Happy and not so happy updates.

Unfortunately, terrible news for one of the squirrels. JoAnn brought them up to Tuft's Friday morning and they took some x-rays. Her mandible was shattered and the molars were totally out of alignment. It was not something that could be fixed. On top of that there was a raging infection in her throat. They were totally amazed that she was even able to eat anything. A good example why some injuries, such as traumas, need to be checked a little more thoroughly on the inside. Externally there seemed to be improvement and she was eating, however the damage not seen was so bad she would only have lingered longer, suffering a great deal.  

Her sister, on the other hand is doing well. JoAnn already has 2 other squirrels close enough in size that she can go in with so she is not alone.

On a happier note....Mason and Cinder are thriving! They have more than doubled in weight.

Cinder's laceration has healed up nicely.

They are eating like little piglets...... 

....and just being darn cute.

And they are definitely enjoying their fur to cuddle in...so thanks to all who have donated furs!!

Meanwhile outside, the "wild" family is out and about and as active as ever. I have run into Gibby, Ringer, River and Belle for sure at night. I think maybe Red too, but it's been so long since I've seen her I'm not sure. Although she wouldn't come right up to me, she had no problem following me around from feeder to feeder as I checked on them like Red usually did. 

During the day I've had a few visitors as well. Everyone looks so different now though, that I'm not always sure who it is! Sometimes I only know it's one of mine because they'll come right down for a visit! 

I was thinking this was one of River's girls. Amazon or Nile were always friendly enough to come over to me, but not so friendly to let me scritch their chin like this time. Then again, that's the thing about these guys! Sometimes they can be friendly as hell and other times they can be grumpy or skittish depending on their mood and what's going on in their lives at the time. One day someone will hang all over you and the next, run at the sight of  you no matter how nice you call to them. Regardless, we had a lovely visit while this girl...possibly Amazon....sat back and told me about her day while having a little bite to eat.

The reds were released a week or so ago. They proceeded to vacate their cage and move into the large indoor pen! So much for going out on their own! Don't get too comfortable in there gang, when the new tenants are ready you're outta there!

Ahhhhhh....Spring!

Spring is here and we are expecting calls for new babies any time now. A call Saturday from Andrea at McGrath's brought me this guy though! He was quite the character!

My intention was to bring him to Tuft's Sunday morning, however after Laurie came over to help check him out, it was discovered his wound was quite severe and not fixable. Not the way I wanted to start the spring, but he had to be euthanized. Bummer.

On a much better note....Hissy and the Missus are back! Back to our usual daily visit when they see me down there and come rushing over! I love it. I don't know where they go for the winters, but it's obviously a safe place thank god! I still want to try to figure out why they suddenly showed up last year banded. I always know, regardless of the actual date, it's officially spring when these 2 show up!

Everyone is feeling it! The reds are definitely enjoying it! Especially since they spent the winter in the big pen, instead of the little black one next to it, the one they would have been in!

All 7 are doing great and loving the sunny warm weather! All of them are out chattering at me when i go in to feed them instead of huddling in a warm nest box. As soon as the leaves re-appear on the trees the release door will be opened and wait till they see the trees they can climb then!

I've got the outside water on and I'm getting the rehab gear out and ready. Even the coons are enjoying the spring weather....actually venturing out when I go in to clean the pens. Some even feeling frisky enough to play a little! I'll have those pics for you soon!

The reds are settled in.

The reds have totally made themselves at home. Now when I go in there they are all running around scolding  me instead of hiding in the nest box. They are loving the nice big outdoor cage....which is MUCH bigger than the cage they were going to be spending the winter in. Characters they are....all 7 of them! Adorable little buggers!

New guests.

A fellow rehabber got into a little pickle when she fell and broke her shoulder. Ouch! She had some gray and red squirrels overwintering and it was going to be a little difficult to handle with the injury. So the 7 little red's have been welcomed here. They are quite happily settled into a nice big outdoor pen!

It didn't take them long to redecorate and make this nest box their own!

Most of them are pretty shy, but there is one that will come out and chatter away while I'm in there feeding and cleaning. She likes to keep an eye on me.

It's pretty funny to sneak over there during the day when they are all out and listen to all the chattering and whistling they do.....not a quiet bunch!

Boston is just one of the gang now. All 6 boys can be found packed into the same den box together down there. He is one happy camper!

I found some hidden gems!

Thanks to updated computers and software and technology in general....I got these hidden gems off my old cell phone that broke ages ago! Thanks to blue tooth technology I was able to get some of the videos that were stored in it! So lucky you guys....you get to see what it's like when I happen to run into an old friend......and her adorable new family!

It ain't professional by any means, just crappy cell phone quality.....but enjoyable all the same! This is Red with her darling family last June 2010 when I ran into them checking the main feeding station.

Then of course there was Little Monkey, one of the reds released here that year that decided to make me his little play gym. I would show up and and he would immediately start demanding some kind of treat, then proceed to strip search me if there were none produced forthwith!

Sometimes he brought one of his siblings and god forbid I put the raccoon formula and food down for a minute......they would just start helping themselves! After all, I was there to cater to them, was I not?!

Never a dull moment when heading out to take care of the rehabs!!

Watching over the visitors.

For the past week I've been keeping my eye on this poor girl that has begun visiting the feeder on a regular basis. She's terribly thin, but quite active and normal otherwise and eating up a storm out there. So normal in fact, that she's not even close to catch-able. Sure I could put a trap out there, but with 10 or more squirrels also out there with her, what are the chances of actually getting the right squirrel? Not with my luck!

What we are seeing here is what always happens in the wild over the winters....only we don't usually get to witness it. She was probably holed up for a long time either due to an injury or the weather......and survived to come out on the other side half starved, but alive. (I'm going with injury since of all the critters out there, these guys have not missed many visits to the feeder despite the weather!)

She has probably been holed up with other squirrels as well or she would have frozen to death by now. She is not chased off or harassed by the other squirrels so she's got some friends/family out there at the very least!

Here is one of our normal little fatties out there compared to our skinny little girl....the difference is striking, poor little thing. I'll be keeping an eye on her for now. She's quick, alert and very active, and since she is eating great now, I'll make sure she continues to do so!

A couple of the reds are also hanging out there with the gang. I'm happy to see reds and grays are all tolerating each other well and no fighting or chasing each other off....well except for the 2 reds that is! They are constantly chasing each other off! I'm happy to see my little shed dweller is spending some time outside in the fresh air though.

Squirrel Tales.

These guys are just too cute. Part of my daily routine now in the evenings includes hanging out with the squirrely boys. It never fails. I'm taking care of the coonies, going in and out of the shed for food etc. and soon there is an audience hanging out by the tree next to the shed, eagerly anticipating my attention! (Or maybe it's just the goodies they know they are going to get.....ya, more likely that!)Reds and grays don't typically tolerate each other very well, but I'm happy to say my boys are very well behaved and share pretty well....dinner together is quite enjoyable. There is even one scarred old chippy that peacefully joins them on occasion. Maybe because they are young? Either way, I hope it lasts.

Little Monkey is usually the first to get my attention.While the 2 grays that usually stop by will wait quietly under the tree for me to notice them......

.....Little Monkey will hang from the tree and squawk away at eye level until he knows he has my full attention! (when that doesn't work, he just runs over and climbs up onto my shoulder....ahem...EXCUSE ME, I'M HERE!)

So I get the sunflower seeds out and dinner is served under the scenic oak tree for all....
Little Monkey gets what he wants....mission accomplished brings a happy smile to his face!

I'm such a cute, happy little fella! Here....get my good side mom!

The Raiding Reds!

The reds were released weeks ago but are in no hurry to leave! They are still raiding the shed for goodies and one little boy in particular comes running when I show up.I call him Little Monkey because he's always hanging around and when I go out there he runs over and climbs all over me!

He's very cute and does a pretty good job of getting along with a couple of my grays that are still fond of visiting me as well.

It's actually pretty interesting watching a red, a gray and a little chippy all getting along well enough to share a pile of sunflower seeds together!

An odd encounter.

While out checking the feeders the other day I ran into a couple surprises. First was this little juvenile red that got itself stuck in the feeder. Non the worse for wear though and scurried up the tree when I let it out.

Most odd though was this flyer! I started filling a feeder and it comes out of nowhere and right up to me! They are nocturnal so you don't usually see them during the day-that was surprise enough-but this one kept coming up to me like it was going to just take some food right out of my hand!

I would try to hand her some but she was too nervous and would scurry away, then come right back up to me again. I was right on top of this platform kneeling at the very corner of this feeder-not more than a foot away, if that!

I'm guessing a female with babies or about to have babies....it was kind of plump looking....and just really hungry and getting some chow while it was safe to leave them. Or I was close to the nest and she was looking out for the kids......?

The squirrels are free!

Yesterday was a beautiful day with a few more predicted, so it was time to release the 4 gray squirrels finally!! It was like I brought them to Disney World, running around and playing like maniacs in the trees. Great fun to watch!

One of them at a feeder on top of the cage.

Mojo took a minute to slow down and say thanks!

.....and give a couple poses for the camera!

Laurie has her hands full! She went from 2 baby grays to 6 reds and another older gray all in one day! Here is one of the groups of reds......they area adorable!!!

The damn coondo camera hasn't been working right. It's taking still pics but the video won't play. It's possibly a problem with the sd card so I am hoping getting a new one will solve the problem. It's hard to assess injuries with still shots!

This is Lexi, the girl I think is the injured one that has not been using her front leg. She is using it somewhat still and is even starting to look like an expecting mother again. It's obviously not slowing her down too much! It's been about a month and she's still visiting regularly and getting around fine....and enjoying her food!