2. Animals

Foster Squirrels

We started fostering two squirrel orphans on August 27, 2013. They were abandoned by their mother at about 10 days old. One is male, and one is female, and their eyes won't open until they're about 5 weeks old. Local wildlife rescue couldn't take them because they're at capacity with a rescuer out on medical leave, so we're fostering with their guidance until the babies can be released into the wild with other foster squirrels. They'll be released in a controlled manner in an area that will have constant food through the winter so they don't stress the food supply in the area they're released. For the next couple of months, we have soft, squeaky, wiggly, warm babies to take care of until they can go out on their own safely. Being a lifelong Peanuts fan, I named them Linus and Lucy.
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  • Lucy in her warm covers, waiting to be fed.

    Lucy in her warm covers, waiting to be fed.

  • Linus waiting to be fed.

    Linus waiting to be fed.

  • Little wrinkly Lucy waiting for her formula to warm up a bit. She'll be fed with a syringe, but the bottle makes it easy to mix/warm the formula.

    Little wrinkly Lucy waiting for her formula to warm up a bit. She'll be fed with a syringe, but the bottle makes it easy to mix/warm the formula.

  • Teeny tiny babies like to snuggle in warm hands.

    Teeny tiny babies like to snuggle in warm hands.

  • Lucy is a good eater. She takes about 2.0cc of formula every 4 hours right now. She's fed with a syringe with a soft nipple end so she doesn't get fluid in her lungs. It doesn't look like it here, but she's being held upright to make sure she swallows properly.

    Lucy is a good eater. She takes about 2.0cc of formula every 4 hours right now. She's fed with a syringe with a soft nipple end so she doesn't get fluid in her lungs. It doesn't look like it here, but she's being held upright to make sure she swallows properly.

  • Linus and Lucy like to snuggle in their nesting box. The bottom has a warmer attached to help them maintain body temperature until they grow fur.

    Linus and Lucy like to snuggle in their nesting box. The bottom has a warmer attached to help them maintain body temperature until they grow fur.

  • Staying warm.

    Staying warm.

  • Happy warm fed babies.

    Happy warm fed babies.

  • Weighing Linus. He's 29.1 grams as of 29-Aug-2013. He's a slow, fussy eater, but we're plumping him up.

    Weighing Linus. He's 29.1 grams as of 29-Aug-2013. He's a slow, fussy eater, but we're plumping him up.

  • Weighing Lucy. She's 28.8 grams as of 29-Aug-2013, and she's a good eater, so we should see that number go up!

    Weighing Lucy. She's 28.8 grams as of 29-Aug-2013, and she's a good eater, so we should see that number go up!

  • This is Lucy at about 3 weeks old. Her eyes are more developed, and you can see her eyelid slits. She's growing hair and looking more like a squirrel.

    This is Lucy at about 3 weeks old. Her eyes are more developed, and you can see her eyelid slits. She's growing hair and looking more like a squirrel.

  • Lucy crawling around at about 3 weeks.

    Lucy crawling around at about 3 weeks.

  • Lucy at about 3 weeks. She's a pretty active girl.

    Lucy at about 3 weeks. She's a pretty active girl.

  • Lucy at about 3 weeks, snuggling in my hand after a feeding. You can see the fur coming in on her tail.

    Lucy at about 3 weeks, snuggling in my hand after a feeding. You can see the fur coming in on her tail.

  • Lucy at about 3 weeks.

    Lucy at about 3 weeks.

  • Linus at about 3 weeks old. He also has better defined eyes, and his ears are growing.

    Linus at about 3 weeks old. He also has better defined eyes, and his ears are growing.

  • Linus at about 3 weeks, stretching out and being generally wiggly.

    Linus at about 3 weeks, stretching out and being generally wiggly.

  • Linus and his little fat belly after a feeding. He's about 3 weeks old here.

    Linus and his little fat belly after a feeding. He's about 3 weeks old here.

