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We heard some squealing from the back alley near our house. My husband came rushing in and said there was a baby mouse - I went out and it transpired it was a baby grey squirrel. It seemed to have been abandoned by its mother - no sign, seemed to have been there some time, and I havent seen our usual grey squirrel for some time.
Its eyes were closed and it couldnt stand on its own legs, therefore we concluded it was a very young baby and as it was crying in hunger and shaking, we decided time was not on its side.
We hung back to look out for mother, while ringing the RSPCA, who advised us to take it to the local vets. We asked if they would PTS and we were told that it was either that or a life in captivity (obviously far from ideal for a wild creature). This is because grey squirrels are not allowed to be released once caught.
I found the number for Coventry Hedgehog Rescue, hoping they may know of a wildlife centre. They told us of one in Evesham - 70 miles away! We rang them and they said they had experience with squirrels and had appropriate milks.
I was torn between which option was best: leave to nature and hope mother comes back (unlikely), take to be looked after but then face a life in captivity, or allow PTS.
I will not let an animal suffer, so option 1 was out, and I felt she deserved a chance of life, and was aware that, even though perhaps not ideal, if looked after properly and given appropriate space, wild animals can live in captivity happily, especially being so young she would never know any different.
So we put a heatpad (that we use for our rabbits) and towels in to a box, and got the poor little mite in to it and went off in the car. Stopped at our own vets on the way, explained the situation, they took her straight out the back and found she was very dehydrated and gave her 5ml of saline.
Then we drove to Evesham. She curled up in to the box and with the vibrations of the car I couldnt really tell if she was still breathing (very worried about how hungry she was) but halfway through she did a cute little stretch and curled up again! I named her Maple. We handed her over to the Wildlife Centre. They said she was very young, and incredibly thin. They said she was a girl They said they would do their best for her, give her something called Lactade that night with lots of vitamins and minerals in, then give her milk in the morning.
When we found her:
Snuggled up in the box:
I rang the next day and was told she had survived over night, and had been taking the milk. She was now also in with a friend so she has company. I will ring again in a few days time.
I feel so lucky to have been able to do this for a vulnerable creature, and to be so close to such a young baby squirrel, which I might otherwise have never seen.
I know this will sound very soppy, but I want so much for her to have a happy life.
Its eyes were closed and it couldnt stand on its own legs, therefore we concluded it was a very young baby and as it was crying in hunger and shaking, we decided time was not on its side.
We hung back to look out for mother, while ringing the RSPCA, who advised us to take it to the local vets. We asked if they would PTS and we were told that it was either that or a life in captivity (obviously far from ideal for a wild creature). This is because grey squirrels are not allowed to be released once caught.
I found the number for Coventry Hedgehog Rescue, hoping they may know of a wildlife centre. They told us of one in Evesham - 70 miles away! We rang them and they said they had experience with squirrels and had appropriate milks.
I was torn between which option was best: leave to nature and hope mother comes back (unlikely), take to be looked after but then face a life in captivity, or allow PTS.
I will not let an animal suffer, so option 1 was out, and I felt she deserved a chance of life, and was aware that, even though perhaps not ideal, if looked after properly and given appropriate space, wild animals can live in captivity happily, especially being so young she would never know any different.
So we put a heatpad (that we use for our rabbits) and towels in to a box, and got the poor little mite in to it and went off in the car. Stopped at our own vets on the way, explained the situation, they took her straight out the back and found she was very dehydrated and gave her 5ml of saline.
Then we drove to Evesham. She curled up in to the box and with the vibrations of the car I couldnt really tell if she was still breathing (very worried about how hungry she was) but halfway through she did a cute little stretch and curled up again! I named her Maple. We handed her over to the Wildlife Centre. They said she was very young, and incredibly thin. They said she was a girl They said they would do their best for her, give her something called Lactade that night with lots of vitamins and minerals in, then give her milk in the morning.
When we found her:
Snuggled up in the box:
I rang the next day and was told she had survived over night, and had been taking the milk. She was now also in with a friend so she has company. I will ring again in a few days time.
I feel so lucky to have been able to do this for a vulnerable creature, and to be so close to such a young baby squirrel, which I might otherwise have never seen.
I know this will sound very soppy, but I want so much for her to have a happy life.
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