I haven't updated a blog in a week or two... because there's not much to report. All four of the orphaned squirrels are doing great and thriving. Now its just a matter of time until they mature enough to be released.
Teresa is continuing her training at the wildlife rescue center. This is turning out to be a very in-depth course and has been money well spent for her to learn skills that she wouldn't have been able to learn otherwise. Once the training is complete in a few weeks, she'll post something about the training.
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Sunday, September 19, 2010
4 baby squirrels
On September 11, 2010 we took over the care of four orphaned baby squirrels. The squirrels appear to have come from two different litters; two are a little larger and appear slightly more physically mature. There are three females and one male. All are healthy and in good physical condition. They are all at that fun little toddler stage, when they began to run around and play. All four are little balls of energy.
We feed these little critters three times a day. They are fed formula with a specially adapted syringe and they have vegetables and nuts available to them at all times.
We feed these little critters three times a day. They are fed formula with a specially adapted syringe and they have vegetables and nuts available to them at all times.
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| They love John's beard |
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| SUPERMAN!!! |
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Faith
In August of 2010, our neighbor Buddy told us he knew of an injured/orphaned fawn some folks had rescued and were trying to take care of. The people who had the baby deer needed help and wanted to find someone who could take care of her. Buddy told them he knew some people who could handle the job.
When we went to pick up the fawn, she was in reasonably good health and had been taken care of - she was well fed and appropriately hydrated. The story goes that some dogs had scared the fawn and had chased it from the woods onto a neighbor's porch. Once the dogs had the fawn cornered, they began to jump at her and bite her, looking for a good hold so they could drag her down and kill her. Just about this time the owner of the house heard a commotion on his front porch and went to investigate. The homeowner chased the dogs away and took the frightened, injured fawn inside. The homeowner treated the wounds as best he could and the fawn moved into the house for a day or two. The homeowner quickly realized having a small deer running around the house wasn't the greatest thing in the world (deer urine stinks SO bad!). The homeowner turned the fawn over to his neighbor and that neighbor is who told Buddy they needed help.
We took the fawn home and Teresa named her "Faith". We treated the dog bites with over-the-counter antibiotic cream and they healed quickly. We introduced Faith to vegetables and she ate like a little pig. Faith gained weight over the next couple of weeks and was soon ready to transition to a pre-release facility where she would be put with other orphaned fawns in an outdoor setting, which would allow her to mature while learning to interact with other deer and to have as little contact with humans as possible. We were concerned that Faith had been around three different families by this point and might have imprinted on humans to the point that it wouldn't be possible for her to survive in the wild. Within minutes of being put with the other fawns, Faith didn't want much to do with us. Within two weeks, she is back to being wild - she wants nothing to do with people and runs away from human contact. It is apparent that Faith will do just fine in the wild. We see Faith every few days and she is growing and thriving. By early fall, she'll be ready for release into the wild.
Random Faith photos:
When we went to pick up the fawn, she was in reasonably good health and had been taken care of - she was well fed and appropriately hydrated. The story goes that some dogs had scared the fawn and had chased it from the woods onto a neighbor's porch. Once the dogs had the fawn cornered, they began to jump at her and bite her, looking for a good hold so they could drag her down and kill her. Just about this time the owner of the house heard a commotion on his front porch and went to investigate. The homeowner chased the dogs away and took the frightened, injured fawn inside. The homeowner treated the wounds as best he could and the fawn moved into the house for a day or two. The homeowner quickly realized having a small deer running around the house wasn't the greatest thing in the world (deer urine stinks SO bad!). The homeowner turned the fawn over to his neighbor and that neighbor is who told Buddy they needed help.
We took the fawn home and Teresa named her "Faith". We treated the dog bites with over-the-counter antibiotic cream and they healed quickly. We introduced Faith to vegetables and she ate like a little pig. Faith gained weight over the next couple of weeks and was soon ready to transition to a pre-release facility where she would be put with other orphaned fawns in an outdoor setting, which would allow her to mature while learning to interact with other deer and to have as little contact with humans as possible. We were concerned that Faith had been around three different families by this point and might have imprinted on humans to the point that it wouldn't be possible for her to survive in the wild. Within minutes of being put with the other fawns, Faith didn't want much to do with us. Within two weeks, she is back to being wild - she wants nothing to do with people and runs away from human contact. It is apparent that Faith will do just fine in the wild. We see Faith every few days and she is growing and thriving. By early fall, she'll be ready for release into the wild.
