Kchughes
05-11-2020, 05:33 PM
Hi there,
I need some help? Advice? Information? regarding some tree squirrels.
In early spring, I noticed a mama and three young squirrels living in the wall of the apartment building next to my house (yes, it's a nightmare of a building, and should have been destroyed years ago...)
Last Thursday, I found mama in the yard acting strangely - long story short, took her to a rehabber, "diagnosis" was possible poison ingestion and head trauma. 24 hours later, mama seemed fine, and rehabber and I released her.
Later that night, I found her curled up and sleeping in the middle of my yard, and knowing that was not normal behavior, I put her in a carrier and kept her in for the night. The next morning, she ate grapes and walnuts, and I released her again, worried her babies were starving.
They had left the next in the hole at this point (rehabber told me they left likely looking for food due to hunger) and immediately ran to her and tried to nurse. Mama didn't reject them, but didn't really act like she knew what she was doing, either. Just kept walking and climbing with babies scrambling after her.
Unfortunately, that evening, I found mama passed away under the tree.
The rehabber came back over, and we spent 2 hours trying to capture babies, to no avail.
Rehabber told me they look to be about 8 weeks old - they look like small, adult squirrels: fully furred, bushy tails. Rehabber told me to leave food out for them - grapes, avocado, walnuts, peanuts, kale and green beans, in a small amount of water for moisture.
Basically, I'm worried about them - are they old enough to survive on their own? I haven't actually seen them eat any of the food I've left, however they're still alive and don't look sick or dehydrated. They've technically been without mama since Thursday, save for the short period of time I released her before she passed. I keep reading about squirrels, but keep finding contradicting info - some sites say they can't survive until 10-12 weeks, others say 7-8.
Again - we cannot catch them. Rehabber put out traps, but they've proven unsuccessful.
Other squirrels in my yard are enjoying the smorgasbord of treats I've been leaving, but they do tend to leave the babies alone.
I'm just a total stress case. I will be heart broken if they don't make it, but I don't know what else to do?
I'm attaching a picture - I know it's hard to really tell, but if any experts out there can age this baby?
And are they old enough to survive on their own? Or at least with me leaving food?
314831
I need some help? Advice? Information? regarding some tree squirrels.
In early spring, I noticed a mama and three young squirrels living in the wall of the apartment building next to my house (yes, it's a nightmare of a building, and should have been destroyed years ago...)
Last Thursday, I found mama in the yard acting strangely - long story short, took her to a rehabber, "diagnosis" was possible poison ingestion and head trauma. 24 hours later, mama seemed fine, and rehabber and I released her.
Later that night, I found her curled up and sleeping in the middle of my yard, and knowing that was not normal behavior, I put her in a carrier and kept her in for the night. The next morning, she ate grapes and walnuts, and I released her again, worried her babies were starving.
They had left the next in the hole at this point (rehabber told me they left likely looking for food due to hunger) and immediately ran to her and tried to nurse. Mama didn't reject them, but didn't really act like she knew what she was doing, either. Just kept walking and climbing with babies scrambling after her.
Unfortunately, that evening, I found mama passed away under the tree.
The rehabber came back over, and we spent 2 hours trying to capture babies, to no avail.
Rehabber told me they look to be about 8 weeks old - they look like small, adult squirrels: fully furred, bushy tails. Rehabber told me to leave food out for them - grapes, avocado, walnuts, peanuts, kale and green beans, in a small amount of water for moisture.
Basically, I'm worried about them - are they old enough to survive on their own? I haven't actually seen them eat any of the food I've left, however they're still alive and don't look sick or dehydrated. They've technically been without mama since Thursday, save for the short period of time I released her before she passed. I keep reading about squirrels, but keep finding contradicting info - some sites say they can't survive until 10-12 weeks, others say 7-8.
Again - we cannot catch them. Rehabber put out traps, but they've proven unsuccessful.
Other squirrels in my yard are enjoying the smorgasbord of treats I've been leaving, but they do tend to leave the babies alone.
I'm just a total stress case. I will be heart broken if they don't make it, but I don't know what else to do?
I'm attaching a picture - I know it's hard to really tell, but if any experts out there can age this baby?
And are they old enough to survive on their own? Or at least with me leaving food?
314831