Patient of the week 🐾

This baby fox squirrel came to us orphaned. The babies we are intaking this time of year will stay with us over the winter as they grow and learn critical survival skills, and they will be released in the spring when resources are abundant.

This little guy is sporting a fabric collar. Although super cute and a bit fashionable, we aren’t in the habit of dressing our patients. 🤣 This collar is similar to an e-collar (Elizabethan collar) you may see on a dog or cat after surgery. In this case, it is to prevent suckling on the genitals. Genital suckling is not uncommon in orphaned baby squirrels when they are hungry and looking to nurse or are simply seeking the comfort of nursing. If it is not stopped, it can result in trauma and infection, and in the worst cases, the inability to urinate (which leads to a ruptured bladder and painful death). Hopefully this little one will stop this behavior as he gets much needed nutrition into his belly.

#HowellNatureCenter #wildlife #wildliferescue #wildliferehab #wildlifeeducation #squirrel #babyanimals ... See MoreSee Less