The following has just recently been brought to my attention: -- "Off the Wildlife Rehab List: Petag's Esbilac puppy milk contains heavy metal copper.
Independent lab tests of Petag's Esbilac puppy milk have revealed it contains twice the maximum allowed of heavy metal copper as per government standards. Results also revealed that the contents are 17.6% fiber while the label states it has "0% crude fiber." A report was filed against Petag with the U.S. Food & Drug Administration on 9/11/2009. 9/10/2009 Animal Advocates sent a sterile sample of Esbilac straight from the Petag factory to an independent lab in
California. September 24 they received the results which showed the contaminant -- heavy metal copper and large amounts of fiber. These results were forwarded to the FDA.
The significant lab results are as follows: Protein 24.8%, Fat 31.5%, Fiber 17.6%, Heavy metal copper 2x Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL).
Petag's label states a "guaranteed analysis" as follows: Crude Protein min 33.0%, Crude Fat min 40.0%, Crude Fiber max 0.0%. -- The actual protein and fat in Esbilac is less than the minimum guaranteed by the Petag label. The fiber is far greater than the maximum guaranteed. The lab has stated that even though the product contains 17.6% fiber, there is no fiber source listed in any of the ingredients on the label.
The FDA regulates pet foods and treats. The Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA) requires that pet foods, like human foods, be safe to eat, produced under sanitary conditions, contain no harmful substances, and be truthfully labeled. The Melamine test is not finished." (End of report.)
I have to editorally ask what this test for toxic Melamine is all about?
For a more recent update and further information on how these people continue to beat a dead horse to death by experimenting, testing and retesting on these poor innocent babies, go to this web page: http://www.ewildagain.org/Nutrition/esbilac_problems_Oct15.htm
Carry on, Scalded Milk Users! Why those people continue to seek a "replacer" for pure cow's milk is beyond me! -- Clarissa, jbsum@hal-pc.org -- September 28, 2009
Clarissa -- Your Scalded Milk recipe -- for squirrels, and its variations for raccoons and rabbits -- is wonderful. We successfully raised and released an Eastern gray squirrel that had been abandoned at 2 weeks, with eyes sealed shut, raised and released two raccoons abandoned at 2 weeks with eyes sealed shut (mother smashed by tree coming down, babies found in tree cavity), and now we are using the formula, modified for rabbits, on a batch of cottontails whose mother was killed by a car. These were orphaned at one week, eyes sealed shut.
With all of these creatures, Animal Control told us to put them back outside, they were too full -- but without their "help," the babies would surely die. Not so! We refer others again and again to your site. Our releases come back from time to time to visit and thank us, and we are passing along their thanks. -- Kim in Maryland -- September 11, 2009
Hi, -- I am a rehabber in California and I came across your site about squirrels. We had a problem with the powdered Esbiliac -- I was told it is nationwide with bacteria and most of all our babies have died. So I am going to use your Scalded Milk recipe and wanted to know if giving just straight Scalded Milk by itself is okay. I have a 7-week-old and 2 to 4-week-old, one gray and 2 fox. -- Thanks, Diana -- September 9, 2009
Clarissa, It's been about 3 years since I last contacted you. I was online a little while ago and came across a website from a Daytona Beach Rehab. I was so upset by what I read that I had to email you. They have your name in bold letters (I think so those of us who know you, and about you, will click on). When I read about what they were saying about the Scalded Milk formula, I could not believe it. We all know that your formula is the BEST, period. All who use it know that it SAVES LIVES OF THOUSANDS OF SQUIRRELS EVERY YEAR, period.
I want people to know that they should not follow the advice of those other people when they say your method does not work. I'm not saying that they don't save animals' lives, but to say that your formula does not work is an absolute lie. People who have used both know that, hands down, yours is the best and success follows always.
If people google Clarissa Summers, they will find you in the very 1st heading. If you go down 6 headings you will find this other site with Clarissa's name in bold letters. PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW THAT THE INFORMATION THEY ARE SAYING ABOUT YOUR FORMULA IS NOT CORRECT. This really upsets me.
I know, Clarissa, that you have gone through all this many times before and will again but I just had to speak up about this one. To me it seems like they are playing dirty pool.
If you want to post this on your story page, please do. I have the greatest of respect for ALL people who rehabilitate wildlife. It is a very time consuming and selfless job. There are thousands of other people who are not "licensed" rehabbers who try and get the best possible information to save the lives of all these beautiful furry creatures that God has put on this
earth. Without these people there would be many more deaths.
I don't know who put that information about you on their website but I would challenge them to try your method and follow exactly what you say including (always) your Nut Ball Squares and I think they would be singing a different tune.
As always your information is priceless. The respect and admiration I have for you and what you do cannot be measured ever. I will email you again shortly with some success stories involving a bunny and some squirrels. The very best to you always -- Debbie in Florida -- August 14, 2009
Thank you so much for your quick reply! The monkey nuts are roasted peanuts in the shell so I will use walnuts, pecan nuts and fruit mostly to give the best diet to the 3 gray wild squirrels I have visiting my garden here in London, U.K. The Brazil nuts I used are not in the shell but I will only give them one or two as a treat in future. I am going to try out your tips and will update you.
Your advice is fantastic and it is amazing what you do and that you share your ideas. Thank you once again, a very happy squirrel helper. Please can you add my email to your Guest Book? You deserve all the praise you can get! -- Siobhan Dwyer -- May 28, 2009
Greetings! -- I have recently come across your site and it has saved the lives of 5 tiny furry things, and I thank you very much for all your information! An obnoxiously pretentious couple in town removed them from the birdhouse on their lawn. "We want BIRDS living in our birdhouse, not SQUIRRELS." Pff.
The rest of the story eventually found them being left to us, with only a basic understanding of how to care for the species. I'm generally quite good at caring for animals, but I like to have specifics about what they need, and I couldn't find anything but naysaying elsewhere, so thank goodness someone had the experience and the care to post it on the internet! --- Again, I thank you very much for allowing me to save the lives of these five precious creatures! --Sincerely, John Grinsell -- May 13, 2009
I used your instructions for two baby squirrels when rehabbers here in my area told me, "We are too full, so you can try to take care of them but they will die". Well, I found your web site and used your instructions and have successfully raised and released the two squirrels ........two VERY HEALTHY squirrels . They stay close by and come back to the feeders and bring
all their buddies. Anyone who has the criticism for your Scalded Milk formula is WRONG WRONG WRONG. I did not have one bit of a problem with them using the Scalded Milk formula/Nutball recipe and food suggestions.
I just want to thank you very much for your web site and, after raising two, am wanting to become a rehabber myself but am finding it not so easy to get going.. I contacted the head of the rehabbers in my area and she referred me to a lady close to me who is licensed so I could volunteer until the training date. I did and after leaving numerous messages, she never would call me back. And the head of the rehabbers was supposed to let me know where and when the next classes were......... she never called.
Seems if every time I find an animal they are way too full and can never take it and tell me to go ahead and take care of it. I would think they would be glad to have more rehabbers. Just a note: I even called one rehabber with some baby rabbits when my son-in-law ran over the nest with a tractor and killed the mother -- (he found the body) -- and the rehabber told me
my son-in-law was WRONG, that the mother was not dead, that the fur was from the nest..........True some was, but he had actually called me crying because he found the mother and knew the babies were on their own, so he brought the babies home.
Well, the rehabber still basically called me a liar and when I described them as well-furred with the white star on their forehead, he said " Turn them loose." When I asked him if he needed to see them before I did to see if they were old enough to be on their own, he said, "LADY, I shoot rabbits all the time with little white marks on their foreheads. TURN THEM
LOOSE!" He is, needless to say, marked off my list of rehabbers to call. I took them to a local vet where he made sure they were old enough and released them when they were deemed ready.
Anyway you deserve all the credit with my two little successes. :) Thank You!
*Just a note: Both squirrels I raised were orphans, the mama apparently got hit by a car and was found bleeding at the bottom of the tree trying to get to her babies and died -- Karen -- April 17, 2009
Hello Clarissa! -- Just a quick note from a new (and very tired) black squirrel mamma! Just got 3 yesterday...about 5 weeks old as far as I can tell. Their tree was cut down yesterday afternoon and the babies were found inside a hollow spot in the tree, as it was being cut up with a chain saw! Talk about a close call for these little babies! They love the scalded milk. I'm going to print up all of your wonderful information so I don't do anything wrong with them. There is so much to learn and I don't want to miss a thing! Thank you for writing everything you did. That took a long time to write and I truly appreciate the love, time and effort you put in to writing all that! -- Have a wonderful day.........Christine in Ohio -- March 15, 2009
I WAS SO EXCITED TO FIND THIS PAGE!! FOR YEARS I HAVE RESCUED NEWBORN BABY SQUIRRELS, RACCOONS, POSSUMS, RABBITS AND GROUNDHOGS. I AM SO GLAD THERE ARE MORE PEOPLE LIKE MYSELF.
DID YOU KNOW GAME WARDENS SAY "LET NATURE TAKE ITS COURSE" WHERE BABY ANIMALS ARE CONCERNED? I HAVE NEVER LIKED THIS.
PEOPLE BRING ME BABY ANIMALS ALL SPRING AND SUMMER. I HAVE NOT HAD AS MANY AS YOU HAVE, BUT I HAVE HAD SEVERAL. -- THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WRITING ALL THIS LEARNED INFO. I WILL KEEP DOING WHAT I DO. -- DEBBIE IN OHIO -- March 12, 2009
Dear Clarissa -- You were a life saver (literally for my little guy Rocky) around 4 years ago. I found your website then after finding 2 baby grays that had fallen from the nest. Back then your information was just about the only information out there. Before I found you I had listened to "professional rehabbers" and almost lost my babies. Thanks to you I brought
"Rocky" back from near death (caused from feeding formula from a dropper) with your regimented Rx of Vitamin C.
Rocky & Peanut grew until they did not tolerate handling well and we slowly released them back into our backyard. Peanut (the girl) took instantly to the new found freedom and we only saw her from a distance. Rocky (the boy) on the other hand, continued to visit and even jumped on my shoulder one afternoon when I didn't expect it. (Probably only that once because of the screams). He could often be seen sitting on the window sill or attached to the screen itself! He stuck around a little longer and continued to use the box we put out for at least a year. It's been a couple of years since I have seen him or Peanut but now we have a new batch of babies.
We were recently hit by severe ice storms that really damaged the trees. Many limbs and trees have to come down. Today, as one came down and the tree man was sawing off limbs, I spotted the nest and signaled the tree man to stop just as he was about to knock it to the ground. I ask him to hand it to me thinking it would make a cool show and tell. Very cool --
came with inhabitants........ I'm very sad for Mommy squirrel tonight and hope I will do her right by her babies. (Who knows -- they could be Peanut's babies...) They seem to be adjusting well to the change of environment. We have 3 this time around. Two boys and a girl. I think they are around 4 to 5 weeks of age and cute as can be. I'm looking forward to this adventure. I grew quite fond of Peanut and Rocky!
I'll try to keep you posted but really I just wanted to say THANK YOU for your devotion and information! -- Julie
Adkins -- March 10, 2009
Dear Clarissa -- My name is Estee. I live in Penang, Malaysia. I found a baby squirrel in my garden on a Friday while watering my plants. It was soaking wet (no thanks to me), surrounded by red ants and squeaking very loudly. No tree above it, no Mama in sight. The baby had fur already, the eyes were opened and no bleeding. I wrapped it up in cloth, placed in a
tupper and it fell asleep. Later I gave it some full cream milk (with a small plastic straw) which I heated up in the microwave. It ate and went back to sleep. It had a bit of diarrhea also.
It was only the next day that I checked the Internet and most pages scared me to death when they said I should not feed the squirrel cow's milk. My husband and I bought Petalac (puppy milk replacer, Australian brand), a small cage, Heinz apple puree and a feeding bottle. I estimate it (it's clearly a boy and we named him Thumper).to be about 5 weeks old. Thumper
didn't like the formula and turned away from the bottle.
It was then I found your web page. I switched back to cow's milk (this time scalded) and it began eating greedily (about 5 ml each time). Poo poo was getting solid and pee pee was regular after each feed. I was not sure about the heat pad, electric blanket, because of the very hot climate in Malaysia. I did not at first but Thumper twitches a lot and shivered, too, so I decided to try it. I used a cherry seed pillow which I could easily heat up in the microwave and he sleeps way better and sprawls out comfortably instead of curling up.
It's been 11 days now and he is more active (could climb all over the cage and the branches I left in it, rolls over the pillows I sewed for him), has more fur, thicker on the back but his belly has sparse bright golden-orange hair, not fully covered yet. Thumper's nails are also getting very sharp and when he gets too excited during feeding (while I am trying to fill up the
second syringe), his bites are also getting more painful.
Thumper chewed on his first nut today (I have been leaving some in the cage but no interest til today). I don't know if I could find all the ingredients to make the nutballs you suggested. The shops in Asia are not so well equipt/advance. Will a plain natural almond/pine nut do?
Oh, Thumper could also stand very well on hind legs especially when feeding and I found out that he is a golden-back type squirrel. Tail has stripes and fur but not bushed out yet.
I have to go now but will write soon, it's feeding time again. Thank you for your time, your wonderful page and I hope to hear from you soon.
You may use this mail in your guestbook. Maybe it could help another squirrel in Asia. I wish to release it when it's time. I find it cruel for them to be caged up. There are people who eat them, too. Eeew. -- Til later, Estee Martin -- Malaysia --
February 23, 2009
I told you about Danny, Bonnie's little boy fox, on the phone that night. She hadn't made nutballs in two weeks. His head was so tilted he was looking at the ground and sky at the same time. You said maybe a couple of weeks would tell. Well, after three weeks he's COMPLETELY normal again! She got him back on the nutballs. Like you said, though, it could have been a little stroke or something, but it may have been the nutballs that brought him back and I don't think it's coincidental that these squirrels keep getting better by nutballs and banana milkshakes..........there have been too many incidents. -- WE LOVE YOU!!! -- Lee, Bonnie, Kate, and all our little hairy friends (in Oregon) -- January 26, 2009
Thank you again for doing what you do, and for opening my eyes and heart to raising Peanut! -- Donna G. in Florida -- January 21, 2009
She is doing great! Thank you for asking. She is getting up and around more. Still only small twitches in her legs and tail......but building that upper body strength! Her all-around attitude is much better -- she isn't sleeping all the time and has more of the normal squirrel's waking hours and normal naps. She is still on her Banana Milkshake and I am letting her
start eating other foods as long as she keeps up with eating her milkshake. I gave her back to Kim (the orginal rehabber) with her "must-follow-instructions list"' and l go by at least every other day to check on her.
You really are a life-saver! She would surely have been dead by now had it not been for you and your fabulous Nutballs and milkshake and you can print this, too, because it is the truth and people need to know that, even though they may have faltered before finding you and your site and bad things come from feeding puppy formula and other bad foods, there is still a ray of hope and sunshine from your knowledge and experience. -- Sincerely, Tobie in Alabama -- January 11,
2009
Clarissa -- I wanted to let you know that I followed your advice and you will be pleased to know that my little boy squirrel was successfully released. He made a complete recovery once starting on his new diet. (See previous posting on September 24, 2008.) -- Thank you and if I ever have the chance to rehab another squirrel I will be following your instructions. By the way, feel free to post this to your site. -- Sincerely, Karen Jones -- November 17, 2008
Clarissa -- Thanks for such great information! I loved reading all the stories and viewing the pictures. It's great reference material and I hope it remains forever on the web. -- Jen in New Jersey -- November 15, 2008
Dear Clarissa -- Thank you so much for your site and all of the great (and correct) information you have provided for me and my Squirrel friends. Two of my friends and myself found an abandoned nest of squirrels that we watched and feared the 4 babies would soon die since the mother did not return. Instead of ignoring the obvious, we split the babies up between us to
nurture them back to health. I took one, Joe took 2 since he had raised many injured squirrels before (along with any other type of injured animal) and Ed took one. We all were concerned about splitting them up. Their eyes were barely open and it had been 2 days without their mother. Time was of the essence. In hind sight, I wish I had taken all of them.
