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Baby Squirrel...

Posted: Tue Oct 10, 2006 12:07 pm
by feederband
One of my kids friends came to me a few days ago with a half dead baby squirrel in a plastic bag...He was breathing and that was about it...I went online and found all kinds of sites for help..I truly only gave it 10% chance of surviving the nite because I had none of the things I needed to care for a baby squirrel..

Now 3 days later and $60.00 bucks later. I have a very active baby squirrel that is about the size of a full grown gerbil...I know I'm not out of the woods yet but does anyone know of someone that rehabbed a baby squirrel that had no experience doing so...

Looking at web site he is 5-6 weeks old...

Posted: Tue Oct 10, 2006 12:14 pm
by GrimReaper
If he's got fur, and not still a pinkie..... then it's not hard at all. Have any of the websites recommended kitten replacer milk? You probably have to feed it every 2-3 hours!! Have FUN!!!!!

Posted: Tue Oct 10, 2006 12:16 pm
by feederband
GrimReaper wrote:If he's got fur, and not still a pinkie..... then it's not hard at all. Have any of the websites recommended kitten replacer milk? You probably have to feed it every 2-3 hours!! Have FUN!!!!!



Yes fully furred...Actually you have to use puppy replacer...And yes every 2-3 hours around the clock....

Posted: Tue Oct 10, 2006 12:19 pm
by GrimReaper
Yep.... you sound like a good squirell parent!!!! They make TERRIBLE pets, but it is so hard to let them go, once they're ready to fly on their own... good luck, keep us posted!!!!!

Posted: Tue Oct 10, 2006 12:24 pm
by feederband
GrimReaper wrote:Yep.... you sound like a good squirell parent!!!! They make TERRIBLE pets, but it is so hard to let them go, once they're ready to fly on their own... good luck, keep us posted!!!!!


Yeah its hard to call them a rat with a fluffy tale when they are baby's...I read where people keep them as pets...They are good towards you but will chew the whole house up...

Posted: Tue Oct 10, 2006 12:44 pm
by Stephanie
Bless you for taking him in!

You may want to look into a rescue site nearby that will be able to do the rehab for you and then they will let him go when they feel he's healthy enough.

Posted: Tue Oct 10, 2006 12:51 pm
by feederband
Stephanie wrote:Bless you for taking him in!

You may want to look into a rescue site nearby that will be able to do the rehab for you and then they will let him go when they feel he's healthy enough.


I already called one..Its about 100 miles from here...Since it is just one baby and I have already purchased everything I need And since it is already able to goto the bathroom without assistance they say I have a pretty good shot of rehab it my self...I can call them 24/7 and if it appears to not be working I guess I will drive down there...

Posted: Tue Oct 10, 2006 1:09 pm
by Regit
How far are you from Tampa and Orlando? I know there are rehab centers there. It is good to turn baby animals over to them when it's time for them to go into the wild because they have special locations with other animals that are away from danger. They're also good at helping the animals fend for themselves.

Posted: Tue Oct 10, 2006 1:22 pm
by Pburgh
Good for you for taking the time, money and effort to save this little guy.(or girl)

I had a chipmunk when I was a teenager. His Mom got run over by a car and we raised him. He was very friendly and would eat out of my hand. I let him go outside of my house and he and his family lived there for years and years.

Posted: Tue Oct 10, 2006 1:24 pm
by JonathanBelles
thank you for taking him in!!!!!!

Posted: Tue Oct 10, 2006 1:32 pm
by Stephanie
feederband wrote:
Stephanie wrote:Bless you for taking him in!

You may want to look into a rescue site nearby that will be able to do the rehab for you and then they will let him go when they feel he's healthy enough.


I already called one..Its about 100 miles from here...Since it is just one baby and I have already purchased everything I need And since it is already able to goto the bathroom without assistance they say I have a pretty good shot of rehab it my self...I can call them 24/7 and if it appears to not be working I guess I will drive down there...


Good! At least that you've been in touch with one and they are available to you 24/7.

Best of luck with the little fella or girl. :D

Posted: Tue Oct 10, 2006 1:52 pm
by feederband
I've talked to 2 of them now...Seems like they are ok with what I am doing...But they said to bring it in when it is about 3 months old...The way they release them actually takes about a month to do...They don't just dump them in the woods..They give them a chance to adjust with other ones its age...They have a place where the animal is free to go but they usally don't right away they stay for awhile go back and forth for food and shelter untill the animal feels safe enough and doesn't come back... Its kind of like a open cage area..

