Advice needed for sick squirrel

[supersquirrelgirl]

Given how long this has persisted, I am wondering whether a different AB might be tried? Or whether to just let it be?

I am no AB expert, but I did have a squirrel Dustin back in 2016 where twice he had a full course of clavamox that seemed to work at first, only for the abscess to come right back. It finally took clindamycin to get the job done.

Note that I am NOT suggesting clindamycin here, but wondering if an expert might have a suggestion.

ABs always come at a cost to the microbiome.

Hi Olorin,

Thought you were on vacation ??

Past AB dosing was amox-clav with first attempt missing dose days when Mo didn't come. Second time was much better with consistant 7 days dosing and I believe it did have positive results. However, Mo was doing her own I & D by chewing every couple of days. At one point, the bump was gone but with a scar that needed to heal over. Then later I saw it growing slowly again. Bump doesn't look too bad today. The second AB attempt was tried with Cipro and various tricks to mask the taste. Nothing worked. Probably do amox-clav again if their is a 3rd dose. I'm open for suugestions.

[supersquirrelgirl]

Good Update for Today:

Since we have been home a little over a week, more and more regular yard squirrels are coming each day. Still missing Suzie and the grey squirrel gang. Daily temps have been 100 degrees almost everyday. Brutally hot!

Ms. Mo has been missing for a few days so I have been putting 2 walnuts across the road daily. Not 100% sure Mo is the one getting them but both nuts are gone within hours of putting them down. After 11am, the road surface is too hot to cross. Mo came a few times last week around 5pm. I started getting worried as she has not come in recent days.

Good news - Ms Mo came here around 2:30 pm today and stay about 30 minutes eating and drinking water. I'm relieved she is okay in this heat. I could look at her shoulder/arm really good and to my surprise there is no bump at all. Looks really good. I wonder if her missing a few days was Dr. Mo at work but I could not see any evidence of that. See the pictures.

[supersquirrelgirl]

Been a while for an update.....

Ms Mo has been coming every day or sometimes skipped a day. Shoulder looks good with no chewing or scar. With the neighbor construction which we just found out it has many more months, Mo tries to come very early in morning. We try to get and be ready by 6am for her. She never moved back across the street due to the neighbor's construction. She still crosses the road.
When other females are here, there is a rumble with lots of squeaks, Mo usually wins. Since we been back, there's no sign of Suzie but her brother comes almost every day. He acts just like her; very forward and wants to come in the house and do a self-serve of the nut box. We stop filling the outside box with seeds as the squirrels just bang the lid as a doorbell. (One of the small greys fell in the box and wiggled until it tip over.)

I think Ms Mo may have a boyfriend but I'm not 100% sure. When she comes, there is always a male who comes right behind her. Mo gets a whole walnut to take home and now he waits for his nut before heading home.

[island rehabber]

Love this update. How much fun is that, to be able to follow these squirrels in their daily doings? I feel very fortunate to have my remote release sites but threads like yours make me wish I had a backyard so I could follow up on everyone and watch them enjoy their squirrely lives.

[supersquirrelgirl]

Love this update. How much fun is that, to be able to follow these squirrels in their daily doings? I feel very fortunate to have my remote release sites but threads like yours make me wish I had a backyard so I could follow up on everyone and watch them enjoy their squirrely lives.

Thank you IR. Its been about a 10 year experience with Mo when her grandmother moved into our attic in late fall. We let her stay there until late spring since she had babies. One baby was Mo's mother (Vee) and another auntie (Skimpy). 3rd baby did not hang around. Several years later, Ms Vee brought her baby Mo to the backyard. Mo has been around for 6 years.

We are lucky that our backyard fence forms a T intersection where the center leg goes directly to the woods with many big redwood trees. We call this fence section Main Street since it goes to the woods. Many squirrels run up and down Main Street all day to get to our backyard. During summer months, I leave hose bib dripping and squirrels use it like a drinking fountain.

Mr.SSG

[olorin19]

Love this update. How much fun is that, to be able to follow these squirrels in their daily doings? I feel very fortunate to have my remote release sites but threads like yours make me wish I had a backyard so I could follow up on everyone and watch them enjoy their squirrely lives.

Backyard release has always been amazing, but the fun has really increased since I began working from home every day in March 2020.

I used to leave work early in December to make sure I got back in time to feed my squirrels (both indoors and outdoors) before they bedded down for the night.

[supersquirrelgirl]

Backyard release has always been amazing, but the fun has really increased since I began working from home every day in March 2020.

I used to leave work early in December to make sure I got back in time to feed my squirrels (both indoors and outdoors) before they bedded down for the night.

Hi Olorin,

Always good to hear from you! Glad you're home in the day as that's the action time. When its not a hot day here, its feeding in morning and then play time all afternoon. The gang run all around the yard, on the roof, and many times at backdoor window looking in. Really fun! By dusk time, the place clears out. Its amazing how the map out the area and know the trail home. They must have a GPS in the brain! Sometimes they get loud when everyone jumps for the trees or roof to start barking out the alert. We have hawks around here that fly through like fighter jets and then circle around. Frankly, I'm not sure the neighbors appreciate our backyard squirrel haven. but WTH, its nature!

Mr.SSG

[olorin19]

Hi Olorin,

Always good to hear from you! Glad you're home in the day as that's the action time. When its not a hot day here, its feeding in morning and then play time all afternoon. The gang run all around the yard, on the roof, and many times at backdoor window looking in. Really fun! By dusk time, the place clears out. Its amazing how the map out the area and know the trail home. They must have a GPS in the brain! Sometimes they get loud when everyone jumps for the trees or roof to start barking out the alert. We have hawks around here that fly through like fighter jets and then circle around. Frankly, I'm not sure the neighbors appreciate our backyard squirrel haven. but WTH, its nature!

Mr.SSG

We live in a ranch house with a mostly glass sun room on the back, a glass porch in front, a huge window in living room, and another huge window right next to where I sit for work in my office / squirrel room.

Translation: All my squirrel buddies can find me any time. I had to stop feeding them at my office window (aka the drive thru) as otherwise it was hard to get any work done.

[supersquirrelgirl]

Time for an Update:

Contruction continues over the fence in neighbor's yard with jack-hammers and small Bobcat loaders (its quite noisy).

Squirrels continue to come early to beat the workers and the noise! Daylight is delaying later now so breakfast opens close to 7:00am. Ms. Mo is usually first to arrive and stands at the backdoor window, tapping to get attention. (she's a big girl so very easy to see her!) Over the last few weeks, another younger female who looks like little Mo has been coming and the real Mo doesn't seem to mind. Maybe close relation ?? Any other females are chased away immediately.

In the last few days, Ms. Mo is coming only to get whole walnuts, no interest to eat, just walnut grab-n-go. Today, she came 8 times for walnuts. She must sense we are getting ready to travel so its stock-up time ??. (maybe see the suitcases are out ??) Ms. Mo still lives across the road and sometimes I act as the crossing guard for her to get home safely.

In general, backyard has less squirrels coming than before the construction started. Some days, we only get 1 or 2 in the morning. There is one small grey squirrel that likes to come around 5~6 pm.

Mr.SSG

[supersquirrelgirl]

Quick Update:

We're back home and guess who is the first to check in - Ms Mo. She looks really good. I guess all the walnuts she buried before we left helped. She still lives across the road but her nut stash is on this side. Construction work continues next door with all kinds of loud noises so other squirrels come early.

I'll write more later and post some pictures too. I'm just thrilled that Mo is still alive. Almost 7 years old.

Mr.SSG

[supersquirrelgirl]

Update for 12-24-2024

Sorry for no updates or pictures as promised above.

Just back in town a few days ago and Ms Mo has come running. I think she is watching the garage door from across the street. She comes several times per day to get a whole walnut and bury it nearby. Her squirrel gang comes everyday and gets a nut too.

Been a little hectic around here so not much posting on TSB on-going. Again, this year we leave for Japan skiing on Dec-31st so another backout period coming soon. I just love Ms Mo.

Mr.SSG

[olorin19]

Do you have any friends nearby who like squirrels?

We feed 15-20 yard squirrels, which include some former releases and their descendants. When we go away, we have various people that step in to spread sunflower seeds on the ground and keep water dishes full.

If you have somebody with you a few times when Ms. Mo came by for a walnut, perhaps they might be able to feed her when you were away. Even if she did not come right up to them, Ms Mo might approach close enough that your friend could toss her a walnut.

A few years ago, we went away for a week and had my daughter (who is very used to squirrels) and son-in-law (who had no prior experience) house sit. They would sit out on the porch for morning coffee and feed the various squirrels that came by. Squirrels are very quick to adapt.

[supersquirrelgirl]

No friends who tolerate squirrels. We have been handing out walnuts excessively for days so they can stash them. Mo and friends have been around for years and knows the drill. Water and food is available around the yards but its just not the prefered walnuts they like. Only real risk is crossing the road to get here. When we are gone, that will stop until the scout squirrel broadcasts we are back.