Words For Wildlife by State licensed Wildlife Rehabilitator, James Orr
SQUIRREL DAD
I worried, it's raining and my Juvenile squirrel is on his own for the second day since his release. I've watched him grow from a tiny fur ball without ears and dull eyes to a hyper active prankster with bright shiny black eyes. You can tell how distressed an animal is by it’s eyes. If they are bright and shinny that's a good sign, just about anything else indicates physical distress.
His first big test was learning to drink milk slow enough that it did not come up through his nose. Squirrels are so hyper they tend to do everything at high speed including gulping milk. It can get serious if it gets in the airways and can lead to pneumonia. Together he and I figured out the perfect rate to dispense as much milk as possible without instigating the nose trick.
His next big step was learning to eat solid foods. I started him on baby oatmeal. Like human babies he seemed to get great pleasure at spreading the majority of it over his face and on the walls of his cage. He loved grapes which I would cut up into miniature watermellon-like slices. He'd hold them in his hands and eat them like the kids in an episode of the Little Rascals. He worked his way up to shelled walnuts, crackers with peanut butter, raw peanuts and eventually acorns. The acorns were the last step in his rehabilitation. If you release a squirrel before it can open nuts it will starve.
Squirrels teeth grow six inches per year. They have to constantly chew and gnaw to keep them sharp and the proper length. My squirrel did a fair amount of teething on my fingers. It became a game with him to leap on my hand and ride it like a wild bronco as I tried to shake him off before he got in a nip. He reminded me of the crazed house boy in the "Inspector Clouseau" movies that was paid to attack his employer when least expected to keep him on his toes. My squirrel would similarly plot surprise attacks by lurking innocently on his branch pretending to be harmless. If I wore my regulation glove the game was off, he refused to play with a handicap. But sure as I would trust the little bugger he'd squeal out the squirrel version of "Yeehaaa" and leap on my hand grabbing hold for the anticipated ride.
The few nips he might get in where more of an embarrassment than a medical issue as squirrels rarely carry rabies. Squirrels sleep up to 22 hours a day but make up for it in the other two with high speed antics that seemingly defy physics.
I had to start the release process two days ago by placing the squirrel's cage in a tree with an open door. This allows the little guy (about half grown) to explore the new world and still have food and shelter in his cage. Sort of like a kid with his first apartment or college dorm room he can come back for parental handouts if needed.
The first night he was alone outside the temperature dropped to 39 and I worried about him all night until I checked the cage in the morning. He popped his head out of a pile of rags he had removed from inside his cage and rearranged to the top. He seemed glad to see me and ran to me to drink some warm puppy milk for breakfast that I just happened to have with me. It was the first time in a week he had wanted any milk, I guess it was comfort food.
Much as I wanted to bring him back inside it is not in his best interest to become a pet, nor mine as squirrels can be quite destructive to household furnishings. I watched him for a while and was pleased to see him gnawing on branches instead of my fingers. He also gathered acorns and seemed to be passing his outdoor initiation with flying colors. He'd disappear for a while but never strayed too far from his cage.
I'd just about decided he did not need my help anymore until I woke up this morning to a thunderstorm storm and pouring rain. I tried to convince myself he was fine but I could not resist the urge to put on a rain coat and wade out to the woods to check on my little camper. As long as I was going out I might as well warm a few rags in the dryer and why not drop a few grapes, almonds, and walnuts in my pocket ... oh and maybe a piece of biscotti.
As I approached the cage I noticed the rags had yet again been moved from the top of the cage into a pile on a nearby branch. About the time I was imagining the worst as to why the rags were on a tree branch the little head with big bright eyes popped out and chuckled like only a squirrel can. He'd apparently moved them under the overhead branches and leaves to get more shelter than I had provided by simply hanging the cage. Do you have any idea what it feels like to be a professional home builder and have a baby squirrel improve upon your home design? I left him the warm rags and snacks and hoped I did not embarrass him in front of his new friends. My little boy was growing up fast and I had to get used to it.
DONATIONS NEEDED If you would like to help any donation amount it is greatly appreciated. Donations should be made out to Witter Wildlife Refuge and can be sent to P.O. Box 1118, Huntsville AR 72740.
See web page under "HOW YOU CAN HELP" for specific ways you can help us help wildlife
