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Thread: Help

  1. #1
    Michelle1212 Guest

    Default Help

    I have been a squirrel rehabber for years, today something alarming happened. 2 siblings, 8 weeks old 1 female 1 male died within hours of each other. Both successfully weaned and eating on their own. The female passed away first, I was not present, found her this am, the male I gave a few green acorns, he was in the process of eating a green acorn when he had a seizure and died within 2 minutes, help....anyone know if I could have caused harm by giving the babies freshly picked green acorns?

  2. #2
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    Default Re: Help

    I am so sorry for your loss. Godspeed little ones...

    As for acorns, I am not sure about when they are green, but I did stop feeding them as we have had several losses that seemed to coincide with feeding acorns.
    Personally, I would not feed them anymore, but would also realize that what you did was something that many rehabbers do without incident and would not be guilt ridden. I truly am so sorry for this terrible loss...

  3. #3
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    Default Re: Help

    Oh goodness, I am so sorry. This is terribly sad. Yes, I too have heard acorns can be dangerous, so I opt not to feed them to any of my indoor babies. Once squirrels are in the wild, they learn the difference between good nuts and bad ones. Unfortunately, sometimes it is nearly impossible to tell a bad nut just by looking at it from the outside. I am sorry for your loss. Rest in peace little ones.
    Life is not measured by the breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

    "Don't cry because it's over - smile because it happened." Dr. Seuss

  4. #4
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    Default Re: Help

    TO be honest, the fact that both babies died suddenly, and with seizure involvement, does not suggest toxins from acorns to me at all. Illness & death from acorns happens much more slowly.
    Were these squirrels head trauma babies at all, when they were found? Bloody noses or swollen heads? It is a fact that sometimes a head trauma baby will survive and do well for several months, but then growth of the skull causes pressure on the brain and sudden death occurs.

    Either way, I am SO very sorry for your loss, Michelle.
    Island Rehabber
    NY State Licensed
    Wildlife Rehabilitator


    "Ancora Imparo" (I am still learning)
    Michelangelo


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  5. #5
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    Default Re: Help

    I am sooo sorry also....what a terrible loss just to let you know I fed my squirrel Baby and a few releases acorns and green acorns for years....I froze them and fed them year round. It wasn't until after the losses, that may have been linked to acorns, that I stopped feeding them frozen acorns. I still feed acorns and I've fed greens ones this fall....but I only feed the ones I find fresh on the ground....when I'm walking through my woods I pick up new acorns on my trail....beechnuts too....I feed them to my squirrels. My squirrels don't want some of them and I hope that's their good squirrelly sense I think it's important to feed natural foods when possible...but as I said I will never feed frozen acorn again. Please don't beat yourself up...green acorns never hurt mine I agree with IR it sounds odd for it to happen so quickly. Was anything in their environment different the last few days? Any changes made? I would start there....it won't help ease your pain but it may ease your mind
    Make the world a better place...one animal at a time



    The Peace of Wild Things
    BY WENDELL BERRY
    When despair for the world grows in me
    and I wake in the night at the least sound
    in fear of what my life and my children’s lives may be,
    I go and lie down where the wood drake
    rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds.
    I come into the peace of wild things
    who do not tax their lives with forethought
    of grief. I come into the presence of still water.
    And I feel above me the day-blind stars
    waiting with their light. For a time
    I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.

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