What to do with 2...no, make that THREE baby squirrels?

[trof]

One showed up on a low roof yesterday afternoon, squalling his head off. Don't know how he got up there, but he sure couldn't get down.

I propped a long broken tree branch up to the gutter and eventually he(?) worked his way down.
And now I have a new BFF.
Or maybe he thinks I'm his momma.

He followed around me every time I went outside.
I put some nuts down for him which he initially ignored.
As he was sitting on my foot looking up at me, I gingerly picked him up and put him on the bark of a big oak, thinking maybe he'd find his way back to his nest or wherever.
Nope.
He turned right around, came back down, and climbed up on my foot again.
He still hadn't eaten any of the nuts I put down, so that wasn't it.

I picked him up and put him on my shoulder and he...PURRED and nuzzled my neck.
It was later, when I'd plucked him off my shoulder and he was nestled in my hand that I saw the FLEAS.
We're not as close as we used to be.
:-(

He was there to greet me first thing this morning and was munching on one of the nuts.
As soon as I sat down with a cup of coffee he was right back on my foot.
Later my granddaughter spotted 'him' in the bushes in front of the house.
Except...I looked in the back yard and that one was still there.

About an hour ago the front yard guy found the back yard guy and now they're curled up together in a ball, asleep, in a corner of the patio.

That's when I heard yet a third one squalling around by the side of the house. Walked around and spotted him.

Now...what to do?
They're about 3 inches long (not counting tails) and I don't think they're mature enough to fend for themselves. I hate to just abandon these guys.

Just sign me...
The Squirrel Whisperer
:-)

P.S. Every time we let the dog out (while still at just ONE squirrel) I'd put it in a large shopping bag so Diz could go do his biz and not be tempted to snack on squirrel.

[Taverner]

1. What else would you do? Take pictures and share!

[trof]

3. Got some. Have to figure out how to post.

[hyphenate]

7. Two ways to post

If you have a Facebook account, upload them to Facebook. Then, when you go to a picture, right click on it, and at the bottom of the menu, click on "properties." You'll see a link to where the pic is located--highlight and copy, and then post the link to a post.

The second method is through a separate image account, such as Photobucket. From there, it's the same directions.

[trof]

12. Thanks. My daughter has facebook account. Will try that.

Probably tomorrow.

[elleng]

21. hyph, trying to do this w someone's fb pic;

can highlight, but can't 'copy.' Ideas?

[Skittles]

23. trof, get yourself on Photobucket

get your prized photos online

[alphafemale]

2. They love bird seed.

Some fruit would probably work too. Cut up apple. Tiny as they seem, rodent animals are pretty much "on their own" once they leave the nest. His/her mom is probably preggers with the next clutch...actually.

[trof]

4. And now there are FOUR!

Another one just showed up.
Not sure if we should be feeding them.
:shrug:

[RSillsbee]

5. Fish bait? NT

[Ohio Joe]

16. I was thinking more along the lines of roasting them

Some potatoes and carrots... Yummy!

[RSillsbee]

17. I do not eat rodents NT

[Ohio Joe]

19. Have you tried them?

I mean... There is better stuff but in a pinch :D

[RSillsbee]

20. If I had to eat them I would

but it would be a had to situation. They just look nasty to me and I could get rabbits just as easy around here. For that matter I could get deer around here w/out too much trouble

[hyphenate]

6. Where do you live?

There should be a wildlife habitat somewhere in your area. They bring in a lot of orphans, and foster them out, once they've been checked for rabies, distemper, and the like. If you want to leave them around, I would suggest some kind of structure, with chicken wire on a frame to leave them safely out (especially if there are a fair amount of outdoor cats around). If there is no wildlife sanctuary around, you might want to check with a local zoo to see what they tell you, and id worst comes to worst, your local animal shelter could have some ideas.

Good luck, and take some pictures!

[trof]

10. I'm visiting my daughter in Melrose, MA.

[dixiegrrrrl]

35. trof..see Mira's post in the Photo forum

about a friend of hers who is learning how to raise baby squirrels..
and who apparently has awareness of what they need.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=280x94199

[Quantess]

8. I hear that just ONE (1) squirrel will rip up your house!

I have an acquaintance who kept a "rescue" squirrel as a house pet. 1 (ONE) is a cute terror!
What would 3 be?

[solara]

9. What a great story!

You have a kind heart and I hope you can figure things out in a way that is perfect for all of you

:hi:

[trof]

11. IT'S QUINTS!!!!

The 5th one just showed up.
He was in the tippy top branches of a crepe myrtle just SQUALLING.
I put the tines of a small plastic leaf rake next to him and he latched on to be lowered to the ground and join his siblings.

