When I was a kid, I found a lady bug in our home in the middle of winter. I made my mom drive me several miles to the nearest greenhouse so I could release it somewhere warm.
My girlfriend and I rehabbed baby squirrels and baby rabbits. But I want to tell you about my mom. She found an English finch in the street that had been hit by a car. She brought it in the house, put it in a shoebox, and when it was still alive the next day but couldn't fly, she spent the next nine years caring for the finch she called Bird. Bird lived in a cage, but she carried the cage from room to room every day so he could look out different windows. She picked dandelions every day and brought them home to supplement his birdseed. She shielded him from visitors so he wouldn't be scared, talked to him, introduced him to people who would be kind and quiet. Mom was in her 80s when she brought Bird home, but she outlived him and he lived 9 years.
This is how I ended up with my first cat Kevin. The first vet I took her too said to not get too attached (I never went back to that vet). There’s kitten formula you can get and I used tiny syringe to feed her. Little moist cotton ball to help her go potty, the whole shebang. I spent a month crying hoping she’d pull through. I may have been trying to raise a cat, but I ended up with a giant love bug who thinks she’s a cross between a human, a dog and a potato. You tried your best. There are so many factors it’s really hard to know what went wrong.
My brother and I used to try and rescue the baby birds we found on the sidewalk every spring. My mother, bless her, always helped. They never made it, but, like you, I'm glad we tried.
Aww those sweet lil rat pre-babies, they were so lucky to spend their last days with you and not in cold mulch. We have rescued a few creatures from immediate danger but nothing that young.
We also provided hospice care for a crow fledgling called Esther for a week. She didn’t make it either, but I too would not have changed a thing ♥️
Growing up, my family nursed quite a few abandoned baby birds back to health, including an entire little flock of baby quails. I'm too young to remember what we did and why it worked, but I still think of those memories fondly! Apart from when some of the baby quails started attacking the other ones — that's a less pleasant memory. 🙃
(First time commenter I think, but I love your each and every post of yours!)
We did wildlife rehab when I was a kid, and by we I mean my mom. She successfully raised several baby squirrels. It seems like these were newborn, and while they have eyes they're just not open yet. This is really common across baby mammals of all sorts.
We had newborn field mice once and mom spent a lot of time, including through the night, trying to dribble kitten formula into their little mouths without also hitting their nose. She eventually hit a breaking point though and opted to humanely put them down. I think it's good to try, even if things don't work out.
I'd love to see more pictures of the babies, thank you for trying to save them! I've never found an animal in need, but my grandma found a baby hedgehog once! All the hedgehog rescues were at capacity and told her how to care for it at home, it made it 😊
As someone who has seen a lot of neonatal rodents come into wildlife hospitals, you did all you could. They are very very difficult to keep alive even for rehabilitation professionals. And those were so so so young. Really a job only mama rats can do well.
Just this weekend there was a window strike of a Lesser Goldfinch at my parent’s home. The lil bird was laying on its back, barely moving. I scooped him up and tucked him in a cardboard box and left him inside for 15 or so minutes. I stated to hear movement, called the family over and we stepped outside, opened the box and watched him quickly dart out of the box! Success!!
*window strikes are bad but often the bird is killed by a predator while trying to rest and reset, so providing a safe place for them to do so can go a long way!
Last year one of my cats brought in a new, tiny mouse, and since I couldn't find the original nest, I did the same thing. I named them "Stuart," after Stuart Little and spent so much time hand-feeding them with a tiny dropper. They would curl up into my warm hand and rest. Sadly they didn't make it either, and I was inconsolable for a few days after. I think we have to try-at least they are lovingly cared for before they cross the rainbow bridge.
I can't believe how itty bitty they were - what sweet little beans! Sorry they didn't make it <3 I bet Kip would have been a great big brother to a pair of rats
When I was a kid, I found a lady bug in our home in the middle of winter. I made my mom drive me several miles to the nearest greenhouse so I could release it somewhere warm.