I was the only one who went to your site and studied it with passion. I researched other sites but I felt you had your finger on the pulse of these little rascals. My "Iggy" is the only one still alive and is extremely healthy and happy. He is now about 4 months old.
I just can't commend you enough for all your hard work and providing such important information in understanding, protecting, and saving the lives of so many injured or sick animals. I've worked with other small distressed animals but never a squirrel so I owe my success to you. And Iggy thanks you also! I've never become attached to any other animals with whom I've worked, but Iggy is quite unique. In fact, iggy is short for enigma. He acts more like my cat (they love each other) than a squirrel! -- Barbara Grimes -- November 8, 2008
Hi, Clarissa -- The babies are really growing now! All of that gorgeous black hair fell out. Must have been a baby thing. Now they are a mixture of chocolate brown and Cheek's colors with a creamy tummy. Soft as rabbit hair, like cashmere! Their cute little flat tails look like one long giant feather.
Cheeks is doing well also. He was a talking Jesse for about 2 hours last night. He would whistle and then chirp, this churp, churp and a long Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!! -- very sharp sound -- then swat his tail around and do that monkey imitation sound they make before racing around the cage. He was out bouncing around yesterday, sniffing the girls' tote and then tried
to jump to the top of my mirror which has some necklace beads on it. Well, he and the beads did not get along and he fell off landing on a Walmart sack (he and Walmart have a standing disagreement with the crackleness their sacks make) which made him scurry back to me. He perched on my shoulder complaining loudly about his frustrations and then tinkled on my arm!!!!!! I told him that was NOT gonna do and put him back in the cage where he went straight to the corner, would not look at me and pouted with his nose in the corner. ~LOL~ I gave him a piece of avocado as a prize which perked him up some. He is soooooooooooo very sensitive!!!
Cheeks is surely persnickety!!! I accidentally squirted him with the water bottle today trying to get that dang wire around it back on the cage and you'd have thought I killed him. He rolled, wiped, scrubbed his face where the water hit him for 15 minutes. It was like two drops on the side of his neck!!! He would stop, clean his paws and wipe his face with them and then
scrub his face some more on his house, sliding on the bottom of the cage on his belly glaring at me the whole time. I told him, "WELL you should NOT have been sooooooooooooo nosey then! Lucky you didn't get it squirted up that snoopy little nose!!" You could tell, he pretty much did NOT agree. Finally snorted and hid in his house with just his tail poked out the hole all fuzzed up. If there is such a thing as a "drama queen" in squirreldom, Cheeks wins the prize!
Cheeks loves to sit on my husband now since he has persuaded him with pistachios but Shawn can't touch him. Cheeks is master, Shawn is RIDE! Shawn touched his tail as he was leaving off his arm this morning and Cheeks cleaned his tail for 10 minutes after fussing at him, churp, churping for raising himself up to glorified-tail-toucher status. ~LOL~-- Gina in Arkansas -- November 2, 2008
Hi, Clarissa -- Just wanted to let you know how my babies were doing. The two that I told you about before are alive and doing great. The two that I've lovingly renamed Hope, and Faith are healthy little acrobats and eat anything and everything I put in their cage -- (only off the DO list -- lol!) I'd have to say my favorite (and most rewarding) thing about them is when I hold them they give me "kisses" and purrrr. Being a surrogate mother is SO hard at first when they're pinkies but so rewarding as you see your babies grow. It gives me a great sense of accomplishment to know that I had a part in making them the healthy little "piggies" (lol) they are today.
Once again thank you for all you do on keeping everyone educated on squirrels like you do! -- Kia Vandekolk -- South Carolina -- October 23, 2008
Clarissa -- I just wanted to say thank you again for your website and your help with my squirrel, Tarzan. I released him on Saturday, September 6th and he continued to come back every day or so until Saturday, October 11th. I haven't seen him since but I keep looking for him every day hoping he'll return. He did extremely well when I released him and I watched him as
he became used to the other squirrels in the yard and learned how to navigate through the trees and the grass.
Immediately after I released him he built a nest in a cedar tree right outside our back door. Actually it was the same tree that he fell out of as a baby when I found him. He stayed in that nest for a week or so then started venturing out a little farther. He would greet me in the mornings when I went out and called his name and continued to jump on my shoulders and crawl all over me. I left his cage outside (it's still out there....) and I continue to put fresh water and sunflower seeds and pecans out for him daily. We put up one of those nesting boxes with the flat top on the cedar tree and he would sit on top of it from time to time. We have several other squirrels in our yard so the food is being eaten but I haven't seen him in a little over a week. I'm hoping he's just out exploring and making new friends and that maybe one day he'll come back to visit.
It seems silly but I really got attached to that little guy. I can't tell you what a wonderful experience it has been taking care of him for the past seven months. He seems to have adjusted well. I just miss him so much. I'm sending you a couple of pictures. I am so proud of him. It's amazing how these wonderful little creatures can make you feel.
Thanks again for all your help and your wonderful website. -- Terri Ray in Florida -- October 22, 2008
Hello Clarissa -- Just wanted to drop you a note to say thanks. Three young squirrels from South Georgia are doing great because of your web page. Back during Tropical Storm Fay, a nest was blown down in my yard, and three out of four survived the fall. They were just opening their eyes, and with help from your page, I took them to raise.
They thrived from the beginning, and at this point, they have been on their own for about a week, and are slowly shying away from me. The cage they were raised in is getting less and less use, and I have watched them build a HUGE nest that they have moved into. They have not ventured more than about 100 feet from the cage, but I guess that they will in time. For now,
they are living in a nice pecan tree that is full to the gills this fall, and I have watched as they have learned to peel away the green and eat the soft pecan meat inside the nuts. They have made a FINE mess around the base of the tree. I'm still feeding every day, and their favorites seem to be apples, green beans, sweet potato and pistashios.
There has been a grown male hanging around, and it looks as if he's been trying to take over my kids' nest, but so far they are defending it viciously, and have been able to keep him away. I worry about them a little too much, and my only concern is the neighborhood cats, and a pair of hawks that live in the area. I know that I can't control them forever, or even anymore, since they have not let me "catch them" since about the third day of freedom.
Anyway, I just wanted to say thanks, Clarissa, raising the babies was fun, and your web page paved the way..........Rob Murray, South Georgia -- October 14, 2008
Hi Clarissa-- First I want to thank you for your incredible web site -- it is so informative and appreciated. If I had not found it, I would not be able to share with you my babies' story.
On Aug 23, my neighbor came to my door and ask if I liked squirrels and I laughed and said, have you looked in my back yard lately? It is full. He told me to come with him that our neighbor behind us had put out poison to kill moles and a mother squirrel had eaten it and left 3 babies . We put them in a small box and covered them with rags. They had some fur but their
eyes were not open. Now that I had them, what was I going to do? I had never taken care of baby squirrels before (puppies, yes). I knew I needed to keep them warm but I didn't have a heating pad but I did have a shop light that I could hook on the table over their box.
My next dilemma was what to feed them. I had people telling me to give everything from canned milk to puppy formula. Well, I didn't have anything but milk so I warmed the milk and gave it to them (I didn't know at that time it need to be scalded). I needed to find out how to take care of my new little friends so I went to the Internet I looked at one web site that said to feed them commercial milk and pedialyte, so I printed out their instructions. Then I saw another web site so I thought I would read what they had to say and, low and behold, yours was the one that saved me from killing my babies. So I followed your instructions and on Aug 30th they opened their eyes. On Aug 31th I lost one but I think she was injured from the fall, I am not sure -- but the other 2 were doing good.
Now I had another problem -- my husband and I had a trip planned. We were to leave on Sept 9th to go to Seattle WA and I didn't know what to do with Baby and Miss Piggy , so I asked my granddaughter if she would take care of them for me. Well, she came over so I could explain to her how to care for them. It was feeding time so I gave her Baby to feed and Baby would not eat, so I gave her Miss Piggy (she always wants to eat) but she would not eat for her either, so I thought, well, maybe they are not ready to eat, so I tried and they both drank their milk for me.
So now I had another problem -- what am I going to do if they will not eat for anyone but me? My husband told me not to worry we would take them with us. I was so happy, but then I told him that would not work -- how will I keep them warm? I can't plug up the heating pad in the truck. My husband then came up with the idea that we could use hand warmers (the ones hunters use) to put under their cage to keep them warm while we were on the road and it worked wonderfully. So, on Sept 9th, we packed up our truck with our bags and the babies' bag and off we went. We had a small cooler that we kept their milk in and would stop at Quick Stop gas stations so I could warm their milk and would only stay in motels that had microwaves and refrigerators.
Our babies have traveled 7099 miles and have been in 18 states. They have been to Mt. Rainier, Mt. St. Helens, North Dakota's Badlands, and to Yellowstone to see Old Faithful. This was a trip I will never forget. Our babies are well-traveled and well-adjusted little girls and growing like weeds. My husband and I love having them to take care of. None of this could have happened if I had not been lucky enough to find Clarissa. She has been my babies' Guardian Angel
and I will never be able to Thank her enough for all the help she has given me. Clarissa, you rescued both me and my babies and you will never know how much I appreciate what you do and who you are, a wonderful and caring person. THIS WORLD NEEDS MORE PEOPLE LIKE YOU!!!!!!!!!!! -- Joann in Virginia. -- Oct 8, 2008
I would just like to thank you for your site! -- My husband is a foreman on a tree crew and a few weeks ago, he cut down a tree that had three baby flying squirrels in it. He brought them home to me to take care of because the mother was nowhere to be seen. Of course, the first thing I did was search the Internet for information and found several that said the same thing, use Esbilac. I thought since it was on so many sites that it would be fine to use. How wrong I was!!
A few nights ago, one of the squirrels was more than likely dying. At first, the breathing seemed funny and all of a sudden, its little tummy started swelling. Of course, I freaked! For a week, they all had been doing just fine and all of a sudden, this one was in distress. I quickly got back on the Internet to see what I could find out. Low and behold, I found your site and just in time. I immediately made the Scalded Milk for the little guy. Within the hour, things seemed to be getting better. The breathing was slower and the tummy looked less swollen. I finally went to sleep around 5 a.m. and had my husband wake me up before he left for work at 7. -- What a difference! The little guy was so much better! My husband didn't even believe it
was the same one that had the problems.
All three squirrels have now been on the Scalded Milk for about 4 days and I see an improvement in all of them. They look much healthier -- two have them have even opened their eyes now! I truly feel that your site saved the little guy, if not all of them, and I just want to thank you from the bottom of my heart! -- Again, thank you so much! -- Ellen -- Asheville, North Carolina -- October 3, 2008
The information you have posted on your website has been the most helpful on the Internet yet!! I have started using your Scalded Milk formula instead of the vet brand........its amazing how well this has worked and how much it has saved on the cost. I live in a small town and am one of the very few people who take in baby squirrels, and I have learned over the years,
how much time and money is put in taking care of these babies. So many people attempt to raise squirrels and fail due to laziness or ignorance, so I have referred people to your website, due to the amount of information you have here and it's easy to read, IF they take the time to read it. I just wanted to again say thanks for what you have given to the Internet as
information. -- Roxie, Union SC -- October 3, 2008
Dear Clarissa -- I just wanted to write to thank you for your incredible website. I was walking my dog (a super tiny rescue mutt) yesterday morning and this tiny squirrel appeared from under a parked car and came right up to my dog. My dog and the squirrel seemed to think they were related......both squeaking excitedly. The squirrel would not stop following the dog (and the dog wouldn't stop wanting to pick him up). There was no sign of the mother, so, I took him home. I gave him some puppy formula, which he consumed with enthusiasm, and he went to sleep curled up against a hot water bottle.
I then tried to locate a local organization or shelter, since I knew it was illegal to keep a squirrel at home. Most sites were sort of scold-y... "IT IS ILLEGAL TO KEEP A SQUIRREL AT HOME FOR MORE THAN 48 HOURS!! YOU MUST LOCATE A PROFESSIONAL!!!!" which made me feel like a terrible person for having taken this squirrel home... I emailed a few rehabilitators I found online, and they were also scold-y. They were also too far from where I live (Washington DC) to actually take the squirrel, they only said "just google washington dc squirrel rehabilitator and you will find them," which I did not.
Then I saw your website. It encouraged and empowered me, I ran to get some whole milk and all the ingredients for the nut ball. The little squirrel has been happily drinking Scalded Milk, sleeping on a hot water bottle, pooping and peeing. He is so gentle and good natured, he walks right onto my hand when I take him out to feed him. I am now determined to have him
spend the winter in our home, then release him, which seems imminently possible if I follow your guide religiously!!!
My interactions with the rehabilitators have been reminding me of a painful incident with my first cat: When I was in graduate school, I adopted a kitten with feline leukemia. I was determined to have the kitten have the best life she could have, and I followed Anitra Frazier's wonderful holistic cat care book (The New Natural Cat). I fed her all organic raw food (with supplements specified in the book). I was grinding meat and growing alfalfa at home... She grew to be the most beautiful, agile, affectionate young cat........ (people would ask me what kind of breed she was, because she was so unusually beautiful). But when I took her to the vet for a routine checkup, they asked what brand of food I give her. When I told them, they were VERY concerned and claimed that cats need commercial food to be healthy. They then insisted on doing a blood test. When they took the blood from her, she died from the shock... after being paralyzed for a day.
So...........This time I am determined that I won't let people convince me against my instinct.
I am sorry this is so long!!!!! Thank you for your time, and, more importantly, thank you so much for your amazing work. -- Natsu Onoda, Washington, D.C. -- September 27, 2008
I found your recipe for Scalded Milk in time to save one of 4 flying squirrels that came to us during the past 2 weeks. After feeding the recommended commercial milk to them they began to die and my wife was at her wits end. I looked online and found your site. The surviving fellow seems to be doing well now and the bloating and lethargy he had has disappeared. You have made caring for orphan flyers a lot, lot, lot less sad. I think this fellow is about 4 weeks old or so as he is starting to get top teeth, and has bottoms already. -- Again, Thank You for the info that saved him.-- Terrance and Svetlana Norris, Chiefland, Florida -- September 24, 2008
First of all I want to say that, as a Mississippian and having been hit with Katrina, I am praying for everyone affected by the recent hurricane Ike. And I hope all is well with you and your family and friends.
Second of all, I have a squirrel that I think has rickets. I was given Epsilac to give to them and all of the sudden the girl died and the boys back legs don't work properly. You will be happy to hear that upon finding your site, through the Yahoo Answers community (I asked a question for help and a friend of yours directed me to you). I started following your advice and
almost immediately the little boy started improving. I had already ordered the dolomite and most of the ingredients I needed I had already (go figure). I had the stuff and didn't realize I needed to be giving it to him.
I feel guilty that the little girl died, but honestly I tried my best and did what a "professional" told me to do. I guess you have to live and learn. I hope to release the little boy in the near future. Maybe my mistakes and misfortune will enlighten someone else. -- Sincerely, Karen Jones -- September 24, 2008
Hi, Clarissa -- I rescued my first 5-week-old baby right after hurricane Rita. I heard her screaming and hanging from a leaf on a tree, I was frantic not knowing what to do. First I went straight to the internet and unfortunately I found the wrong sight telling me all the wrong things to do, this caused very scary issues to happen. Then I found your website and followed
your instructions to the "T", and was able to raise a healthy beautiful girl squirrel. "Rocky". THANK YOU!
