He needs all the help he can get

15 years ago

Yesterday the shelter sent me some baby possums. However, one turned out to be a baby squirrel. He was just born...still had his umbilical stump and judging from his bm's, which were greenish, like meconium, I don't believe he even got to nurse his mother. He had fire ants on him and had fallen out of the nest. Often they will die from a ruptured spleen, caused by the fall, but he is hanging in there.

Even if you don't like squirrels, this one will never move into your attic or eat from your bird feeders. Think a kind thought for him. I am reluctant to mention him or post his picture because I feel like the odds of him making it are so slim, but he needs all the help he can get.

His name is Vernon.

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Comments (42)

maryanntx
15 years ago
His little tummy looks full. Are you able to feed him?

I'm sending out good thoughts for him. Vernon couldn't be in better hands.
nodakgal
15 years ago
Oh gosh what a itsy bitsy little guy.
I agree with Maryann, he's in the best hands he could be.
I am thinking good thoughts for him!!

Bless you Marilyn, most people (like me) wouldn't even know where to begin in caring for him!!
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Lily316
15 years ago
Do your best Marilyn, that's all you can do. Poor little thing will probably die. But at least he won't be alone. I found a Robin egg last night laying on the side walk. I save old eggs and when i picked it up a bill was pecking thru. I bought it home from the rain,put it under a light , pulled some of the shell off him and called a rehabber but he died. At least in his few minutes on earth he was warm.
marilyn_c
Original Author
15 years ago
He nurses a syringe that has a nipple attached to it.
lydia1959
15 years ago
Sending good thoughts for Vernon!
glenda_al
15 years ago
You are such a good person, Marilyn. Hats off to you!
jannie
15 years ago
He looks so little and helpless. Thank you for caring for him. I hope he grows up big and strong!
Happy_Go_Lucky_Gayle
15 years ago
Oh Marilyn, he is the size of a thumb. Poor baby.

God Bless you for trying.

Gayle
msmarion
15 years ago
Marilyn there is a special place in heaven for you. Thank you for doing what you do. Good thoughts for Vernon.
lindaohnowga
15 years ago
Little squirrel's life is in God's hands, and with your helping hands, I hope the little ones makes it. I want to say thank you for all you do to help the many little animals who have been and are currently in your care. I read all of your posts, but don't always have time to reply.
Nita__AZ
15 years ago
Awww poor Vernon he is cute. If he has any chance at all Marilyn it is with you. I hope he pulls through and becomes a happy part of your animal family. Sending up special thoughts and prayers for Vernon.
hounds_x_two
15 years ago
Oh poor baby!
Thank you for making him safe and comfortable.
Vique_Pa
15 years ago
I hope he makes it, it always makes me feel so bad when something like this happens. Hang in there Vernon, you are with St. Francis' side kick. vique.
marilyn_c
Original Author
15 years ago
Aw, y'all make me cry. He's doing pretty good. I'll keep you
posted and thank you.
clubm
15 years ago
Vernon is in good hands. I hope he makes it too. Poor Baby!!
heather_on
15 years ago
I love squirrels! I wish I could help you with the feedings. Special thoughts and prayers to Vernon that he makes it, and hugs to you for all the feedings you will be doing.
minnie_tx
15 years ago
Bless you Marilyn
flowerpotmama
15 years ago
I love squirrels too. You are so warm-hearted and wonderful Marilyn. The girls and I have found some dead baby birds around the farm yard and we buried them with flowers and the proper ceremony. I felt so bad that we couldn't have helped them. And now I'm getting teary...animals are just so wonderful, aren't they?

(except for mice...and I'm awful for thinking that)

Danielle
grammahony
15 years ago
Hang in there Vernon. You've got the best care taker you can get.
Leslie
FlamingO in AR
15 years ago
If anyone can help him, it's you, Marilyn. Best wishes to little Vernon. Bless his little bitty heart....
kayjones
15 years ago
May the power of positive thoughts bring him safely to adulthood!
ritamay91710
15 years ago
Best wishes for little Vernon. He's so sweet. And very lucky to have you, Marilyn, to help give him the best chance!!
alisande
15 years ago
Aw, poor little thing. He's so lucky to have you. I know you put your emotions on the line when you commit to helping an animal, especially one this young. I wouldn't even have recognized him as a squirrel. Best thoughts going to both of you.