Posted: Tue Oct 10, 2006 1:55 pm
by feederband
Regit wrote:How far are you from Tampa and Orlando? I know there are rehab centers there. It is good to turn baby animals over to them when it's time for them to go into the wild because they have special locations with other animals that are away from danger. They're also good at helping the animals fend for themselves.


Seems like the closest one is Auburndale......I've talked to one in Clearwater....

Posted: Tue Oct 10, 2006 2:33 pm
by feederband
Image

Posted: Tue Oct 10, 2006 2:39 pm
by JonathanBelles
AWWWWWWWWW......are you gonna raise it or release it?

Posted: Tue Oct 10, 2006 2:43 pm
by feederband
fact789 wrote:AWWWWWWWWW......are you gonna raise it or release it?


Both.. 8-)

Posted: Tue Oct 10, 2006 3:30 pm
by petal*pusher
I CAN HELP YOU !!!!

My kids found little "being" several years ago that was new born....no fur at all....we weren't even sure if it was a squirrel!! A terrible storm must have washed it from the nest.
The eyes were not even opened yet!

Don't believe GrimReaper! Our little squirrel....Cookie....was a most wonderful pet....even our old black cat helped take care of her!!

I bought baby formula and carefully fed her with an eye-dropper every few hours.

The secret for survival in ANY tiny orphan is to know how to get that food to pass thru them!! Right after feeding, take a wet paper towel or rag (warm) and carefully rub across that little bottom! (think how the Momma cleans that little thing up!) Soon a tiny drop of urine or "other" will appear. They HAVE to have that stimulation or they cannot push their food thru! It's not so bad.....really!

Our little squirrel lived in a shoe box until her eyes opened about 8 days later. I fed her whenever I heard her stirring. After she could see....and she thought I was her Momma.....we put her into a large cage with an upside-down berry box for her little hide-away. I let her out of the cage most of the time....she "did her business" in a little box I provided. When she wanted back in, she would just scoot up my leg and crawl in a pocket. She would even do a purring sound in my ear. We absolutely loved this little pet! We ended up putting her outside...she stayed around a long time....bothering the neighborhood dogs/cats and begging goodies from people. The whole neighborhood knew her! My children still talk about our little gal!

Hope this helps!......p :wink:

Posted: Tue Oct 10, 2006 5:35 pm
by O Town
Awww, how sweet. Glad you guys are having some success, I bet the kids are having fun with it. :P I wish I had some advice, but everytime I have found any animals that need help I take them to the bird lady in Altamonte, she does birds and squirrels. We had a pet squirrel as kids we used to feed treats to, this is going to be so cool to have it around after you release it. Good luck Larry.

Posted: Tue Oct 10, 2006 6:50 pm
by tropicana
Squirrels are such fun animals! We have heaps of squirrels up here. But that one is especially cute! Thanks for saving it! Truly a good *squirrel parent*.

-justin-

Posted: Tue Oct 10, 2006 7:34 pm
by feederband
petal*pusher wrote:I CAN HELP YOU !!!!

My kids found little "being" several years ago that was new born....no fur at all....we weren't even sure if it was a squirrel!! A terrible storm must have washed it from the nest.
The eyes were not even opened yet!

Don't believe GrimReaper! Our little squirrel....Cookie....was a most wonderful pet....even our old black cat helped take care of her!!

I bought baby formula and carefully fed her with an eye-dropper every few hours.

The secret for survival in ANY tiny orphan is to know how to get that food to pass thru them!! Right after feeding, take a wet paper towel or rag (warm) and carefully rub across that little bottom! (think how the Momma cleans that little thing up!) Soon a tiny drop of urine or "other" will appear. They HAVE to have that stimulation or they cannot push their food thru! It's not so bad.....really!

Our little squirrel lived in a shoe box until her eyes opened about 8 days later. I fed her whenever I heard her stirring. After she could see....and she thought I was her Momma.....we put her into a large cage with an upside-down berry box for her little hide-away. I let her out of the cage most of the time....she "did her business" in a little box I provided. When she wanted back in, she would just scoot up my leg and crawl in a pocket. She would even do a purring sound in my ear. We absolutely loved this little pet! We ended up putting her outside...she stayed around a long time....bothering the neighborhood dogs/cats and begging goodies from people. The whole neighborhood knew her! My children still talk about our little gal!

Hope this helps!......p :wink:


Yeah I was reading about helping them to the bathroom...Luckly he has no problem at all doing that...My kids would like to keep it as a pet...Right now I got them knowing that we are just going to rehab it and release it...Will see..