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Thread: I think my squirrel may be sick

  1. #1
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    Default I think my squirrel may be sick

    Hello there!
    I live in western Washington state. We have a large protected grey population, and it’s not uncommon to see them on my balcony or in my bird feeders, lol.
    But I’ve had this one in particular, whom I’ve named Charlie as I’m not sure of the sex, showing up almost daily to nap. That’s it. Charlie shows up between 2 & 3 pm and stays until 6 or 7pm most days. Charlie’s favourite place to sleep is the old cat scratch post out there.
    At first I thought it was just super adorable, but I’m rather worried something may be wrong.
    To have a wild squirrel cat nap on my deck every day for 3 to 4 hours seems so out of character for a wild.
    Charlie’s fur and eyes seem to be perfectly fine. No excessive scratching and no polyps or pox looking marks anywhere.
    I’ve wondered if maybe Charlie is one of the babies born above my bedroom and perhaps is familiar with my scent; perhaps maybe pregnant. I just don’t know. And while I know Charlie is wild, I’m concerned nonetheless.
    If someone could offer any kind of help or info I would be forever grateful.
    Thank you so much.
    I have photos of Charlie on the deck but can’t seem to post them.

  2. #2
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    Default Re: I think my squirrel may be sick

    Did you try clicking on the paper clip icon when you entered a message? (That is the way to post a photograph.)

    It may be that an administrator may need to change your account's permissions in order to allow you to post a photo.

  3. #3
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    Default Re: I think my squirrel may be sick

    Quote Originally Posted by Rock Monkey View Post
    Did you try clicking on the paper clip icon when you entered a message? (That is the way to post a photograph.)

    It may be that an administrator may need to change your account's permissions in order to allow you to post a photo.
    I’ll be honest, I don’t have a computer and I’m on her via my phone, lol. This feels like desktop format.

  4. #4
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    Default Re: I think my squirrel may be sick

    I would recommend contacting, "Squirrel Refuge", a highly recommended group in Southwestern WA. State that rehabilitates tree squirrels.

    https://www.squirrelrefuge.org/contact-us

  5. Serious fuzzy thank you's to Diggie's Friend from:

    island rehabber (07-30-2021)

  6. #5
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    Default Re: I think my squirrel may be sick

    Quote Originally Posted by ShehzadiAmal View Post
    I’ll be honest, I don’t have a computer and I’m on her via my phone, lol. This feels like desktop format.
    I am not familiar with how things appear differently when the site is accessed via a phone. You might try going to a public library and accessing your account and the site that way.

    The link below gives more detailed information about uploading photos.

    https://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/...B&goto=newpost

  7. #6
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    Default Re: I think my squirrel may be sick

    Quote Originally Posted by Diggie's Friend View Post
    I would recommend contacting, "Squirrel Refuge", a highly recommended group in Southwestern WA. State that rehabilitates tree squirrels.

    https://www.squirrelrefuge.org/contact-us
    We’re a number of hours from them. Charlie comes and goes, has an appetite, and no visible injuries or limps. I just found it rather strange for a wild to sleep on my balcony at the same time every day for hours and hours, and was hoping someone here on this forum for squirrels might have some thoughts on the interesting behaviour.

  8. #7
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    Default Re: I think my squirrel may be sick

    Are you in a higher apartment - top floor maybe? Females are famous for appropriating such areas for nesting. Open but protected from the elements, protected from above so no hawks can get to them, etc. We had a person on here a couple months ago who had a squirrel build a nest against a window on his balcony and he was able to watch her give birth to a single baby and raise it right through that window - it was just amazing!

  9. #8
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    Default Re: I think my squirrel may be sick

    I"m reading an interesting book, Fox and I. It's the story of a wild fox who came to sleep/rest every afternoon in the patio of a womans remote cabin. There are times that wild animals do interesting behaviors. From your account, the squirrel seems healthy. Maybe he/she has simply found a "safe place" to rest. Squirrels do love to rest for part of the day when they've completed their doings.

    I have a friend who is not into squirrels, she does not feed them or the birds, and yet, a wild squirrel came and began trying to get into her house by trying to turn her back door knob. Go figure. She ignored it, and after days of this, it went away....

  10. #9
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    Default Re: I think my squirrel may be sick

    As prey animals, even when asleep squirrels are always monitoring their environment, particularly with their sense of hearing. If an abnormal/unusual sound is detected they will fully rouse, ready to flee. I have personally witnessed this on multiple occasions.

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