OT:Please help advise regarding wildlife rescue - YouLookFab Forum

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OT:Please help advise regarding wildlife rescue

Maya

Veteran

This morning coming out of the driveway I saw a squirrel that is either injured or stuck in a crack in the pavement. It eventually stopped struggling but I think that is likely due to being frightened than dead. I don't know what to do. I mean I can't do anything personally since I'm headed to work but I need to tell my dad as he is concerned too. I can't find any info on wildlife rescue organizations and even then I don't know if they'd go out of their way for a squirrel. I told my dad to call the NJSPCA and see if they had any suggestions or referrals. Any other ideas? It is cumbersome trying to Google via iPhone so if anyone comes across anything let me know.

General

24 replies

Latest reply was from bj1111

Mamapicklejuice

Veteran

Non-emergency police number? Don't they have an animal control officer? Might be a place to start - just make sure it's NON-emergency you're dialing.

shannon

Our local animal shelter takes care of wildlife calls. If it came right down to it I would get a thick pair of gloves and try to get him out myself. Oh, please find a way to save him. I'll be thinking about this all day now!

shannon

Try going here and seeing if there is anybody in your area

http://www.wildliferehabber.com/

Goodluck!

shannon

Maybe here

http://www.wildliferehabinfo.org/

Anonymous

For situations like this, I've called both the non-emergency police number or the local humane society.

biscuitsmom

Veteran

Oh, the poor thing! please do call the suggested numbers! Dont let that little guy suffer all day....I'd call back to check if someone says they'll send someone out to make sure they did....

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

You can also call a local vet- they usually have a good idea of who to call for what things.

bj1111

Veteran

how distressing for the squirrel and you!

RoseandJoan

Veteran

I would phone Lucie's vet, I'm sure they will have a list of contacts and may be able to make the phone call for you.

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

Oh and- be very careful around squirrels and never ever handle them. They are known carriers of rabies, and they will bite.

shannon

It isn't wise is it chewy? That hasn't stopped me before though. I'm a freak when it comes to helping animals. I once tried to save a cat and got clawed and bit up pretty good. Shelter took the cat for observation. He was healthy, so no shots for me. I insisted they give the cat back to me. I still can't believe they did! I couldn't keep him, but found a place for him. Lucky kitty! I even have my children saving bugs now. One was driving the people at the community center nuts yesterday. My daughter would not let them kill it. She hunted it down, picked it up and put it outside. That's my girl!

I'm just saying last resort, I could not help but help the squirrel myself. Please let us know how it turns out Maya.

biscuitsmom

Veteran

Yay, Shannon! We need more people like you in the world Glad to see you're passing it on to your children too....Ive never rescued a bug, but Ive done it for worms since I was a kid and still do it today.....

Steph

Veteran

Maya, the site Shannon posted is where I would go to find something. If you just type in NJ it will list a bunch of rehabbers. Most are individuals, but hopefully someone can help. Otherwise, call your vet and ask if they know of any vets who handle wildlife rehab. If they don't, ask whether they know any vets who handle exotic pets. I found a bird I thought was injured once, and when I called a vet that handles exotics, they told me they also rehab. (Luckily, it turns out the bird was just temporarily stunned after flying into a glass door, and it ended up getting up and flying away.)

Maya

Veteran

I just called my dad to follow up. Poor baby died before help could reach her

My day is officially ruined. It was so hard watching her struggle. Ugh. I didn't want to touch her if anything was injured or broken, since I might have made it worse, but now I can't help but wonder if I should have tried instead of calling for help from miles away.

RoseandJoan

Veteran

Oh Maya, don't waste time feeling guilty, you cared enough to do something where a hundred people may have walked by.

Steph

Veteran

Maya, you did the right thing. I know that doesn't make you feel much better, but you didn't have any way to know how dire her situation was. And if she did die that quickly, you touching her might have just made things worse, putting her in more pain.

After my experience with the injured bird I made sure to have the contact info for the vet who does wildlife rehab, so that if I ever came across another situation like that, I would immediately know who to contact. Perhaps you can do something similar, and at least know you will be prepared if there are any future emergencies.

I totally understand how you feel, and I know my day would be ruined as well.

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

Oh Maya I'm sorry I do think you did the right thing, though.

biscuitsmom

Veteran

Im so sorry to hear that Maya...but at least you cared and tried to help the poor thing....

shannon

That's so sad, but at least you did try. Sounds like he had been there for awhile. Even if you would have gotten him out sooner, it might have already been too late. I'm happy to hear other people will go out of their way to help a defenseless animal.

Kari

Veteran

What a bummer of a thing to have happen. It's hard to see animals suffer like that.

My mom recently found a baby bird that was injured in her back yard and took it to a local vet. The vet didn't actually deal with wildlife animals, but contacted a wildlife rescue group that would be able to help.

I hope that the suggestion doesn't make you feel bad since it sounds like there wasn't much you could do... at least you were coming up with options for what you could do, which is way better than doing nothing.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Very sad :0(.

This happened to us too. The squirrel died very soon after we saw it in its injured state. They are delicate rodents actually.

Maya

Veteran

Makes me ill seeing animals suffer. I still keep thinking about her desperately thrashing around I actually did not eat lunch over this. That's how upset I get.

The worst part is that, according to my dad, the woman at the NJSPCA was extremely rude and insensitive about the whole thing and appeared angry that he was wasting her time over a squirrel. I normally try to refrain from personal attacks, but what else can you call a person like that but an utter wretch! Why is she working at a humane society with an attitude like that? Are only cute fluffy pet animals worthy of being treated kindly? It made me bristle.

taylor

Veteran

Oh, sad

bj1111

Veteran

maya,

your (and your dad's) safety must come first. injured animals can act unpredictably, including scratching and biting. khris made an excellent point about squirrels being rabies vectors.

it's unfortunate that the squirrel died, probably not a good death. but you absolutely did the right thing by not touching it.

now the wench at the NJSPCA is another matter...