 | I'm gonna sit here till it hatches - Wait! Squirrels don't sit, chickens do..... This is one of our released squirrels. He likes to come back and sit on a nest box that is mounted on the out side of our big cage. Think it has something to do with the fact that he gets special treats when we're out there? |
 | OK, time for me to get on a soap box!!- If there's one thing that really makes Dixie and I angry, I'd have to say it's people that will not follow the advice we offer at no charge. People that go to the trouble to find us, ask questions, then ignore what we say. |
 | Why does he feel this way?- One might ask... Well, these next few pictures should help clear that up. These two babies are the same age. One on the proper diet and the other not. Even after we gave advice, offered to help, and even offered to take the baby, the smaller baby was not properly fed and cared for. And why not? To quote the woman, "We decided we weren't going to keep him for a pet so, we didn't see the need to spend the extra money for the formula.". |
 | Well, thank you very much!- Because of this attitude, this baby is 1/3rd the size he should be. His fur, what little there is of it, is falling out. His eyes are dull, and he's weak. But that's not the worst of it. Even though we will correct his diet, give him extra of everything he needs, unfortunately, the damage is already done. There is a very slim chance he will survive beyond the age of 3 months. At 3 months, he will most likely begin to suffer painful seizures, his legs will become paralyzed, and if he's lucky, he'll die quickly. |
 | All for what? - Because he's not going to be a pet. We pray that God has a special place for people who think and act like this. May they suffer for an eternity. Please, if you have a heart, and you want to help, follow the FREE advice that any wild life rehabilitator will gladly give. If you can't do what needs to be done, give the baby to someone that can and will. |
 | A penny for your thoughts. - This is one of three late season baby flying squirrels. Their nest fell out of a tree and the mother failed to survive for reasons unknown. So small and fragile, they struggle to live. We add KY Jelly to help keep them moist and hydrated when they first arrive. Once stabilized, they can pretty well maintain their moisture. |
 | OK, I'm full! - Babies this tiny have to have special feeding tools. Extra care must be taken not to get formula in their lungs. |
 | OK, who's got my penny ? - Babies this young have not had enough time to get the extra things that are in mother's milk. Much of the natural resistance to illness comes from mother and though our formula is as close to her milk as we can make it, we can't reproduce it completely. Lots of special care and attention is the only substitute we have and more often than not, that's just not enough. |
 | Hey, watch where you're pointing that fire hose lady. - Weighing in at 4.5 grams when they arrived, they have begun to gain a little weight and now weigh a whole 6 grams after a week and a half. They grow very slow at first and it will take almost 45 days for their eyes to open. Even this young, they already have the flaps of skin that stretches between their front and back legs. |
 | Anybody got a razor, I need a shave.- After almost two weeks, they have started to get a little 5 o'clock shadow on their heads. Unfortunately, they were left laying on the ground without the warmth of the mother for most of a day and were very cold when they arrived. Babies this small and young lose body heat rapidly and the cold causes irreversible damage. In spite of all Dixie's efforts, one male died day before yesterday and the second male died yesterday. The remaining little girl is still fighting and we are hoping she will pull through... We're doing all we can.., the rest is out of our hands.... 11/12/99 |
 | Gosh, it's so bright out, it must be day time. - She's strong and wants to live... Kathleen, as she's now called, has all the signs of a survivor. She is gaining weight rapidly and beginning to look more like a squirrel. Dixie has put so much effort into this one, and we're so happy she's responded so well. 11/23/99 |
 | Hey, would somebody turn out that light please...- Her eyes are now open and she has lots more fur. Her head is covered and the fur extends down her back to her tail. Her whole underside is still bare. 11/23/99 |
