There's a squirrel in my garage
Jul 12th, 2006, 06:26 AM
#23
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I could send you one of the tomatoes from my patio garden -- the squirrels seem to love those (sigh).
If she's a baby (not sure why I think of her as a she), I bet she wants to feel safe and protected, so I doubt she'll venture into more open areas -- maybe try the traps in some little corners or behind other things.
If she's a baby (not sure why I think of her as a she), I bet she wants to feel safe and protected, so I doubt she'll venture into more open areas -- maybe try the traps in some little corners or behind other things.
Jul 12th, 2006, 07:20 AM
#24
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No luck yet 
I hope the little guy/gal is still OK. How long can a young squirrel survive without food and water?
The trap opening is right against the car (it doesn't fit underneath the car) close to where it's hiding. I put a towel over the trap to make the inside dark and feel "safe". It should be able to come out the bottom of the car and go right in the trap without being out in an open exposed area.
This morning I added a couple of pieces of food outside the trap making a small trail hoping that might entice it toward the trap. Oh and I added a piece of carrot and a few dried cranberries inside the trap too.
I don't know what else to do. I won't be able to check again until this afternoon.
I hope the little guy/gal is still OK. How long can a young squirrel survive without food and water?
The trap opening is right against the car (it doesn't fit underneath the car) close to where it's hiding. I put a towel over the trap to make the inside dark and feel "safe". It should be able to come out the bottom of the car and go right in the trap without being out in an open exposed area.
This morning I added a couple of pieces of food outside the trap making a small trail hoping that might entice it toward the trap. Oh and I added a piece of carrot and a few dried cranberries inside the trap too.
I don't know what else to do. I won't be able to check again until this afternoon.
Jul 12th, 2006, 11:35 AM
#26
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Patty, I hope he / she will be in that trap when you get home. I have been keeping my fingers crossed. The poor little thing must be terrified but I don't think there's anything more you can do. I'll keep those fingers crossed.
Imelda
Imelda
Jul 12th, 2006, 11:56 AM
#27
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I live in eastern L.A. county and it just looks like a regular squirrel to me. There are tons of them everywhere. I don't understand why using the bottom part of the broom wouldn't get it out...just gently sweep it out. Happy Travels!
Jul 12th, 2006, 01:00 PM
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Patty: sounds like you have done a great job with the trap.
I think I have your species I.D. too. I believe once you capture this guy it is going to be identified as a young western gray squirrel (Sciurus griseus). Other possiblity is likely an invasive fox squirrel which are spreading in your area but the whitish cheek would indicate the gray sq.
I think I have your species I.D. too. I believe once you capture this guy it is going to be identified as a young western gray squirrel (Sciurus griseus). Other possiblity is likely an invasive fox squirrel which are spreading in your area but the whitish cheek would indicate the gray sq.
Jul 12th, 2006, 01:23 PM
#30
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I just uploaded another pic to my album showing where the squirrel was this morning.
I've been in touch with two wildlife rehabbers in my area. Both said they could take it IF I can trap it.
Some of the rehabbers tell me it's a ground squirrel, some tell me it's a tree squirrel, I think it kind of looks like a fox squirrel myself. All of them think it's fairly young.
Thanks for all of the good luck wishes for me and the squirrel. I have my fingers crossed too.
I've been in touch with two wildlife rehabbers in my area. Both said they could take it IF I can trap it.
Some of the rehabbers tell me it's a ground squirrel, some tell me it's a tree squirrel, I think it kind of looks like a fox squirrel myself. All of them think it's fairly young.
Thanks for all of the good luck wishes for me and the squirrel. I have my fingers crossed too.
Jul 12th, 2006, 04:56 PM
#33
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Patty,
I volunteer with a wildlife centre in Canada, so I see a lot of young squirrels. Yours looks very young. The usual advice is that what appears to be an orphan may not be, as the parent may not be too far away, but may be afraid to approach if people are around. We usually suggest that you give the baby some space and see if a parent comes back to get it. Since it has already been a few days, you can probably assume the parent won't be coming back. If it won't go to the trap itself, at this point I would say put on some thick leather or gardening gloves and gently pick it up if you can (in Canada, squirrels are not rabies vector species and a young weak baby won't be able to bite very hard), and quickly place it into a box lined with a towel with a lid so it feels sheltered and doesn't see anything that will scare it further. You can give it water. Take it as soon as you can to a wildlife rehab centre or have them pick it up (A lot of animal services places euthanize wildlife because they are not equipped to deal with them). Good luck!
I volunteer with a wildlife centre in Canada, so I see a lot of young squirrels. Yours looks very young. The usual advice is that what appears to be an orphan may not be, as the parent may not be too far away, but may be afraid to approach if people are around. We usually suggest that you give the baby some space and see if a parent comes back to get it. Since it has already been a few days, you can probably assume the parent won't be coming back. If it won't go to the trap itself, at this point I would say put on some thick leather or gardening gloves and gently pick it up if you can (in Canada, squirrels are not rabies vector species and a young weak baby won't be able to bite very hard), and quickly place it into a box lined with a towel with a lid so it feels sheltered and doesn't see anything that will scare it further. You can give it water. Take it as soon as you can to a wildlife rehab centre or have them pick it up (A lot of animal services places euthanize wildlife because they are not equipped to deal with them). Good luck!
Jul 12th, 2006, 05:03 PM
#34
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How funny! I live in Pasadena (also LA County).
I had a similar squirrel experience except the squirrel was in my HOUSE!
Here's what happened.
