Injured chipmunk
Shari
I took off to the grocery store this evening and saw an injured young
chipmunk in the middle of the road.
Her forearms/shoulders or possibly neck appeared to have been damaged
although there are no cuts/wounds or bleeding.
Basically, she was spinning herself in a circle, using her hind legs to try
and propel herself off of the road.
We turned around and scooped it up in an empty grocery bag and placed it in
a cage with an oatmeal box for shelter.
I assumed it would be dead by the time I got home from the store but she is
still alive and has gone from her previous completely prone position to
where she has her foreams gathered under her, somewhat.
Her forearms are showing a little bit more of an ability to move and brace
herself into a passible "crouch" position.
She is rather listless and I'd imagine she's in a lot of pain or shock,
depending on how hard she was struck.
No vets will touch her and the DNR is out of the office until after the
holidays.
We do not have any wildlife rehabilitators in my area, as far as the DNR
hotline could tell.
Other than keep her warm, quiet and comfortable as possible, is there any
more I can do for her?
My other concern is that I did not actually see a car hit her although I'd
assume that's what happened since chipmunks frequently dart into or under
moving cars here. [heavily wooded area]
I didn't use to worry about rabies but now I do. [older and wiser or less
fearless]...:))
Are the odds pretty small that she has rabies?
I don't want to sit and worry about *that* on top of worrying if she'll get
recover.
Thanks for any help or advice.
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Ingrid56
"Shari" <Salam...@The-Swamp.newt> wrote in message
news:10bic37...@news.supernews.com...
You're doing the best thing you can do, especially on this holiday
weekend. She needs rest more than anything right now. If you think
she can hold food in her paws, you might give her some shelled
sunflower seeds or peanuts in a day or two.
> My other concern is that I did not actually see a car hit her
although I'd
> assume that's what happened since chipmunks frequently dart into or
under
> moving cars here. [heavily wooded area]
> I didn't use to worry about rabies but now I do. [older and wiser or
less
> fearless]...:))
> Are the odds pretty small that she has rabies?
I would say so. Has she bitten you? In the 60s I had numerous
chipmunks in the yard that were "pets". They would jump onto my hand
to take peanuts. I was accidently bitten a few times. No different
than a scratch or cut re healing.
> I don't want to sit and worry about *that* on top of worrying if
she'll get
> recover.
Don't worry about "rabies", especially if you weren't bitten. And she
*very* well may recover. She probably was so stunned by being hit
that she lost her equilibrium and that's why the spinning. From what
you write, it looks like she's already recovering some.
Warm, quiet, comfortable and rest is what she needs for the rest of
the holiday weekend. That's what she would seek in the wild. She's
much safer with you during this time. Offer her the seeds/shelled
peanuts (un-salted) tomorrow or the next day and if she can eat,
she'll pick them up with her paws. I don't think chipmunks need to
drink a lot, but you might want to offer her a small dish of water.
Or not, if you've got her where you think she'll tip it over and wet
her nest.
> Thanks for any help or advice.
Post again in a day or two and tell us how she is...
Good Luck!!
Ingrid
Mary
>recover.
Don't worry about rabies. They are not a rabies vector animal. Sounds like the
chippy has a head injury. It was probably just thrown by the car, not actually
hit by it. I rehabilitate ground squirrels. We give them dexamethasone for head
injuries. It reduces swelling. That is what's causing it to spin in circles.
Keep it warm in a safe dark cage that they can't get out of. Chippys are small
and can get out of the mesh of a regular carrier when they're young. Give it
some fabric to use as bedding. Give it a tiny shallow bowl of water if it can
walk, otherwise it will just dump it and get wet and cold. Here is a list of
rehabbers. If you can't find one, eme and maybe I can help
http://www.tc.umn.edu/~devo0028/contact.htm
I have basic instructions here
Chippys are basically ground squirrels
http://www.mary.cc/squirrels/injured.htm
Thanks for caring for him.
rita aiezza
mmmar...@aol.comspam (Mary) wrote in message news:<20040531011438...@mb-m20.aol.com>...
Shari
Thank you both for all your help and kindness!
She went from being limply sprawled in her oatmeal box "nest" to curling
herself up in a little chipmunk ball to sleep.
Yesterday we had to be gone most of the day and when I got home, the first
thing I did was rush in to check on her.
She was out of the oatmeal box and laying in her plate of sunflower seeds.
I thought she'd gone there to die because she was lying so still.
I took a piece of straw and lightly stroked her back and she *shot up* out
of her slumber and clung to the sides of the cage!
Her arms are working again!
I did finally contact a rehabber who lives about 110 miles from here and she
offered me a lot of suggestions.
