There's a squirrel in my garage
Jul 12th, 2006, 08:20 PM
#41
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Well done Patty! Next week I'm trapping for the federally threatened Preble's meadow jumping mouse in Colorado -- you have an open invitation to be my Field Biologist for any job involving traps.
Jul 13th, 2006, 08:25 AM
#47
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I've been following this thread since Tuesday and I'm so happy 
that the squirrel's safe and sound. Hopefully they will rehab him/her and release him/her into the wild. This all reminds me of William Butler Yeats' poem :
<b>"To a Squirrel"</b>
<font color="green"><i>Come play with me;
Why should you run
Through the shaking tree
As though I'd a gun
To strike you dead?
When all I would do
Is to scratch your head
And let you go.</i></font>
Jul 13th, 2006, 09:10 AM
#49
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Final installment in the squirrel saga. Last night I consulted with the rehabber in Long Beach and he thought that the squirrel looked at least 12 weeks of age and that I should just release it if it appeared uninjured.
Still feeling unsure, I called one of the other rehabbers this morning. She too thought the squirrel looked old enough to be on its own and that if it has been eating, then it was OK to release. She told me just to release it in my backyard as its home should be close by.
So that's what I just did. I took the carrier to the edge of the yard, opened the lid, and it darted out and on to the hillside. The hillside by my house is undeveloped and has plenty of trees and cover. I was hoping to get one last picture but it was much too quick!
I hope it does OK. Maybe it'll be back in my garage next week
Still feeling unsure, I called one of the other rehabbers this morning. She too thought the squirrel looked old enough to be on its own and that if it has been eating, then it was OK to release. She told me just to release it in my backyard as its home should be close by.
So that's what I just did. I took the carrier to the edge of the yard, opened the lid, and it darted out and on to the hillside. The hillside by my house is undeveloped and has plenty of trees and cover. I was hoping to get one last picture but it was much too quick!
I hope it does OK. Maybe it'll be back in my garage next week
Jul 13th, 2006, 03:08 PM
#54
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Well done Patty.
Been following this thread from the beginning because I'm one of those people who take spiders outside and set them free...and rescue mice from my cat. I was hoping the squirrel wouldn't end up as a bad smell in some inaccessible place (like one of the aforesaid mice).
John
Been following this thread from the beginning because I'm one of those people who take spiders outside and set them free...and rescue mice from my cat. I was hoping the squirrel wouldn't end up as a bad smell in some inaccessible place (like one of the aforesaid mice).
John
Jul 13th, 2006, 04:06 PM
#55
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I am all for rescuing the little critter as you did. However, there are some who would argue that if the varmint is too dumb or injured to get out, then one should let nature take its course - natural selection and all that.
Kevin
Kevin
Jul 13th, 2006, 04:54 PM
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Oh hooray, I couldn't check in all day and was wondering what happened & am so happy to hear all's well. What a funny thing it is to be thinking about you when I've never even met you. As my little niece says when she likes something, "I love this thing."
Jul 13th, 2006, 06:10 PM
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Kevin,
I know what you're saying, but a possible flaw in that argument is that the squirrel's predicament was caused by the presence of things that were alien to its natural environment. Even if the human structures have been there for many years, most people don't regard themselves and their activities as part of nature but something above nature...so a form of human interference caused the problem, and it's right that Patty rescued the critter.
OK, a very philosophical argument but I thought I'd bring it into this thread, both to keep it in context and see if any others were interested in putting their views.
As most of us know, most safari operators always let nature take its course...they don't intervene in the plight of wildlife unless a critter's problem is caused by human interference in the first place. I recently heard of a safari group in Botswana who saw a leopard grab a young baboon. The baboon got away and hid under the vehicle. While the leopard was searching, the baboon lost its nerve, emerged from hiding and ran for it...and was caught and killed. It could be argued that if the vehicle hadn't been there, the baboon's escape might not have been delayed and ultimately foiled...so, inadvertently, human interference caused its death. We'll never know but it could be argued till the cows come home.
John
I know what you're saying, but a possible flaw in that argument is that the squirrel's predicament was caused by the presence of things that were alien to its natural environment. Even if the human structures have been there for many years, most people don't regard themselves and their activities as part of nature but something above nature...so a form of human interference caused the problem, and it's right that Patty rescued the critter.
OK, a very philosophical argument but I thought I'd bring it into this thread, both to keep it in context and see if any others were interested in putting their views.
As most of us know, most safari operators always let nature take its course...they don't intervene in the plight of wildlife unless a critter's problem is caused by human interference in the first place. I recently heard of a safari group in Botswana who saw a leopard grab a young baboon. The baboon got away and hid under the vehicle. While the leopard was searching, the baboon lost its nerve, emerged from hiding and ran for it...and was caught and killed. It could be argued that if the vehicle hadn't been there, the baboon's escape might not have been delayed and ultimately foiled...so, inadvertently, human interference caused its death. We'll never know but it could be argued till the cows come home.
John
Jul 14th, 2006, 09:17 AM
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The thought had occurred to me. If Flower the meerkat has one, surely I can find a squirrel sized one 
Kevin,
I do understand your point. Mark and I had a discussion about whether to intervene (there was no question at that point that I would so it was more of a philosophical discussion) and if you intervene, how far do you take it? He says he might not have done anything though I'm not sure I actually believe him. When it comes right down to it, he's even more of a softie than me
Jul 14th, 2006, 09:52 AM
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I was just giving you a hard time. I'd have done what you did - I shouldn't admit this here but last year I trapped a feral cat who had given birth in one of my window wells. I took her to my vet, who spayed and vaccinated her and chipped her ear, so that if animal control did ever catch her, they wouldn't take her, thinking she was indeed someone's cat. Oh the things we do for animals! But at least she was safe from the local Toms!
But at least she was safe from the local Toms!