The first one seems to be communicating with the others "This HUGE bi-ped is OK. Don't be afraid."
Now they all follow me around like baby ducks.
We have a surfeit of baby squirrels.
And a 200 lb. mastiff who REALLY needs to go in the back yard once in a while.
jeez

I don't know if I can get 5 squirrels into a shopping bag while he relieves himself.
May try the leash.
Not on the squirrels...on the dog.
;-)

[LaurenG]

13. I don't know leash trained squirrel kids might be interesting

jk...papa

[stuntcat]

15. this is ammmazing!

I LOVE squirrels!! I've fed them for years but never had anything this cool happen. Give them some bird food maybe!

Good luck to the little guys!

[marzipanni]

14. Call or email someone on this list-

http://www.mary.cc/rehabbers1.html

In the meantime, some milk on bread in jar lids- they can suck the milk out.
Apples, pecans, walnuts, peanuts, sunflower seed chicken scratch.

I wish you could take a video of them following you around- it sounds so cute!
Good luck with finding help. A person familiar with care of wild animals will know how to transition them to "the wild' when they are old enough.

[Curmudgeoness]

18. Here is a list of wildlife rehabbers in that part of MA

but I would say that they are probably old enough that they are alright.

http://www.mass.gov/dfwele/dfw/wildlife/rehab/wildlife_rehab_nd.htm

I rehabbed years ago and would probably suggest to you that you just leave them alone and keep an eye open for any changes, like them appearing to get sick. Do not feed them milk. They would probably eat cat/dog food. Make sure there is water available. Squirrels also love bird seed and I am sure they are old enough to eat on their own. The best thing to do with any "juvenile" animals and birds is to left them be and just deal with them if they appear to be in distress. They can fend for themselves when they still look little, or mom is around somewhere and you just don't realize it. Young squirrels are so easily tamed, but will lose that tameness as they get older.

Good luck.

Edit for spelling.

[soleiri]

22. THREE squirrels you say?

:wow:

Sincerely,

[KC]

24. Aww

How sweet. Can't wait to see some pictures of them. Wonder what happened to their mama?
They would probably eat some fruit or bird seed and they love suet like the ones used for birds
with fruit or seed in it.

[trof]

25. Photo of 3 of the baby squirrels

<a href="" target="_blank"><img src="" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

[a la izquierda]

38. Oooh, this is just precious.

There's a man on the University of Oklahoma campus who walks onto our South Oval with a bag of nuts. THe squirrels come running, crawling up and down his legs to get fed. He then sits on a bench to eat a snack, and his little friends join him with theirs. Sweetest thing.

[trof]

26. Squirrel on my shoulder

<a href="" target="_blank"><img src="" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

[siligut]

27. Adorable

The pic of three nestled together is also very good, thank you. I have been tossing out nuts every morning for years and have yet to pet a squirrel. Though they do recognize my voice.

[lunatica]

28. If you copy and paste the 'Direct Link' on photobucket you won't get that illegal code message

I guess you just adopted yourself a squirrel family. Maybe your dog will too.

[siligut]

29. trof, post these in their own thread so everybody will see them

Some people might not know they are here, but want to see your new babies. May I suggest you give these adorable pics their own thread.

[trof]

30. OK

[KC]

31. These are

adorable..both pictures. Thank you so much for posting them

[TuxedoKat]

32. There are probably

some small animal rescue people in your area who could take them but they look like they are thriving with you, if you are inclined to keep them. If you think they still want milk, you can buy puppy milk at a big pet store for them to supplement their diet. I would try different types of nuts, seeds and fruit with them. Good luck!

Edited to add:

Since you are a writer this might make a good book down the road...

Edited again to add:

http://www.squirrel-rescue.com/found-a-squirrel.htm

http://www.squirreltales.org/

PS I rescued a baby squirrel once that was being attacked by a crow.

[LynneSin]

33. It seems they are old enough to eat regular squirrel food

Just leave food out for them.

My stepfather had a 'pet squirrel'. The squirrel would come by his house everyday and would fetch peanuts left for him in an old plastic peanutbutter jar.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

34. Where are you located? Check for a local wildlife rehab group --

They can advise you on what to do -- they can tell by looking at them if they are ready to be on their own. They look kinda big to me, well beyond the nursing stage, but I could be wrong.

[Mira]

36. I posted these photos today, after a friend showed up with a baby squirrel.

NV Whino pointed me in the direction of your post which I am reading with great interest, huge smiles, and extreme sympathy. You got yourself a situation there.

Mine won't help with it, but the photos are cute and will look really "familiar" to you. Good luck to you Trof!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=280x94199

[Rhiannon12866]

37. My vet's office is the place in this area where they take rescued/injured wildlife.

I was once waiting there with my dog or cat when a wildlife guy said he was there to pick up the baby squirrels. They were apparently checked out/treated and ready to go, and the wildlife guy knew what he was doing. There must be a place like this in your area. They sound so adorable and they were lucky to find you. They must have lost their momma. Let us know how this turns out... :hi: