We had the perfect "blog experience" yesterday. We got to rescue a sick baby squirrel. The girls were playing in the backyard before supper (We are having perfect weather this week for being outside!) and Mary Evelyn saw a little squirrel shivering on the ground in the yard.
Mary Evelyn found a box and Rachel grabbed some fleece because it was shivering and crying. Its cry sounded like a loud squeaky mouse. One of Jason's clients is an animal emergency hospital so we called them and asked how to take care of the squirrel. Now, I was NOT looking to have a pet squirrel but our girls were just so heartbroken that this baby was suffering and there was no way we could just abandon it. I admit I was happy when we found out it was illegal to keep wildlife without a license...it gave me someone to blame for not keeping little Belle, as she came to be known, as a pet!
Anyway, Jason's contact gave us a number to call. There are volunteers who are licensed to take care of wild animals that need help. They told us to put a warm towel around Belle and leave her in a box near the tree where we found her. Then we were to go away for a few hours and see if her mother would come for her. Mama Squirrel did not come. So then we had to take her to the home of these volunteers. Jason, Rachel, and Mary Evelyn were going on an unplanned field trip!
When they got there, they found out that Belle truly was a female and probably even had a urinary tract infection. She would have died if we had not taken her there. They were going to be starting her on antibiotics, pedialyte, and some sort of proper nutrition last night. Also, they promised to keep her name the same and send email updates.
These volunteers had several other rescued squirrels in their home. Rachel and Mary Evelyn got to hold squirrels named Edgar, Allan, and Poeline! Mary Evelyn is ready to go get licensed and set up her squirrel rescue center in our garage...or better yet, in her room.
It was quite the learning experience and a very special thing for Mary Evelyn, but Rachel loved it too. They were both very concerned about little Belle. Betsie was fascinated and kept saying, "mouse! mouse!" until we corrected her.
This is Rachel with one of the other squirrels at the home of the animal rescue volunteers.
Mary Evelyn with one of the other squirrels.
8 comments:
OH how cool!!!
Wow! What a treat for your girls!
That's really a neat adventure! I missed you tonight - figured you were still trying to catch up from the trip. Let me know if you need anything.
very cool!!
We just had this experience with a baby bird and I too was wishing the mama would have come back! Last year we had the squirrel too and someone came and got it. My dd loved being able to take care of it for the night and we used it as a good learning experience!
I have awarded you and your blog the You Make Me Smile award. You can get the details and the pic on my blog!!
~christa~
How fun for the kids. We have been missing out on the nice weather. We have treated our backyard 3 times now trying to get rid of the fleas with no luck. We have even resorted to getting rid of our dog. :(
Missed you at group.
What a great experience Jen!
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