One of those was apple slices to provide moisture , so I took a piece and
lightly brushed it against her lips.
She started biting at it in anger...but then chewed the apple bits and
swallowed them.
[so her jaws are working okay!]...:))
The rehabber said the most common side-effect of survived car/chimpmunk
encounters was blindness from the head injury and I think she is still
blind.
With all of that, I now have more hope that she will recover.
She is in a small animal cage I use for relocating "invading" field mice I
occasionally have to round up via a Have-A-Hart trap, so she can't get out
of that.
I gave her shredded paper towels and grass but I will replace that with the
fabric you suggested.
The cage is covered with a large piece of Velux blanket and I have it on a
covered porch.
I have to go in town today to get peanuts and shelled sunflower seeds
because all I had on hand were sunflower seeds used for feeding birds.
In the interim, I spoke to a lot of people who said I should have just left
her to die where she was.
Having survived not one, but two severe concussions myself, I believe she
deserves a chance to get better.
I know that when I had those injuries, they basically just let me "sleep
them off", since the medical science of the time didn't really have a better
"cure".
You can probably tell how tickled I am that she has made it this far.
She's especially precious to me because two local cats have slaughtered my
usual healthy and abundant chipmunk population.
In fact, I've only seen -one- of "my" chipmunks this spring, whereas
normally, dozens of them ran an all-day "hording" line to and from my bird
feeders.
My greatest concern now is that her eyes are not completely open.
She is keeping them nearly closed/barely open slits when awake.
You sure don't have to thank me for caring for her.
I have no choice.
This is "how I'm built" and I can't *not* do it......:))
Stuff like is fairly common for me, although it's my first chipmunk.
[usually you find them deceased; not injured]...:-(
"Mary" <mmmar...@aol.comspam> wrote in message
news:20040531011438...@mb-m20.aol.com...
Ingrid56
"Shari" <Salam...@The-Swamp.newt> wrote in message
> She is still alive!.....:)
> Thank you both for all your help and kindness!
I love all wild animals but chipmunks are my favorites!
> She went from being limply sprawled in her oatmeal box "nest" to
curling
> herself up in a little chipmunk ball to sleep.
> Yesterday we had to be gone most of the day and when I got home, the
first
> thing I did was rush in to check on her.
> She was out of the oatmeal box and laying in her plate of sunflower
seeds.
> I thought she'd gone there to die because she was lying so still.
> I took a piece of straw and lightly stroked her back and she *shot
up* out
> of her slumber and clung to the sides of the cage!
Good sign that she's soo active when startled. And good she was alone
and quiet much of the day. She needed the rest.
> Her arms are working again!
She wouldn't make it if they weren't. She needs them to eat, for one
thing.
> I did finally contact a rehabber who lives about 110 miles from here
and she
> offered me a lot of suggestions.
> One of those was apple slices to provide moisture , so I took a
piece and
> lightly brushed it against her lips.
> She started biting at it in anger...but then chewed the apple bits
and
> swallowed them.
Yes, apple is tasty, has sugar for energy and contains moisture.
That's a good suggestion for food at this time. Obviously, she
willingly devoured some. Good sign, that she is eating.
> [so her jaws are working okay!]...:))
She's gonna make it, you know....;)
> The rehabber said the most common side-effect of survived
car/chimpmunk
> encounters was blindness from the head injury and I think she is
still
> blind.
You don't know that, plus sight is less important than her other
senses if she's to survive in the wild again. She may not have had a
head "injury" but was just knocked senseless for awhile. Like birds
that hit a window and appear to be dead. If their necks aren't
broken, they eventually come to and fly away.
> With all of that, I now have more hope that she will recover.
Even if she's not perfect, it looks hopeful she can survive again in
the wild. If she was going to die, I think she would have by now;
instead you are seeing all signs of recovery.
>
> She is in a small animal cage I use for relocating "invading" field
mice I
> occasionally have to round up via a Have-A-Hart trap, so she can't
get out
> of that.
>
> I gave her shredded paper towels and grass but I will replace that
with the
> fabric you suggested.
You did fine for starters.
> The cage is covered with a large piece of Velux blanket and I have
it on a
> covered porch.
>
> I have to go in town today to get peanuts and shelled sunflower
seeds
> because all I had on hand were sunflower seeds used for feeding
birds.
If her paws and jaws are working, she can crack open the sunflower
seeds. Or you can open some for her and put the contents in her cage.
No need to drive to town to buy shelled seeds. They're not hard to
shell yourself with a paring knife. Start at the pointed end. She's
not going to eat all that many that you have to buy a bag.
>
> In the interim, I spoke to a lot of people who said I should have
just left
> her to die where she was.
