Baby Squirrels

A couple of years ago I was blessed with the opportunity to raise and release two baby squirrels and one baby skunk. One night I came home late and let my dog outside, I stayed outside with her and I heard a noise unlike anyother. I followed the sound and to my surprise I found a baby squirrel so small that four could have fit in my palm. His eyes were not opened yet. I took him inside and began to build a home suited for him. Sally (my dog) was still outside I noticed she was still in the vicinity of the rescue. I went over and saw that she had found another baby squirrel. I grabbed her and took her inside with the other. I went back outside to look some more but to no avail. I looked up and saw a squirrel nest in the tree above. That night was very windy and I guessed they fell out because of it. The next day as it warmed outside I took a box with the baby's to the tree were they fell and left them in hopes that the mother would come and get them, but she didn't. So I raised them for two or so months and never had so much joy. I named them Chip and Dale. I would take them outside and build a fort made of tree branches to make them learn to climb, besides many other things. It was truly wonderful. I did release them in my back yard (four acres of woods) and believe that they still reside here. The baby skunk was given to me after someone heard I raised the squirrels. She also had her eyes closed when I got her. She was absolutely beautiful. So small and cuddlely, I wanted to keep her forever. I named her Chanel. As with the squirrels I started feeding through a bottle then progressed to food. With Chanel I took her outside were she would follow my every footstep and show her food on the ground. Her favorite food was baby toads, she loved them. I had so much fun with her, she would actually play with me by running up to me and patting her front paws on the carpet then turn and run. It was hilarious. When she got bigger after a few months she would run up to me pat her paws but then turn her body into a U and point her bum at me while she kept her eyes on me. She never sprayed me, not mom. I later let her go but now I wished I could have kept her, but I realize I did right. I've raised other baby's too, like rabbits, kittens and puppies. I love animals and belong to many clubs.

-Mark B.