I know this doesn't really belong in this forum, but it was the only place that I could load more than 2 pictures...please forgive.

As my husband Karl was leaving for work on Wednesday, he spotted something thing that caused him to run back into the house screaming my name! "Jaim, Jaim, come & look at this!", I've learned in the past that this call isn't always a promising one. I've been lured by that exact same phrase, into the trap of many things. Usually I get surprised by some huge disgusting bug, a killer spider that could easily make a meal outta me, or a dead something or another. But Sometimes that call turns out to be worth checking out.

Today it was worth the trek outside. I told him "No!" at first, but he was insistent saying "Uh-uh, if I know you, your going to want to see this". OK, so at that point I was thinking "Ah what the hell, maybe it's a check from Ed McMahon". I went out & answered the call...and thank GOD! What Karl wanted so desperately for me to see, was the smallest baby squirrel I've ever seen in my entire life. There in my driveway, just before the sidewalk was a helpless baby squirrel. He was only about 4-5 inches long (excluding tail), light fur, eyes still closed & desperately trying to crawl. We assume it must have come from my next door neighbor's huge maple tree that stands in their front yard. The tree is so huge that it actually hangs over our driveway. It didn't have any abrasions, or blood on his tiny little body, so I'm guessing he didn't fall out of the tree directly onto the pavement of the driveway. He must have fallen out of his nest in the tree, luckily landing on the grass, and then crawled to my
driveway to stay warm, as the pavement was very warm from our 93 degree day.


I sent Karl into the house to get a small towel so I could safely pick up the little critter. I scooped his emaciated body up & carried him into the house. The info sights that I found on-line suggested re-hydrating the little bugger with Pedialyte(electrolyte filled juice for babes & tots), or Gatorade sport drink. Well I had Power-aide in the fridge (just like Gatorade, but comes in better tasting flavors. Karl & Spencer LOVE it). So I grabbed one of Spencer's medication syringes (Oral applicator from when he broke his leg & was on Tylenol w/codeine, that had to be administered in exact doses), microwaved the fluid to a lukewarm temp & gave him a helping. He was very lethargic, but taking the fluid as good as he could. The websites said to rehydrate for the first 12 hours instead of trying to feed him formula of any sort. So I've been up around the clock since early evening Wednesday night, administering Power-aide treatments. He's had 5 in all & looks so much better just 12 hours later. I took a soda bottle, filled it with very hot water & wrapped it ion a towel. I placed the bottle into the little tub that we've designated as his "wing" of the house. He snuggled right up to it! I just followed the directions from a website for orphaned squirrels. Through out the night I have received two healthy poops & a few pees from him, so I think he's going to make it. Karl is at the pet supply store now getting the proper puppy formula & a syringe adapter (nipple), and Pedialyte from the grocer. When he returns with the supplies, the little critter will finally have his first real meal since we found him 15 hours ago.


I was going to call a wildlife rehab center & have him rescued, but Spencer is already so attached to him. I did some net research on care for orphaned baby squirrels & found out a lot of people have very cherished & loyal squirrels as pets...living in their houses! Caring for them is not hard if you choose to keep them. Well I don't know if keeping him is the best thing for HIM, but I do intend to rehabilitate him until he's old enough to eat on his own & doesn't need a mother anymore. Apparently, releasing them back into the wild after a few weeks doesn't do any damage to its instincts as long as you keep them leery of cats & dogs so that they don't become too comfortable around them & fall prey once back in the wild. So I guess we're the proud new parents of an adorable little squirrel named Digger. No, that wasn't my doing, Spencer named him that because he likes to burrow & because they dig to hide their nuts for winter. I wanted to call him Ollie, Oliver actually. You know, from the old story about an orphaned boy. I thought that name suited him so well since he seems to have been orphaned by his mama (watched the tree all the rest of the evening for the mom to return looking for him, she never did).

