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Thread: Need Advice ; prognosis for release /or not

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    Default Need Advice ; prognosis for release /or not

    The young wild adult that was brought to me 3 weeks ago has made remarkable progress; all except her interest in solid foods. I cannot detect anything wrong with her mouth. Her mobility has improved; she can climb and apparently leap to a towel holder (I let her have out of cage time in small bath, separate from the others). I hope to actually WITNESS her leaping /jumping skills. Planning to move her into a double CN .

    But, since we’ve graduated to solids (she originally could only swallow liquid) she will not consume solids such as veggies or hard rodent block. She will nibble them some, but will only eat soft Henry’s or Boo balls. I’ve offered her nuts in the shell; no interest. She finally nibbled on a shelled pecan half, but that’s as solid of food as she will eat .

    I am not sure? If her original injury was the result of a massive seizure ? Or a “stroke”??

    But with all her improvements, that show hope for release, what do we do if she won’t shell a nut?? Has anyone ever had a neuro recover (mostly) but not be able to crack nuts/eat hard things?

    I’ve also offered branches; never see her gnaw or nibble.

    She’s become skittish; but I’m trying my best to keep a “hands on” level of trust with her in case she can’t go? And in case I need to trim teeth??

    Please, help me understand this,

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    Default Re: Need Advice ; prognosis for release /or not

    How old do you think she is?
    My neuro always had a hard time holding food and she never was able to crack a nut open.
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    Default Re: Need Advice ; prognosis for release /or not

    I’m not sure? Her teeth are brown, and she weighs about 400g last check.

    This am, I did find some nut shells from the Hazelnuts I placed in there yesterday! So that’s a good sign!

    I plan to observe her more this weekend.

    If eating does improve, I guess another nagging worry is, was it a seizure that originally caused this? Will there be more to come? My first head trauma girl was about this age when her seizures actually started. But they never incapacitated her like this one presented. But, they did take her life, too soon even while on meds

    But she was an NR (my first, Snickers) due to other neuro deficits. So she had to stay…. And I just happened to hear her first seizure. And then, the second came a few weeks later. So we started medicine.

    Would others here hold her longer to be sure this isn’t an epileptic? Or, as she improves will this only stress her worse (she does seem to be becoming increasingly skittish… but I can still gently pick her up with fleece)?

    And , should I just release her back at the original finder’s yard? No soft release?

    I’ve released 11 here the last several weeks; and they STILL camp out in the RC’s and their nests lol. I also have 4 more to go in a couple weeks… So that’s 15 just released here…
    Would this be too much for her?

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    Default Re: Need Advice ; prognosis for release /or not

    You reminded me my Little Girl didn't start having seizures till she was almost 9 months to a year old I really can't remember. I knew pretty early on she was a NR she had a purple head when I got her fell from tall pine tree the nest had 3 babies, her sister's were released but LG would have never made it on her own.
    I guess you'll just have to keep an eye on her and if she could be released I still like soft release method.
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    Default Re: Need Advice ; prognosis for release /or not

    Have you experimented with nuts where you crack the shell first?

    I had an NR Ziggy who was able to hold things with his front paws but never quite had the strength needed to crack open a pecan on his own.

    If I cracked pecans open, Ziggy was able to eat them just fine. He was just not able to hold them firmly enough to crack the shell. Coordination may have also played a role, but it seemed like it was mostly a strength issue.

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    Default Re: Need Advice ; prognosis for release /or not

    After more observations yesterday, I decided for her safety and for the chance to practice climbing on natural limbs (not towel and shower curtain rods) , I moved her to an indoor/outdoor set up in my release building next to the woods. I stuffed the outside part full of freshly cut large limbs and smaller with leaves . Places some smaller in the indoor cage.
    She explored the indoor cage yesterday, then went straight to her cube.

    I went out early this Am, hoping to see her climbing and playing outside, and meeting the gaggle of release kids who won’t leave. But no sign of her. She’s staying in that cube. I could see some evidence that she at least came out to eat; and again this evening. But no sign she’s ventured out at all.

    There are four younger pre releases kids out there; she can see them across the room. At least she can see others of her kind.

