Since I enjoy and appreciate wildlife, I have tried to create a refuge for the wildlife in my neighborhood by putting in a small pond and planting plants that the animals can eat from year round in my backyard. I also put out various bird feeders and squirrel and duck food (somehow a couple of ducks found my tiny pond and come each summer) daily.
Generally when spring arrives we are found with a few wildlife emergencies but this year we had not had rescued but one small robin so it was interesting that Friday morning Ava mentioned how we had not found any injured animals in awhile. I was relieved at this as it is stressful and sometimes regardless of what we do to try and help the wildlife they don't make it. So, as we got home Friday evening Ava started yelling that there was a baby animal hurt or possibly dead. My stomach turned at the thought of it being dead (I get very emotional about these little creatures) and went over to take a look.
There lying in the grass was a tiny little animal with flies buzzing on it and not moving. With a heavy heart I got my gardeners gloves and prepared to have an animal funeral with Ava. You can imagine my surprise and Ava's screams when the little baby jumped in my hands. AHHHHHH-now what and what is this little teeny tiny alive animal that is going to die if I don't do something QUICK? We quickly grabbed a cat carrier, put some warm towels in and put the baby in it. I ran up to the computer and discovered this was a baby squirrel that was dehydrated and needed to get its body temperature up quick or death was imminent.
Panicking Ava and I put a heating pad under some towels and wrapped the baby in blankets while we ran to buy Pedialyte to restore electrolytes. With a syringe we fed the baby warmed up Gatorade and Pedialyte every two hours throughout the evening and morning (need I tell you that I got no sleep at all that night) until our local wildlife rescue center opened and we could take him there.
It was cute because once he was warmed up a bit and feeling a bit better he started whistling very loudly and walking around. When we arrived at Operation Wildlife we were told that he looked great and we had done a good job of getting him hydrated and keeping him warm.
I hope once he is ready to be released back into the wild he can be released here. We named him Fuzzy and are already attached (would love to see him running around the yard with the other squirrels). I love that my daughter Ava loves animals so much and understands the importance of treating all creatures with kindness and love. This made my day and this is one of the reasons I get up in the morning. I am a big believer in the power of one-even if you can help one animal, or one person in all your life then I feel you have done something to make the world and your heart a better place.
P.S. That is him in the picture!
41 comments:
My brother nursed a squirrel back to health in his room when we were kids. Dad was not to happy, but did not stop him. He ended up going back to the woods healthy.
off to conquer :) my morning---
M.
What a nice story. I have never seen a baby squirrel. I think it is just great that you and your daughter helped save his life. I hope you will be able to get him back. Sometimes, we have some squirrels come in our back yard, from the woods. They are pretty to look at and fun to watch. :-)
Not many, I bet...
The chipmunks in particular are very tame and will feed from our hand...my grandson enjoys feeding the peanuts, which they love.
Cheers
I have a squirrel lately that eating my rasperries right off the bush right now. At first I got mad, but then said to myself...well your not picking them...so I'm letting him get lots of vitamin C ?
He's cute and bold, sits right near me (and my cat) while he's picking the low ones. I didn't know squirrels like berries...but they do love my pear tree!!!
...What a wonderful lesson for your daughter to learn.
You are right life is precious, we sometimes forget that.
☼ Rocki
My kids are the same way-- we've rescued frogs, birds, bunnies, etc. One year our cat killed a sparrow we were on the way to save and it was devastating. :(
All the best.
J/
U certainly knew what to do Keeping him Warm + getting some Fluids into him*
Job Well Done U 2 Nature Lovers*
;)) Peace*
:-)
We were so proud!
Then the big day came when we were to release the squirrel back into his natural habitat. We proudly stood in our front yard, opened up his comfortable cage, and let him go. "Run free!" we yelled.
The squirrel hesitated, as they always do, then darted out of his cage, running across the road and back into the wild.
Then a truck ran him over.
saarbrücken. wünsche ein sonniges, jedoch nicht zu
heißes wochenende mit viel speiseeis und wenig arbeit.
nette grüße
erich
I now have 2 sugargliders, half the size, double the cuteness and can fit in my pocket :-)
I love squirrels, I'm happy the baby was saved :)
jeanniehepler@yahoo.com Thanks for your love in caring for the baby squirrel...
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