Author Topic: Help my squirrel (Read 28026 times)

Nark · « **on:** Nov 06, 10, 07:18:54 PM »

Charlie needs your help!

One of the things the lovely Mrs. Nark likes best is feeding and getting the local squirrels to come up to her.

But a couple of days ago her favorite (Charlie) came for peanuts and he now has a large rubber band around his body. It does not look like it's tight enough to distress him but who knows what it might catch on one of these days. He still runs and jumps as well as ever so far.

He is tame enough that he would probably take peanuts from a hand but we don't want to give him the chance to bite us. So how do we get the band off of him?

Wait until he somehow gets it off by himself? Get a squirrel trap/cage from Animal Control and take him to a vet?

We (and Charlie) would appreciate any suggestions.

Nolena · « **Reply #1 on:** Nov 06, 10, 07:21:06 PM »

I'd say watch him/her for a few days and see if it chews it off for itself.

angelwolf326 · « **Reply #2 on:** Nov 06, 10, 08:04:49 PM »

You could catch him in a cage and then try and get it off while he is in the cage. It should hopefully break pretty easy?

Elk · « **Reply #3 on:** Nov 06, 10, 08:17:42 PM »

I think they rent cage type "Havahart" traps at Mountain Hardware. Now the trick is getting Charlie and not a bunch of other squirrels.

Wrightwood · « **Reply #4 on:** Nov 06, 10, 08:19:23 PM »

"Havahart" traps at Mountain Hardware

They work

Surfer_Dude · « **Reply #5 on:** Nov 06, 10, 08:28:08 PM »

If you don't think it is in pain, leave it alone. Trapping small animals, especially with their fast heart rates, can lead to unfortunate death by heart attack. Trapping the animal can lead to many other ways it can hurt itself, no matter how safe the trap. Also, if you are a firm law abiding citizen, once caught it maybe illegal to re-release a varmint in SB County.

angelwolf326 · « **Reply #6 on:** Nov 06, 10, 08:43:32 PM »

release it, geez it lives here now....

Surfer_Dude · « **Reply #7 on:** Nov 06, 10, 08:56:55 PM »

You release rats don't you AW? Admit it!

(I joke with AW, once I found an orphan squirrel and brought it to her and she helped save its life.) It is always in her heart.
My point was about trapping an animal vs leaving a rubber band on it. I think the odds are safer leaving it alone.

Stitches · « **Reply #8 on:** Nov 06, 10, 09:09:38 PM »

If it is like any of the rubber bands that I use to bundle my credit card receipts, it will crack and snap eventually with this hot and cold and low humidity.

How in the world could that rubberband end up around a squirrel?

RobertW · « **Reply #9 on:** Nov 06, 10, 10:51:48 PM »

If the squirrel appears to not be in distress as you say, leave it alone. The squirrel will be able to chew the band off if it feels the need. It is not wise to handle squirrels.

I haven't heard of any rabid squirrels EVER in Wrightwood, however they can carry the Bubonic Plague. It nearly wiped out the entire squirrel population in Wrightwood about 25 years ago and it took a lot of years for them to recover.

I feed squirrels from my hand myself and they will take it from my hand, but I'd never think of actually handling them.

Mrs. Hillbilly · « **Reply #10 on:** Nov 06, 10, 11:33:50 PM »

This is an easy one. Grab a stick with two short prongs on the end. Catch the squirrel by trapping it between the prongs. Next, grab the squirrel by it's hind legs and attach the rubber band to both prongs. Using your other hand, pull the squirrel back between the prongs. Aim high towards the nearest pine tree and let her go....

angelwolf326 · « **Reply #11 on:** Nov 07, 10, 12:22:55 AM »

Quote from: Surfer_Dude on Nov 06, 10, 08:56:55 PM

You release rats don't you AW? Admit it!

(I joke with AW, once I found an orphan squirrel and brought it to her and she helped save its life.) It is always in her heart.
My point was about trapping an animal vs leaving a rubber band on it. I think the odds are safer leaving it alone.

No I KILL rats!!!!

