A baby squirrel is just hanging on to life and..***I think he's gone for real*******

[Lisa L from MI]

I am trying my darndest to help it. My DH found it in our garbage can beside the garage tonight. It is just a baby. One of 3 that live in our tree out back with the mom. We have enjoyed watching them this past week.

DH thinks it has been in there since last night. When he was doing the garbage he heard something moving there but didn't bother to look...he assumed it was an opossum...since we have those too periodically.

It was quite hot today too...I know the poor thing is dehydrated. We carefully moved it with a shovel to under the tree where it lives. It can't even move but is breathing. I have been feeding it water with a turkey baster and it is drinking. Last time I was out it actually is lifting it's head...and making a squirrel sound. Hopefully the mother will hear it. I feel so bad. I just don't think it will make it through the night.

I will have to let Babe out the front door tonight to go potty too......

Anyone think I am nuts...I just hate to see the poor thing die.....even DH is very concerned.......

***UPDATE****
Just went and checked and it has stopped breathing....DH is going to double check...but I am sure of it. Usually when I went to use the turkey baster with water it would "talk" a little and lift it's head....but nothing now......Well, I tried.....but feel awful about the poor little thing

*********No....still alive but BAD. I tried to call this wildlife place but it was closed. They even specialized in tree squirrels. It just seems like it is gasping every now and then. I really can't bring it in. I know the mom is up in her nest in the tree. The wildlife places message said to leave it where it is until contacted by them...but that isn't probably til tomorrow. I will still check on it again and probably won't be able to sleep tonight!!!

***********Just went to cover him and he was kinda "stiff" and his mouth was just open and didn't look like he was breathing....DH is sleeping now too....but I am positive about it now.......Oh well, I guess it was meant to be

Thanks again everyone

 

[epcotfan]

Is there a wildlife rescue society near you? Poor little baby. Do you think it is injured?

I found this link that may be of some help. Please check it out:

http://www.squirrelnet.com/Squirrels/102_orphaned_squirrel.asp

 

[Lisa L from MI]

i don't think there is a wildlife rescue around here...not sure...plus it is pretty late....I don't think it is injured....just totally dehydrated. I am going to check on it again in a little bit. It is suppose to get down to 59 tonight....hopefully it won't be too cold....Thanks for the links...I am reading some of it now.......

Maybe I will look up a wildlife rescue thing too.......

Thanks again
Lisa

 

[Aurora63]

Why don't you bring him inside, put him in a box w/ something warm? I would go crazy worrying about the poor thing being outside and defenseless. And definetly call the ASPCA or a similar organization. We had a similar situation w/ an injured bird (had a boken wing; a neghborhood brat was throwing the poor thing into the air trying to make it fly, and catching it, sometimes, when it didn't.) Anyway, we called, and they came out and picked it up.

But I'd bring him/her inside in the meantime.

 

[nativetxn]

I don't think you are crazy, I think you are a kind hearted soul. I hope the baby squirrel is alright.

 

[4greatboys]

If he is still alive I would bring him in too, no way would the poor thing last all night.
We have taken a few birds to our local Wildlife Rehad peopel around here. They do it out of their homes, we just took the birds to them.

 

[preshi]

Best thing is to leave him where he is. If he's that dehydrated you probably can't save him now anyways. We'd give Sub Q fluids to an animal like that... thats not something you can do. Plus if he fell from the tree he could easliy have internal injuries you can't fix. It sucks I know, we got in a ton of baby squirrels right t the end of the season, about 10 in a day. Mama squirrel knows where he is for sure and isn't feeding him for a natural reason...

I'm sorry Thanks for trying to help the little guy. But if mama wanted him that bad she surely can hear him and just isn't going to him

I'm happy to go get my rehab book and research a little more if you dont like my "let nature be" answer.