    Just breaks my heart she’s so scared . Others I’ve placed in these set ups wasted no time going straight out the portal into the large habitat/enclosures ; fee the breeze, listen to nature. But she’s not budging from that cube

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    Default Re: Need Advice ; prognosis for release /or not

    I'm sorry to hear that, maybe she will surprise you and start venturing out 🙏
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    Default Re: Need Advice ; prognosis for release /or not

    Quote Originally Posted by Snicker Bar View Post
    But with all her improvements, that show hope for release, what do we do if she won’t shell a nut?? Has anyone ever had a neuro recover (mostly) but not be able to crack nuts/eat hard things?
    The general rule is they are NR if unable to shell a nut.

    And yes, I have a trauma intake from last spring that was found lying in the rood at about 8 weeks of age. Standard head trauma treatment and protocol and he recovered very well considering. HOWEVER, his fine motor skills are compromised. He also cannot shell a nut.. in fact he cannot even bite into shelled nut (out of shell to be clear). He has a hard time holding a nut (or anything) and bruxes on the nut to shave off little pieces to eat. Even half an almond (long ways) he is unable to bite through... I often hold half an almond for him to enjoy since since it makes things much easier for him. His food is chopped extra fine... unsurprisingly, avocado is his favorite and he also gets a double portion. He does eat his HHB's well, so that is a big plus for me.

    I doubt he can bite hard enough to even break my skin (but no doubt this will happen in the next few days now that I said it out loud!!!)... that lake of bite force would be a huge concern even if that were his only deficit. I don't imagine he'd fair well in a squirrel scuffle much less trying to escape a predator.

    He can leap, climb, run and bound around with the best of them. Just occurred to me to mention, I have never once recall hearing him alarm call.

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    Default Re: Need Advice ; prognosis for release /or not

    Quote Originally Posted by Spanky View Post


    I doubt he can bite hard enough to even break my skin.

    He can leap, climb, run and bound around with the best of them.
    Thanks, and wow!

    My quadriplegic NR Ziggy could not even sit up without something to lean against, and mobility was slide slither or belly crawl. But while he did not have the strength/coordination to shell a nut, his ability to bite and chew seemed totally normal.

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    Default Re: Need Advice ; prognosis for release /or not

    Checked again first thing this AM and she won’t even poke her head out of the cube. Barely ate. This is breaking my heart.
    She seemed fine? Walking all around in the inside cage? Looking for a corner to get out? But has she ventured through the short portal to play outside or not, idk? I can’t stay out there 24/7
    I just know all the others , over the last few years doing this, were ALWAYS outside early in am and early evening. Or all day even, in good temps.

    Maybe I do need to bring her back in, in a double CN; I just thought there was no longer a concern when I saw the cracked HazelNut shells.

    How long would you “tough love” until there’s proof she will go outside? Could she be permanently terrified/brain impaired?? Is there even such a scenario?

    I have seen some domestic pets show permanent personality changes, after a traumatic event… But a wild ?

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    Default Re: Need Advice ; prognosis for release /or not

    I would give her more time. Maybe bring her in again and hope she starts to act like a squirrel again.


    Quote Originally Posted by Snicker Bar View Post
    Checked again first thing this AM and she won’t even poke her head out of the cube. Barely ate. This is breaking my heart.
    She seemed fine? Walking all around in the inside cage? Looking for a corner to get out? But has she ventured through the short portal to play outside or not, idk? I can’t stay out there 24/7
    I just know all the others , over the last few years doing this, were ALWAYS outside early in am and early evening. Or all day even, in good temps.

    Maybe I do need to bring her back in, in a double CN; I just thought there was no longer a concern when I saw the cracked HazelNut shells.

    How long would you “tough love” until there’s proof she will go outside? Could she be permanently terrified/brain impaired?? Is there even such a scenario?

    I have seen some domestic pets show permanent personality changes, after a traumatic event… But a wild ?
    See my wild squirrel adventures in the thread "Squirtle's yard!":
    https://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/...quirtle-s-Yard!

