Quote:
Originally Posted by NorCal Cruiser
What's happening with Earle?
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Been nursing Earle back to health the last few days.
I am pretty sure he "took a tumble" sometime this past Saturday.
I didn't see Earle anytime Saturday following his morning feeding (which is not too unusual).
Earle is not always in his B.O.T., he will often go into a large Hackberry tree nearby and play around on it, so I don't always spot him when I go to look....and he doesn't come down when I call unless he wants to (imagine that).
I went to check on him about noon Saturday and couldn't find him. I noticed he had not been down to his "hand-out" bowl to eat, but I didn't really think much of it.
Checked on him again about 6:00 pm, couldn't find him, called and called, no Earle.
I was about to give up when I see Earle poke his head out of his nest. With some coaxing...he slowly crawled out and came down the tree like a glob of molasses.
I could tell he didn't feel well... or was in physical pain. He took a small drink of water...but wouldn't eat anything except a very small piece of apple.
He was just sitting there on my arm very still...and was "coughing" a little once in a while.
I took him inside the house and wrapped him up in a small dish towel with just his head sticking out. Got his old "baby bottle" and put a bit of Gatorade in it. Got him to take some of that.
I sat with him in the lounge chair till nearly dark....just petting him and trying to comfort him. Right before dark I got the extension ladder out and climbed up to put Earle back in his nest for the night.
The following morning he wasn't much better...but he did come down the tree to eat when I called. Normally he is up at the crack dawn ...has already eaten and gone somewhere on his B.O.T.
I hand fed him some pecans, let him drink and kind of looked him over. He was in obvious pain when I handled him....so I quit (quick thinking there Flint). I put him back in his nest and left him alone.
Sunday afternoon late...he was sitting on top of his nest (a good sign). Monday morning...a bit better. Moving around some, but not running anywhere.
Vast improvement on Tuesday....and Today he met me on his perch at the base of the tree. Ate pretty good and then wanted to "fight" some.
I think Earle's confidence got the better of him..and he ended up taking a fall. That is my best guess. I have been watching him run full tilt out to the end of limbs smaller than my little finger.
To make matters worse, Earle now likes to go the top 1/3rd of his B.O.T. to survey things. Well....that is about 60-85 feet up!
I don't worry about him when he is only 20-30 ft. up, I believe he can take that kind of a fall and come out of it relatively unscathed, but not from "way up there".
Anyway, he's doing much better...and I hope he has learned a lesson in the process.
Apparently, juvenile squirrels are just like human teenagers: If you can just manage to keep them alive until they "grow up" they should do just fine.
