| Archive for Uncle AJ's Rolex, Wrist Watch & Nature Forum A place to chill out and have some fun a forum about nothing yet also about everything. An alternative wrist watch and nature forum. |
| Lisa |
Baby red squirrelAs I'm typing I have a baby squirrel tucked inside my shirt. Our neighbors found him this evening curled up at the base of a tree - the nest was about 30 feet up - and asked if we would take him. I've perused the 'net for information, and might look into contacting a wildlife rehabilitator in the morning. Until/if we can get him to someone, I've bought some puppy formula as recommended and he's been feeding from a dropper. Will try to get a pic in the morning - if the little guy makes it. He's around 4 to 5 weeks old, has most of his fur (belly is somewhat bare) but his eyes are still closed. Despite his fall, he seemed uninjured and is wobbling around, feeding well, and resting comfortably.Tomorrow - must get a heating pad for him - I can't keep wearing him inside my shirt for the next few weeks! Advice? Concerns? Help? Thanks!  
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| uncle aj |
I'd contact the local wildlife office or whatever you have over there. Here we have the RSPCA and the police have a wildlife liaison officer. | ||||||||
| Tools |
There might also be a local zoo/wildlife habitat with a rescue professional on staff.. | ||||||||
| East Bay Rider |
Re: Baby red squirrel
I just heard a rumor that Joe is changing his screen name from "Big Bird" to "Baby Red Squirrel" 
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| Lisa |
Re: Baby red squirrel
Hah! Well, for an update - he made it though the night just fine, and fed a few times on the watered-down puppy formula I got him. Since I didn't have a heating pad, last night he slept with me, snuggled under my chin!
This morning I contacted WildCare Foundation, which specializes in rehabilitation of injured or orphaned wildlife. I recall bringing them a newly hatched duckling about 10 years ago.... so we took the little guy there this afternoon - about an hour's drive. He's probably snoozing with some other orphans at this moment. The woman there said they had quite a few baby squirrels at the moment. We left them a donation and little "Chester," and June kissed him goodbye. I feel good knowing that he'll be cared for by people who know what they're doing. Plus, now there is one less squirrel to eat the pecans out of our tree!
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| uncle aj |
Have you ever tasted squirrel pie?  
Sorry!! |
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| away36 |
Re: Baby red squirrel
BWAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!! |
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| away36 |
Re: Baby red squirrel
Lisa, years ago my son brought home a baby squirrel that had fallen out of a tree. He did basically the same things you are doing, and decided he wanted to keep it as a pet. When it was older, his brother (who was about 17 at the time) took it out of the cage my son kept it in and was giving it some food. My son's girlfriend wanted to help feed it so she took the food from my son's hands. The squirrel assumed she was taking his food, launched out of my son's hands and literally attached itself to her face, scratching and clawing her in a vicious attack. I'm glad you were able to find a place to take him. 
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| East Bay Rider |
That's a fitting name, considering the location of his latest nest. | ||||||||
| East Bay Rider |
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HdiXSsFp29s
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| Lisa |
Pic as promised.... right before we handed him over to the WildCare people. He loved to stay curled up like that.
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| Lisa |
 True, that!
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| Lisa |
Re: Baby red squirrel
Yikes, Nancy! Did she have to get rabies shots? That's horrible. My parents raised two different litters of squirrels when I was a little kid. They were successful in getting them big enough to release. I was somewhat tempted to try keeping him at first, but if he died because I wasn't feeding him right or something I would have felt awful... Someone posted once that squirrels are just rats with good PR. They are pretty cute as babies.
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| Tools |
Little Rats.................. 
Don't let Rocky J, or his big bruiser pal Bullwinkle hear you say that............
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| Lion |
Re: Baby red squirrel
Lisa, you have a big heart!!! |
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| ColinB |
That's a lovely thing you did Lisa. Not many people would bother about a squirrel. Love the photo. 
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| Lisa |
Thanks, Colin.... we're major animal softies in this family... but his friends and I are having a race to see who can harvest the pecans from our backyard trees faster - and the squirrels are winning!
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| Lion |
Lisa, Maybe you can use that thing in Phoebe's doorway to keep the squirrels away from the pecan trees!!! | ||||||||
| Lisa |
Great idea, Leo!
Actually, there are enough pecans to share... I don't need that many because I don't want to mess with hulling and shelling them. We have a huge old papershell tree and there's a native pecan tree growing just over the fence in the neighbor's yard (house is vacant now) and most of the pecans fall into our yard. With 30mph winds today, I'd better get out with my bag and gather another round.
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| Lion |
In other words you will be another nut gathering food!!! | ||||||||
| Lisa |
"What is that crazy lady doing crawling around in her back yard? Oh, look - she's chasing squirrels!" |
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| ColinB |
That's got me chuckling. 
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| Lisa |
Forgot to add "better get the kids indoors." |
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| Lion |
Only if you are talking to yourself and cackling!!! |