Bruiser's Buddies Wildlife Rehabilitation

08/31/2025

One of the most important tasks assigned to the Elder Bob (online nicknames for my kids are Bob 1 and Bob 2) is the sacred duty of Hats. For safety, it's important that all baby squirrels be fitted with the appropriate headgear to navigate the dangers and perils that come with being a baby squirrel. There's some debate over whether acorn caps or walnut shells are more on trend right now. What do you think?
Thanks to our models, Stardust and Squeaker 💗🐿️

08/31/2025

Thinks are looking up for Squeaker. She's finally feeling well enough to eat more! She has a new brother and sister now too.

They would like to ask you to please not trap and relocate adult squirrels because aside from being illegal, it creates orphans. Luckily these people called our buddies over at Frogger Wildlife and he brought them to me. Although I'm happy for Squeaker, my heart breaks for the Mama squirrel. Distressed, miles from home, dumped in strange woods with no nest, no idea of the predator presence in the area, competing for territory with nesting mamas-all while mourning her babies and unable to save them. She will likely die within the next week, which is the fate of about 80% of all relocated wildlife. All because she went into their screened in porch and created an nuisance for them. There are ways to drive animals out humanely that don't end in this tragedy.

08/30/2025

Update 1000 she's about the same as 0430 but I'm ok with her holding steady. I'll probably do another round of subq because she's not nursing well yet, although I did start 1/4 strength formula because healing takes a lot of energy!!
Update 0430. She's still with us! Her swelling has gone down considerably and her breathing is slower and a little deeper, although it's both faster and shallower than I'd like it to be. She took 1.5ml fluids orally and depending on how she looks at the next check in she might switch to diluted formula. She's nice and warm and pinked up and she didn't cry even once while I was holding her 💗🐿️

Ok, ok, I know I said I have a lot going on in my non rehab personal life, and that I absolutely was not taking ANY MORE squirrels, and certainly not one that's weeks behind my youngest, and extra certainly not critical squirrels that might not live through the night.
But then there was Squeaker.
Squeaker says please, PLEASE keep your cats inside.
She cries every time I move her, no matter how gentle I am. She's so fragile that I separated triage into three sessions half an hour apart. Subcutaneous fluids, pain meds, antibiotics.
Wound care.
P**p cleanup.
I'll be checking on her hourly until the next feeding at 1ish, then two hours after that, and depending on that check, 2-4 hours after that. If it's 4 then I'll just feed all nine other ones then too, so the 5-6am feeding will take about 40 minutes. Maybe I'll do a live, who knows!
Seriously, cats inside 100%.
"Oh but he hates being indoors."
Not as much as this squirrel hates being in agony right now.

08/29/2025

Mega Bean aka Chunk.
There's something a little "off" about her but I can't put my finger on it. She's BIG, development says six weeks but she's just big. Her eyes just opened in the last couple of days, and her right eye is sunken in a bit compared to her left. Her body tone is meh, she can move around ok but she's on the floppy side. She's eating well but not as active as I'd expect. She's also ridiculously cute and makes unusual grumbles when she's annoyed, more like rolling chirps than the scratchy grumbles most squirrels do.

08/28/2025

Today I took back Jackie and Wilson from a new rehabber who had a change in her availability. She's done a great job so far and they're, obviously, adorable. One of them has indications of a possible broken pelvis, so I'm working on getting some X-rays done.
We got a new girl yesterday too, Mega Bean, and I'm wondering if she needs one too, as she has some issues with her back legs and isn't getting friendly as quickly.

08/26/2025

The steps of eating, as demonstrated by Queso.

She's not actually eating in the last one just kind of drifting off into a food coma. We always feed squirrels in the position from the first picture to prevent aspiration.

08/24/2025

I got less than four hours of sleep but all four criticals made it overnight so I'm calling it a win.

08/24/2025

My incubator was taking too long to warm up so I combined the four who need the heat more into the warming tank and I think it's safe to say they didn't mind being a little crowded. Hopefully they perk up overnight 💗🐿️😴

08/24/2025

About ten minutes after I finished triaging the two from the earlier video, the finder who brought me three yesterday texted that she found two more today. It's incredible how much worse they are in just 24 hours. One has a bloody nose and a small cut on one leg and was loaded with fly strike (eggs), particularly around the face and even a couple in her eye 🤢😭 those I flushed with saline and dabbed out with a qtip. I couldn't risk washing them for fleas in case I missed any strike so I manually removed the fleas. They did a round of oral fluids, they're so stressed from the cleaning I don't dare do subq. They're also getting cold so, into the incubator they go. They're so tired they didn't even cry while I was handling them and combing. I now have 13 squirrels, four of which are in iffy shape. I'm most concerned about these two and the two from earlier. The other three from this batch are skinny but hydrated well and are about to go on full strength formula. But these...these are rough. Here's hoping I got them in time. 💗🐿️
Also universe, no more squirrels now thanks.

08/23/2025

08/23/2025

A huge THANK YOU to Bruiser's Buddy Steve who's on his way to get the squirrels!
Steve is the husband of Audra, who brought me Bruiser, my first baby squirrel, way back when, so I guess they keep adding cool squirrel people bonus points to their score board! You should check out Audra's baking page, The Joyful Oven, which I can't tag for some reason!!

Who wants to climb a tree near the race track in Farmington????? Message me here, it will reply with my cell!!
Mama is dead, one baby didn't make it, one has been found and kept safe, baby #3 is still in the nest 😭
HELP!

08/23/2025

Now that the new three from yesterday have stabilized, they've joined the pile! Enjoy this beautiful seven squirrel pile, and send good vibes for a nice quiet weekend for me with no more critical squirrels. I'll post pictures throughout the day, as we're now in the ultra cute zone with seven squirrels. 💗🐿️