  • Linus and Lucy at about 3 weeks old, getting comfy after feeding time.

    Linus and Lucy at about 3 weeks old, getting comfy after feeding time.

  • Linus and Lucy at about 3 weeks old.

    Linus and Lucy at about 3 weeks old.

  • Linus and Lucy at about 3 weeks old.

    Linus and Lucy at about 3 weeks old.

  • Linus and Lucy at about 3 weeks old. They're not fitting in my hand as easily as before! Plus, they don't stay still for long anymore.

    Linus and Lucy at about 3 weeks old. They're not fitting in my hand as easily as before! Plus, they don't stay still for long anymore.

  • At nearly 5 weeks old, Linus and Lucy are almost ready to open their eyes. Their coats are coming in nicely, and their feet are much bigger to help them become better climbers. This was following a feeding. Both squirrels are over 110 grams (almost 4 oz).

    At nearly 5 weeks old, Linus and Lucy are almost ready to open their eyes. Their coats are coming in nicely, and their feet are much bigger to help them become better climbers. This was following a feeding. Both squirrels are over 110 grams (almost 4 oz).

  • Linus and Lucy at almost 5 weeks. They were exploring a bit after a feeding. Their eyes aren't yet open, so they were getting around by feel and smell.

    Linus and Lucy at almost 5 weeks. They were exploring a bit after a feeding. Their eyes aren't yet open, so they were getting around by feel and smell.

  • Linus and Lucy at almost 5 weeks old, crawling around after feeding time.

    Linus and Lucy at almost 5 weeks old, crawling around after feeding time.

  • Since their eyes aren't yet open, they smell and feel around when they explore. They found me pretty quickly (I wasn't far away), and burrowed into my hand.

    Since their eyes aren't yet open, they smell and feel around when they explore. They found me pretty quickly (I wasn't far away), and burrowed into my hand.

  • Linus, almost 5 weeks old.

    Linus, almost 5 weeks old.

  • Linus (left) and Lucy (right), almost 5 weeks old.

    Linus (left) and Lucy (right), almost 5 weeks old.

  • At almost 5 weeks old, Linus and Lucy certainly do not fit in my hand together very well.

    At almost 5 weeks old, Linus and Lucy certainly do not fit in my hand together very well.

  • Lucy and Linus, almost 5 weeks old, relaxing after feeding time.

    Lucy and Linus, almost 5 weeks old, relaxing after feeding time.

  • The babies' tails are getting fluffy! Even though Lucy (right) lost some fur on the tip of her tail last week, it's starting to come back.

    The babies' tails are getting fluffy! Even though Lucy (right) lost some fur on the tip of her tail last week, it's starting to come back.

  • Lucy (front) and Linus at nearly 5 weeks old. Those little eyes are so so close to opening. Any day now!

    Lucy (front) and Linus at nearly 5 weeks old. Those little eyes are so so close to opening. Any day now!

  • Linus is about 5 1/2 weeks here, and you can see his tail is getting fuller. His eyes are open and he's getting big!

    Linus is about 5 1/2 weeks here, and you can see his tail is getting fuller. His eyes are open and he's getting big!

  • Linus and Lucy are not as cooperative for photos today. They are 5 1/2 weeks and almost too big to hold in one hand!

    Linus and Lucy are not as cooperative for photos today. They are 5 1/2 weeks and almost too big to hold in one hand!

  • Lucy still likes to snuggle after a feeding. She's 5 1/2 weeks here.

    Lucy still likes to snuggle after a feeding. She's 5 1/2 weeks here.

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    Lucy is a good eater. She takes about 2.0cc of formula every 4 hours right now. She's fed with a syringe with a soft nipple end so she doesn't get fluid in her lungs. It doesn't look like it here, but she's being held upright to make sure she swallows properly.
    Linus and Lucy like to snuggle in their nesting box. The bottom has a warmer attached to help them maintain body temperature until they grow fur.
    Staying warm.