So at work for the last three weeks or so, we’ve been seeing this injured squirrel come out of the woods to eat. He would try to sit up and eat, but he always fell on his left side. He would do that so much, that he would eventually just lay on his side and eat. The first day we saw him, I didn’t think he would make it through the night. He couldn’t walk or run well, and sort of flopped around. When we saw him the next day, my boss and I decided we needed to do something. I called my friend and asked if she had a small trap, and I called the local wildlife rescue to see if they would take the squirrel if we could catch him. My friend once again saved me and loaned me a trap, and the rescue said they would take the squirrel. So for the last few weeks I’ve been setting the traps with peanut butter and corn, and several squirrels got trapped, but not the one I needed. So because my co-workers know that I do what I can to save animals, last week one of our Operations Crew came into my office and asked for some help with something. I thought he needed a form or something else work related, but instead, he told me that he had two baby bunnies in his shirt pocket. My eyes probably looked like saucers. It was not what I was expecting at all, so my mind went racing. He handed me one of the bunnies, and I had to hold it against my chest because he was really trying to get away. ::WARNING – this is a little graphic:: He said he had accidentally come upon a nest of rabbits while weed eating, and the mother had been killed, and one of the babies was injured. He felt horrible and hadn’t mean to do it at all, so he scooped up the babies and put them in his pocket. I just told him we needed to get a box, so we found one and I put the bunny that I was holding inside of it, and he reached in his pocket, pulled out the other bunny, and placed it in the box. I grabbed a small blanket and put it in with them so they could hide a little more if they wanted. Then I drove them to the rescue.
So then today, when I was feeding my ferals, I found a raccoon sitting right beside the food bowls. It was really raining, so I assume he wanted some shelter and food. Then I went up to work and set up the squirrel traps. When I went home for lunch, I got a call from my co-workers saying the injured squirrel was in one of the traps! I hurriedly went back to work, and sure enough, there he was. I placed a sheet over his trap to calm him down, and then put the trap in my car. When I got to the rescue, one of the employees came out to see me and she was carrying a baby raccoon. She had been bottle feeding him and that raccoon had the roundest belly. It was ADORABLE! So then they took a look at my squirrel and said it could be a neurological issue or possibly parasitic issue causing his condition. But they set him up in an awesome enclosure and are going to work to get him healthy. Even if he does not improve, he at least has a warm, dry haven free from predators and with all the food and water he needs! I also found out that the baby bunnies are doing very well too! I couldn’t be happier. I was beginning to think we may never catch that squirrel, but I’m so happy that we did. I’ll call in a couple days to check on his status, but what an awesome day!
Love,
Happy Hopa
