Need Help - Vidor, Texas

[BDCurtis]

Hi. New to the squirrel board - had an unexpected surprise land in my lap and have been trying to learn as much as I can. Need some help finding a rehabber or learning how to care for two baby squirrels.

On Thursday morning we had a hurricane come through. Around 10 am my husband spotted our dog with something in her mouth. He took it away and discovered it was a baby squirrel. (She wasn't hurting it - we think she might have thought it was a puppy.) He brought it in and dried it off. We didn't have power so we couldn't look anything up. We went to Petsmart (with baby in tow) and spoke to a lady there who said she had raised squirrels before. She recommended the Esblic and a bottle feeder. Also told us to get a heating pad and warm it up. We brought it home and put it in a little box with towels. As I was trying to figure out how to feed it, my husband came in with another one. It had been hanging on for dear life to a low tree branch. We got it dryed off and warmed up as well. Found a third one but it was not alive.

On Friday morning we got power back and I started surfing the net looking for some help. Found lots of good info especially on here but I was unable to post until today. No signs of the momma so didn't try to reunite. Haven't seen any squirrels since the hurricane. I took the towels out of the box and replaced them with t-shirts and some fabric reminants that don't ravel. Didn't know about the pedialyte and had already started feeding them. Did the pinch test and they both seemed fine. Did add more water to the formula though. Got a big storage container with lid (holes punched) and placed the heating pad under half of it. Threw out the bottle feeder and got a 3 cc syringe. I couldn't find nipples to fit it so we're just using the syringe and going slow. From what I've learned these babies are about 4 weeks old. They do not have their eyes open yet but they do have soft white fur on their tummies.

After reading everything these babies need, I realized I probably wasn't qualified to care for them and started calling rehabbers listed on websites. The few I reached informed me that they were full (from the storm) and couldn't take them. Also informed me it was illegal for me to have them. But I couldn't stand the thought of just tossing them outside to die so I've been muddling through. So far they seem to be okay. One is a great eater (Peanut) the other one I have to fight with to get it to eat (Nutmeg). I ordered a set of syringes with nipples, bone slices, more Esblic, and rodent food from Chris' squirrel supplies today. Not sure when they will be in though.

My family (especially my husband) wants to keep them of course. I just want to do what is best for them. From what I've read, a rehabber offers them the best chance. Are there any on this board that are close to me willing to take them? (I would need visition rights of course. I'm already very attached to them.) If not, I need some experts to tell me how to do this.

Do you need to feed them through the night? I've read several different things - some say you do some say you don't. Also, I'm feeding every four hours. Nutmeg doesn't eat very well though. I did go five hours last night between feedings and she ate then. She is smaller than Peanut so I'm guessing she might have been the runt of the litter. Will they bite? I'm using my bare hands to hold them, feed them, etc. Is that okay? They are eating 3cc's most of the time. Peanut sometimes eats 5. How much should they be eating?? Please help!!

[Mrs. Jack]

Hang in there! I'm not a rehabber, but one will be with you soon. So kind of you to take this on. So far you are doing well.. Someone will be here soon to give you more of an idea of how much these lil guys should be eating and how often. Great that you started them on Espbilac and the half heating pad.

:Welcome

[Mars]

First :wave123 :Welcome :wave123

Second Take a deep breathe you are doing wonderfully.:peace

Now to answer your questions. Babies at 4 weeks of age need to eat 5 to 6 meals a day by the 5% rule. That is they eat 5% of their body weight in grams = #cc's per feeding. A gram scale is your best friend when raising baby squirrels. One can be purchased in the kitchen gadgets at walmart for a reasonable price. If this is not possible feed baby till their little tummy is full but not tight. They should still be complaining they are HUNGRY but trust me they are not. babies need time to digest between meals so if tummies feel flat it is time to feed again. babies still need to be stimulated to pee and poop until after their eyes open. They will sleep through the night and you can get some sleep. :)

[rippie-n-lilgirlsmom]

:Welcome Sounds like you have covered about all of their needs! Your doing great and I hope nutmeg eats better for you soon. You could get some pedialyte and give inbetween feedings in case there is some dehydration going on, thats one thing that will cause them not want to eat. Thank you for caring about them! If you have any questions dont be afraid to ask.

[TexanSquirrel]

:Welcome And thanks for helping the babies. muffinsquirrel is in Texas, maybe she can help you.

[Mars]

This site should be helpful in finding the rehabbers near to you.

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/huntwild/wild/rehab/list/

[rippie-n-lilgirlsmom]

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/huntwild/wild/rehab/list/
Here is a link to Tx rehabbers it goes by county maybe you will want to have a backup plan just in case!!

