WILD or E-mail chris@scwc.org.

Germantown
Reptile Wonders-Center for Wildlife Rehabilitation - Call (301)353-8804 or E-mail bkristal@hotmail.com.

Maryland
All Creatures Great & Small Wildlife Center, Inc - We treat small mammals and birds. Please call: 301-596-0044. Columbia, MD

Smithsburg
Mary McDougal - licensed wildlife rehabilitator. Call (301)824-2145 or E-mail dmmcdougal@aol.com.

Thurmont
Last Chance Wildlife Center - Specialties: small mammals and all birds. Call (301)271-4836 or E-mail Cnile7@aol.com.

Allegany County:

Bettie Acks
Oldtown
301-478-5181
Squirrels, Rabbits, Groundhogs, Opossums & Turtles

Anne Arundel County:

Terry Moritz
Pasadena, MD
410-255-8050
Avian only- temporarily closed

Baltimore County:

Phoenix Wildlife Center, Inc.
Kathleen Woods
Northern Baltimore County
Raptors, songbirds, small mammals, bald eagle permit
410-628-9736

Katie Smith
Woodstock
410-313-8083
Squirrels, Rabbits, Opossums & Groundhogs

Wildlife Rescue, Inc.
Hampstead
All species; RVS permitted (raccoons, skunks, foxes, bats), Fawns and Bald Eagle permit
443-507-0950

Calvert County:

Orphaned Wildlife Rescue Center
Lusby
410-326-0937

Cecil County:

Debi Patterson
Elkton
410-398-5444
Squirrels, Rabbits, Opossums, Groundhogs & Turtles

Frederick County:

Roxy Brandenburg
Sabillasville
301-241-3418
Fawns only

Ruth Wrenn
Frederick
240-367-3192
Rabbits only

Harford County:

Mid-Atlantic Wildlife Control
Edgewood
443-617-6795

Howard County:

Judith Holzman
Columbia, MD
Birds and mammals, no RVS
410-740-5096

Frisky's
Woodstock, MD
410-418-8899
Birds, Mammals & RVS





Montgomery County:

Second Chance Wildlife Center
Gaithersburg, MD
All species; RVS permitted (raccoons, skunks, foxes, bats)
301-926-WILD

Cinthia Fabretti-Aplin
Gaithersburg
301-296-WILD

Rhonda Giles
Silver Spring
301-384-8319
Squirrels, Rabbits & Groundhogs

Kathleen Handley
Gaithersburg
301-926-WILD

Lee Prouty
Rockville
301-460-7468
Consult on Waterfowl only


Suzanne Shoemaker
Boyds
301-353-8947
Raptors only

Prince Georges:

Patrice Gribble-Fetter
Accokeek
301-203-6810
Squirrels, Rabbits, Opossums, Turtles & Pigeons

Edie Yinkey
Hyattsville
301-864-6621
Squirrels, Rabbits & Groundhogs

ST. MARY'S

Mary Martin
California
301- 725-0785
RVS

Sherri Backstedt
California
240-538-8241
Songbirds, mammals

[island rehabber]

An eyedropper is good in a pinch....overnight he will sleep nice & peacefully with his lentil buddy, burrowed under his bedding. Can you take him with you in the morning?

[OperaDiva]

Ok, I guess I am going to try to figure something out to get a little of the pedialite mixture into him before I head to bed and hopefully he will make it through the night. Thanks for the help. I will keep you posted.

[Critter_Queen]

Do you have an eyedropper? It's not ideal, but it will get you by until you get a syringe from a pharmacy tomorrow...

[OperaDiva]

I am singing 3 services tomorrow morning at church. I think a wild squirrel might not be welcomed there? LOL. The services run from 8:45-1:30, so I'm not sure what to do with him during that time. I'm off to try and locate an eye dropper, but I didn't see anything like that earlier when I was rooting around.

[OperaDiva]

Any other options other than an eye dropper?? Can't find one anywhere, nothing even remotely like that. Help!

[atlantasquirrelgirl]

Baby will probably be content resting in the box tomorrow while you singing. You can set the box on a heating pad on the low setting to keep it warm. If you put just half the box on the heating pad, baby can move to a cooler spot if it gets too warm.

[OperaDiva]

Only problem is I am not at my own house, I am house/dogsitting and don't know where anything like that might be kept here. I am going to do one more search in the basement and see if I can come up with anything.

[LynninIN]

If you don't find an eyedropper, I have an idea. Let me test it out and I'll be right back.