Ok my rehab book says ( I went and got it because I know how much it sucks to see an animal die) that if it's dehydrated we'd give it an electrolyte solution. What I've personally witness for dehydrated mammals is a Lactated Ringers Solution is given as well as Sub Q fluids. Pop them on heat and check on them again... That usually does it. I hate the fact that rehab centers arent open 24/7... maybe when I open my own center (someday ) i'll have a 24 hour hotline for people to call... I know the feeling of helplessness... Sorry!

{{hugs}}

 

[HauntedMansionGeek]

Oh dear, we rescued a baby squirrel once and what charming little critters they are!!

Our little one was quite ill with dehydration and once we got that straightened out he got better very quick. They grow VERY fast......and we fed him cat food, starting with the wet stuff and graduating to the crunchy stuff in a few weeks.

I hope your little guy makes it thru the night!

Good luck with the little fella.

 

[floridafam]

I'm sure with a baby squirrel it would be okay but I would have to say not to bring him inside.

What if he starts feeling better?

What if he were to bite someone? What if he was carrying some kind of virus?

Can you call the Humane Society or your local animal control?

I would probably at least bring him in the garage.

Good luck and keep us posted.

 

[Lisa L from MI]

Preshi.....I agree with the "nature" thing. I guess if DH wouldn't have been cleaning up then we would have never found it in the garbage can and we would have found it dead. I thought the same thing about the mom. I am sure she heard it "talking" when I was feeding it water. I think I should leave it there too.

I don't want to get any "human" scent on it so I really don't want to attempt to put it in a box or give it a "cover". The garage would be way too hot tomorrow....at least where he is now it is always shade.

I truly don't think it will last through the night.

DH even told me to leave the flashlight out so when he gets up at 6 he can check on it...and that is really not like him

Thanks for all your advice everyone..........

 

[preshi]

so sorry Actually the human scent thing is a myth. Mama will wonder how baby got such a weird smell but it wouldnt effect her caring for it at all.

{{hugs again}} and thank you for being such caring people

 

[Lisa L from MI]

I got a response from an email I just sent a wildlife place kinda near here but not really......I was surprise they emailed so quick...I think they think it was a newborn...but it isn't. I emailed them back explaining more......here is the email............

Hi Lisa,

Yes, water is the best. Little ones dehydrate VERY easily and between that and the stress and perhaps even internal injuries from falling from the nest and who knows how long it's been without mom (why else would it have found its way intoyour garbage can?) no wonder it's weak. It probably is both dehydrated AND malnourished but trying to feed it anything now is certain death since the digestive system shuts down first in order to preserve vital organs like heart and lungs. Just water, water, water or plain Pedialyte for now is in order.

For tonight, make sure it is in a secure container (that allows air in) with lots of soft padding (old, clean t-shirts are good). Put the container half on a heating pad so it can move to and from warmth as it needs.

I work full-time but you can either send me your number or call me at 248-544-0105 tomorrow after 6 p.m.

And yes, it's ok to give it only water for a day. If you want to get some Pedialyte tomorrow, that's good.

PJ.

 

[preshi]

Awesome!! Ok... if they think it's ok go for it. I recommend a shoe box with a string free towel in it also a heating pad on low underneath the box...

Cool. I'm glad they responded but I at least hope they are going to want to see the poor thing...

 

[preshi]

Just found a great website

http://www.projectwildlife.org/facts.htm

it says all the same stuff the rehabber in your area told you but it's cool for everyone who might find an orphaned animal.

 

[Lisa L from MI]

I really don't want to bring it in the house....I was thinking about just going out and covering it with a towel or something. It really is in sad shape...and I don't own a heating pad!!!!!

Next water feeding.....is coming up and I will go do it.

I will keep you updated.....and let you know if I hear from the wildlife place again......

Thanks

 

[HauntedMansionGeek]

I usually don't subscribe to rescuing every little critter out there and would have said let nature take it's course....

but to be honest, he surely seems to have a will to live!

 

[preshi]

you did what you could {{{hugs}}}