I came home one day and I discovered that my lamps and other small ornaments on my furniture had been knocked over. I couldn't tell what had happened (at first, I thought that a slight earthquake tremor had occurred but I hadn't felt anything). I thought it quite odd as my cleaning woman had cleaned the house that day and I couldn't imagine her leaving the house in such disarray.
At about that time, my cleaning woman phoned me saying she had arrived at my place, discovered the items knocked over and then set them all back up. Now I was really uptight as obviously some thing had knocked things over again. In investigating further, I discovered wood chips close to my kitchen cabinets like an animal frantically trying to dig into my cabinets for a "get away."
Then I looked up at the vent above my stove. I rent an older duplex and this vent was a bit of an eyesore so I just covered the hole with wallpaper. The wallpaper was torn and when I looked closely I could see something that looked like a nose sticking out. First thing I thought of was a RAT! I didn't know whether it was alive or dead.
Well, I didn't want to touch that rat by myself so I ran down to my neighbor's and asked him to help me get it. While I held the trash can under the vent, Eric tore the remaining wallpaper off and out fell the dead squirrel.
Whew...I cleaned up everything and felt so relieved. I calmed down and drank a glass of wine while watching television sitting on the sofa although I was still trying to figure out how those wood chips came to be.
Then I went to bed.
End of story???!!! Oh no....
The next morning while getting ready for work, I kept hearing a scratching sound from the sofa! I looked behind the sofa and saw nothing. Still hearing the sound, I lifted up the cushion; voila! one squirrel hanging on for dear life. (He didn't look too healthy; his eye was all red and sore looking.) I don't know who was more scared: the squirrel or me. I quickly put the cushion back because I certainly didn't want him running through my apartment.
Well, I ended up phoning Pasadena's Animal Control department. After several hours, a woman arrived. She opened the front door, closed all the doors to the other parts of my apartment, asked for a bucket and lifted up the cushion. The squirrel scampered around my living room but she used the bucket to direct him to the open door.
So that's my squirrel story....
Deb
I had a similar squirrel experience except the squirrel was in my HOUSE!
Here's what happened.
I came home one day and I discovered that my lamps and other small ornaments on my furniture had been knocked over. I couldn't tell what had happened (at first, I thought that a slight earthquake tremor had occurred but I hadn't felt anything). I thought it quite odd as my cleaning woman had cleaned the house that day and I couldn't imagine her leaving the house in such disarray.
At about that time, my cleaning woman phoned me saying she had arrived at my place, discovered the items knocked over and then set them all back up. Now I was really uptight as obviously some thing had knocked things over again. In investigating further, I discovered wood chips close to my kitchen cabinets like an animal frantically trying to dig into my cabinets for a "get away."
Then I looked up at the vent above my stove. I rent an older duplex and this vent was a bit of an eyesore so I just covered the hole with wallpaper. The wallpaper was torn and when I looked closely I could see something that looked like a nose sticking out. First thing I thought of was a RAT! I didn't know whether it was alive or dead.
Well, I didn't want to touch that rat by myself so I ran down to my neighbor's and asked him to help me get it. While I held the trash can under the vent, Eric tore the remaining wallpaper off and out fell the dead squirrel.
Whew...I cleaned up everything and felt so relieved. I calmed down and drank a glass of wine while watching television sitting on the sofa although I was still trying to figure out how those wood chips came to be.
Then I went to bed.
End of story???!!! Oh no....
The next morning while getting ready for work, I kept hearing a scratching sound from the sofa! I looked behind the sofa and saw nothing. Still hearing the sound, I lifted up the cushion; voila! one squirrel hanging on for dear life. (He didn't look too healthy; his eye was all red and sore looking.) I don't know who was more scared: the squirrel or me. I quickly put the cushion back because I certainly didn't want him running through my apartment.
Well, I ended up phoning Pasadena's Animal Control department. After several hours, a woman arrived. She opened the front door, closed all the doors to the other parts of my apartment, asked for a bucket and lifted up the cushion. The squirrel scampered around my living room but she used the bucket to direct him to the open door.
So that's my squirrel story....
Deb
Jul 12th, 2006, 05:07 PM
#35
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It worked!!!!!!! The squirrel's in the trap, yay! I just uploaded another pic.
I brought it inside and transferred it from the trap to a pet carrier and put some more food and water inside the carrier. Anything else I should do tonight?
Tomorrow morning I'm going to take it to a rehabber in Long Beach. Thanks for all the help and support!
I brought it inside and transferred it from the trap to a pet carrier and put some more food and water inside the carrier. Anything else I should do tonight?
Tomorrow morning I'm going to take it to a rehabber in Long Beach. Thanks for all the help and support!
Jul 12th, 2006, 05:16 PM
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If you have stuffed animal or a towel that it can cuddle with, that would be good. And then leave the cage somewhere quiet. Also, when you drive it to the center tomorrow, keep the noise in the car down (no radio, talking to a minimum, etc.)
So glad you rescued it! Well done.
So glad you rescued it! Well done.
Jul 12th, 2006, 05:26 PM
#38
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What a relief! I love a happy ending. Cute little critter.
We had a 4 week old kitten living in the engine compartment of one our cars here at work, I finally coaxed him out and now he lives at home with me and is the greatest little guy ever!
www.kodakgallery.com/carlasadventures
We had a 4 week old kitten living in the engine compartment of one our cars here at work, I finally coaxed him out and now he lives at home with me and is the greatest little guy ever!
www.kodakgallery.com/carlasadventures