[4skwerlz]

You can try putting a drop of the pedialyte onto your fingertip and see if he will take it. Also, you can twist the end of a cloth into a sort of "nipple" and soak it in the liquid and see if he will suck on it.

Whatever you do, go slow so the baby doesn't suck too fast and inhale the fluid.

[OperaDiva]

Woah. That was crazy. I just put it on my finger and he all of a sudden came to life! LOL. He didn't drink too much of it, but a little at least. I will do that again in the morning before I leave. I am going to warm up the lentils one more time before we go to sleep. Thank you for all the help. I will come back tomorrow. Looks like he's trying to eat the sock now. Hmmm...

[4skwerlz]

He's probably starving and thirsty. Can you give him some more? Babies can go downhill fast without fluids and nourishment.

His "lentil buddy" won't last him through the nite either. It will need to be reheated.

You're doing fantastic so far!

[LynninIN]

You have done great so far but this baby will need more fluids throughout the night about 5 teaspoons every 3-4 hours.

[4skwerlz]

I am singing 3 services tomorrow morning at church. I think a wild squirrel might not be welcomed there? LOL. The services run from 8:45-1:30, so I'm not sure what to do with him during that time.

I suspect that a baby squirrel would be warmly welcomed in any church I've ever been in. Loving hearts have lots of room for all living things!

[island rehabber]

I think we're all ready to fall asleep....but OperaDiva, I hope you will try to reach one of the wildlife centers or rehabbers near you tomorrow. The faster this squirrel gets with someone who can get him on formula and feed him regularly the better off his chances will be by far. Mamma squirrels don't generally let their babies out of the nest until they are 8-9 weeks old, so you know your little guy is younger than that and cannot survive on his own.

[4skwerlz]

She logged off.

[Buddy'sMom]

:Welcome OperaDiva and thank you for taking him inside so he was warm and comfy through last night's storms! I missed this last night, having unplugged the computer for the very intense storms we had!

I hope you two got through the night OK and you will give us an update after church today. If you have not already located a rehabber, I know that THIS one from the list above is still in business and rehabs many baby squirrels (do you have a way to get to Columbia if this is the closest rehabber? I don't really know about any of the others, though not all are currently operating):

Howard County:
Judith Holzman
Columbia, MD
Birds and mammals, no RVS
410-740-5096

:grouphug :grouphug

[scoobysnack]

Whatever the outcome realize this... that baby is warm and dry with some "food" in it's belly. Sure beats lying on a sidewalk wet, cold and starving.

Sooo thank you for taking him/her in and doing your best to save a life.

The folks on this board are bar none the nicest I've run into on the internet. I'm finding their help priceless as I stumble through with my little one.

[OperaDiva]

If anyone is on here now, I could use a recommendation. I just finished work and came home to grab some things, like a heating pad and an eye dropper before heading back. He made it through the night and I gave him some more of the mixture this morning and heated up his lentil buddy. What should I get to feed him. I will stop somewhere on the way back. Any ideas for some nourishing food I can get...praying he's still ok when I get back.

[OperaDiva]

I am about to leave...any suggestions?? Ensure? Boost? Anything like that??

[island rehabber]

hi! Pick up Esbilac PUPPY powder formula at the pet store. And a 1cc syringe (no needle) if possible. Second choice would be an eyedropper or kitten nurser thingy. I will PM you with my phone number and you can call me for details on how to mix the formula gradually for him -- from diluted to full strength -- over the course of 24 hrs or so. Good l uck -- we're praying for the little guy!!!

[island rehabber]

Gotta go feed fuzzers & pinks but OperaDiva has my phone #'s so we should be on our way to getting this little boy stabilized....fingers crossed!!

[island rehabber]

UPDATE: OperaDiva's baby is alive, well and escaped his container and made himself at home on her bed!!!! :wahoo:rotfl She has fed him and I've given her instructions what to do for the rest of the day/night. Tomorrow she is going to call the person in Columbia MD and try to get him to a licensed rehabber. Brava, OperaDiva!!! :thumbsup :)

[rippie-n-lilgirlsmom]

Of course he made himself at home in the bed...do we need to remind everyone how smart squirrels are?? WHy take the couch when there is an empty bed??
:thumbsup :jump Good for you OD :thankyou for saving babies life!!

[LynninIN]

:wott Great news!!!

