Rehab/forever home needed for special needs little guy

[JLHRDH96]

4-5 week old baby boy. He is missing his left hand/wrist. He had many scratches/injuries when we found him but he is healing with flying colors! He is eating peeing, pooping, growing like a champ!
Since his “handicap” (which he is not worried about) he cannot be released. We would love to but we cannot keep him. We are located in Colorado but I am willing to drive him out of state to his new home.

325549325550

[Charley Chuckles]

A beautiful darling boy I hope someone here can help him out and give him a wonderful life 🙏❤️🥰

[island rehabber]

I have someone in mind.... No guarantees but I'll keep you posted.

[Shellysfriend]

I’d be willing to help if your other one doesn’t work out.

[island rehabber]

Talk to us, Shelly'sfriend. My folks didn't work out; they have too many non-releasables already. :(

[Shellysfriend]

Here I thought I’d lost out. I’ll try to send you a pm. I’ve read a lot here but new to posting. I think I figured out how to send a message..,

[Shellysfriend]

Message sent :dance

[Charley Chuckles]

I'm getting so excited 😊

[Tashahaven]

I knew there would be (AT LEAST) someone willing and able to provide a loving, forever home for this sweetheart!

no need to provide location details, but can you give us some information about who you are, and your experience with squirrels?

since you are new on TSB…I know we all just want to make sure it’s the right fit for you both. “Forever home” could likely mean 8 to 15 years! Full time, all the time (can’t just hire a pet sitter online when you want to go out of town…especially in “unfriendly states” which unfortunately there are more OF than not)…LOTS OF TIME, money, space/room, playtime, toys, and ability for vet access if needed, or willingness to drive to one who will see/treat wildlife…specifically squirrels.

Have you raised, helped raise or rehabbed any squirrels/wildlife in the past? Do you have other pets/animals? Do you know the time/ commitment involved in taking care of these super special, amazing, wonderful creatures?

They are extremely playful and social animals. They require many hours of undivided attention and playtime each day. They can and WILL chew any and everything they can get their little moufs on! From nice furniture, to electrical cords, and everything in between. Some CAN be trained to go potty in a “designated area”, but most will go wherever and whenever they like.

Because of the high energy and desire for intellectual and social interaction, they can’t just be left in a cage, only to be let out when it’s convenient. They ARE wild animals, yet they have such an unbelievable capacity to love and can be the most amazingly sweet and gentle creatures on earth. But they can and will without notice, flip a switch, and become aggressive, or attack “unprovoked”. Not AS common with their primary caregiver/“person”, but even that person is not immune. Yet protecting the squirrel and any humans/guests exposed to them is of the utmost importance!

I say NONE OF THIS to be a “Debbie downer”, to question the intent or motives of you Shellysfriend, or anything else along those lines. Just want to discuss it all out in the open, so he finds the best possible place to live out his best possible life 🥰🥰🥰🥰🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗

[island rehabber]

Shelly's friend did you send me a private message or did you send one to JLHRDH96? I don't see it in my inbox....:dono

[Shellysfriend]