Boooo!
> Having survived not one, but two severe concussions myself, I
believe she
> deserves a chance to get better.
And you can see already what you've done for her. She'd have been hit
in the road by the next car.
> I know that when I had those injuries, they basically just let me
"sleep
> them off", since the medical science of the time didn't really have
a better
> "cure".
That's what I was suggesting. Let her have some good, quiet rest in a
warm, safe place. She either would recover a lot from that or she'd
die. Since it's a holiday weekend, not much else you could do.
>
> You can probably tell how tickled I am that she has made it this
far.
So am I...! You've done great...and all the right things.
> She's especially precious to me because two local cats have
slaughtered my
> usual healthy and abundant chipmunk population.
I watched a neighbor's cat maul a chipmunk for a long time before I
was able to gather it up and bring it home...in terrible shape. But
it survived and I eventually took it in a boat to a nearby island to
release it....where there were no cats.
> In fact, I've only seen -one- of "my" chipmunks this spring, whereas
> normally, dozens of them ran an all-day "hording" line to and from
my bird
> feeders.
Some just don't make it through the winter, but the cats are likely
suspects. When you release your chippy, hopefully it will be back to
the woods where it has a better chance than where you know there are
cats nearby. If she is compromised physically, she'll be even more
vulnerable.
>
> My greatest concern now is that her eyes are not completely open.
> She is keeping them nearly closed/barely open slits when awake.
She's still got a ways to go in her recovery. Wait and see what the
coming days bring. Mother Nature is a great healer.
> You sure don't have to thank me for caring for her.
> I have no choice. This is "how I'm built" and I can't *not* do
it......:))
Thankfully, there are people like you. Too many of the kind who told
you to leave her in the road to die.
>
> Stuff like is fairly common for me, although it's my first chipmunk.
> [usually you find them deceased; not injured]...:-(
You are going to always remember how you saved this little life.
She's a lucky little critter that you were the next car to come
along....
Continued Good Luck, Shari..!
Ingrid
Shari
I have no idea what happened.
At 1:45 I checked on her and she was curled into a chipmunk ball, sleeping
soundly and breathing normally.
I went back inside to get ready to go into town for her food supplies.
As we were leaving around 3, hubby peeked in and saw that she was lying on
her side inside of a ball.
We flipped up her cover and tickled her with a straw but she was gone.
We went ahead and went into town because hubby thought it might cheer me up.
All that accomplished was having me walking around Walmart with dark
sunglasses on to hide my teary eyes....:(
My dad was one of those who said "leave her to die", mostly because he
worries one day I'm going to get some "horrible disease" from some wounded
thing or another.
[he's famous for the "that <insert animal species here> probably has
rabies!!" statements. no wonder I worry.]
I can't help it.
If I see a hurt critter, I -have- to stop and try to fix it.
I can't live with myself, otherwise.
It is cats getting them.
I [used to] have so many chipmunks marching into my yard, that they have
worn little dirt trails through the grass.
I spotted the longhaired black and orange cat crouching at the beginning of
one trail that leads down from the ridge north of my house.
Another orange cat used to sit at the the other trail on the south end of
the ridge.
They just sit there and wait for what they know will be an inevitable
passerby.
They're not eating them, either.
They just "play" with them and then kill them.
My birds are their frequent victims, as well and I'm always finding little
mangled bird bodies.
I've had no success with Hav-A-Hart animal traps because these cats well-fed
and not a bit hungry, so they aren't tempted to go in for the bait.
Too many people don't care.
To me, that's psychologically unfathomable.
My hubby liked animals when we first met, but he wasn't "nutty" like I am.
11 years later, he instantly slams on the brakes as soon as I spot
something.
[I've been a "bad influence" on him]
What's best about my influence is that now I have "back up".
Whereas I'm rather puny, he's big enough that when -he- says "stop hurting
that animal", people stop...instantly, or else.
One of his best friends caused his own old dog to yelp in pain by pulling
him out of my hubby's way.
[the old dog was severely arthritic and was lying in front of a heat vent in
a hallway]
Hubby didn't do a thing but belt his pal square in the breadbasket and said
"how do -you- like it?"
He stops and picks up turtles, toads and every other thing trying to cross
the road, too.....:)
Arrgh.
I'm rambling here.
I tend to distract myself by yapping when I hurt.
Maybe I should just go have a good cry and get it over with.......:-(
Thanks for the help, again.
I wish I'd had better news for everyone.
Shari
"Ingrid56" <ingr...@netzero.com> wrote in message
news:2a92b12cde559fcd...@news.teranews.com...
Shari
ball".
Sorry.
I'm a little distraught.