Susan
anneliese_32
15 years ago
All the best wishes to Vernon and you. There is a special place in heaven for you and people like you.
Linda Wayman
15 years ago
God bless you Marilyn for all that you do.
Sending good thoughts and a prayer for Vernon!

Linda
des_arc_ya_ya
15 years ago
All things bright and beautiful,
All creatures great and small,
All things wise and wonderful,
The Lord God made them all.

Here's hoping that Vernon takes his second chance at life and makes a success of it! Good luck, Vernon!!!
Terri_PacNW
15 years ago
Isn't he just precious!

I love his little nekkid self!

I had a momma red squirrel visit my feeders 2 summers ago..she ended up with 4..buy October there were only 2 left..and I haven't seen them since..but I do hear squirrel calls in the trees around me.
Lily316
15 years ago
So happy Vernon is still here. I have positive thoughts about him now. If he made it thru the first day, I think he'll be okay. I rescued one from a window well one time and he was precious . Of course he was much much bigger than yours. I took care of him till he grew bigger and then left him join the others in my yard. Another time I wasn't so lucky. Four were abandoned and I tried to save them but three died . They were too far gone and wet and cold...Good luck with the little sweetie. The adult squirrels are so tame at my house ...I spoil them with nuts.
marilyn_c
Original Author
15 years ago
He's hanging on, but the problem would be infection which could be a little on down the line. One from not getting his mother's colostrum and from the fire ant bites, and possible internal injuries from the fall. He is on the tiniest little amount of amoxicillin. Thank you all for the positive thoughts for the little guy. As for me...waking every 2 to 3 hours during the night....I'm just hanging on too. :)

I have to go to Houston this morning to pick up a truck load of dog food. He's going with me.
User
15 years ago
Oh bless your heart! I hope he pulls through. At the very least he is in loving hands.
dirt_yfingernails
15 years ago
Good luck, Marilyn. You are such a friend to the little creatures.

I once raised sibling squirrels, one black and one gray. The ex was a logger, didn't know the nest was in the tree, so the tree fell on the mother killing her. This was in October, quite late to have a litter in MN since we can get our first lasting snow fall then. Their eyes weren't open yet, so I had to feed them with a doll bottle with a rubber nipple on it. They grew to adulthood, but were so naughty as "teenagers". They climbed the curtains and door ways, and just everything. Since we had outdoor kitties that would love a tender squirrel lunch, we brought the squirrels over to a friend without cats. They hung around his feeders for a long time. My favorite pictures were some of them posing on the door way, my 5 year old nephew playing with them on the floor, and my brother letting them crawl all over him.
tami_ohio
15 years ago
Sending Vernon good thoughts from Ohio. We enjoy watching the squirrels in our yard. If anyone can help him, it will be you, Marilyn!

Tami
des_arc_ya_ya
15 years ago
Keep us informed as to how he's doing, would you, Marilyn? TIA
Lily316
15 years ago
He sure will think you're his mother when he opens his eyes. You'll have a friend for life...I agree the colostrum is very impotant for his immunity but with your excellent care, he'll make it.
Kathsgrdn
15 years ago
I love squirrels, hope baby Vernon makes it!
caflowerluver
15 years ago
He is so tiny! I don't mind tree squirrels and love to watch them frolic, but ground squirrels are a whole another subject. Hope he makes it.
Clare
glenda_al
15 years ago
How is Vernon, today?
summer_tx
15 years ago
Sending good thoughts to you and little Vernon Marilyn. Hope he's still doing alright. Don't guess a mama opossum would let him nurse?
socks
15 years ago
Well you're the expert, Marilyn, so I'm sure it's a squirrel, but I'm not sure how you can tell! Do keep us posted, everyone is so interested in this. I hope Vernon makes it.
Lily316
15 years ago
A good idea...are there any nursing animals who would take on this little guy..including cats who I have seen doing this?
evatx
15 years ago
Marilyn, I hope little Vernon made the trip to Houston well, and is still hanging on. Thanks for the updates.
hounds_x_two
15 years ago
Just checking in. I hope the trip to Houston was a safe one for you and for Vernon.

Thank you again for all you do for these little helpless ones.

He needs all the help he can get

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