Now coincidentally another hurricane has come through Texas (IKE), and I just happened to be at the right place at the right time again. I heard the same frantic scream and looked into my neighbor's back yard to see the dogs messing with an even younger baby. I screamed at them, jumped the fence and was able to take him into my care utilizing your "Scalded Milk" formula. It has now been 4 1/2 days and he is eating healthy and doing his duty after each feeding. Wow is he active, and can get fussy if he don't get his milk fast enough.
Your website has been a huge help. I will never use any other rehabilitator! You are awsome! His name is "Bo", short for Bullwinkle....lol. -- Thank You -- Terry Ritchie, Conroe, Texas -- September 24, 2008
Over the past several years I have raised 2 squirrels using your information as my guide......they are now living a happy life in trees around my home. Thanks to IKE, I now have 2 more bundles of joy to care for. I wanted to take a moment to say thank you so much for your wisdom and for sharing it with those of us who care for these wonderful creatures of God.--
Eileen Lovell, Houston, Texas -- September 24, 2008
I was happy to finally find your site. We have many regular adult squirrels that come to our yard and I was looking for food options, rather than just peanuts. Thank you for such a complete site with remarkable information. I would love to be added to your Guest Book. -- I will be marking your site for all my squirrel questions and can only offer my gratitude to you for
all your hard work. -- Tricia M. -- September 16, 2008
One week ago, I was watching the Olympics late at night when my father came home from work, carrying a box. He asked my sisters and me, "Can you guess what is in this box?" It was a baby squirrel. He already had his fur, but his eyes were still closed. Of course, we were excited. We never had a pet before so this was a new experience. My father had already dried it off and kept it warm at work. The baby was starved, so my father fed him warm milk. The squirrel then went to sleep. My mother didn't know she would have a surprise waiting for her the next morning when we all woke up excited: The baby squirrel was ready to be fed again.
As my mother and father took care of the feedings and all the other necessities for the baby, my sisters and I had a difficult task: giving our little friend a name. My nine-year-old sister then suggested "Meek" after an imaginary squirrel she invented for a game. He stayed
Meek for a while, but my dad could not pronounce it due to his heavy accent. Meek with my father's accent sounded an awfully lot like "Mickey." The name caught on and he stayed Mickey. How did we know for sure he was a guy? Well, our neighbor asked the same thing: Don't worry, we knew. -- Mickey was a happy squirrel. We loved him so much.
We still had an issue; we needed to know how to feed him. We were feeding him with a small eyedropper, but this isn't good so my dad went to the vet. That was the worst mistake we could have made. The vet suggested feeding it KMR, another word for poison for squirrels. We, being inexperienced, did just that. That night, ironically, we were looking at pictures of people who had raised baby squirrels. We were so excited that our Mickey was soon to be like that, all alert and with his eyes opened. We showed all our friends and bragged on him.
Mickey then became stinky, really bad. He smelled so bad that my mother gave him a bath. Now I know that squirrels are not supposed to have a foul odor, but before, I simply assumed he smelled since he was an animal and a wild one at that. He smelled so bad, that we had to take him down to the warm garage. -- Mickey also became......strange. The way he walked was much slower and he kept flipping over. We thought that he was just uncoordinated, but turns out there was something more going on. Mickey's stools began to get smellier and he also was peeing, a lot. He basically had no bladder control anymore. We still weren't that worried until the next day.
On Saturday, August 23, Mickey woke up bad. His nose was bleeding and he was squealing. When my mom tried to feed him KMR, he refused and kept having diarrhea. He was squealing like a banshee and running around. We were really worried, so I called the vet. Remember how I told you KMR was the worst mistake? Well, this was the second worst mistake. The animal hospital was closed, but they did give us the number to the vet, Dr. Kim. (Yeah, some doctor needs to go
back to school and learn MANNERS!) I called him and told him that his assistant suggested KMR and his stomach was hurting and he had diarrhea. All he told me was, "Take him to the animal shelter, don't you understand? Take him to the animal shelter! I am trying to tell you, you don't understand me. How many times have I told you?" He was about to call me stupid, but I was doing all I could to save little Mickey's life.
I don't trust animal shelters -- I really don't, especially with little animals. No one cares about squirrels and the ASPCA admits to killing 9 million cats and dogs a year. People care about cats and dogs and they still die. Sure, some are beyond care, but others......Anyway, I was infuriated with stupid Dr. Kim. He really did not know what he was saying. He said
squirrels carried diseases which is not true. They are very clean animals.
We were about to send him to the shelter and were brokenhearted. Suddenly, my mom made the decision to let him stay here since at the shelter they would probably kill him.
An angel appeared online by the name of Clarissa Summers. She had been rehabilitating squirrels for the last 20 years and has been very successful. I read her site and found out the truth: KMR is signing the squirrel's death note. It's terrible!! I emailed her and she was one of the nicest people I have ever met. She helped me understand what was happening. We got him off KMR and continued giving him scalded cow's milk. His stomach got better; so our concern then became his bloody nose.
Clarissa gave me all sorts of helpful tips about what we were doing and what we weren't doing. She was the greatest thing that could happen. Clarissa told me that the bloody nose was due to a head injury and could claim the life of a squirrel at any time. Mickey kept bleeding and bleeding. Finally, around 12:00 am, he stopped bleeding. We thought that he might pull
through. We put him to bed and then went to sleep as well.
Then around 9:00 am on August 24, 2008, my alarm clock was not my mother but my sisters crying. I ran downstairs and knew already what had happened. Our poor Mickey was gone. I emailed Clarissa telling her right away that Mickey had left us and gone to a better place. The one that took it the hardest was my nine-year-old sister -- I can hear her sniffling as I type
this. She was furious with that vet and I was, too.
My mom woke up at 6:00 am and found Mickey with rigor mortis. He had gone in his sleep. We disposed of him and then went to the zoo to clear our minds. Clarissa then replied with the nicest email I had ever received in my life. She told us that Mickey knew we loved him and that all that love and care had not been in vain. She also said that the fall from the
nest had been what caused his head injury. A blood clot formed and reached his brain. My father told us the complete story of when he found him and we did find out that the storm that happened that night knocked Mickey from a great height onto a hard surface.
KMR was no better either and actually gave him stomach pains in his final hours. DON'T FEED IT EVER to a baby, no matter what your vet says.
If you ever find a baby squirrel, the first place you should go is: http://users.hal-pc.org/~jbsum/squirrel.html#RecBab Clarissa Summers will help you with any squirrel-related problems and even the emotional pains after you have lost one. As for my family, we will slowly have to fill the void Mickey left in our hearts. I have to email the vet and give him a piece of my mind. Clarissa knows what she is doing -- your vet is for domestic animals.
By the way: KMR is kitty formula and it's loaded with egg yolks which our little friends can't digest. Although Mickey died from a head injury; KMR made some of his hours with us miserable.
I thank Clarissa and you guys for reading. I hope that you guys never have to go through this and even though he may just be a SQUIRREL, he was loveable. Now I will never think of squirrels as pests, just as furry friends who need to teach humans many things. -- Tatalia -- August 15, 2008
Hi Clarissa -- I wanted to let you know that Charlie is doing GREAT! She loves the banana shake, drinks it right out of a tilted coffee cup. Charlie in one week has put on weight, is racing around and hiding her nuts, amazing. You really saved her life again. I would say that Charlie has had a 100% recovery.
I have a question, can Charlie stay on the banana shake? She seems to really love it and this way I know she is getting enough calcium. Thank You again so much for being there for Charlie and me time and again. -- Toni Douglass -- Connnecticut -- August 25, 2008
Goddess morning to you! This is just the cutest information I have come upon, and since I do live in the mountains, I have noticed things about my lil' ones that visit daily. I googled "shedding squirrels" and chose your page for the info. Looks great and has much info. -- Bright Blessings, Karen Kennedy -- July 21, 2008
"Nutballs nutballs Give me my nutballs! Make me grow all big and strong! With Clarissa’s nutballs you can’t go wrong! Makes strong bones and healthy teeth, shiny coat and healthy feets!" -- Poem submitted by Sidney, age 6, on nutballs since he was 3 months old and came to live with his Sqwirl Mama (Donna) -- July 18, 2008
You saved my squirrel! I followed the majority and fed the puppy replacer. I also read your web site -- thank God I did -- because he started having convulsions and they were only getting worse so I switched and they stopped immediately. I thank you so much. -- Angie -- June 4, 2008
This is my second time raising a baby squirrel with your formula and it is simple and great. The first time I found a baby squirrel, I was told it would die if I fed them your formula yet they did not want to help me. They suggested I put the baby back outside and let nature take its course. She had no hair and her eyes were not even open yet.
I used your formula and not only did she do great but she went off and had babies of her own and brought them home for us to take care of along with her help.
The second one I found today in the middle of a busy street and no one would stop. This one seems a bit older, she has her/his hair and a small fluffy tail. She was so hungry she was trying to eat my shirt. I got her home and fed her your milk formula again and she is now curled up in a little ball under all her blankets in a small animal carrier on a table in my kitchen.
They are one of the most amazing animals. Some people say “They are just rats," but they are one of God's living things and I will not let this poor thing die. -- It is nice to know there are still people who care about wild animals and not consider them a nuisance.
So thank you for your simple recipe to help me raise another baby. -- Thank You -- Paul R Ventura -- April 27, 2008
Hi, Clarissa -- I just want my experience to bring awareness to others & to help them with their experience, if it ever happens again.. My husband and I came home late on Saturday, March 22nd to find my older son with a little squirrel in a cage. (A lady found him on the street and came into the pet shop where my son works. She told my son she did not know how to take care of it. My son immediately told the lady that he would take care of it, and brought it home) The baby was skin and bones and did not look good.
We did not know what to do so we went to the internet and on the first website we found, we saw some pictures that indicated the age of some squirrels. By the looks of these pictures, the baby appeared to be about 5 weeks old. This website, told us to give him Pediolyte and/or puppy formula "First Born" was the first brand recommended. We bought the Pediolyte and fed it to the baby. He started to look a little bit better. We padded the cage with towels and old t-shirts and a heat pad to keep him warm.
I got up at 6:00 a.m the next morning, Easter Sunday, and found him almost dead. I started to rub him, and prayed and fed him some more warm Pediolyte. After a while of doing this, he started to react again. Later on we went to buy the puppy formula, and as instructed on the other website, we diluted it with some water. The baby was not taking it, so we started to combine both Pediolite & formula. He was doing better, and started to go pi-pi & poo-poo. He had some diarrhea, though.
The next day I went to the internet to look for better instructions/guidance on how to take care of this baby. I found a website that called my attention: "Feeding care nutrition scalded cow's milk". That made a lot of sense. I printed the whole book and was fascinated by the way Clarissa explained everything. The Scalded Cow's milk made a lot of sense. As soon as I started to feed this milk to the baby (we named him "Sparky" because he sparked up twice in his tiny little life span), he went to town. He did not want to separate from the syringe. He just loved it!! -- more than the other stuff I was giving him.
We started to feed him every 3 to 4 hours. In no time, he started to look chubby. Couple of days later, his tail got bigger & fuller, he had more energy. He started to climb up all over us as if we were trees. He was most comfortable with my younger son, who was home with him the most. He was so funny and full of love and energy. As soon as he was fed and played a bit, and we put the heated pad in his bed, he went to sleep like a little angel. He was the perfect baby.
This past Sunday, we woke up early to feed the baby before we went to church. Sparky did not act normal. There seemed to be some kind of very faded blood spots on his bedding. I heated up his milk and tried to feed him, but he did not take it. I left him with my son. When my husband & I came back from church, my son showed me his behind. He had some kind of a bloody piece of meat hanging from his rectum. He was still strong, though, as he climbed up my shoulder. I hugged him and put him back in his bed (the box he slept in).
My husband called our dog's vet, but of course, she wasn't there. The answering service suggested to take him to an animal emergency center, or to call a rescue center. She gave him a number of a "Squirrel Specialist" that lives in Malibu, CA. My husband called this lady and after giving my husband a hard time for not taking the baby to her sooner, she told him to take
him to a rescue center in West L.A., where she goes to. She assured my husband that she knew exactly what was happening to the baby. She said that she was going to push the prolapsed uterus in the hole and stitch him back up with no problem. We believed her and rushed Sparky to this rescue center. "What a big mistake that was". We were told there that they were
going to put him down, and that there was no hope for him. He told them not to put him down, that Marcia, the "Squirrel Specialist" was coming to get him and that she knew how to take care of him. They knew her, so they told my husband that they would wait for her.
I called Marcia a couple of hours later and she told me that she was on her way to pick him up. She assured me that she had just talked to the people at the West L.A. Animal Rescue Center and that he was still okay. She also told me that she was going to take him the next morning to the Animal Specialist that deals with her sick animals, and that he was going to be okay.
She asked me to call her back in two days.
Tuesday morning came, & I called her. She was very nasty and mean on the phone. She started to tell me that my baby was "skin & bones" and very malnourished, and that she (she told me that Sparky was a girl) did not make it. .She went on & on telling me how much money & time she spend to became a licensed "Squirrel Rescuer", and that we did not take proper care of this baby. After she said that, I knew that she was lying all the way because the baby was chubby, and the only time she did not eat was Sunday morning because of what she was going through. I told her that I disagreed with her, but she did not let me talk as she kept on rumbling on and on. I just thanked her for whatever she did for my baby and wished her luck.
I was so upset, I did not care about her rumbling and frustrated/nasty attitude, as I knew that she was lying to me just to get me off her back. . I wanted to call you yesterday, but I was too upset all day long after I talked to the lady, Marcia in Malibu, that took the baby from the Rescue Center. I also knew in my heart that Sparky was well fed, and that the love that
we gave her and she gave us was genuine. I feel in my heart that Sparky is still alive.
I never knew that these little creatures could be so loving. We had Sparky for almost 1 month, and we miss her very much...... My family and I know better now. And if we ever get the opportunity to go through this experience again, we will do it in a heartbeat. People like Marcia will not discourage us from doing what is best.
I told her that I disagreed with her, that we took good care of her, but she just did not want to hear anything I said. She went on and on telling me how much money and time she spent going through classes in order to obtain her license as a rescuer, and how she had not slept for 30 days because she's nursing and taking care of her hundreds of squirrels she has. She told me
that we were supposed to have fed the baby day and night. I could not even tell her that we fed her every 3 to 4 hours. I used to go to bed from 12 to 1 a.m. to make sure the baby had the last feeding, and then got up at 6:30 to make sure she was fed before I went to work. During the rest of the day, my younger son, who is home almost all day long, took care of her.
Anyway, we, my husband, my two sons, and I, are all heart broken, and our house feels so empty. It is just so amazing how something so tiny and sweet filled our lives with joy and laughter in only the one month that we had her.
Clarissa, Thank You So Much for all you do for people like us. I just wanted you to know this and I promise that by this weekend, we'll send you some pictures of her. Thank you for all the information you put in your website, and especially for being there for us on Sunday, when we needed you through this hard and painful time. This really shows the love and dedication that you have for these sweet little creatures. As you said, we all need to be educated, and not afraid of caring for these wonderful, sweet creatures, if we ever had the opportunity to do it, especially our children.
