We have a sick squirrel. I think she’s a she, so I’m calling her a she. Or a her, depending on the context. Go with me on this one. She is wobbly, and I’m talking she can’t even sit on her hind legs to eat without looking punch drunk. Her eyes are swollen (compared to all of our other 10 nutty guests) and she has a really hard time moving forward. So much so that she kindof tumbles forward into a heap and picks herself back up.
Part of me wanted to try to capture her and have our animal control officer take her and put her down, since I think she has to be suffering – but then I look at her, she’s plump, eating just fine – and making her way around and up the trees without falling off. Ugh. It’s heartbreaking to see her like this, and worse to think that if this is something viral. What if the other squirrels become afflicted?
I’m picturing ten really crazy lookin’ squirrels wandering around aimlessly in my backyard doing somersaults. One of them gets up, wobbles over to another one, pushes him over and the rest point and laugh as he falls down and can’t get up. Then they see a human and they all run for cover but because their eyes are swollen they collide in a heap and above the pile of delirious squirrels there’s a big cloud of crazy characters like this:
because they’re all totally dazed and confused. Then they manage to get untangled from eachother, and rubbing the bumps on their heads they hobble cockeyed over to a tree, except it’s my leg, and they start climbing and OW! THAT HURTS! They still have very sharp little nails.
It could happen.
Update: I noticed two more squirrels this morning who have some sort of thing going on with their ears. I’ll call animal control in the morning and find out what I can do.
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Wonder if she got into some chemicals? Maybe a neighbor had their yard sprayed recently…? People think that stuff is safe as long as it dries before Fido walks on it, but I’ve been hearing horror stories lately on the dog lists… Squirrels, picking stuff up off the ground to eat… are probably just as likely to get sick and/or die from herbicides/pesticides as dogs and cats. :/
Or worse yet, squirrel lover Leanne catches the squirrel do try and do good, it bites her transmitting its disease and then we have Leanne falling down bumping into everything in her back yard looking like she had one too many margaritas! When are you coming to see me? We can watch in horror as my dog tries to chase the squirrels.
Pam, I sprayed my own yard with the Bug free Backyard stuff. She’s just the only one displaying these symptoms. I called the vet today and they said it may be rabies, it’d be impossible to tell unless I captured her and had them put her down and had them run bloodwork on her. 😐
Clara – this summer, I swear it! If you can stay off the side of a mountain long enough, that is. :kiss:
Leanne, I did a little Googling, and you should probably call animal control. Some animal diseases can spread to humans (and pets). At the very least, she’s easy prey and should be put down humanely. Poor gal 🙁 and poor you! ((((hugs))))
DO NOT touch the squirrel!!!!
Rabies is transmitted in saliva.
How do I know this? A rabid raccoon went after a friend’s dog. They patted the dog and took the dog to the vet. They all ended up having to get the rabies series… Fun Fun Fun. DON’T touch the squirrel!!!!
Iew – I’m googling now too.
West Nile Virus
Serious Symptoms: Less than 1% (1/150) of those infected with West Nile virus will have more severe symptoms that may include: high fever, headache, neck stiffness, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, vision loss, numbness, and paralysis.
May 7, 2007
The plague is going around through fleas in Colorado. (PDF Report)
Here’s a whole host of diseases that are transmitted by fleas and ticks on outdoor critters. Sheesh. “Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome, Bubonic Plague, Tularemia, West Nile Virus, Western Equine Encephalitis, Colorado Tick Fever and Rabies are all diseases that can be carried by various animals and insects (rodents, mosquitoes or ticks) and then transmitted to humans.”
Ok. I’ll call the county animal control in the morning and keep an eye out for this one and see if she returns.
🙁
Aww poor babies. Please keep us updated. Hugs! :sorry:
We don’t have wild squirrels around here. Those poor ears look so itchy!
Kailani
An Island Life
Yikes, that is kind of scary. I would have them looked at just to be safe. It’s a good thing you’re so observant with them!
Oh Jeez! Keep the kids locked up, too!
Did animal control come out?
That squirrel looks strange to me. I think it’s actually a wombat.
:giggle:
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