Strange question

[Sommer]

Okay so this is a first for me. And I thought I'd run it by you guys. I just took in a 5-week-old baby squirrel. Dehydrated but seemingly otherwise in good shape. Thing is, she was found in the attic with her dead mother. When they went up there and could smell something dead they called the handyman. I pleaded for them to do another inspection to make sure this wasn't the only one. Anyway, it is still very hot here so I know it probably did not take her long to smell. But since she was right there with the baby is it possible this baby nursed from her and is there anything I should be looking out for in case she did? I've only had her since last night. She seems to be perking up now.

[CritterMom]

This is an issue with baby opossums., which are marsupials and live in mamas pouch and are actually attached to the teat. Mother squirrels are like most mammals, they get an oxytocin rush when the babies start nosing around teats which triggers the milk to "drop" and be available for lunch. I don't think a baby COULD nurse from a dead mama.

[Sommer]

Okay. I wasn't sure if this was an emergency or not. I've never taken in one that had been with a dead mama. So I figured I'd go ahead and get in the know just in case.

[Sommer]

Also if it helps they said they did not recognize it as the smell of a dead animal. Just a bad smell. So I'm thinking it hadn't been too long. Were the possums okay?

[Sommer]

I did ask and they said they do not keep poison out.

[Sommer]

I guess what I'm asking is are there any signs of poisoning if she did get milk out of her mom I should be looking for? Or also any signs of disease? Just seems strange for her to die in the nest. She's right about at 6 weeks old and weighed 65 g when I took her in last night.

[Spanky]

I guess what I'm asking is are there any signs of poisoning if she did get milk out of her mom I should be looking for? Or also any signs of disease? Just seems strange for her to die in the nest. She's right about at 6 weeks old and weighed 65 g when I took her in last night.

Did they inspect the mom for signs of trauma? Could be she escaped a predator or had a fall... or a thousand other things... and made it back to her drey before passing. The best thing you can do is hydrate hydrate hydrate as this hopefully will flush anything bad out of her system. If mom had been dead long enough to attract attention because of smell, I'd believe this baby is past the danger zone if mom had ingested poisoning.

But 65grams is tiny for a 6 week old (is this a grey?).

[Sommer]

Somehow I seem to erase my posts when I try to fix my spelling. I do not know how to use this forum well lol. So they did not smell her until they went into the attic. Lucky timing I guess. They said Mom did not look injured but I'm not sure how well they inspected. I did just hydrate and hydrate until she was peeing well and skin was right. Fed her a little earlier this morning. Then by 11:00 she was hungry and ate pretty well. She has bottom teeth and top teeth buds and the back side of her tail is almost covered. No less than 5 weeks no older than 6 weeks. She just does not seem as perky or coordinated as she should be and I wasn't sure if anyone had experience with this and if her situation could mean I should be looking out for anything else to be ready for.

[Sommer]

Yes, she is a grey

[Sommer]

Okay if you guys don't think the bad milk would be a problem and there would be no diseases to look for in this case I'll just continue on. They tried to call our local wildlife place and they said they were full. Hopefully they'll have some space when she's starting to eat solids and climbing around because overwintering a single baby is probably not in her best interest.

[Spanky]

The brutal truth is that if mom died from ingesting rodenticide and passed it to the baby... the baby would be dead by now.

IF this mom had only 1 baby, that suggests at least the possibility she was of ill health already.... or perhaps she did birth more but lost the siblings struggling to care for them before she passed herself.

[Sommer]

I did have some amazing person at Henry's pet get back to me and sooth me a bit lol. My number one problem with rehab is my ability to get antibiotics. Luckily it has never been detrimental but I'm always worried it will be. I was worried in this case it might be a good idea right off the bat. He told me he couldn't see any reason to worry about it as long as she was doing well. Doing much better. Hydrated well and eating well now. I think she's going to be just fine. But now I've got to worry about the fact that I can't keep her as a single baby over the winter. Trying to find someone who can include her or someone who has overspill and needs a place for a singleton or two. Been calling around leaving messages and trying to get on it instead of waiting to the last minute.

[Sommer]

5.5 wks
65g on intake Sunday night around 8:00 p.m.
67g after hydration
Eating formula well now, 74g as of last night.

On Fox Valley. Have blocks and will be introducing soon.

[CritterMom]

Aw.

[Sommer]

Well it looks like my worries were for nothing! She never even had that dark poop from her mama. I think she was acting so sleepy just from hunger and dehydration. I was so worried she had been poisoned or was sick. She's eating and pooping well and gaining 5 grams a day! Whew! Thanks guys!