I thank you so much, again, for your time and all the great information you have provided to people like us on your website. I just hope & pray that people like Marcia don’t discourage people like us to do the right thing. -- God bless you! -- Alicia Rasmussen, Torrance, CA (alicia.rasmussen@verizon.net) -- April 25, 2008
Hey, Squirrel Godmother* -- Yesterday was 'release' day in Brandon. We followed your manual exactly. The boys took a while to leave the cage, but finally worked up their courage. They spent the first minutes of their freedom digging in the sand outside Maureen's porch. They rolled, dug, and were excited past belief! Then there was a hilarious scene: Both squirrels running madly one direction then back the other way. Maureen sat under a tree, and the boys came to her once in awhile, jumping on her, then departing. They were so excited. They tasted almost every plant. We are hoping that they have enough inherited memory and instinct to know good plants from bad ones.
The twins did not return to their cage last night. This morning Maureen noticed Ring-A-Ding out 'nutting'. She fed him a nut and he headed up to one of the five boxes hung in the oak trees. Mo was excited to see Nutkin peering from the box. Evidently the boys slept there together last night. Maureen piled some nuts at the base of their tree to ease them thru their first day of freedom. Such an adventure the boys are having. We are so happy for them. They are where they are supposed to be. And ~ thanks to you, our Brandon Boys had the best start we were capable of giving them.
Maureen will keep their cage on her porch for a long while, door open, and nuts inside. So if either boy needs to 'come home' ........ it will be there for him/them. Also ~ Maureen keeps a squirrel 'feeding station' going for her wild children. The twins will be able to visit it each day.
Clarissa, I can't thank you enough for all the accurate information in your manual. And ~ how do I put into words our gratitude for all the time you've taken with us? ALL the emails you impeccably wrote us, ALL the questions you impeccably answered: The end product being two fat, glossy healthy boys released yesterday. Anyone who criticizes your methods and/or the Scalded Milk formula should see the end product: Squirrels who are HEALTHY and ready to begin running the 'tree trails'.
I only hope you write a book to share some of your stories. All your experiences should be put down on paper - too valuable to lose. Your life and your continuation of THE GREAT WORK inspires both my daughter and me. You have made a difference during your time on Mother Earth. I bow to you thrice. You are what we of my Tradition call a 'Star Changer'. As I've told you before, I 'see' that your next life is going to be a doozie -- you're really going to be able to shake the scheme of things! The Great Work must continue. Your work MUST go on. Too many tiny lives depend on it to suggest otherwise. It is not just about YOU, but about thousands of tiny lives your work has and will save.
If people like that dumb woman can't see the truth (given plainly in your website) they are not fit to raise the tiny ones. I shudder at the thought. If any of us are so full of ourselves that we no longer wish to learn a better way, we should give up. She obviously is stupid, but perhaps can be educated by her betters.
There is always a 'bottom line' in life. In the case of your website it is this: Your way works, no doubts, no questions. If your way is followed, healthy squirrels will be the end product. The Scalded Milk formula works like an absolute charm. And isn't that the desired result? What is the matter with these people?
As I told you in past emails, I had failures in two baby squirrels. I have learned thru your manual what the problem was: calcium. Keep in mind, this was way before computers and websites. The information you have out there changed everything: The boys we released were NOT dragging hind quarters. They were healthy, glossy, and full of themselves. Well, enough
said.
My daughter and I send you our love, admiration, thanks, and our great respect. ... And, I remain -- Your Florida fan -- Markianne*** (April 3, 2008)
Someone just asked me about taking care of a baby squirrel, and I was reminded of your website. I was so glad to see it was still up and running.
I had a great squirrel friend several years ago, and I followed your advice explicitly (oh the joy of making nut balls!). I found him when he was about three weeks old, and looked to have been pulled from his nest by a predator, probably a crow. He must have been a fair distance from his drey, since Mom never came looking for him. Following all of your advice, he lived several years, and he was my best little buddy.
I realized that I never thanked you for having all of this information available.
Thank you so much for all of the effort you have put into your website. I'm sure there are many people like me who never took the time to thank you, but I am sure I speak for all of us, including our squirrel friends, when I say how much your work is appreciated. -- Thomas -- (April 2, 2008)
I just wanted to let you know that if I didn't know better I'd think somebody dropped a new squirrel at my house! He loved the milk mix and about 5 o'clock we woke up from our nap and he is WILD!! He's climbing and "fussing" as I call it.
I have to wonder how all the other advice out there keeps squirrels alive!! He was fairly lively until yesterday evening and then it was like a 180 downhill turn. He was doing great for a whole week and just went downhill in one day, got up lethargic and lifeless. I was dreading telling my 6-year-old and I thought for sure he was going to heaven in the night, but he managed to wake up this morning and drink the Scalded milk and Vitamin E. He doesn't like the yogurt but he drank it. He was not nearly this happy on that other expensive stinky stuff!!
I am just amazed at the change in just 7 hours time. I think his tail got puffier! He actually squealed at me to eat a little bit ago. He is napping now again. Thanks so much for your help. I will keep in touch....and I will give him pecans -- he's chewing on everything now. -- Penny -- March 31, 2008
Hi, Clarissa -- The baby squirrels I rescued and raised with your very helpful advice are now doing very well and still live on my property! Although they do still come up to me, they do not jump on me since I stopped handling them so much when they began to eat on their own. I have gotten much joy out of knowing they made it and are living a happy life! And I owe it to
you! Without your help and website I would not have known where to begin so again THANKS SO MUCH!!!!!
The work you do is so awesome! My babies come to me for handouts as well! They will take food from me and don't mind me petting them or scratching their ears, but don't like to be picked up so I guess I did OK in keeping them somewhat wild. They won't come up to anyone but me. I have lots of nut and fruit trees (pecan and apple are their favorites!) in my yard
as well as plant a garden that they love to rob and I don't mind! I tell everyone I planted it for them and I eat what they don't want! One of the reasons I plant a garden is like you said, a lot of the things in grocery stores don't even taste like they should. Not much tastes fresh like they say or even like real fruits and veggies. I buy Purity milk, it says no hormones as well but like you I wonder! -- Cyndi Quick -- March 12, 2008
Hi, Clarissa -- My name is Vanessa Shields. I just wanted to THANK YOU for your book you have and all the wonderful information. I have learned so much from you. Most of all Thanks for the Nutball recipe, it really worked on my squirrel Tubby. I was getting really worried about her, she got so down in her back legs, that she wouldn't even come out of her bed. I made your Nutballs, gave them to her twice a day for two weeks and after that only one a day. She has made a great turn around, she hangs upside down by her back feet stretched out all the way and runs across the floor, like she used too.
Thanks again for all the info. Now when someone helps me with babies I give them a copy of your book. I have enjoyed reading your info. -- THANKS AGAIN! -- Vanessa and Tubby Squirrel -- March 5, 2008
Clarissa -- Well, a week ago to this day I thought my little fellow was a goner. He was dragging himself around his cage and couldn't even pull his tail up around his body. That evening I gave him some Scalded Milk with yogurt -- I didn't have the Banana Shake recipe yet. The next morning he was sleeping in a nice ball with his tail curled around him. I started giving him the Banana Shake at first three times a day and then twice a day with Scalded Milk in between. If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes I wouldn't have believed it. He is jumping around again and has his appetite is back. I made the Nutballs today and will be adding that to his diet to help him maintain his renewed health. He loves the Banana Shake and eats it right out of the custard dish -- he no longer needs the syringe.
Once again THANKS A LOT for your web site and the wonderful information. -- Marcene -- March 5, 2008
Hi, Clarissa -- You probably don't remember me, but I have contacted you several times over the past few years for advice on our baby squirrels. Just to let you know, I have had great results from your Scalded Milk formula, as well as your emergency milk shake and nut balls. One of our babies went down in her hind legs last year, but she made a full recovery after
being on the shake. I have a new batch of babies, for about a week now, all on the Scalded Milk. They are furry but their eyes are not open yet.
I have found that rehabbers are very snotty and against a lot of the things that I have found work. I basically use your page for most of my info. I have only lost one baby, that was the very first that you helped me with. Unfortunately I did not recognize his problem in time. I have raised about 20 babies in the past 3 years and the Vit. E with the Scalded Milk seems to work really good. That is all I have given them as babies. -- I appreciate your page! Thank you sooo much for your help. -- Kind regards, Rhonda -- February 18, 2008
Hi! -- I LOVE your page...I am sitting here crying because I am reading about the other babies who passed away and we just found 3 GRAYS that were about 6-8 weeks old. They are o.k. but I just know I am going to fall in love with them and it will be bittersweet to let them go......Thank you for all your info on the milk feeding and nutballs I am going to the store now!!
Thanks to your site I did not give the babies Pedialite like a different site said! You really helped me save their lives. Thank you and God bless. -- By the way.....their names are Peanut, Rosco and Samantha. : o) -- Teresa from Orlando -- February 17, 2008
Dear Clarissa -- We are so grateful to you for giving our baby a chance to live, now exactly 6 years ago. You were our pillar of support then & our guiding star. Now 6 years & immeasurable joyous daily moments down the line, we are absolutely shattered. Our beloved "Squirry" passed away last evening at about the same time as I am writing this mail to you today and almost 6 years to the day that our cat brought him in as an almost pink.
I wrote to you some time ago about how well Squirry was doing with us. Yes, he was and so were we, so happy with him around. His daily feeds, games with us, pranks in his kennel and brief sojourns on my palm & hand were what contributed so much happiness to our last 6 years of existence. We have been losing our pets, both cats & dogs, at regular intervals all these
years, but Squirry was our prop all along. He showed us what life was all about.
He died as he lived, with his chin up & very, very bravely indeed. He was such a brave boy, Clarissa, nothing scared him as long as he knew we were around. Even the festival-time crackers (in India) were no threat to him. If he had any pain at all, he surely didn't show it to us. It was as if he just wanted to say goodbye to us without causing us any pain. Sigh!! We think it was old age complications. The net says Indian tree squirrels live up to 6 & a little more in captivity. You will know better for sure. He was never ever sick all his life with us. He just slackened off on his bi-daily meals only for a little over a day, that's all. His milk he did have, though, the evening before he passed away.
Last evening we found him lying side down in his kennel & urinating. We knew there was something amiss & took him into our bedroom. He just lay down between the two of us (wife & self) and slowly slipped away. It was too much for us, Clarissa. Just 8" of fur but so much of love & everything that's nice. We had him with us all through the night & buried him in our front yard just this morning. Our daughter rushed down for the funeral from near here where she lives.
Squirry was very fond of my grand-daughter who was born 2 years after he came into our lives. She is 4 now & old enough to understand, we suppose. A sad event in our lives has come to pass. Squirry will be added to our long list of pets who are waiting beyond the Golden shores for us when we do depart this world. That's our belief as we are Catholics by religion. We, however, contrarily believe that animals, too, have souls like we do & they will, too, receive us when we reach the yonder world. We equate all life forms, no inequality.
Sorry to have taken so much of your time, Clarissa, but we thought that yours is the best shoulder to cry on. Your advice & guidance during those critical early hours & days 6 years ago when Squirry was brought in by our cat were, to say the least, absolutely precious. Our sincere gratitude to you once again & best wishes in your endeavours. -- Thank you, friend, & pray for our Squirry. -- Valsa & Jaideep -- India -- February 4, 2008
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL THE INFORMATION ON CARING FOR SMALL SQUIRRELS. I HAVE SAVED ONE, AND, OH, MY GOODNESS, WHAT FUN!!! HE WAS SUCH A PLEASURE. THANK YOU AGAIN, AND THE SCALDED MILK MADE ABSOLUTE SENSE. -- I LOVE SQUIRRELS!!! THERE WAS A TIME I WAS TRYING TO KEEP THEM OUT OF MY BIRD FEEDERS, NOT ANYMORE. AFTER SAVING NUTTERBUTTER, I HAVE A WHOLE NEW RESPECT FOR THEM TRYING TO SURVIVE. THEY ARE TOO FUNNY!! -- THANKS AGAIN -- CARMEL BABULA, FLORIDA -- January 8, 2008
Hi, Clarissa -- Thanks for getting back to me! You just don't realize how important your guidance and information has become to me! Your website is incredible, and it has become my "Squirrel Bible". I will raise him alone with lots of attention, as I keep him in my study, where I spend lots of time. He responds to my voice, and does come out of hiding to see what I
am up too, so I think we are bonding. I feel confident with your guidance and suggestions that he will have a wonderful life.
He LOVED the nutballs. Thanks for all the research you have put into this. I feel assured he is getting all the nutrients he needs now. My husband laughed at me when I told him not to eat one as they were drying. He thought they were candy for the church bake sale! I told him not to drink the whole milk, that it belonged to the squirrel, and he just looked at me funny!
He's very proud that "Squirrely-q" is thriving.
We have the same murderous type that run our wildlife rescue at Oak Mountain. (Alabama). For years I have counseled people to try to get info on the Internet about rearing orphans, and have even informed many horrified people as to what will happen to their little orphan if taken to the rescue. They become dinner for the raptors, which I think should totally be made public. How disgusting it was for me to find out, and I think of all the people who believe they are doing the right thing by turning these helpless babies over to "the professionals". I'm on my soapbox now -- forgive me.
Please feel free to include my name in your guestbook, and anything else you might need to use! "Squirrely-Q" and I would have been lost without your wonderful guidance during his infancy, and I am happy to report he is totally weaned, eating like a horse, and would do anything for a Nutball! He graduated last night into his "grown-up cage" which is approximately 3ft x 2ft. He absolutely got cocky about it! He loves all the room, and has his nesting box, his maple branches to climb on, a ladder to go up and down, and several shelves to leap from. He tickles us because he looks like a banner-waving airplane jumping from place to place with a streamer of toilet paper in his mouth!
It is quite obvious that this is your lifetime's work, and you are due many stars in your crown for your accomplishments. Thanks again, Clarissa. I hope we will be able to stay in touch. I am just an old Southern, grandma animal lover that wants to do what's right. Your friend in all that's squirrelly -- Amy in Alabama -- November 21, 2007
I found your web site after the squirrel I was raising had seizures and died suddenly. My dog found him in the yard when he was very young. His eyes were still closed and did not open for about 2 weeks. He was very healthy and grew remarkably fast... with bright eyes and a very good appetite. I had researched how to care for squirrels and thought I was doing everything right.
I never knew about the seizures and diet deficiencies.....since none of the web sites I saw ever mentioned any of this. After a seizure last night, I found my little friend dead in his cage this morning. He was still warm. I was heartbroken. He had come to be very affectionate... and liked to sit on my shoulder. I have never raised any animal from such a young age... and I had developed a strong bond with my furry little friend. I wish I had found your web site first. Maybe he would still be alive today if I had. I will miss him for a long time. I've had many many animals over the years of my life... and he was a real sweet animal.
Please feel free to use my email in any way if it may help save any future rehabbers from the experience I had with my squirrel. I am still amazed at how a wild and nervous animal like a squirrel could feel so comfortable and relaxed with a human. It was an experience I will never forget. Keep up the good work! -- John B. -- U.S.A -- November 5, 2007
ANYONE READING THIS.....PLEASE, PLEASE, ADHERE STRICTLY TO CLARISSA'S ADVICE....SHE
KNOWS WHAT SHE IS TALKING ABOUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YOU DO NOT WANT TO LEARN THE
HARD WAY, LIKE I DID. -- HER MOST IMPRESSIVE ADVICE IS........"WHAT I CAN'T TEACH YOU, THE
SQUIRRELS WILL, SOMETIMES AT A BITTER PRICE." PLEASE, DON'T LET THE BITTER LESSON BE THE
ONE YOU LEARN. YOU WILL NOT LIKE IT, NOR WILL YOUR PRECIOUS BABY SQUIRREL. DO WHAT SHE SAYS, DOWN TO THE LETTER, OR YOU WILL CERTAINLY BE SORRY, BUT NOT NEARLY AS SORRY AS THE VERY SQUIRREL YOU WANT SO BADLY TO PROTECT.......