Poor sweet ratty babes! You did great. Thanks for trying to help them. 🙂
Almost exactly what I was going to say. ❤️
My girlfriend and I rehabbed baby squirrels and baby rabbits. But I want to tell you about my mom. She found an English finch in the street that had been hit by a car. She brought it in the house, put it in a shoebox, and when it was still alive the next day but couldn't fly, she spent the next nine years caring for the finch she called Bird. Bird lived in a cage, but she carried the cage from room to room every day so he could look out different windows. She picked dandelions every day and brought them home to supplement his birdseed. She shielded him from visitors so he wouldn't be scared, talked to him, introduced him to people who would be kind and quiet. Mom was in her 80s when she brought Bird home, but she outlived him and he lived 9 years.
This is how I ended up with my first cat Kevin. The first vet I took her too said to not get too attached (I never went back to that vet). There’s kitten formula you can get and I used tiny syringe to feed her. Little moist cotton ball to help her go potty, the whole shebang. I spent a month crying hoping she’d pull through. I may have been trying to raise a cat, but I ended up with a giant love bug who thinks she’s a cross between a human, a dog and a potato. You tried your best. There are so many factors it’s really hard to know what went wrong.
This is how I came upon my first cat, Gonzo, too.
My brother and I used to try and rescue the baby birds we found on the sidewalk every spring. My mother, bless her, always helped. They never made it, but, like you, I'm glad we tried.
Aww those sweet lil rat pre-babies, they were so lucky to spend their last days with you and not in cold mulch. We have rescued a few creatures from immediate danger but nothing that young.
We also provided hospice care for a crow fledgling called Esther for a week. She didn’t make it either, but I too would not have changed a thing ♥️
Growing up, my family nursed quite a few abandoned baby birds back to health, including an entire little flock of baby quails. I'm too young to remember what we did and why it worked, but I still think of those memories fondly! Apart from when some of the baby quails started attacking the other ones — that's a less pleasant memory. 🙃
(First time commenter I think, but I love your each and every post of yours!)
We did wildlife rehab when I was a kid, and by we I mean my mom. She successfully raised several baby squirrels. It seems like these were newborn, and while they have eyes they're just not open yet. This is really common across baby mammals of all sorts.
We had newborn field mice once and mom spent a lot of time, including through the night, trying to dribble kitten formula into their little mouths without also hitting their nose. She eventually hit a breaking point though and opted to humanely put them down. I think it's good to try, even if things don't work out.
I'd love to see more pictures of the babies, thank you for trying to save them! I've never found an animal in need, but my grandma found a baby hedgehog once! All the hedgehog rescues were at capacity and told her how to care for it at home, it made it 😊
As someone who has seen a lot of neonatal rodents come into wildlife hospitals, you did all you could. They are very very difficult to keep alive even for rehabilitation professionals. And those were so so so young. Really a job only mama rats can do well.
Just this weekend there was a window strike of a Lesser Goldfinch at my parent’s home. The lil bird was laying on its back, barely moving. I scooped him up and tucked him in a cardboard box and left him inside for 15 or so minutes. I stated to hear movement, called the family over and we stepped outside, opened the box and watched him quickly dart out of the box! Success!!
*window strikes are bad but often the bird is killed by a predator while trying to rest and reset, so providing a safe place for them to do so can go a long way!
Also.a first time commenter! I think they are so so tiny! You did beautifully. I am a not a rat person but you described it so.poignantly
Last year one of my cats brought in a new, tiny mouse, and since I couldn't find the original nest, I did the same thing. I named them "Stuart," after Stuart Little and spent so much time hand-feeding them with a tiny dropper. They would curl up into my warm hand and rest. Sadly they didn't make it either, and I was inconsolable for a few days after. I think we have to try-at least they are lovingly cared for before they cross the rainbow bridge.
I can't believe how itty bitty they were - what sweet little beans! Sorry they didn't make it <3 I bet Kip would have been a great big brother to a pair of rats
Shared this with my friend who is the rescuer of all animals, her and her family.
Oh. I’m so sorry. Thank you for trying. You did all you could.