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    Default Re: Need Advice ; prognosis for release /or not

    I have one that once put in the release cage she went on a food strike, I mean a real strike. I tried tough love but after 2 weeks of just picky eating and only when I went in and hand fed her, she got her way, I brought her in she bounced around ate and played all happy.... She is living happily with me and weird thing was I never saw any abnormal behavior before I put her out🤷 she's a love bug gives me kisses and would be even happier if I held her 24/7 she watches TV with me most every night🤣 also she is not a fan of other squirrels..... She's 4 now.
    I truly believe some squirrels we find just figure they won the lotto and are happy like a house cat😀
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    Default Re: Need Advice ; prognosis for release /or not

    Just got home
    She hasn’t touched a thing,

    I don’t think I can tough it out another day,

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    Default Re: Need Advice ; prognosis for release /or not

    Quote Originally Posted by Snicker Bar View Post
    Just got home
    She hasn’t touched a thing,

    I don’t think I can tough it out another day,
    If it was me I'd bring her in👍
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    Default Re: Need Advice ; prognosis for release /or not

    When I got home last night to check in, it was after dark. I had given her fresh food yesterday am, but she didn’t touch it at all. It was exactly as I had placed it. So made up my mind to bring her back in.
    Drug the extra CN back into the house and set it up. By now, totally dark and raining outside. Since I have not held her with bare hands since our camping trip over a week ago, (and since she had seemingly began to become more skittish) I was very apprehensive about trying to get her into a carrier. Her cube appeared occupied, so I placed a carrier under it and began to unsnap it; only to realize it was empty??

    So gathered my husband and a good flashlight. Found her in the large, outside portion of the RC. Hanging onto the wire at the top. She seemed totally confused . She would go to the portal; even go in? Then turning around and walking around the upper perimeter of the cage, wouldn’t get on the limbs. So had Jon close me up in the cage with a small ladder and the carrier . But I couldn’t reach her

    I called to her , and reached toward her with some fleece… and she literally came down to my level and let me carefully gather her up and place her in the carrier. No chatters , no struggle and no TEETH?! This nearly adult, wild squirrel is too trusting , so it seems??

    Anyhow, got her in a clean cage in quiet room. Left fresh food. This am, she was out and about; a little nervous? But took a nut from my hand. Let me pet her, stroke her head.

    This evening, she had messed with much of the food but still doesn’t prefer hard things. I’m out of nuts in shells, but will order pecan and walnut to see what she can do with those. But I noticed, she still curls that left arm up tight when she sits,

    I thought I would try to offer her some fresh baked boo bars.. since she still didn’t eat very much? I wondered if she wanted to be hand fed again.

    And this was her answer:
    Name:  3ECE146E-4574-45AE-B51D-95814090DD73.jpg
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    Mind you I haven’t held her in over a week. And she’s supposed to be a half grown wild. She’s too trusting ; for only being in captivity for three weeks? She’s come from completely neuro, recumbent, partially paralyzed, to this. She’s just not right yet… and I guess may never be?? Idk.
    But she has a name now : “Baby Ruth”. And she’s got permission to stay from Jon lol; as long as this is the LAST until our other “hard release” that is coming home is grown and soft released the way it should have been.

    Will update on that story another night.
    Just so relieved Baby Ruth told me last night, she can’t do this yet. Maybe someday? Maybe never. But she thoroughly enjoyed being coddled and hand fed, and tummy rubs , and tucked back into a warm cube

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    Default Re: Need Advice ; prognosis for release /or not

    I’m so glad you brought her in. I think you might be right….she may not want to be a wild squirrel anymore. Time will tell. I’m glad she’s eating.

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    Default Re: Need Advice ; prognosis for release /or not


    I think she may be a keeper she's adorable 🥰
    Charley Chuckles gone from my arms FOREVER in my heart 8/14/04-3/7/13
    Simon, our time was too short together, but you gave us so much love, be with CC now 3/7/14


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    Default Re: Need Advice ; prognosis for release /or not

    She will hopefully remove all doubt one way or another. This one just puzzles me ; it’s not a physical limitation. Her legs work, even thought that left arm that draws upon a curl when she pauses. But her nervous system is still apparently off in other ways ; she should have been inside, in her cube at 9 pm…not clinging to the wire , all confused outside in the dark (and the rain) . And, she should be a chainsaw , tearing me up. I did not tame her; this isn’t normal. But will see where this goes; one way or another it’s her choice if her brain and body can heal and work together. If not, she has a name and a place here
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    Default Re: Need Advice ; prognosis for release /or not

    Quote Originally Posted by Snicker Bar View Post
    And, she should be a chainsaw , tearing me up. I did not tame her; this isn’t normal.
    I am reminded of this situation, where head injuries apparently may result in an extremely docile squirrel:

    https://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/...ghlight=noelle

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    Default Re: Need Advice ; prognosis for release /or not

    Wow….

    I need to read this in depth; but at a glance sounds like Baby Ruth?!

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