Release squirrel fell and has bloody nose

[MapleRidgesquirrel]

We just released our female 10 1/2 month squirrel this morning. She just fell from tree about 20 feet up and landed on brick patio. It appeared that two males were in tree and startled her. Her nose was bleeding but has stopped. She is able to climb but does have her head down as if she feels bad. She is currently resting in her hammock in her patio. Please advise. Thanks

[CritterMom]

If she was mine I would close her in so she can recover from this without having to deal with anything else - other squirrels, predators, etc. If you can give us a guess at her weight we can tell you a safe dose for some liquid infant ibuprophen for her, which may help with the hurt.

[MapleRidgesquirrel]

Should I try to bring her inside to her original cage? She is currently inside of her nest box inside of her release cage. The wilds keep coming over and she comes out and chases them through the cage and then goes back into her nest box. Will try to get a weight on her. I think she might be a little under a pound. Also will go and get some liquid infant ibuprofen. She nibbled on a piece of banana but didn't eat much. Here are some pictures after the injury. Thanks .

[CritterMom]

You can do either. If the release cage is safe it will probably be fine and when she feels better you can just open the door for her again. If you are going to be trying to clean her up and give her pain meds, indoors may be easier. If she is indoors for a few days, give her a couple days in the release cage again before yo do a second release.

I will PM you dosing for the infant ibuprophen for a 1 pound squirrel. It is a moderate dosage so if she is a little smaller it won't be an issue.

Try to get a look at her teeth.

[MapleRidgesquirrel]

We will try to look at her teeth. Thanks so much. We noticed where she landed an old branch fell as well. I think she stepped onto a loose branch which caused her to fall on the patio.

[MapleRidgesquirrel]

She hasn't come out to eat or drink anything since she has been inside of her nest box. Should I try to bother her with food or let her rest this evening?

[MapleRidgesquirrel]

She just peaked out of her nest box. Her nose looks like she cleaned it up. She went back inside as if she wants to be left alone.

[CritterMom]

Leave her some food - maybe a goodie near the opening - something soft that you know she likes - finely chop some nuts and mix with enough peanut butter or nutella to roll them in a ball. If she likes avocado, that might be an option too.

[MapleRidgesquirrel]

She just came out and drank lots of water and nibbled on the bark from her oak branch that she climbs on. Will put crushed nut ball with peanut butter in there for her too. Thanks again

[CritterMom]

Aw, she is probably sore, and I think it scares the heck out of them, too.

[MapleRidgesquirrel]

Thanks for your help. I hope she makes it and doesn't have any life threatening issues. She was only in the tree for about 3 hours and then it started raining. I was outside and heard a bump on the patio and sure enough it was her with a bloody nose.

[Charley Chuckles]

Hope she does well🙏
A face plant can cause Malocclusion, just check her teeth if you can👍

[MapleRidgesquirrel]

Well this morning she is acting like her energetic self and running and jumping just fine in her release cage. She ate crushed pecans mixed with peanut butter and avocado. Any ideas on how to get a good look at her teeth? She is so squirmy and trys to come out of release portal opening when we open the door to give her food now. thanks

[sundoesshine]

Well this morning she is acting like her energetic self and running and jumping just fine in her release cage. She ate crushed pecans mixed with peanut butter and avocado.

Yayy!

[CritterMom]

Give her some time so she is hungry again and then see what she does with a nut in the shell. If she messed up her teeth she won't try to crack it.

[MapleRidgesquirrel]

She found a buried almond in the shell inside of her release today and she opened the shell without any problem and then tucked the almond inside of her nest box. She also ate a soft boo ball mixed with peanut butter and black walnut pieces on the outside. Hopefully she keeps improving so we can release still soon. Thanks