I pm’d JLHRDH96 and we had an excellent conversation last night. We started lining things up for this Friday. I got hooked on squirrels several years ago when I started hand feeding. I built a house for a momma (Notchy) that made a nest in the neighbors Purple Martin house. The neighbor limbed the tree so she had about a 8’ drop onto the steep plastic roof so when it snowed or rained she would glance off the roof and drop another ~12’ to the ground. Seen her repeat this sometimes 6 times before she got in at times so I figured she had kittens in there. Said something to the neighbor about possibly adding traction to the roof and got a tough guy "stupid squirrels" response so I built a nice house with a porch, railing and foe stone siding. She moved her babies in within a week! Fast forward to now and I have 3 houses, two with cameras. Last winter I hulled over 55 gallons of Black walnuts (finished product) for my wilds and the rehabber in the next county over who I consult every now and then and visit at least once a year. So if I get into too much trouble I have some resources. That said if you know a friendly vet in Wisconsin or nearby please let me know, I'd like to have that info in my back pocket. I rehabbed 5 cottontails this spring that someone picked up that shouldn't have been. I brought in my Shelly last spring when she got injured and had severe mobility issues. At that time we had 5 fox and a ton of hawks around so her days were numbered. She healed and was released and visits me every day. Handed her a walnut this morning! I've got 2 critter nation and a homemade cage to start with along with scales, syringes, formula, heating pads etc. I've been making homemade HHB's for a while for fun and practice. I'm also aware captive ones have different diet needs than wilds. It's just my wife and I no pets besides my wild ones. She works from home. There are more experienced people out there to take care of him but I think I will rival you with passion. Squirrels have become my life and I've been waiting for the opportunity for a non release to come along. I hope this eases at least some of your concern. We'll see if I figured out the image attachment, Its my Shelly getting her morning walnut. 325551 :grin2

[Charley Chuckles]

We all started with our first squirrel and y'all sound like you have a great plan in place👍😀

[Tashahaven]

That’s exciting! I’m happy he is going to a loving forever home. You are in for quite the ride. There’s nothing like loving and being loved by a squirrel. It’s an amazing, unforgettable bond!

[Squirrelygirl24]

4-5 week old baby boy. He is missing his left hand/wrist. He had many scratches/injuries when we found him but he is healing with flying colors! He is eating peeing, pooping, growing like a champ!
Since his “handicap” (which he is not worried about) he cannot be released. We would love to but we cannot keep him. We are located in Colorado but I am willing to drive him out of state to his new home.

325549325550

I have a question for you. I am currently rehabbing baby squirrels, which I’ve done before, and one of the babies is missing it’s hind foot. A tree fell and ripped off its foot/leg leaving the bone exposed. It appears to be in no distress, is the best eater and is one of the most active out of the 5. What, if anything should be done to cover that exposed bone? I noticed in your photo that yours also appears to be exposed. Did you do anything about it?

[Shellysfriend]

I will start with the fact that I am no expert. Irrel(Earl) is about 7 weeks old now. He doesn’t seem to be really bothered by missing his paw and forearm. He’s got good energy and seems to have good mobility. I tried making him a sock by cutting the small finger off from a cloth glove and putting a little gauze in the end so that the wound wouldn’t stick to it but he just doesn’t have enough arm to keep it on without some sort of suspender and although he isn’t in a big cage yet I’m worried about him getting that caught or hung up on something. His skin seems to still be healing around the injury so I’m hoping it will develop a cap. He lets me put Mcness Salve on it at every feeding and that seems to be helping. He doesn’t really complain when I dab it on the end. It was recommended by another member to use Silvedine Cream on it but I just haven’t been able to get my hands on any. Lots of fleece padding in his cage. I’m hoping that 1 it fully skins over and 2 as he grows there is a little more arm to keep his “sock glove” on. As to what should be done if it ends up being exposed bone I’m not sure but believe me it’s been in the back of my mind. There is some threads under specific ailments, amputee’s, but it didn’t look like that was really covered yet.325757325758

[Squirrelygirl24]

I appreciate you getting back to me. My little guy doesn’t seem fazed AT ALL about the leg unless I really start messing with it. I’m keeping my eye out for infection but so far it seems good. If I can figure out how to upload a picture, I’ll show you. It’s a fighter! Sooo active and eats so well. Unfortunately, there aren’t rehabbers or vet’s around me that will take him. I’m in the medical field and can do most things myself. I do feel better after seeing your little guy and how well his leg looks. I was just wondering if I should try to get the skin to cover it by throwing some stitches in or leave it alone and see what happens.

[Squirrelygirl24]

Here are some photos

[Shellysfriend]

That’s kind of what I was assuming , if there was exposed bone that the skin would need “trained “ to cover it or the bone would need shortening…? I’m no medic though