As you know, you helped/guided/were my solid rock in raising Frank(ie). I did NOT follow your advice like I should have and I think it cost Frank(ie) her life. I thought she was ready for release. She wasn't. I haven't seen her in almost 2 weeks this Sunday. I have seen what I THINK is her, but, she runs from me now, and Frank(ie) never ran from me. The tree I released
her in had an abandoned squirrel's nest in it and she soon took it over in preference to the squirrel box we had for her in that tree. She showed so many signs of independence that made me think she was ready. I will never ever live this down. All that work was for naught because I fear Frank(ie) has fallen victim to some terrible fate. She has not come back to me directly like she used to in almost two weeks. The 3 squirrels I see in my back yard (I continue to leave her food/Nutballs on the ladder I always fed her on) all run from me when I come outside. I can't tell if one of them might be Frank(ie) because they all look alike. The only way I ever distinguished her is she was the one who didn't run when I came outside. She stayed and waited for me to give her pecans!
When I let her out so I could clean her cage, she would really throw a fit and would jump on me and run across my chest and get in my face and chatter to me like she was really mad. I decided she was ready to be released. STUPID CHOICE!!!!
I started her out by taking her 2' by 2' cage outside for the day (during September, when it is very nice here in MS.). I would not open the cage. I just let her get to know the sights and sounds around her. She clung to the door of the cage just BEGGING to be let out. I didn't wanna let her go. One pretty Sunday, I planned on sitting outside all day with her and I
opened the cage. She was 4 and 1/2 months old. TOO SOON, I KNOW, CLARISSA! She went out, hopped on me, then the tree, went straight up to the top, (I BAWLED MY EYES OUT) and she ran all around the tree, looked in the squirrel's nest (that was abandoned) and after 2 hours (I stayed the whole time, crying) then she hopped back on my shoulder as if to say "I'm just not ready," and I took her back inside and put her back in her cage. But, I did this every day for 2 weeks. I let her out, she played, came back and we went back inside.
One day, 2 Sundays ago, I fed her milk (she loved the Scalded Milk), and took her out to "HER" tree and after a few hours, she would not come back to me. She never came back to me since. I have squawled my eyes out every day. I still put food out for her. She has a water bottle in the tree. There has been no water taken from the bottle. It has rained for almost
EVERY day of this past 2 weeks that she has been missing. I soaked myself every night calling her name (I have always said her name out loud every day when I fed her since 6 weeks old) outside underneath her tree. But then, I read that sometimes they stay in the nest for days in cold weather and days when it's bad weather. WHY OH WHY DID I LET HER GO?????????? Because I thought I was cheating her of a life as a squirrel. She had no handicaps, she was very healthy,
(THANKS TO THE SCALDED MILK FORMULA, NO MATTER WHAT ANYONE SAYS, CLARISSA IS RIGHT, YOU JUST HAVE TO SCALD THE MILK, THAT'S ALL) and she displayed the characteristics of a squirrel that knew
what to do........so I thought it would be cruel to keep her in our cage. She was so ready, I THOUGHT!
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PEOPLE........DON'T PUT YOUR BABIES OUT JUST BECAUSE THEY BECOME
AGRESSIVE AND DEFENSIVE!!!!!! IT'S THEIR INSTINCT BUT IT DOESN'T MEAN THEY ARE READY TO BE
RELEASED!!!!!!!!!!!! Just because they don't want or need your touch anymore doesn't mean they are ready for the OUTSIDE WORLD! You just HAVE to keep them and wait till spring.
I wish I had listened to Clarissa. I KNEW she knew what she was talking about, but she DID say that ALL squirrels are different and they will TELL you when they are ready. I REALLY felt that Frank(ie) was ready and because I THOUGHT I KNEW WHAT FRANK(IE) needed, MORE THAN CLARISSA, that she probably needlessly met with her demise, BECAUSE OF ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!
PLEASE, PLEASE, LISTEN TO CLARISSA. SHE IS TRULY KNOWLEDGEABLE AND WILL NOT EVER STEER YOU WRONG, FOR THE SAKE OF THE SQUIRRELS SHE LOVES SO MUCH!!!!!! -- Love ya, Angi Wilson --
Mississippi -- October 28, 2007
Hello -- A female squirrel fell from a nest in our elm tree on Oct. 19, 2007. My husband and a neighbor happened to be out in the yard and heard her crash through a shrub and begin crying LOUD. They found her under the shrub and my neighbor ran home to Google some info on squirrels. Woody brought the baby, which we promptly named Miracle, in to me to take care of. She had no apparent injuries and has thrived on the Scalded Milk formula.
On Oct 22 her brother, Mathew fell from the nest. He was about one third of the way into the fall when he grabbed onto a limb. At least that is what we think happened. I was in the house with the windows closed and the AC on when I heard him crying. My toy poodle began to bark. I thought it was Miracle and went to see what the problem was. Miracle was fast asleep. I continued looking for the source of the crying and spotted Mathew high up in the tree, frantically hanging onto a limb. Woody ran for a ladder. But before he could get it in position the baby fell. This one did not break his fall at all. When I got to him he was knocked cold and I thought he was dead. He began to move in a few seconds and we quickly put him in the plastic coffee can with Miracle. This coffee can, sitting on a pot holder on a heating pad was their home for the next week or so. Then we moved them to a 20-gallon aquarium for more space and then purchased a mesh top for the aquarium. About a week ago, we purchased two cages that they seem to love. They could not stay together because she would molest him and she is the biggest
and he couldn't get away.
A couple of days after he fell, he turned deep purple from his neck to his scrotum. I wasn't at all sure he would recover. But he did and we now have two very affectionate squirrels in our guest bathroom. I think, judging from your description of appearances at certain ages, that they were probably about 3 or 4 weeks old when we got them.
They do enjoy playing together while I clean one of the cages. I hope Miracle gets over her illicit desires soon so they can grow up in the same cage. I have looked at the pictures you have posted in your online album, and still don't know enough about squirrels to know what kind these are. They are grey with some red in their tales and on their feet and a pale apricot
belly. If you can help me identify them, I will be grateful.
I cannot tell you how much I appreciate all the information you have put online. Without it I'm sure I would not have had the success that I have had. Miss Daisy, our toy poodle, thinks they are her babies and insists on bathing them after each feeding. They seem to like it as it calms them and they turn to her to clean their faces if they sneeze while feeding. Miss Daisy
paces the floor and comes after me at feeding time. She is very concerned about them and really dislikes them being looked at or handled by anyone but me. She sits on my lap in the recliner while I feed them and waits impatiently for a chance to lick them. We are all amused and amazed. You can sign me in your guest book. I will send pictures of Miracle and Mathew at a later date. -- Thanks again, Sharron, Coppell, TX -- October 27, 2007
Hi -- I just wanted to send you a great big THANK-YOU!!! for this site!!! I rescued an infant baby grey/cat squirrel close to a month ago now. Poor little thing was lying on my driveway when I came back from dropping my daughter at school :( I didn't even think he was alive, as the ants were making a trail to him :( I looked at him closely and saw his little chest rising, and I snatched him up....brushed the ants off....and put him up under my shirt pressed against me. His eyes weren't open yet, he had shiny new fur on him, but his tail wasn't bushed out. I'd say he was maybe 5 or 6 weeks? I dunno, but thanks to YOU and the Scalded Milk recipe, he is doing FANTASTIC!!! and is now eating solids in addition to his milk, and
NUTBALLS!!! The WONDERFUL Nutballs!!! What a brilliant idea on that!!! Thank you so much for sharing that info and I'm soooo glad I ran across YOUR site first, because ALL the others seem to want you to just give them Pedialyte.....followed by "rodent chow" ?? What the hell?? Rats, I think are rodents! Squirrels are Vegetarians lol
He's in that stage of the "ghosts" right now and I hope he outgrows that soon -- *sighs*
Anyhow....any help/advice you can share with me would be MUCH appreciated!!! And by the way, He LOVES the Nutballs!!!! I'm starting on a stricter regiment tomorrow -- lol -- it's been all nilly-willy and he's had the opportunity to start stashing. So I'm obviously giving him way too much food -- *sighs* He just ALWAYS wants something when he sees me -- *smiles* It's food, mostly he wants, but he does love to be scratched on, too, lol.
You are so right about the other info out there about these little guys, it's a bunch of bunk really. I think they are definitely into the scare tactics *sighs* But I tell you, just by watching this little squirrel and how he is absolutely thriving on the Scalded Milk, and getting fatter by the day, and NOW is on solids & Nutballs (along with a little Scalded Milk still, he just won't give it up yet -- lol) is testament to the fact that you know what the hell you're talking about! I am so glad I found YOUR site FIRST!! ;) To be honest, I forget now what I put in google to get your site, but happy you were the first I clicked on ;)
Thank you again so much for your time in reading my mail and writing me back your response and hopefully the little squirrel that I have isn't going to have any underlying, permanent injuries from the concrete :( It's weird because my driveway has no trees directly hanging over it, but it's possible that he could have fallen and then crawled to where I found him? But I think that's kind of unlikely too, only because he was so small and his eyes weren't even open. Poor little guy was freezing to death and the outside temp was around 90 degrees! I live in Florida lol so it gets incredibly hot here :( If he didn't freeze to death, surely the fire ants would have done him in :( The timing was perfect for him on that fateful day, I'm just glad I got to him when I did, and amazingly enough......not a single cat in sight either :)
Thank you so much for this VERY informative site!!! ;) Thanks again, Clarissa, you are truly a gem!!! *hugs to you* -- Tami in Florida -- October 20, 2007
Hello. I talked to you over a year ago when I found an abandoned grey squirrel in Tennessee in my parents' camper. I thought she was a boy, but turned out to be a girl. I asked your opinion about releasing Jo and the issue was the road in front of my house. I prayed and worried about Jo for a long time. I put her in a cage outside for a week or two and prepared her for release like you told me. We carried the case over the hill to the woods and opened it up to release her. It was such a wonderful thing to see her run up the trees and play around. I stayed in the woods most of the day and couldn't seem to leave her alone. I guess I was being a protective mother!!! I kept her food and water and put her house up a tree with the help of a
ladder. She even came to me for a couple days afterwards. It has been since August of 2006 since I released her. I continue to place food in the feeders and use binoculars to check on the squirrels. I think she found a mate not long after I released her.
I kept her in my home and fell in love with her for 11 months. I'll never forget the love she showed me when she would hang upside down and let me rub her head and chest. The connection was amazing. I can't be for sure that Jo is still there, but I feel in my heart that who I see is her and her babies. Thank you so much for your help. Jo owes you her life and I owe you a
memory.
I also found an orphaned baby wild duck in Tennessee that was named Franklin. I raised him until he had enough feathers to fly. I called a bird santuary and mistakenly got a conservation officer that practically chewed me out and told me that I had broken the law and should release him immediately regardless of his chance for survival. I was so upset that he was so uncaring. He told me that the law of survival had been broken and he might be food for another animal. I decided that I could not do that so I took care of Franklin until he could be released in the river below my parents' where other ducks roam. He would come up for food for a long time when dad would whistle. By the way, I look at the woods every time I'm outside hoping Jo can hear me. The neighbors must think I'm crazy when I call for her. I still believe she is out there somewhere. Thanks again. -- Linda Poe, Athens, W.V. -- October 18, 2007
Hi, Clarissa -- Well I must say the Banana Milkshake must have been what my George needed. I haven't been able to write you to tell you, have been very busy getting ready for winter. You sent me the recipe on Sunday, and I made it right away and fed it to him. I didn't have to feed him with a syringe, fortunately -- he lapped it up when I put it in front of his nose. By Thursday morning he was doing great. I noticed a change in him in about 48 hours. He is now back to his old self again!
I am so grateful that I found your site several years ago when I first found him and I have faithfully followed your advice on everything. I have even referred back to it several times when in doubt about certain foods. I have used your plan since 2001. It works and George can testify to that.
I am sure glad you do what you do. I especially agree with your saying of who says we can't keep them as pets when we know for a fact they can't be re-habbed back to nature. I dare anyone to try and tell me I can't take care of him.
So thanks again for helping save George. He will have a forever place until he is called back to nature. -- Tosca Jones, Wyoming -- October 10, 2007
Dear Clarissa: When we found two baby squirrels in our yard on August 16, 2007, we did not have a clue what to do. Our first thought was to call a local pet shop to inquire what they should be fed. We were told to use a commercial formula that they had on hand. We also contacted a local animal rehabilitator which sounded very far removed from our concern.
The next step was to look on the Internet where we fortunately found your website – Squirrel Nutrition and Care. I am happy to say that our babies, thanks to your priceless knowledge and instructions, are doing extremely well. Thanks to you and all the support you have provided us during the past 50 + days we are confident that, when the day comes, these babies will have normal lives amongst their own kind. They have been a real pleasure for us to watch grow and have them teach us their habits and characteristics. We will certainly never view squirrels the same way again.
My wife and I thank you sincerely for always being there to answer our many questions. -- Highest regards & respect, Jack & Sandy Humphreys -- Northern Alabama -- October 3, 2007
Hello Clarissa -- Please sign my name in your guest book. Thank you for creating this web site. It is very useful. I found a baby squirrel in the end of August. He was about 3 weeks old. I kept him warm and fed him every 3 hours. I got up at night to make sure he was warm and fed. In a week he opened his eyes and in another week he explored his surroundings when he was awake. I called him Schustrik. I am from Russia and in Russian language this means
something quick. I had him for 3 weeks. Unfortunately he died on September 18th. I made mistake taking him for an hour outdoors on August 18th. It was a warm and sunny day but I guess he got a cold and it was deadly for this little fragile creature. I enjoyed taking care of him. I loved him very very much and he will be forever in my heart. -- Best regards, Irina --
September 24, 2007
Dear Squirrel Godmother ~- I received 2 baby squirrels this morning. They fell about 8 feet to the ground. Mother squirrel inspected them, and departed. I have raised 3 babies previously, and hope to do so again.
I want to thank you for the best website in the world for baby squirrel care. I am following your instructions to the letter. Your website is brilliant - absolutely total and comprehensive. I can't imagine the work you've put into such a masterpiece of info. And your hands-on experience is a WOW!
It amazes me the 'disinformation' in the squirrel websites - and from people who are supposed to be wildlife rehabilitators. My thanks to the Earth Mother who got me to your site.
I have made up your Scalded Milk - Vitamin E formula and am using it. There is SO MUCH for me to learn, and I shall, (thanks to you) I've printed out your website into my own Squirrel Nutrition and Care manual. From the looks of things, I didn't do a lot correctly with my first three babies, but I am learning from your information. Hate to bother you, but these tiny ones (2 little brothers) are very precious to me, and I'll do anything I can to raise them properly. What a great service you have done for those of us who are trying to raise baby squirrels.
My grandsons found the baby boy-squirrels in Brandon, Fl. They report that massive portions of the nest were down, and a squirrel they assumed to be the mother was tearing through the remaining nest site and tossing stuff down. After reading your email, I am wondering if it could have been a rogue male squirrel, and not the squirrel mom. My daughter drove the babies down to Bradenton and I had them within 2 hours of their fall from the tree.
And now, permit me to say this: THERE CAN'T BE ENOUGH 'PRAISE CLARISSA' !!!!! Not many people could or would take the time to do what you've done for wildlife. There are not enough words I can use to express my admiration. The Earth Mother smiles on you!
