Guidance Needed.

[Buddy]

I'm going to post this in Emergency; because I'm worried that she seems to lost her appetide and hasn't eaten anything since 1:00 am last night; and it's 10:30 am here.
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Hi, So someone brought a baby squirrel to me yesterday morning (around 11:00 am). I think she is about 7-9 weeks old. They found it in their yard and this little thing is very thin and she was super cold. I warmed her up, gave her home made dehyration fluid a few times during the day. In the evening she took some homemade goatmilk/heavy cream/yogurt formula. She pooped and peed. She doesn't seem to be have any outside injuiry.

This morning, she seems very scarred and didn't want to take any fluid/formula, I offered her some Henry's block and avocado even an almond, she didn't eat those either. I'm keeping her in a fleece cube and warm.

My question is... should I take her to the Wildlife Rehabilitator or try to care for her myself?

I don't want this to turn into a Jack story. Ideally, it could be a Buddy story (with a successful release). I do want to do what's best for her.

This is the wildlife rehabilitator I know of which is 1 hour away from where I am. And they are in the middle of lots of wooded area.

http://www.oakenacres.org/index.html

I think they are active on their facebook page more but here's their instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/oakenacreswildlife/?hl=en

Would they release her before winter or over winter her? And if they did, would she have a good chance surviving?

Any thoughts?

Am I even crazy to think she might be better off with me?

Again, as much as I want to keep her, I do want to do whatver is best for her.

[Spanky]

I am unfamiliar with the center you posted but I can refer you to 2nd Hand Ranch... I would call and discuss your situation and concerns.
https://www.2ndhandranch.com/


My question is... should I take her to the Wildlife Rehabilitator or try to care for her myself?

Am I even crazy to think she might be better off with me?

You are definitely not crazy to consider caring for her yourself if you have the resources (time, materials and energy!).

At ~8 weeks she is right on the cusp of being able to be integrated with another group of squirrels, which (IMO) would be one of the advantages of turning her over... but were it me I would lean conservative and assume she is too old to be introduced to a group of cage mates.

[Buddy]

Thank you! :Love_Icon I called the 2ndhandranch and they said the Oaken Acres is a really good center and they would definitely overwinter her. So I'm leaning to take her there...

I was able to get some more hyradtion liquid and some formula too, so I feel a bit better.

We still have the indoor care and Buddy's outdoor cage; however, we might also be moving next spring. I'm not sure if she'd be better off released in a wooded area or in a suburb. So hard to know what's going to be the best!

[Buddy]

Well, we called a few rehab centers and they all say that release time depends on how healthy the baby is and it's possible to release before winter. In that case, not sure if it's better for her to be taken care of at home...

Just because Chicago winters can be pretty rough.

[Buddy]

We called Oaken Acres and they say the same thing; depending on the health of the squirrel, they would decide to overwinter or not. They say they would not give the animal back, if we bring her.

Also, the person brought the squirrel keeps asking how she is doing and saying that if I give her tips; she'd take care of the squirrel. I really do not want to give her to someone with no experience or equipments etc.

Since there's the 3rd person involved and we live in Illinois; is it best to take her the rehab center?

I'm in such a dilemma. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

[Buddy]

She is about 75 grams. Do you think she'd be eligible to be overwintered? She is very skittish... :( Not sure if she'd do well if she is mixed with other squirrels...

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[Spanky]

She's tiny!!! Even here in the South, were it me I would overwinter one that little. Though I do have the option of over-wintering 2 groups (2 RC's) outdoors because of the mildness of winter here (the ones overwintered outdoors are much happier!). And Spring begins much earlier for us...

[Buddy]

Thanks Spanky! So you think if I bring her in, she'd most probably be overwintered?

[Spanky]

I cannot speak for the rehab facility and I am not familiar with "how they do things in the North"... I was sharing how I would deal with her were she in my care.

[Buddy]

Sorry, somehow I mixed up my numbers. She is actually 152 grams; but she still feels like skin on bunch of bones.... I'm a small person and she fits into the palm of my hand.

She seems to want to keep sleeping and still very skittish.

[Buddy]

Hi, I'm still struggling to make the call for this little girl.

I selfishly would love to keep her; however, there are a few things to consider. We might be moving in a year or so. So, she might not be getting extra love and attention after the release (if everything goes well and we could release her next spring and also, if she decides to stick around), so there might not be advantages from that point of view to keep her here vs. a wildlife rehabilitator releasing.

She's been eating well; both formula and Henry's block. She is now 165 grams. She is extremely wild and skittish. We got her Saturday morning and today is Tuesday afternoon and she hasn't gotten out of her fleece box at all; except maybe 2 times and both times she was freaked out and wanted to get back to her cube. She doesn't like to be handled, she likes being petted at night, if we keep her somewhere warm and closed (like while being in a wool hat or something)

If it's better to keep her with me; should I keep her in the inside cage, in her cube for as long as she is staying in the cube; or transfer her to the outdoor cage? She seems to be wanting to be next to the hot water bottle I have near her cube (When the lady found her, she was extremely cold and it took me several hours to finally get her warm). Would she be cold outside? Outside cage has a nestbox and she could stay there.

If I keep her inside, she might eventually get much more domesticated (although, so far 4 days past and she doesn't show any sign of getting used to). If she gets domesticated, then when I put her outside cage, would she back to being wild or is it better to keep her in the outside cage from now on?

The other thing to consider is that; the wildlife rehabilitator will most likely release her in a forest or much more wooded area than my regular northwest suburb. So that seems to be better, correct?

Although, I still cannot get a confirmation from anyone that she'd be 100% overwintered, if I bring her to the wildlife rehabilitator. They say depending on her health and size, they would decide. And they say once I bring her there, they would not give her back to me (if they say they wouldn't overwinter). :(

What do you guys think I should do??