Jack Needs Help!

[Buddy]

Please read and advice.

Here's what happened. Jack was fine this morning and all day. In the afternoon, for his release tomorrow, I took one of the nest boxes that he has been sleeping in outside, to put it up in the tree.

He had 2 nest boxes in the release cage, he used to sleep in one, but then moved to the other and has been sleeping in the second nest box, which is what we took out to put it in the tree.

As some of you know, he has been living in outside release cage since May 19th, but because his regular nest box was not there anymore, somehow he couldn't figure out a safe place to be, and freaked out.

Since 5:00 pm till 8:00 he has been running like crazy in his release cage; jumping from one corner to another...

I got into his release cage around 8:00 to try to calm him and noticed that he had some foam around his mouth.

My poor little Jack...

I grabbed him and brought him in a dark, quiet room and tried to calm him. He is very very very nervous and wouldn't relex. Provided, even before, he was very wild and nervous and wouldn't relax or chill; but he is definitely a lot more freaked out.

He's been eating his Henry's blocks and Harland Teklad blocks. He is outside and gets plenty of sunshine.

I'm thinking maybe while freaking out, he hit his head? Or just a mini seizure from being scared.

What should I do now? I put him Buddy's inside cage and covered it so it's dark. I also gave him a little bit of water mixed with tums.

I'm assuming I should not be releasing him tomorrow, right? What should I do to comfort him? I'm actually thinking he might be freaking out more in the house.

[Charley Chuckles]

I'm so sorry about this, poor Jack poor you 😟
How is Jack this morning? Any calmer?

[Buddy]

Jack died last night!

I tried to keep him with me, holding and trying to calm, didn't work, I kept him in the inside cage, but he never liked the inside cage, so he kept fighting and getting even more freaked out.

I finally decided to put him back in his outside release cage. He did not do well there either. I tried to calm him again and he was tweaking and blinking a lot and still some foam.

Finally, his little body got really tired around midnight, that's when I put him in his nest box, thinking that he can get some sleep and rest.

When I checked upon him at 3:00 am, he was motionless, stiff; not breathing. I tried to do some CPR and keep him warm; but there was no sign of liveliness. His gums were white.

We buried him this morning. This was supposed to be his release day; not his funeral.

I feel like an utter failure... I failed Jack so miserably. I don't think I can ever get over this! My heart is broken into million pieces!

Goodbye Jack! I love you so much my playful friend!

I'm sooo soo very sory for failing you like this.

Thank you so much for giving me this honor and privilege to take care of you, as best as I can, to play with you, to experience your amazing personality and call you my friend, and love you so so very deeply!

[Buddy]

Of course, I keep blaming myself, I should have released him last week, I should have thought that he would freak out about mowing the lawn, I should have brought him inside as soon as I notice that he was freaking out about the lawn mowing... I feel like I literally took his life away!

I am so so so.... sorry Jack!

[Charley Chuckles]

Oh Buddy I'm in tears reading this, oh please please don't blame yourself
We still can't know for sure what really happened and why he freaked out so badly.
So many things go into the mix and most of us have had things happen that we could never foresee. If only we could all predict an outcome we all would do things differently in all areas of our lives.

You loved Jack and he knew that. Wonder if he was released and something scared him in the wild, things might have not gone well either.
I'm just so sorry

[Buddy]

Thank you so much CC!

I'm already missing him so much! I wish he could have been in the trees at least for a few days...

My heart just aches with sadness....

[TubeDriver]

I am so very sorry to hear about this.

You are a good squirrel mom, this is one of those crazy, bad luck, one-in-a million, struck by lightning disasters that could happen to any one of us. I know it won't mend your broken heart, but please try to not blame yourself.

The painful secret that ALL rehabbers have to live with is that as they gain experience, there is always that squirrel that did not make it, and in hind-site we think that we should have done something different, the outcome would have been different. I am 100% sure that there is not a single rehabber on this board who has not felt this way. It hurts and it is just something you have to live with. When I started helping squirrels, I had a string of success stories. I felt like I was pretty talented. Then I had a squirrel that I released come back injured and I tried EVERYTHING to help him. Max died in my hands and my heart shattered. I ALWAYS think about what I could have done differently. Since then, I have had to euthanize squirrels, I have had some pass away under my care and it always hurts and you question yourself. It is the double edged sword of loving and caring for wildlife. These little beings are magical and fill our hearts with love but they can also crack our hearts in two.

It sounds like little Jack had a seizure and could not recover from it. Was it hotter/sunnier than usual yesterday? He might have suffered from dehydration/sun stroke and that combined with the fear he felt from the lawnmower just proved too much. But nothing you did is any different from what many of us would have done. Just terrible bad luck.

I am praying for you and Jack.

Godspeed little Jack, let your moms love carry you onwards to your next life.

[Buddy]

Thank you so much TubeDriver!

Yes, it was definitely hotter than normal yesterday. My husband also thought that it might be related to the heat; but he has 2 water cups there (changed daily); and he was not constantly in sun. Like you said, all conditions; heat and fear mixed might have caused this very sad end.

Thanks for sharing your experiences! Sorry to hear about Max. That also must be very hard to go through.

I know a lot of people on this board go through similar experiences and that you all understand what I'm going through.

I don't know how you guys all do this over and over again...

Thank you for all your kind and caring words!

And I couldn't have said any better. These little beings are magical and fill our hearts with love but they can also crack our hearts in two.

Thank you again!