Words here fail me. I can only say thank you for being the Great Squirrel Godmother. Many best wishes from a fan here in Florida ...... Markianne -- Bradenton, Florida -- September 13, 2007
Good Afternoon- I just wanted to let you know that I have had 2 baby squirrels for exactly 2 weeks today. I originally went to the feed store to find out what to feed them, and, as you said they gave me the kitten formula. When I got online and found your site, I followed the SMF, and the diarrhea has completely stopped and they are growing. One has finally opened its eyes, and we are enjoying them so much. I even bring them to work with me every day, so they get fed. I have printed your entire article to follow throughout my care for these animals. I just wanted to say thank you for your help. Without your article, I am sure my little friends
would not have made it. Thanks! -- Amy in Southeast Texas -- September 7, 2007
Hurray for your banana milkshake once again! Last week my friend and I saw a baby squirrel fall at least 40 feet (she was being chased by an adult squirrel) right in front of us onto black asphalt. We heard the crack. It was horrible. We scooped her up and took her home and made up the shake. Her nose was bleeding and she was in shock. She still has some wheezing,
but she's been getting better daily and now runs all over the small cage and is very feisty. She's even drinking the shake from a small dish now as well as it being syringe-fed to her. We are hoping to release her back where we found her as soon as she is able to feed herself and, of course if and when her nose gets back to normal. This is the 4th squirrel just since May that has been saved by the wonderful banana milkshake! Thanks so much for being there. -- Bonnie and Lee (Lake Grove, Oregon) -- August 3, 2007
Hello Clarissa -- Just an update to let you know that my baby is doing great. Her eyes were opening this morning! I am so excited that she is doing so well. The new nipple works great and yes people are trying to get me to switch over to puppy or kitten milk. A vet assistant told me that my baby will die on cow's milk and that she never heard of scalding it and feeding it to
baby animals. Teddy is doing well on this Scalded Milk recipe of yours and I am sticking with it. I always find baby opossums and skunks out here in the country. I live just outside of Baton Rouge, La. in a very small town.
I just wanted you to know that I tried to have a trained person take Teddy and raise her but I was told to just let her die because they already have too many babies being hand raised. She said that it may seem cruel but that's life. I just thanked her and hung up. I really wasn't too surprised since I was told the same thing about the baby skunk I raised and the baby opossums. I have also raised a Night Hawk, an Owl and a baby Raccoon.
Teddy is eating like a little pig and getting to be a healthy little thing. I know a woman who raises baby coons etc. And she uses a baby nurser and I'm not sure what kind of milk, but I do know that a lot of them die and they never look healthy! I am going to see her next Monday and you can be sure that I will educate her!
I do want to thank you for all your help. Your site is great and you are a wonderful person for taking the time to educate people like me. -- Thank You again -- Your new friend from the Bayou -- Suzannne -- August 1, 2007
I have used your website to gain so much information. I truly appreciate all of the time you have devoted to this. It has been a tremendous help with my little friend -- Terri -- July 31, 2007
Hi, Clarissa -- Remember last week when I asked for your banana milk shake recipe again because of an emergency squirrel? I received a message from them tonight and he's doing so well that he's using all his arms and legs and tail, too! She said he's happy. Isn't that great? He was the one who couldn't use his legs and his arms were starting to curl up. I don't have their e-mail so no pictures, but I'm so glad he got better. Your recipe at work again! It has helped me so many times. It's all for the good of the fuzzy ones. -- Lee in Oregon -- June 17, 2007
Hi, Clarissa -- There are many of us in the world who love you for what you have done for squirrels -- many of whom who went on to live happy lives. I am sure the Angels of the many squirrels you have saved over the years will surround you and protect you with their love. -- Lots of
love from Bruce Humphrey, South Africa -- June 1, 2007
Thank you, Clarissa for your awesome website. I’ve rehabbed in the past and was forced to take a break (divorce does that)..…now my life is back in order and I’m able to do what I love again which is rehabbing. I’ve renewed my license and although I missed squirrel season, I’ve have a couple of animals in my care at the moment. Since I am a bit rusty, I’ve been researching all the info on rehabbing that I can find and your website is the first website I’ve found with such extensive knowledge and clear, precise do’s and don’ts. I applaud you for putting together this information. It’s a wonderful tool to not only “brush up” on today’s animal rehabbing but also an excellent reference for new rehabbers. You’ve done an excellent job. Thank you. Have a great day. -- Gina -- June 1, 2007
Hi Clarissa -- I am a wildlife rehabber in Florida. Our facility handles squirrels, deer, raccoons and all avian species, songbirds to raptors. Recently a couple brought me an aged flying squirrel, they were convinced it was a baby grey squirrel and needed milk. They had gone online and printed
out your "Squirrel Nutrition and Care", before they discovered a rehabber was nearby and brought the little old guy to me. They left behind your copy of the nutrition formulation. At the time I had three squirrels, lethargic, scraggy fur, etc......after reading your paper I figured what could I
lose....and tried it.....absolute magic....in a matter of days....healthy happy, very active beautiful babies. Ok, so now I am hooked and ranting to all rehabbers in my network about the Scalded Milk idea.
I had never used the Scalded Milk formula, always KMR/Esbilac and had good success with it. In the last couple years, we found that we had a higher mortality rate with both squirrels and raccoons to our understanding the formula has been changed twice for KMR/Esbilac...we were told
we had to request the "rehabbers" formula. hmmm ~! Other rehabbers in our network began complaining of the same issues. My vet, whose CVT lives across the road from me, assisted us in attempts to discover the problem. Last year I lost 6 coons and euthanized 8 more. My vet found nothing in the necropsy that we could blame for the loss.
So now we have baby coons again.......tried the Scalded Milk with them...seems to work. No weight lost with this formula, active and healthy and no blessed runny poops ! So my question is: Do you reccomend this SAME formula for coons or can you suggest something more suitable for
them....I am DONE with KMR and Esbilac.
Would really apreciate some good nutritional advice if you have any to offer for coons....I mostly get orphaned babies that I raise and release. I have a girl in our network who rehabs mainly squirrels, so unless she gets overwhelmed I only do a few. -- Lynda, Director, Sky Harbor Inc., Hudson, Florida -- May 30, 2007
Clarissa -- I just wanted to thank you for saving Blessing's life. He is completely healed and is eating and pooping regularly. I feed him the Shake everyday so he can get his vitamins since he won't eat the balls. He is running all over my room like he used to, and playing hide and seek with
me in my closet. He has more energy, is getting a little feisty when someone else tries to pick him up, but from what you have told me that is normal. If there is anything I can do that could help you or others, please don't hesitate to ask. I am just so grateful. -- Thanks again. -- Sharon -- April 28, 2007.
Clarissa -- Thank you for answering my emails so quickly. And Thank you soooooooooooo much for your advice. It has helped me tremendously. Couldn't do it without you. Thanks again. -- Frances Lamb -- April 25, 2007
Hi Clarissa -- I first found your page in 2005 and have since successfully rescued many babies! I manage a pet supply store and am so happy to have a resource I am confident in sharing with my patrons when it comes to orphan care. Thanks so much for your efforts and keep up the good
work. -- P.S. Attached are photos of my last release (Starvin' Marvin) and my newest "Earth Day Rescue" - Orbit. -- Thanks Again! -- Elaina (Chicago, IL) -- April 25, 2007
Hi Clarissa! I wanted to let you know that we released Cracker, (a gray tree squirrel - see posting below), to our backyard a few weeks ago and that he is doing great!!! We live on the central coast of California, so it becomes warmer sooner than most states. Example: today is 90 degrees!
Anyway, approximately four weeks before release, we transferred Cracker from his large indoor cage to a huge (about 6ft X 6ft x 4ft) outdoor cage in the garage, which my husband built of wood and chicken wire. He put several tree limbs in the cage for Cracker to climb on, along with a
nesting box, ropes to climb, toys, etc. His estimated age was about six months old. After four weeks of his getting used to the sounds, temperatures and outside world, we moved his cage to the base of a big pine tree. A few days later, we opened the door and allowed him to venture out at his own pace. He did so immediately.
We knew he was ready to go, as he kept pacing and chewing on the cage. He went right up the pine tree and spent the entire day running back and forth on the limbs of the pine, exploring and enjoying his freedom. That night and every night after, he would return to his cage to sleep. But in
the morning, he'd be back to his business of exploration. Each day since then he has discovered many new trees, fences, yards, other squirrels, etc. He wanted to climb up our legs at first, but we discouraged this behaviour and he is approaching people less and less and keeping his distance like a real squirrel!
He does mostly stay in our yard and each morning and evening we continue to spot him eating the supplemental feedings we put out for him, in addition to his foraging for natural foods. We also put out a flower pot dish of water for him from which he drinks. Not only does Cracker enjoy our offerings of fruit, nuts, water, etc. but every gray tree squirrel in our neighborhood also enjoys it!
They are all so fun to watch and we have learned so much about these beautiful, gentle creatures from this experience! Cracker now lives in the oak tree behind our house with a few other squirrel friends and he is the most gorgeous of all of them! Thanks to your recommended daily diet, the Scalded Milk formula and the Nutballs, he has the most beautful coat and full, large, colorful tail of any of the other squirrels in our neighborhood!
Thank you again, Clarissa, for your support and for sharing your knowledge and experience on this website!!! -- Sincerely, Debbie, Gene and, especially, Cracker :) -- Debngene4u@aol.com -- March 24, 2007
Hi, Clarissa -- I found Snoopy , a beautiful little gray squirrel about 3 to 4 weeks old, climbing my front screen door a day after I buried his mama who had been hit by a car. The next day I found his brother, Charlie, huddled next to our fence cold, and wet from sprinklers. I put Charlie
on a heating pad next to Snoopy, but sadly he died that night, and I buried him next to his mama.
I went on the web and found some information which said to feed formula---so I bought some Enfamil and a baby bottle at the pet store. Snoopy got diarrhea , and after more searching I found Clarissa's site and it made more sense especially with all her successes. So I followed
everything to a "T", and Snoopy did wonderful!! The Scalded Milk formula and Nutballs made a strong and healthy squirrel.
About two weeks ago I let Snoopy out of his cage on the back patio as his present cage was too small for him. I guess he was about 6 or 7 months old. He made his way out front and was running frantically all over. It was getting dark and I tried to get him to go back to his cage. After
several hours my husband and I herded him back. He was so scared and so were we that he may get hit by a car. I realize now he was too young and immature to release.
I called a wildlife rehabber to see if she had a pre-release cage and thankfully hers was in use by a raccoon. I told her about the Scalded Milk formula and she was surprised at how well it worked. She said she was going to mention that at the next meeting since kitten formula was so expensive. I
also gave her Clarissa's E-mail address! Next, I e-mailed Clarissa for help----should have done it sooner!!! To my surprise she answered immediately and has answered all my questions. Well, we knew his cage was too small and he was too young to release, so my husband built a larger cage
and he's so happy in it. We plan to release Snoopy late March early April and hopefully being older, he'll do better.
After all is said and done----follow Clarissa's instructions and advice completely----it works!!! I can't thank her enough for caring and answering so quickly!! God bless her. -- Deanna -- near Sacramento, California -- February 14, 2007
Clarissa - -Thank you so much for sharing all of your experience and knowledge about squirrels with the world. Because of you, there are many happy, healthy, frisky friends out there who will live to play in the trees! I am so glad I found your website!
My baby, Cracker, is doing great on the Scalded Milk formula and the
Nutballs, along with your suggested feeding guide of fruits, vegetables and nuts. I follow your recommended feeding guide to a tee and he seems to be doing wonderfully! I like your overall caring approach and helping attitude toward the little guys. When my baby became sick from actually eating too much apple twig, you emailed good, caring advice promptly! He was fine again within 24 hours!
My husband found Cracker, a baby gray, one evening at the base of our very large elm tree in our front yard. He was cold and shivering and our cat was playing with him. My husband immediately placed him in an outdoor cage, wrapped in one of his t-shirts, under a heat lamp. I got online and found your website and brought him in the house right away to a homemade incubator. I fed him some Scalded Milk with an oral syringe. His eyes were still closed, but opened after a few days.
It was around this time that my husband witnessed a hawk carrying away one of Crackers siblings from the drey. A couple of weeks later, he found the stiff carcass of another one of his siblings by the base of the elm. It appeared that this unfortunate baby had starved to death and then was blown down out of the tree with a strong wind. Obviously, these babies were
truly orphaned - the reason why will only be a guess for us.
Now I estimate Cracker's age to be around 11 or 12 weeks old. He is still taking two formula feedings daily, along with the Nutballs and solid foods. He is very cute and gentle, yet extremely playful and so much fun to watch! We will soft-release him to the trees in our back yard when the time comes this spring and hope he sticks around to visit us occasionally.
Thanks again for all of your knowledgable information and support based on many years of experience! Your expertise is over 2500 squirrels strong - you can't go wrong with those stats!!! -- We thank you and all of the squirrels out there thank you! -- Sincerely, Debbie -- Debngene4u@aol.com --
December 3, 2006
Miss Summers: -- I want to thank you for publishing “Squirrel Nutrition and Care”. It saved Rocky’s life. -- I found Rocky in the backyard one evening last August after a thunderstorm. He and part of his nest had fallen from high in a pine tree. I left him in the yard for a few hours hoping his mother would reclaim him. I was hesitant to undertake the care of a baby squirrel. That night my partner and I agreed that if he had not been reclaimed by his mother or carried off by a neighborhood cat, and was still alive, we would attempt to help him. Once I held Rocky’s cold
pink-gray little body, him still grasping pine straws from his nest, I knew I had to take care of him. I estimate he was about three weeks old at the time I found him.
We did research on the Internet on how to care for him, and several sources we found said to feed him Esbilac. We did. He did well for a while, but around 7 weeks of age he began to lose his hair and suffer bouts of lethargy. Just before he turned eight weeks old he suffered a major seizure as I held him in my hand. We were desperate for help; but I was determined not to turn him over to a vet., fearing he would be euthanized.
My partner’s brother found your website and shared it with us. Although our previous research said cow’s milk would make Rocky ill, after reading your information, we made a leap of faith and tried the Scalded Milk formula. The results were nearly immediate. He began to recover within 24
hours. After a few weeks his hair grew back. Rocky is now a healthy, active, stubborn, mischievous little squirrel. I am attaching some photos for you.
We always assumed Rocky’s mother and siblings remained in their nest, but about the time he became sick, his family nest disappeared completely from the pine tree without a trace. Our neighbor across the street told us she saw a hawk next door with a squirrel in its talons. We think Rocky is now truly an orphan.
We have him weaned now, and he eats one of your Nutballs everyday. We plan to release him in the back yard next spring. Till then we plan to follow your advice because it works. -- Thank you -- George, Scott, and Rocky -- gwellborn2005@netzero.com -- November 28, 2006
Hello -- I am a Category 2 rehabber that tried your Scalded Cow's Milk formula, and your recipes.-- IT WORKS -- and have just sent your web page to all of Wildlife Care Alliances Rehabbers and ARK organization rehabbers. We have experienced dying babies from Esbilac. Thank you very much. It was an accident that I found your web page. Turns out to be a GODSEND.
I have 8 squirrels now and have been rehabbing squirrels for 6 years. Thank you for putting your info out. You're saving squirrels daily and I wish we could convince those narrow-minded people that good old fashioned full of calcium and vitamins COW'S milk is the answer....I'll keep trying though. -- Thank you -- Sharon Reese, Category 2 Wildlife Rehabber, 6 years. Salem, Virginia -- reese2resque@aol.com -- October 5, 2006
Clarissa -- I am so grateful that I found you, because if I hadn't, the two beautiful, healthy flying baby squirrels I raised would not be alive today. You've been there for me through mishaps -- yikes, an escape that lasted an entire afternoon--that seemed like an eternity.