[4skwerlz]

I'm so happy to hear this! :wahoo Diva, you did a fantastic job against all odds! :bowdown

[Buddy'sMom]

:thumbsup :thumbsup

A squirrel with initiative -- bodes well for his future! :)

[OperaDiva]

Just wanted to say thanks everybody for your help yesterday. Thank God for the internet and all the animal lovers on it!
My little munchkin is sleeping away in his comfy box with a heating pad and a sock buddy for company. After feeding him for the second time today he started getting all rowdy, squirming around and climbing all over me, it was quite funny.
I have no doubt I will be all teary when I drop him off. I was teary when I first saw him and knew something was wrong. That is when most people say, "It's the cycle of life". I say that is a load of crap! LOL. Why stand aside when you could help a little (or big) creature in need. So I am totally in love and am so glad I got to have this wonderful opportunity. How many people can say they have held and fed a baby squirrel (except probably a lot of you on here).
I will let you know when/if I find someone around here to take him the rest of the way back to a healthy life in the forest.
Thanks again!
OperaDiva

[Buddy'sMom]

.... So I am totally in love and am so glad I got to have this wonderful opportunity. How many people can say they have held and fed a baby squirrel (except probably a lot of you on here).....
Not that many ..... and now you have been initiated into our slightly squirrely society of those who have!! :thumbsup And what a feeling it is!! :Love_Icon

[4skwerlz]

My little munchkin is sleeping away in his comfy box with a heating pad and a sock buddy for company. After feeding him for the second time today he started getting all rowdy, squirming around and climbing all over me, it was quite funny.

Was it just last night that you were afraid to touch him???:poke :D

Gammas Baby and I had bets on how long it would take you to fall in love. :Love_Icon This is one of the best stories ever. You did so good, OperaDiva. You never asked for this but you stepped up to the plate and saved this little guy's life. I really believe your life will be even richer for it! THANK YOU!:bowdown :bowdown :bowdown

[Critter_Queen]

Might I humbly suggest finding a rehabber near you to volunteer for? We can always use the help. :) :thumbsup

And, THANK YOU for the great job you've done caring for him. Just think, you have now saved the lives of probably dozens of squirrels because this one now lives. :) :grouphug I love telling "finders" that...it's so true. It's why rehabbers do what we do, even when it hurts and we lose some...

Ya done great, kid! :D

[island rehabber]

OperaDiva, it was a pleasure working with you on this one!! I could tell that little guy was winning you over minute by minute -- you were SO happy when you got home and he was not only fine, but he had made a jailbreak :D. Please stay with us and let us know how it goes.....and I am sending extra prayers for your squirrel boy and for you....that one day you'll PM me that you are singing at the Met. We'll all come. :) :shine

[OperaDiva]

I Everyone! Just wanted to give you a quick update on the baby squirrel situation. The night before last a friend and I took my little munchkin to a wildlife rehabilitator in Columbia named Judy. She showed us around her rehab room with all the squirrels and birds. It was amazing! She had these tiny little squirrels and a bird the size of the end of my thumb! I couldn't even speak it was so amazing. Anyway, munchkin got in with the group pretty fast. They sniffed him and soon after they were all crawling all over each other. I was sad to see him go, but happy that he was with someone who really knows how to look after him. She also explained the way they release the animals, how it is a soft release, first a large indoor cage, then a cage that has a very small opening to the outdoors so they can come and go. That made me very happy.
I just wanted to say, the only reason I was freaked out about picking him up was I didn't want to get bit, or get rabies! Once I found out I that it wasn't a major concern I was so excited to hold that little guy, you have no idea!
Well, thanks again for all your help! Take care everyone and thank you for being so kind and compassionate to all God's little creatures.
Bonnie

[scoobysnack]

You're the best Bonnie!! Thanks on behalf of the little munchkin for doing all you did and getting him into the appropriate hands. :thankyou

[island rehabber]

:thumbsupGREAT news, Bonnie!! Judy sounds wonderful and her release method is exactly what I think is the very best way -- soft release. Munchkin will have the best chance possible at a terrific squirrelly life in the trees. All because of you!! :thankyou :grouphug

[rippie-n-lilgirlsmom]

Wonderful news!!
He will friends to grow and be released with.
Great Job!

[susanw]

What a refreshing story! Bless you Bonnie for a job well done and your concern. We need more people like you in this world!:thankyou



:thumbsup Squirrel Board!

[4skwerlz]

The rehab place sounds perfect! Bless you, Bonnie! Have a great squirrel life, Munchkin!

[Kathy56]

You did a great thing. Your baby will soon be running and playing and living a wonderful squirrel life. Its hard to let them go but it is so worth it when you think of them living the life they were born to live.:grouphug