[Mars]

:rotfl Great minds think alike :thumbsup

[thundersquirrel]

hello, :Welcome to the board!

you're doing SO well, and you've found a wonderful place to get the correct advice, so stick with us!

if other rehabbers are swamped, then it's likely they all are. keep looking though- perhaps they will get more room and time once the rush has died down.

most squirrels grow up to be wild, but some are willing to be tamed and be pets. i'm not sure what your thoughts are on this- we can help you either way. if you're not sure, i suggest you go to the pet squirrel forum and ask about the commitment required for pet squirrels, as well as the rewards that they bring.

for now, you're doing fabulously. it sounds like you've researched a lot, so forgive me if any of this is redundant-

there are simple mistakes that can be the downfall of new rehabbers (and their babies). you already caught the towel problem, and the bottle problem. i'm guessing you already know about aspiration, and how it can lead to pneumonia. if not, ask about this now.

speaking of pneumonia, you'll want to keep a close eye on the babies' lungs for the next week. my mother and i got a baby found in cold/wet conditions, and he developed clicking a few days after we got him. twenty four hours later he was dead because we couldn't get the medicine in time. so if they start making rhythmic with-breathing noises, please let us know as soon as possible and we can direct you through it.

nutmeg is likely to be more timid when you hold her. i suggest wrapping her in a towel on your lap (not tight; make it like a little cave). be VERY quiet and gently offer her the food. in that comfort, she may be more willing to eat.

could you describe their poopies to us? :D

[muffinsquirrel]

Hi. I'm (literally) right up the road (105) from you. I will PM you and give whatever help you need.

muffinsquirrel

[Mrs. Jack]

:jump

[BDCurtis]

I have contacted some the rehabbers in my area on that list and another list that I found and they were full. Some of them did not answer when I called. I left messages when possible.

I do know about aspirating (now that I've read everything possible) so that is why I tossed the bottle feeder. They were sucking a lot through their nose. I have also ordered the nipples because I read somewhere the nipples go in further and pass the nasal cavaty to reduce the risk even more.

I do not want to keep them as pets. I believe squirrels should be free. I only want to get them to the age where they can survive on their own. If we keep them until they are old enough to be released, my husband is going to build nest boxes to encourage them to hang around. Hopefully they will and I can still give them treats and fresh water.

Nutmeg just doesn't eat well most of the time. I'm lucky to get 2 cc's in her. She claws and backs out of my hand as much as possible. I have tried wrapping her in a cloth but she just buries her head and won't come up to eat. I honestly have to hold her little head still and practically force her to eat.

Their poop was black but has turned kind of brown yellow since being on formula. They didn't pee or poop the first day and I was really worried. I tried stimulating but it didn't work. The next day we didn't have any problems though. I'm not stimulating them because when I take them out to feed them and they hit my hand, they decide to go. After I feed them I usually hold them or let them crawl around a bit and they go. Peanut climbed up my arm and peed all the way. Nutmeg loves to leave poop in my hand when I'm feeding her.

I've seen a few comments about deloucing. Do all of them have lice? I haven't seen anything on them. I am using baby wipes (unscented) to clean them up about once a day. Is that okay??

[thundersquirrel]

ooooo try muffinsquirrel! she's good at this stuff. ;)

good stuff with the nipples. :thumbsup also good with the plan to release. it's an easier route, i think for both you and the squirrels.

it's really strange for such a young baby to reject like that. if she doesn't come around, you could try nutrical. it's kind of a paste, meant to fatten up emaciated dogs. if you rub a little on the tip of the nipple, it gives a nutrient boost and most squirrels love the taste. avoid force if you can- she might get bad connotations with your hands, and she needs to trust those for at least a couple more weeks.

haha their poop sounds just fine. good stuff!

not all squirrels have lice. i'd be more worried about fleas. give them a white blanket to sleep on for a night. fleas are attracted to white surfaces. also push their fur back. if you see any bugs or fleas, you can get kitten flea spray, spray a paper towel, and wipe them down (avoiding eyes and mouth and genitals).

the baby wipes are alright, but same thing- avoid orifices. ;)

[rippie-n-lilgirlsmom]

Hi! I would let muffin look at the squirrels for you she wont kidnap them but just check them over and ascess anything that may cause problems.
You have touched base on everything else and this would guarantee smoother sailing with the babies!:thumbsup

[thundersquirrel]

yes, i agree, let muffinsquirrel examine them. SO MUCH MORE accuracy is obtained from a triage as opposed to an online post. she's awful good at it too. :D

[BDCurtis]

Today me, Peanut, and Nutmeg have had a great day! We drove out to see muffinsquirrel. She was a huge help!!! Thank you so much for having us!!! :thankyou She checked out my beautiful babies, weighed them for me, and gave me some instruction on how to care for them. She showed me all her furry friends and gave me a brief run down on what she does. This woman is amazing!!! :Love_Icon I have my hands full with two and she's got lots - not including the ones in the yard that kept coming up to get pecans from her and her husband. :fireworks

I was really worried I wouldn't be able to raise them successfully but with her help I think I can do this. Both babies got a clean bill of health and they are both girls!! :jump

On top of all this excitement, Nutmeg is opening her eyes today!!! She's so cute!!! I'm in love...

[rippie-n-lilgirlsmom]

:wott :wott :wott :wott :wott :wott :wott :thankyou for the update!
Best news I heard all day!!!!!!!:wahoo :wahoo

[thundersquirrel]

YESSSSSS!!!

and the EXTRA bonus is that if, god forbid, your babies need fast help, muffinsquirrel is close by to assist!

:jump :thankyou :jump