I have looked for years for an answer to the question--how can I raise a wild baby mammal? And it's so simple--it's Scalded Milk. What a relief to know that I can avoid disaster right from the beginning! I've had the squirrels, Clare and Issa (named for you-know-who) for four weeks today.
They are exquisite and fascinating little creatures. Last night I stayed up and enjoyed their nocturnal romping.
It's been a complete delight to raise animals that are so vigorous and strong. They are entering that "scared of everything" stage, so I went ahead and made nutballs so I'd be prepared for the day they turn away from the milk. I've already dropped one feeding but they like their pecans and tried some apple yesterday. They take their milk in the cage now--I just hold the syringe and they grab on, sipping like pros.
Several things that you said especially impressed me and one is what you cannot teach, the squirrels will. How true. I had to experience that to understand. The other is that they are all individuals. From the beginning they each had their own quirky preferences...they even nursed differently. While the wildlife people teach and promote incorrect and deadly methods for raising squirrels and other animals, your common sense approach is life affirming.
Thank you again. I'd have never learned without you! -- Maryl in the Delta -- October 5, 2006
Hi Clarissa -- My name is Mary Dunn and I live in Watertown, MA. I love your website. I wish I had run into it sooner. About 3 weeks ago a baby squirrel (probably a few days old) fell out of the maple in my backyard. This little guy, which I named Squirmy, was not picked up by Mom.
I nursed the little guy for 2 weeks and then another squirrel fell out of the same nest. Again, I put the little gal, Screechy (screeched every time she got picked up), out to see if mom would pick her up. Trying to be law abiding and all, I was looking for a rehabber seeing it is illegal to possess squirrels in Massachusetts. There was no one willing to take them. I was finally told to take the litlle ones to the New England Wildlife Center. It was so painful giving up the little darlings. I dropped them off on 9/23/06. I was in tears.
Well, this particular center makes it on the 11:00 o'clock news by Wednesday for animal neglect among other things. I call around to find out if there is another place I can take the babies to. I went to pick them up on Saturday 9/30/06 to check that they are ok and also to take them to a
facility that specializes in small mammals. When I got there they told me the babies had died. I believe they were euthanized. They gave me a b.s. story about how they had diarrhea (they had no diarrhea when I dropped them off -- their stool was well formed) -- then all of a sudden they change
their story to it was probably squirrel pox.
I was so angry. Is this what happens to baby squirrels when they are turned over to a rescue? I feel horrible I sent these sweet little creatures to their death. If only I had known. I was looking forward to seeing them grow up. The little sweeties got to the point that they would recognize my voice and would climb over each other looking for food. I was really surprised that they survived the fall from the maple - It is about a 40 foot drop.
Many people I told my story to did not see what the big deal was (they are only squirrels they would reply). You were the first person that
actually cared. I really don't understand why squirrels are so maligned. They cause humans no harm. It seems the most common complaint is they get into cellars and feeders -- a mere anoyance at most. Yet people see this as good enough reason to exterminate the poor creatures. Getting into cellars is nothing in comparison to the destruction we have wreaked upon the Earth. We have so lost our perspective. We are such a disposable society - it is awful. However, I was in no way prepared to deal with the fact that our wildlife rescues and some rehabbers have this same attitude.
Clarissa, your Guest Book is impressive. I loved reading the comments. It's so nice to know there are still people out there that care for our wildlife. I very much like your idea about putting more info about the wildlife rescues and their agenda. For my part I will definitely spread the word on these wildlife rescues and start advocating for squirrels. -- Thanks for listening (reading).-- Sincerely, Mary Dunn, Watertown, MA -- TANARIVE@aol.com -- October 3, 2006
My son and his friend found 2 baby squirrels on the ground early in April, 2006. Fortunately, I found your website a couple of days later. We have followed your instructions exactly, including the nut squares and the babies have done great. Last week I started releasing them -– the little
boy found the trees and apparently a little girl friend within just a few days. Our little girl has decided to stay near her cage and doesn’t show much interest to venture off.
Thank you so much for sharing your information. I have copied all of it and keep it in a notebook for future reference. -- Barbara in South Carolina -- September 25, 2006
I want to tell you how great your web site is. -- Years ago my son found a baby squirrel and we kept her for a couple of months and then unfortunately I was clueless about the whole release procedures. I let her out in my friend's backyard (because I had outside cats) and unfortunately that afternoon it poured until the next day and when I went back looking for her and she never came back. To this day it still bothers me.
My daughter brought one home last Tuesday and I just couldn't remember what all they ate. I looked at the other web sites before I got to yours and I couldn't believe after reading the others, had I not continued to your web site, I would have killed her. They actually recommended those
formulas. Your information was so incredible I feel like I'm an expert now..... almost.
I have to ask you a question though. I live in Florida and we have lots of ants. When I start putting her outside, and the house in the tree that you lock her up in the evening, what do you do? We get so much rain, the ants are always going up. What if when you start letting her out, how do
you know she's going to come back? I know how smart and secure she is with her cage now, will it be like that then? She won't be scared of all that goes on outside?
I ask because I found myself up a tree with our last one when I'd put her on the tree and something startled her, she ran up and wouldn't come down I was probably 31 then and all I could only ask myself was what in the hell I was doing climbing trees for at that age. (You can break bones!) So here it is 14 years later and I know I'm not going up the tree. Falling through a ceiling once was enough for me!
I want to do this right. Any advice or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. -- Thank you for the education.-- Sincerely; Renee' Scrima -- Myatta2ds@aol.com -- September 19, 2006
I have been using your web page as a squirrel bible! We have two little reds that we found in the middle of the road with a mom that had been hit by a car. Of course, I had to bring them home. I was afraid that they may become dinner for a cat or something else. They are healthy and full of it!
They seem to love to be held or sit on you. My daughter-in-law is their hiding place.
They are eating very well on their own and drink water fine. So feeding them isn't a problem. We have had them close to two weeks now and they are growing and seem to be doing fine. I think they're about 1-1/2 months old? They have a large cage to live in, about 3ft x 2ft x 2ft. I have tried
to keep the inside as natural as I can with leaves, pine branches and a small limb from an apple tree that they can climb on. Plus they have their chunk of old wool blanket that they nest in.
Well I just wanted to let you know what we have and how helpful your web site has been! -- I'll stay in touch and keep you up on "the twins"! -- Thanks, Ricc........ricc9@verizon.net -- September 16, 2006
Hey to everyone surfing around on the Internet trying to figure out how to save a baby squirrel -- you are on the right track!!! Clarissa has the knowledge and cares!!. Our dog found a baby squirrel in the backyard two weeks ago - we did not have a clue what to do. Just tried to keep him warm and my husband fed him some soy milk. The next day I tried kitten milk which was recommended in my local pet store. But I wanted to make sure and find out from someone who has experience so I surfed around. And wow, there is a lot of information out there! A lot of confusing stuff!-- People trying to scare and intimidate you and give the wrong information. Especially against scalded cow's milk. Well I followed my gut feeling - I mean come on, 2,500 Squirrels and successful with this diet over 20 years!!!.
Of course people can put any kind of info on the net and one can never be sure if it they are being honest and know what they are talking about, but reading through these instructions anyone can tell that this is written by a person who really cares and wants to do the right thing.
Well, Sammy is growing like a weed and just opened his eyes today. What a cutie! -- First I thought he was a rat and did not really want anything to do with him, but anyone with a heart in the right spot can not watch something squirm around in the dirt (not even a rat!), suffering, cold and scared. So I am glad I did the right thing (was not sure at first, but Clarissa answered all of my questions patiently - and right away!! - and reassured me).. Sammy will enrich our life for the next 5-6 months and then hopefully have a good life in the woods behind our house. I will keep you updated on his growth, Clarissa. -- Thank you so much again! -- Tanja in Arkansas :) --September 15, 2006
I just wanted to thank you for your very informative website. I wish I had found it before my squirrel had seizures and died last night. I have never cried so hard over losing an animal, it was so traumatic. He seemed to be so fine. I was following instructions from a rehab website and fed him Esbilac along with Clavamox for a cat bite. It seems so terribly unethical for them to be telling the public how to kill a squirrel. -- Jennifer -- jenpetosa@gmail.com -- September 14, 2006
Hi, Clarissa -- We live in the Dallas area and on August 15th found what turned out to be a baby squirrel (is it a monkey? is it an alien ?) underneath the oak tree in our front yard. Put little baby in a blanket in a shoebox and raced to the Internet to see what we had. Luckily we found your site and after realizing baby was cold, added a hot water bottle under his blankies. From your pictures and descriptions we determined he was a 3 to 4-week-old baby Fox Squirrel.
He had seizures all the first night. About every 30 minutes he would scream and fling himself into the corner of the box and his little heart would beat so fast. Finally we all fell asleep and truthfully I was surprised to find him alive in the morning. I worried his injuries may be too much so I called my (EX) vet who offered to do a "mercy euthanasia" for free. No thank you! If he dies I vowed, he will at least be warm and looked after in my care until then.
Back onto the Internet where I was stunned and confused to see so many different theories, each claiming to be the only way, but in the end my common sense prevailed and I went with Scalded Milk recipe (but with a twist -- we only drink Organic milk so baby got organic milk too). He never had any more seizures and has thrived since then. We call him Earl the Squirrel.
At 6 weeks his eyes opened, one and then the other like you said. We estimate him to be about 8 weeks old now, he is well furred and bright-eyed and eagerly drinks about 15 to 18 ccs per 4 x a day feeding. His tail is starting to get bushy and he is very active and well, squirrely.
I have a few questions about his development -- he is still very unsteady on his feet and often walks in circles and just sorta falls all over but he is getting better every day. He does seem more
coordinated on my 'tree hand' that he clings to and spins on when I am feeding him. Is being unsteady normal 8 week old stuff ?
Also, I'm pretty sure we have a real tooth problem - his bottom 2 teeth are WAY to the left of the upper teeth, maybe he fell on his face? He did have a little black spot on his nostril when we found him. What can we do about such a misaligment? Appreciate any ideas and help. He is just
starting to chew on the pecan I put in his cage but does not seem to crumble much yet.
It is funny because now that I am SQUIRREL AWARE, I can see his nest and I have seen his mama scolding my cat from a tree. I also have a male adult in my back yard who ate every single pecan off my tree (and flung the shells on my patio) by the end of August. Forget Christmas Pecans
this year everyone. Earl's dad ate em all, so I had to BUY pecans for my little baby.
Thanks again for all your help. Please feel free to add us to your Guest Book. We are grateful for your knowledge and willingness to share. SCALDED MILK has been working for us - Earl is fat and sassy and seems very content. -- The Watkins in Texas -- September 11, 2006.
Good Morning Clarissa -- We just got back from a 4-day visit with my parents. We brought Scooter with us. He didn't seem to mind the ride or the new environment, however he didn't want anything to do with my Mother!
I scrapped the batch of Nutballs I dried in the oven, and threw the Monkey Biscuits out to the crows. I ordered more dolomite, alphalfa etc on line and will make another batch as soon as I get my shipment. It's o.k if he goes a few days with out them right? I'll dry them in the sun or under a light this time. I gave him the Scalded Milk with a little banana mixed in and he didn't want it at first. He finally ate some, but this morning he wouldn't take any. He did eat some kale, kiwi, apple, a raw cashew, raw fresh corn and some zucchini. I'll try to give him milk again tonight before he gets anything else. I do notice that he seems much calmer he doesn't seem as hyper although he's very active and likes to play. Maybe he's weaning himself.
I read your information a few more times and got more information! There's a lot of information to absorb. Eventually I'll have it memorized. I keep referring back to it. Your information is priceless! I've thrown away the other information I printed. I've made a list of vegetables that are calcium blockers and will only give him those in the morning. At night he'll have his nut ball and other fruits and vegetables that don't block the calcium. Is it safe to say that starchy vegetables are calcium blockers? He has a really big appetite. His favorite is raw organic cashews (no salt or sugar) and pine nuts.
I appreciate all of your information and the time you took to respond to me. Because of you I will do things right and my little one will live to be released and have a nice life. There is nothing worse than someone meaning well and killing an animal because of laziness or lack of correct
knowledge. If I didn't find your site, I might have fallen into that category! Most people don't realize that taking a baby animal in is a long commitment. Some of my friends think I'm "over doing it" by keeping him until Spring. (dummies)
I live in the Northwestern part of Connecticut. It's the last rural area left. My property borders 10,000 acres of state forest so he'll have his choice of trees! We'll build a nice nest box for him in a sheltered area. There are hunters in the woods, but they don't go after squirrels.
I would never call a rehabber in this area. They do nothing but dispose of the poor little critters once they kill them! It's a shame that I have to worry about "getting caught" helping a small helpless animal. Last time I looked this was still the USA, but sometimes I feel like I'm living in Russia where everything is watched and even good deeds are condemned. I don't care what the laws say, I'll do what's right even if it means breaking the law. Besides the people who make the laws don't have a clue. I'm so tired of the politicians, their dumb laws and politics. They're all a bunch of boobs and no matter who we elect, nothing will change. Our government is a tangled mess, but as tangled as it is, I wouldn't want to live anywhere else! Things would be a lot different if I were running the show!
When I get a digital camera, or if can take a good one with my cell phone and have someone down load it to my computer at work, I'll e-mail you a picture of my little guy before I release him in the Spring. You can add my success story to your site if you want to.
Maybe when I retire in another 25 years I'll become a full time rehabber! (A real one, not affiliated with the State) : )
Thank you again. I can't tell you how grateful I am to have found your information! -- Ellen in Connecticut -- September 7, 2006
Hello Clarissa -- I am sure you get 100's if not 1000's of e-mail regarding baby squirrels, but I thought I would send you a thank-you. After a pretty intense storm knocked the eavestrough off the front of our house I went out the next day to tear what was left of it down and subsequently found a nest of 3 baby squirrels. We, my 3-year-old son and my wife, made a few mistakes along the way but where we live there are no rehabilitation centres and our only alternative would have been to turn the babies over to out local SPCA. This didn't seem like the right thing to do.
We left the babies for a couple hours in the roof, but Mom did not return and we found ourselves the proud parents to what we thought was 3 baby squirrels. As it turns out, 1 of them had died at some point and we were in fact left with only 2. So, on with the "zillion" feedings a day including the dreaded middle of the night feedings. Fortunately I work shift work and my wife works only part-time so these feedings were not all that impossible to deal with.
We did however lose one of the babies days after taking them in. We are now a family to only 1 baby, but the good news is he, now named Lucky by my 3-year-old, seems to be doing excellently.
Through research, mostly from your site, we were able to learn more than we ever imagined about baby squirrels. We are fairly certain Lucky was approx 1 1/2 days old when we found him. He is now almost 7 weeks old and more energetic than we imagined.
So, this is a letter of thanks for all the help your site provided. -- Thank-you.-- I have sent a few pictures, feel free to do what ever you like with them. Any further help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. -- Thankfully, The Sinnings in Canada -- September 6, 2006.
First of all, A friend of mine who I also work with, had found a baby squirrel, (probably around 7 wk's old) and didn't know what to do with her. So knowing how much my boyfriend and I love animals, she brought her to us. Anyway, to try and make a long story short, we did some research on the computer, and found out (or so we thought) what to, and not to, feed baby
squirriels. We first started feeding the kitten formula, but then decided to switch to the "puppy" formula, Thinking for whatever reason, that it would be "better" for her. This went on for probably 3 days.
