New Rehab Baby is a different species...
Hi everyone, I'm in a bit of a quandary here. My latest rehab baby was brought to me last week. She seemed oddly small for characteristics of a 3-week-old. Something just seemed off. Eyes opened today -- what I am guessing to be now 4-weeks-old. I fed her tonight and realized the many differences between this baby and all my rehabs since living in Los Angeles. All my release babies have been Eastern Fox Squirrels, for over a decade now. When I lived in New York, I had plenty of experience with Eastern Greys. This little girl is very different from either, and is incredibly small, so I went on a search and she looks to be a Western Grey Squirrel. At first I thought, how fun! Then reality struck and I realized it may not be safe to release her on my property, as I always have with my rehabs.
Where I am, the fox squirrels have adapted to orange trees (believe it or not) as their dominant diet. I supplemental feed a high quality block and some veggies and fruit for all my release babies until they are at least 9 mos, so with new babies constantly coming to me every season twice yearly, there seems to always be supplemental feeding for all here. My concerns are: 1) This species requires a slightly different diet and, 2) They are a smaller species by 8 inches and up to 2+ pounds smaller, and 3) I am afraid my established colonies will hurt her or chase her off before she is ready since she is different. She will also have no other of her kind to breed and socialize with.
What do you suggest I do? Is there any rehabber here on the board, living in Los Angeles, who knows how to properly release and has the proper environment with other Western Greys, who could take her from me as we get close to release? I have many weeks to go but I'm terrified I won't have this issue resolved in time.
Your suggestions and experience are be much appreciated.
Thank you!
Brooklyn
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