Sliver, the squirrel, has a fantastic life at the wolf sanctuary. He has a 3 story condo and he is a little overweight... He is seriously spoiled. He is hiding in his little wooden house right now, that's what he does in the winter. He could not be released as the neighbor's cat damaged his leg badly.

sage · « **Reply #12 on:** Nov 07, 10, 06:29:09 AM »

This is an easy one. Grab a stick with two short prongs on the end. Catch the squirrel by trapping it between the prongs. Next, grab the squirrel by it's hind legs and attach the rubber band to both prongs. Using your other hand, pull the squirrel back between the prongs. Aim high towards the nearest pine tree and let her go....

Thats not even funny, just stupid and no compassion. I think my husband saw this squirrel in my neighborhood and he was concerned too. Hopefully he/she will be all right.

stickchick · « **Reply #13 on:** Nov 07, 10, 07:27:17 AM »

didn't you hear? charlie is trying to create a new fad...pretty soon all the squirrels will be wearing them in various fashion colors.

in all seriousness, it will probably deteriorate & break off soon...if it is a nuisance, charlie will chew & tug it off eventually. it is probably more harmful to trap him & try and take care of it...that is a lot of stress on a little creature.

ezzpete · « **Reply #14 on:** Nov 07, 10, 07:39:56 AM »

Quote from: JasonHill on Nov 06, 10, 11:33:50 PM

This is an easy one. Grab a stick with two short prongs on the end. Catch the squirrel by trapping it between the prongs. Next, grab the squirrel by it's hind legs and attach the rubber band to both prongs. Using your other hand, pull the squirrel back between the prongs. Aim high towards the nearest pine tree and let her go....

...what kind of person are you? it's a squirrl, not a hamster!!

Mrs. Hillbilly · « **Reply #15 on:** Nov 07, 10, 09:11:48 AM »

in my dreams · « **Reply #16 on:** Nov 07, 10, 09:15:49 AM »

I was not expecting that, JH, when I clicked on the latest post. . . Inhaled some chai tea, but at least its not all over my keyboard!

Mrs. Hillbilly · « **Reply #17 on:** Nov 07, 10, 09:47:54 AM »

This just in....
Charlie found unconscious! Rubber band not found. Focus turns to the LA Side Peanut Gang. This may have been a hit. Charlie may have turned to illegal peanut "trafficking" during these hard times. Immediate details on Charlie's condition are unknown. Our thoughts and prayers are with Charlie and his family.

Nark · « **Reply #18 on:** Nov 07, 10, 10:14:02 AM »

Quote from: JasonHill on Nov 06, 10, 11:33:50 PM

This is an easy one. Grab a stick with two short prongs on the end. Catch the squirrel by trapping it between the prongs. Next, grab the squirrel by it's hind legs and attach the rubber band to both prongs. Using your other hand, pull the squirrel back between the prongs. Aim high towards the nearest pine tree and let her go....

Reaction to your post was varied here. The lovely Mrs. Nark is shaking her head (but smiling), I'm rolling on the floor laughing and we haven't seen Charlie this morning to find out what he thinks.

Update - Mrs. Nark just went out and called Charlie. She could hear him chirping but he didn't come to her yet. Still alive and kicking anyway.

We appreciate (almost) everyone's suggestions. The consensus seems to be "let Charlie handle it" so that's what we'll do. Unless we see him in distress, of course.

Quote from: JasonHill on Nov 07, 10, 09:47:54 AM

This just in....
Charlie found unconscious! Rubber band not found. Focus turns to the LA Side Peanut Gang. This may have been a hit. Charlie may have turned to illegal peanut "trafficking" during these hard times. Immediate details on Charlie's condition are unknown. Our thoughts and prayers are with Charlie and his family.

Yet another example of lowlife LA gangsters spreading to the mountains!

Mrs. Hillbilly · « **Reply #19 on:** Nov 07, 10, 07:39:49 PM »

Hi Nark.
Glad to see some people on here still have a sense of humor. I really do hope Charlie will be ok. We have a tame squirrel here by our house we're renting. The other day he/she darted out onto our busy street in front of a speeding car. My wife, kids and I watched in horror thinking he was going to be Raven food. Somehow he/she moved in and out so fast and was able to avoid contact with the tires. He/she then ran back up their favorite tree... We were all relieved. I am thinking of naming this squirrel "Lucky" lol....!

What disturbs me about your Charlie is how the rubber band ended up on him.... Hope someone didn't grab him and do this to him.

Author Topic: Help my squirrel (Read 28026 times)

Nark

angelwolf326

angelwolf326

angelwolf326

sage

stickchick

ezzpete

Nark