"Shari" <Salam...@The-Swamp.newt> wrote in message
news:10bnd56...@news.supernews.com...
Mary
>I have no idea what happened.
I'm so sorry. You did all that was possible. He was lucky that you found him.
At least he left this world in a warm, loving, safe home.
Your husband sounds wonderful. You are a lucky woman.
Shari
I guess that's consolation enough...:)
Hubby's even saved *this* critter.
When I first met him, I was a total mess due to a horrible, abusive
ex-husband.
He's truly been a God-send, for which I am always grateful.
"Mary" <mmmar...@aol.comspam> wrote in message
news:20040531194816...@mb-m07.aol.com...
Ingrid56
"Shari" <Salam...@The-Swamp.newt> wrote in message
> Sadly, sometime between 1:45 and 3 pm, she passed away.
> I have no idea what happened.
She was injured internally and nothing/nobody could have saved her. I
agree with Mary. The little critter was very lucky you found and
helped her. You did all that was possible and her last hours were
warm, safe and loving. And she got to eat piece of apple. ;)
I know how you feel now and I am crying with you. I love chipmunks so
much...and most all the little wild folks.
I'm sorry about the cat problem you have. I love cats, but they do
hunt and kill birds and animals for the fun, not because they need the
food. I wish I could tell you how to solve your problem with the cats
stalking/killing your chipmunks. I am troubled by this but don't have
any answers.
Even tho the chippy passed away, she died quietly in your loving care
so she was very fortunate, Shari. You should feel good about yourself
for the wonderful heart you have. There will be other opportunities
for you to help a little critter in need and maybe they will turn out
better.
You and your husband are true angels for animals...so many people are
cruel or unfeeling and cause them to suffer. They need more people to
be kind and loving. God Bless You both....
Ingrid
Shari
The little harvest mouse that's been running riot in my kitchen finally got
caught.
I pulled a hand towel off the top of the fridge and it felt "heavier" than
it should have.
I carried it to the sink and shook it and out fell a little mouse.
Apparently she'd been happily sleeping, curled up in the fridge-warmed
towel.
[Harvest mice, unlike "normal" mice like to be as high up as possible and
build their nests at the top of weed stalks and in trees]
She is cheerfully stuffing her face in the mouse-arium I keep prepared at
all times.
[why is it that even wild mice seem to be born to love running
wheels?]....:))
She looks to be preggers so I nabbed her just in time, for both our sakes.
She'll keep me busy 'til her young'uns are grown.
Maybe I'll name her "Chippy", as a tribute.....;)
God bless you, too, Ingrid.
"Ingrid56" <ingr...@netzero.com> wrote in message
news:fe13fa3e8605b09b...@news.teranews.com...
Ingrid56
"Shari" <Salam...@The-Swamp.newt> wrote in message
> I'm already dancing attendance on another critter.
> The little harvest mouse that's been running riot in my kitchen
finally got
> caught.
> I pulled a hand towel off the top of the fridge and it felt
"heavier" than
> it should have.
> I carried it to the sink and shook it and out fell a little mouse.
> Apparently she'd been happily sleeping, curled up in the
fridge-warmed
> towel.
> [Harvest mice, unlike "normal" mice like to be as high up as
possible and
> build their nests at the top of weed stalks and in trees]
> She is cheerfully stuffing her face in the mouse-arium I keep
prepared at
> all times.
> [why is it that even wild mice seem to be born to love running
> wheels?]....:))
> She looks to be preggers so I nabbed her just in time, for both our
sakes.
> She'll keep me busy 'til her young'uns are grown.
> Maybe I'll name her "Chippy", as a tribute.....;)
Sweet story..and Chippy would be a perfect name. Good Luck with the
"young'uns" and I hope you get them all outside before there are
*more* young'uns on the way. ;)
> God bless you, too, Ingrid.
Thanks. He recently did. I got a new cat 3 weeks ago and she's
perfect and such a blessing to me. Good thing there are no chipmunks
around as I wouldn't be feeling that way about her...
Good Luck with your Mouse...she showed up at just the right time. ;)
Ingrid
Mary
your Chippy. Here are some pics of him along with baby skunks, raccoons and a
rat
http://www.marycummins.com/skunk/
Ingrid56
"Mary" <mmmar...@aol.comspam> wrote in message
Adorable!! You are a wonderful person, Mary, to help these little
kritters. One of my female chipmunks was named "Nutmeg" ;)
Ingrid
Shari
He's beautiful.
[may I please have the rat? it reminds me of one I once had].....:)
"Mary" <mmmar...@aol.comspam> wrote in message
news:20040602221833...@mb-m04.aol.com...
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