So here are some pictures of the newest addition to the Cox family, may I present Digger (Ollie, but shh, don't tell Spence)! I'll update later about how the first feeding goes. Sometimes I just love the way God rewards me!

ooo how cute thanks so much of putting pictures up of your new little munchkin!! I'm so excited for you. It's like being a brand new mommy again.
He is so fortunate to land in a good home where he will be properly taken care of bless you jimjam!

PS: I like the name ollie too by the way

Awesome story Jaim! And cute squirrel. Thanks for sharing the photos (here is fine)!

I had this happen with a baby bird a few years ago, but I wasn't so successful. Actually it's been about 10 years ago (gee time flies). But I was only recently thinking how if a baby bird fell again, I'd redouble my efforts to save it as I'd love to have an indoor outdoor bird. A squirrel would be good too!

Aw, thank you Orby! I really appreciate those sweet words. I feel like I'm the lucky one though, to have been given the chance to bond with such a gentle soul. He really is like my little baby, yes definitely making me feel like a new mommy again.

I always find that experiences like this help me to learn a lot about myself as I am trying to learn about the animal. It also helps me to remember to allow my own instincts to lead me, as the animals do so naturally.

I'll post a new update on Ollie/Digger later on tonight. Thanks again

Thanks Alisa, he is a handsome little fella isn't he? He's now starting to chirp & grunt to me whenever he smells me near him. I'm starting to learn the difference between his hungry grunts & his chirps of content. I've been imitating his sounds & believe it or not, he replies back to me every time. I am now finally bi-lingual...I speak English & Squirrel. My friend Dorey speaks whale.

I'm sorry to hear about the baby bird A. I know it hurts when you lose something that you wanted so badly to help live. I had a similar experience with a baby bunny that I found in my yard about 6-7 yrs ago. Sometimes they are just not meant to make it, regardless of how faithful your efforts are.

My dad & I also tried to help two little baby birds when I was about 9 or 10 yrs old. I found them crying under a pine tree on my way home from school one day. I brought them home & every night I would spray down our lawn & dad & I would go out & pick the night crawlers (fat juicy worms) out of the wet grass to feed the birds. Dad would puree the worms with a straight razor blade, then suck them up into a syringe & hand feed them to the babies. I named them Mork & Mindy (old TV show from the 70s, about an alien & his human roommate - don't know if you're familiar). They didn't make it either. We were able to keep them alive for about a week or so, but then nature took its course. God's plan, not mine. But still worth the experience.

Since then I have actually been pretty successful at nursing & helping to save numerous kittens too young to be away from their mothers, a young turtle, one other bunny that did make it, and now an adorable squirrel whom I love dearly.

An indoor/outdoor bird though, it never occurred to me that it could become such a kind of bird. What a cool idea, to have it hanging in & out of the house during the warm months, then having it leave for the winter, only to have it return to you again in the spring. Like it came back home.

I'll post some new pics & updates on the little chap as soon as I get back from school shopping (have I mentioned how much I hate to shop). But he is doing great & becoming very strong. Thanks again

You are quite a nurse, woman! I loved learning of your other experiences (like making the nightcrawler puree)! What dedication and intention.

And how adorbidle!

WOW!! now tell me this isn't a awesome synch or not?I was outside in the backyard talking with Brandon's mom and she told me that yesterday while working on the shed with her husband he found guess what?!!! a BABY squirrel!!! right under this big tree that's in the middle of the yard. She said that all the dogs were surrounding something so he went to see what it was and it was another Ollie/Digger LOL!!

I don't think he was as young as yours jimjam but they said it was a baby I was like um why didn't you come and tell me um hello I was right in the house?? but he picked him up and put him the nook of the tree to see if the mother would come back so when they went out to check later on he was further up on the tree so I think momma came back for baby Yay! Iam glad she did, but how cool would it have been if I had a baby squirrel too aww I would have love that, but I know he's doing well and he is in the right place for him. I'm also glad that none of the furry kids didn't make a meal out of her either yikes!!!!

Awww sooo sweet. I'm so glad you all are caring for the little fellow. I hope he's doing well and growing fat and sassy!