Some people are just special

[Buckterrier]

I have a very good friend that went to get a bird feeder from her yard to paint it. She found a red squirrel nest with 2 or 3 day old babies in it. She tried putting it back but the mother never came.
So she brought the pinkies in and tried to save them. Goats milk formula every four hours through a eye dropper, keeping them warm with a blanket microwaved until she could get an electric blanket. I told her it was an uphill battle but she persisted...











Oh, I named them

Precious for the female, Brutus for the little one, Oney, (pronounced ow-ney), after a Johnny Cash song, & Chadwick. She described him as the "other' one so he needed a special name!

She'll release them when they are large enough. She'll have to continue feeding them as they obviously won't have time to store food for the winter.
Some people are just special.

[Tom '74 911]

So I have to ask a nature vs nurture question. . . since they've been handled by her so much, are they people friendly? Can you handle them like a hamster or Gerbil?

[widgeon13]

That's pretty amazing!

[stomachmonkey]

Nice.

[Buckterrier]

Tom, I asked & here is her reply...

"They are very friendly...too friendly in fact. I have to stop handling them now and let them get more cautious of people."
"If I put my hand in the cage they all come running to me and sit on my hand.
they nibble (I read that's a form of play) my fingers but bite my rings!"
"I won't hand feed them anymore. I have to hide their food in the cage so they learn to look for it."

[9dreizig]

Mark, she's dreaming ,, she's got pet squirrels for life!!! No way will they survive on their own..

[Zeke]

She should never release them. I don't think they will make it. They are cute. I even think the wild ones are cute to watch here in the neighborhood, but I haven't personally experienced any of the scourge they proffer.


Yet.

[herr_oberst]

Awfully cute, but they'll die in the wild within days. That's just a harsh reality.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by Zeke

She should never release them. I don't think they will make it.

I suspect they could find food, but the biggest issue is that they haven't learned to be cautious of people and animals. Heck, they don't even know how to act to other "stranger" squirrels. It's unfortunate, because they are still wild, but not really wild enough. Good luck to the little buggers and your friend.

[HardDrive]

Just about the cutest thing ever.

[flatbutt]

She can try to release them but it's likely they'll keep returning in winter. 3 hots and a cot? I'd keep going back.

[Baz]

Hi Mark,

Special is the correct word to use alright...sanctity for animal life is a sacred virtue that I find defines a person's character.

Thank you for making my day with this story - and those photos are really superb.

Please share with your friend our appreciation and respect for her generosity and kindness.

It looks like there were 4 pinkies to begin with. Did we lose 1?

As to whether they can survive now on their own....I don't know enough to give an opinion. Maybe a local behaviourist or rescue group could help. If I had to render an opinion though I would side on those who say they wouldn't do too well "on their own". I wonder what the down side would be for her to keep them as household pets.

Good job....and once again thank you for the wonderful story...

[NY65912]

Wow, I was just having a conversation with my kids as to whether a squirrel can be a house pet. Those are cute little guys. Can me (us) wierd but we love small rodents, I'm not talking pests.

So, can they be trained to live in a home environment?

[Heel n Toe]

Originally Posted by NY65912

So, can they be trained to live in a home environment?

No, but you could give them to someone who has a pet snake.

And should.

Pardon my cynicism... they are ubiquitous here... and known as tree rats and carry diseases and they chew into parts of some homes so they can go into the attic and breed and make more.

[slodave]

I disagree, John. When I was little my parents had a pet chipmunk. Lived in a cage in the kitchen and was just like a hamster. It did run away in the house once in a while, but a live trap and some food would always do the trick. On the weekends, Chippy would be let out to wander around the kitchen table, eating our Cheerios out of our bowls.

[Heel n Toe]

Originally Posted by slodave

I disagree, John. When I was little my parents had a pet chipmunk. Lived in a cage in the kitchen and was just like a hamster. It did run away in the house once in a while, but a live trap and some food would always do the trick. On the weekends, Chippy would be let out to wander around the kitchen table, eating our Cheerios out of our bowls.

I like the sound of that. I would be in favor of that... for each of the squirrels above if people could be found that would commit to taking care of them as pets and wouldn't just let them loose the first time they ran off and hid under a bed somewhere, then came out at night and chewed a hole in a bag of flour or box of cereal.

Responsible pet owners always get my vote.

Yikes, how big was that python they found in/near the Everglades about a month ago????

[slodave]

True, it is a big commitment. Chippy actually got along with our Great Dane as well.

[varmint]

who was the guy here who had the pet wild rabbit? thought was impossible. but apparently it can be done.

if she keeps them she'd better get them fixed fast.

[ramonesfreak]

thats awsome!

one day i walked out my front door and a baby squirrel ran right up to my boot and up my leg. it was the strangest thing. when i tried to walk away from it, it followed me and jumped in the car with me. i couldnt leave it alone so i took it to an animal rescue. ive never had an experience like that with a wild animal

[azasadny]

Very cool, I hope they make it!