Random Faith photos:
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| Initial triage - contusions all over face and nose |
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| Head contusions. |
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| Contusions near the eye. |
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| Our daughter takes a nap with Faith on Day-1 |
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| Faith assists with school preparations. |
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| Mattie. Faith's new mama. |
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| All healed up, feeling fat and sassy. Faith meets her new buddies at the per-release pen. |
George and Grace.
On Thursday 9/17/2010 we learned that a school district in one of the north Dallas suburbs had a baby squirrel and a young possum turned in. John was off like a flash to get the animals.
George:
The young male possum appeared to be in good health and mature enough to make it in the wild on his own. We fed and observed him overnight - sure enough, he was able to forage for food and was drinking plenty of water. His urine and fecal output were normal and he appeared to be in good health. Country singer George Jones' nickname was "Possum". It seemed appropriate that this possum's name should be George Jones. The next day, Friday, John released the possum in a bamboo thicket near a creek. The possum looked back once then wandered off and began eating insects.
Grace:
The baby squirrel was a different matter entirely. She was terribly dehydrated and had been allowed to get cold. Baby squirrels in a cage or box need a heat source to maintain their body temperature. This baby also had what appeared to be tiny puncture wounds and an injured front foot and rear leg - evidence of being attacked by a cat. The first battle was body temperature. A heating pad did the trick. Next was hydration and nutrition. Teresa spent all night trying to get the little squirrel hydrated and fed. From there, monitering urine and fecal output was the next step. Teresa named this little baby "Hope". After several injections overnight and into the next day, Hope was hydrated. Hope began to eat from a syringe. Hope's urine and fecal output increased. We really thought we were winning the battle. Then hope stopped eating. Her urine grew dark and output slowed. Hope got lethargic. Within a couple of hours, Hope died.
We suspect Hope got an infection from the cat attack. Once the infection set in, there wasn't much anyone could do.
We learn something from each animal: Sometimes we learn patience. Sometimes we remember how to laugh and find joy in simple things. Hope reminded us that we aren't in control of everything. No matter how hard we fight, sometimes we're going to lose the battle. She also reminded us that no matter how hard the fight, you dig in and fight until there's nothing left to give - that's what Grace did.
George:
The young male possum appeared to be in good health and mature enough to make it in the wild on his own. We fed and observed him overnight - sure enough, he was able to forage for food and was drinking plenty of water. His urine and fecal output were normal and he appeared to be in good health. Country singer George Jones' nickname was "Possum". It seemed appropriate that this possum's name should be George Jones. The next day, Friday, John released the possum in a bamboo thicket near a creek. The possum looked back once then wandered off and began eating insects.
Grace:
The baby squirrel was a different matter entirely. She was terribly dehydrated and had been allowed to get cold. Baby squirrels in a cage or box need a heat source to maintain their body temperature. This baby also had what appeared to be tiny puncture wounds and an injured front foot and rear leg - evidence of being attacked by a cat. The first battle was body temperature. A heating pad did the trick. Next was hydration and nutrition. Teresa spent all night trying to get the little squirrel hydrated and fed. From there, monitering urine and fecal output was the next step. Teresa named this little baby "Hope". After several injections overnight and into the next day, Hope was hydrated. Hope began to eat from a syringe. Hope's urine and fecal output increased. We really thought we were winning the battle. Then hope stopped eating. Her urine grew dark and output slowed. Hope got lethargic. Within a couple of hours, Hope died.
We suspect Hope got an infection from the cat attack. Once the infection set in, there wasn't much anyone could do.
We learn something from each animal: Sometimes we learn patience. Sometimes we remember how to laugh and find joy in simple things. Hope reminded us that we aren't in control of everything. No matter how hard we fight, sometimes we're going to lose the battle. She also reminded us that no matter how hard the fight, you dig in and fight until there's nothing left to give - that's what Grace did.
Monday, September 13, 2010
The beginning!
Welcome to our blog! This blog will allow you to keep up with our efforts to establish a wildlife rescue and rehabilitation operation in Rains County, Texas.
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