And then, my boyfriend came across your website, Thank Goodness..... because it seemed like just about everything we were doing was contradictory to what you were recommending. And since you had sucessfully raised over 2500 squirrels....well, we were going with the numbers... ...and it's also like you said, "Success speaks for itself"............ So we immediately changed Petey's formula, from kitten and puppy formula to the "scalded milk" with 250mg of Vitamin E per 8 oz milk 4x daily, along with some crumbled up pecans, just a scant few sunflower seeds (unsalted) We offer her this 2x a day, along with also offering some thinly diced strawberries, bananas (her favorite), diced apples, although she absolutely loves applesauce.......And now, she's growing like a weed. She seems to be really healthy and just loves attention. In fact, if anything, we may be giving her too much attention. You see, we also have 2 Yorkies, Bubba & Tippy, who, ever since Petey arrived --well, let's just say they've been just a little bit jealous. But then again, they know how much we care for Petey, And would never do anything to hurt her.
Anyway, we just want to thank you for all the information you have provided us and so many others as well. Without it, I know there would be a lot fewer baby squirrels making it to "maturity".
You know, It really is ridiculous what some of these people are allowed to say on their webbsites. The information they are giving others is for the most part wrong And hopefully someday, there will be a law prohibiting them from doing so.
Another cute little thing she does is while holding her in my cupped hands, I will rub her nose with mine, and she she just loves this, falling asleep almost immediately. It's so cute............
Well, I know I said at the beginning of this letter-email, that I was going to make this short, So much for that, huh? But there's just so much going on in her life. She's so sweet, that I can't help but to go on and on about her. Sorry........Anyway, I'll wrap this up for now. And once again, thanks so much for your help. Without it, I know we wouldn't have been able to successfully raise this wonderful baby. -- Sincerely -- Valerie, Troy, and "Petey Pie" -- September 5, 2006
Hi, Clarissa! -- Well, I wasn't doing everything wrong, but I sure wasn't doing everything right either! I was so very thankful to find the priceless info you provided on your site. Bart (gray fur-baby) is thriving!
You're absolutely right about there being so much bad info out there. The first site I got was one of those that recommended puppy formula and releasing at about 8 to 9 weeks old. I've raised puppies and too many alarms were going off in my head about some of their advice, so I kept digging and found you. What a Godsend!!!
.
Bart got his last feeding a bit later than 10 tonight -- his belly still looked a little too poochy so I waited a bit. At least he is no longer getting the worrisomely distended belly like he got with the commercial formula. When I would see that in puppies (or adult dogs), I knew something serious was wrong.
You were spot on when you said some babies fall out of the nest because they're still latched on when mama takes off. I think that's exactly what happened with Bart. Since he's so young, he'll have to overwinter inside so I'll need to set up some things to accomodate him.
You might mention in the part of your (Nutball) recipe about the brewers yeast that not all kinds are created equal. The label should say what the yeast was grown on, like blackstrap molasses or sugar beets; some lower end brewer's yeasts are actually grown on wood chips and sawdust and are nutritionally inferior.
Just want to say thanks again for the work you've done and the valuable info you provide. -- Dryad in Missouri -- August 24, 2006.
Angel Clarissa --I was so thankful to find your site, seems like there are as many opinions on this subject as there are web sites. Like you said success (thriving) is the only proof I needed. After she got 1 full day of Scalded Milk in her, she was a totally different squirrel!!! So strong and quite insistent when she wants to eat.
After 2 days of no food before she was given to me, to 3 feedings of baby
formula, 3 feedings of newborn puppy formula every 2 hrs (WITH DROPPER NO LESS), I finally found your site -- what a blessing. -- I know it's early but I am sure you will be able to add her to your list of successes. -- Grateful, Tina in Oregon -- August 18, 2006
Clarissa -- I just wanted to update you on the little squirrel's first feeding of the Scalded Milk, yogurt, and banana. She loves it! (My friend named her Amelia after Amelia Earhart (sp?), because of her "flying" out of the nest.)
I wish I had found your website sooner. Besides the twitching, she had appeared to me to be doing well, but yesterday, I was becoming concerned, because she didn't seem as interested in eating as she had before and she was becoming a little bloated and not having BMs. She also was getting very restless. When I introduced the milk formula today, at first, she was like, "Whoa, What is that!?" and then after a couple of little tastes, she latched on and sucked until it was all gone (3 cc's). She laid back, satisfied and relaxed! She curled up in a ball and went back to sleep. All the while she was eating, she was pooping, which was a very good sign, because I was afraid of her getting backed up.
I laid her back in her bed and did not see one twitch! I didn't expect to see changes that quickly! The other person I talked to also recommended feeding Cheerios when they first start to eat solid foods. After reading your info, I bought some pecans instead, for when that time comes. I
know it's still a few weeks away, but I want to be prepared. Your nutrition info just makes so much more sense. I thank you again so very much!
They also recommended feeding every 3 hours, but I saw in your website that you say every 5 hrs. There is a lot of incorrect info out there. About the only thing that was the same was the info about the heating pad, which I had already figured out on my own.
I tried feeding Amelia at about 4 hours, thinking since she was used to every 3 that she might be hungry--well, she was not interested in eating! She let me know she was still full from her previous feeding of the good stuff. Before, when I fed her the KMR, she would act like she was starving until yesterday, when she started to bloat. I think the reason she doodled throughout her feeding of the scalded milk is because she had not done so for her previous 3 feedings. But now we are on the right track, thanks to you! She definitely seems more content!
I am looking forward to watching her grow and become a healthy member of the squirrel society. It's by the grace of God that this little critter has survived this long! Thank you for your website. It is VERY informative.You may add this to your guest book if you'd like, as well as any of my previous emails. Thanks so much for being available to answer my questions. -- Melodie -- USA -- August 6, 2006
Dear Clarissa -- I just wanted to tell you, on behalf of all the people out there, like me, that you have taught to care for the baby squirrels, THANK YOU. The Scalded Milk has saved all my babies. More people need to tell it like it is!
I know you get tons of emails and you give each person all the information they need. I know that plenty of them realize it is too much trouble and there is no telling what happens to those babies. People have to be willing to give up 9 months of their life, be willing to spend money to get the Nutball ingredients, have an assortment of cages, etc & etc. I don't have to tell you!
But when I look at my healthy, tiny baby and feel relaxed because of all you have taught me, and continue to teach me, I had to tell you how very important it is that there is someone like you to teach us. Because of you, this is my fourth healthy baby.
Those wildlife people won't tell you anything and just say "you can't do it" and want to pick up the squirrels. But you are willing to give us a chance to learn and raise healthy squirrels to return to nature, where they belong.
Just wanted to tell you how much you mean to everyone like me, who truly appreciates you and what you do. -- Alisa -- July 20, 2006.
Dear Clarissa -- I just want to thank you for reading my mail and giving me a answer. I have had a couple of squirrels just die on me and I do believe it was because of the sunflower seeds. I think what you have done on this web page is just great. I love squirrels and I really want to do what is right for them.
I also have a flying squirrel that is about 7 months old and I guess the Nutball is also good for her. A man cut down a tree that had a nest of flying squirrels and so far she is doing great. I just think that what you have done on the web page is great. I did print out all 50 pages.
Thank you so very much for your attention. I do love squirrels and I think you are the person that can guide people like me to make sure that they can have a happy and healthy life. Thank you.-- Juanita Dean -- July 19, 2006
Hi, Clarissa -- Just wanted to let you know that the baby is in great shape now!! She is eating great at all feedings. I have had her almost 72 hours and I feel sure she will be okay.
I see what you mean about sores or scratches healing fast. All the swelling, in her tail, is almost, gone. The redness is gone also. The skin around the scab is healing very well. The way she looked when I got her, compared to 3 days on the Scalded Milk, should make a believer out of even the most skeptical of people. I don't believe she would have lasted much longer, if I hadn't gotten the milk into her. -- Alisa -- July 17, 2006
My Dearest Clarissa -- I want everyone to know how much you've meant to me, how much you've helped me with raising my baby squirrels. There have been too many to count, but you know each and every one of them, as I did. You've helped me through the good times and the bad. You've always been there for me and these babies. These babies and I wouldn't have gotten this far without you.
I can't thank you enough. You've been such an inspiration. -- Shannon in Indiana -- July 5, 2006
Dear Clarissa -- About a year ago my neighbor found a baby squirrel in his flower bed. I took on the responsibility of raising this baby. I first got goat's milk and fed it to my baby. Of course it gave him diarrhea. This friend of mine found your website and I took all your advice. My squirrel (Chester) was approx. 2 weeks old when I got him. I fixed the scalded milk recipe, I set my alarm clock in the middle of the night to get up and feed him and even brought him in a box and put on a heating pad to work with me each day.
Chester grew to be an adult squirrel, we put him in a big cage outside after winter with a 5 gallon bucket with a plastic top with a hole cut in it sideways for his bed. One day he got out, I couldn’t find him. The next day I called him and he came out of the tree to me. I decided to let him out of the cage. Each time I would call Chester would come down and let me love on him. Approx. 3 weeks ago Chester no longer comes down. Maybe he is enjoying being free.
I’m so thankful for your web site with such helpful information. If it had not been for you, Chester would have never made it!! -- Melissa in Louisiana -- June 6, 2006
Dear Clarissa -- You may have just saved 5 more lives with your very informative site. Several years ago I raised and released 2 squirrels and a raccoon. I was at a complete loss as what to do when I came home one evening in March to discover three 3 to 4 week old flying squirrels that needed my help after losing their mother to my dog. Thank goodness my son found your site on the web. I'm confident that they will make it. Their average weight has gone from 10 grams to 46 grams. I've recently started them on the nut balls. My spouse did not agree with this step saying "mother squirrels didn't have access to Wal-mart and Health Food Stores".
I was determined not to stop now -- after all, these babies were counting on me now. I even decided to consume any unused vitamins for my own better health. This last week I was able to refer a friend to your site as she needed assistance with a orphaned bunny.-- Thank you again for your guidance. -- Shari in Alabama -- (Miss Piggy, Rocky and Scrat) -- lseal@centurytel.net -- May 13, 2006
Hi, Clarissa -- Between you, my husband, and some deep soul searching, I decided not to get involved with the wildlife group. They wanted to train me and it would be a waste of everyone's time. I know what to do with a healthy baby squirrel and whatever I don't know, I will turn to you. I've had 3 babies and 3 successes. It doesn't take a genius to know who is giving out the right advice.
Another important thing. My heart may not be in it for the possums. If my heart is not in it than the love is not there. (It could be that I might fall in love with them, but I don't want to take the chance, for the animal's sake, as well as my own.). I have always loved squirrels. So I will be patient and wait, and stick to what I know I love. Just thought you would like to know. Again, thanks for the right advice. -- Alisa -- alisa9b@aol.com -- May 8, 2006
Dear Clarissa -- I so wish I had found your website when I first found these babies. Several of the sites I found at first recommended the Esmilac, KMR, and everything but the real thing. Needlessly, we lost two of her brothers/sisters working thru that. I was raised on Pet and that's all I
knew to do.
My son came across another rehabber near our area who said that squirrels could not live on cow's milk which we knew wasn't true b/c that's all she had for two months. She said she would have to change her formula to take her so I had ruled that out.
My first batch of nutballs is drying in a sunny window, she really likes the ones Tobie sent and I wouldn't have had a clue about the calcium thing w/o your detailed info. I know that must have taken a lot of time to assimilate, not to mention the effort and knowledge that went into it. You are very generous to share and devote so much love to this- there's no telling how many little lives you've saved directly and indirectly as a result.
I am forever indebted to you both. No telling how many baby squirrels are being lost as a result of some bad info coming in ahead of the 'right stuff'. If I had found your site first, Miss Walnut's brothers and sisters would be turning somersaults with her. You've got invaluable info out
there, and as far as I'm concerned, it's the Squirrel Bible.
Nature has a way of speaking to us if we just listen and respond with our hearts.
Well, thank you so very much for your expert opinion. It is deeply valued and gratefully appreciated. -- May God Bless, Cynthia -- cb24029@charter.net -- May 1, 2006
Dear Clarissa -- Thanks so much for the info. Visited Tobie today, she was so nice to give me a good supply of her nutballs and share her Kal powder as well as some 'real' nuts in the shell and more goodies. I thoroughly enjoyed it -- her place is like squirrel heaven, everything's done up just perfect for them. With everything going on today, it's refreshing to know there are people like ya'll out there. I appreciate you taking the time to put all the info online and just wanted to pass along
that she is doing one fantastic job with those babies. She's just got a way with 'em and is such a nice person to talk with. Her place is immaculate, I don't know how she does it. Thanks to you all, we hope to get 'Miss Walnut' back to nature soon where she will be the happiest.
You are correct, Tobie is such a blessing and so are you. Thanks just doesn't seem adequate. Hope to be able to help with a few supplies in the near future. The animals are helpless without people like you all and mothering them is such a special task. May God Bless, Cynthia-- Take
care, Cynthia -- cb24029@charter.net -- April 27, 2006
I just want to thank you with all my heart for all the info you have provided. I have been taking care of a baby Squirrel a friend of mine found. My friend called me for help because I have a small backyard Wildife Habitat...And I have started the habitat for Squirrels. .He was born downtown in the rafters of a porch roof...my friend found him on the floor....only him (which is strange ) and no Mother for 24 hours..so, she must have been hit by a car.....cars around here do not stop for people
let alone Squirrels.
This little baby Squirrel means the world to me and has added so much to my life. My poor fellow was on the milk replacement for only 24 hours and his poor heart raced so hard I felt sure that it was not normal.......that is why I got back on the net to find another solution.....and there your page was. Your information not only saved my little fellow, but also
another little fellow that a friend of mine in Pa. found. I told her once she switches to your instructions she will see such a difference in her Squirrel. I forwarded your web site to her. People mean well when they try to feed Squirrels the wrong thing...but, it is very tragic to lose an innocent animal because the info is not out there.
I only want to thank you for caring enough for Wildlife to include all of the valuable info you have on the net. The wildlife rehabbers around here go for that baby milk replacement formula....no way for me...I knew that stuff was full of sugar and I am so thankful I finally found your site. He will not be running loose in the house when he grows older..instead he will have a huge cage with a good safe tree limb in it...and will enjoy sunshine through a window....but, he will be cuddled. He deserves it..and so far, he really seems to know me....rubs all over me...smells my scent...yep, I'm the Mama :-)
Well, I have taken up enough of your time. This world needs more people like you...and like me. too....who realize that the animals were here first and are being wiped out in such a selfish way by man....very sad. --- Thanks again, best wishes, Linda -- RCantiques@aol.com -- April 27, 2006
Clarissa -- Thank you for all the valuable information on your website concerning the care and feeding of squirrels. Lord willing we haven't done damage to these precious babes. My brother-in-law felled a tree only to find that there was a nest in it with three babies. He relocated the nest
in another tree hoping the mother would find them. When evening came and she had not returned we retrieved the tiny screaming creatures and quickly wrapped them in a towel and brought them in-doors. They quieted immediately. We were frantic as to what to do next. I got on the internet
and located your website. Praise God, there was everything we needed to get started.
I'm still in awe of these little wonders. How anyone can think that we all evolved from an amoeba is beyond me. God had his hand in these little miracles. No doubt in my mind. While I feed them I just marvel at every little part of them. Their delicate nimble little fingers, their fat
tummys, their impressive little deltoids, biceps and forearms, their huge feet:). I haven't been this amazed at anything since the birth of my own daughters.
Baby sister opened her eyes this morning. They were cute while their eyes were closed. They are even more adorable with them open. They've been exploring their new cage and playing more with each other. I still have to keep an ear open for "smacking noises". They don't suck on each
other as much, but now and then I catch one and have to confine the culprit to the gunny sack which is made from a soft cotton dish towel (not terry) and hung from the side of the cage but in a place where the others can snuggle up. And believe me, they do. They always find one another no matter
where I place them and dog pile on top of the one in the sack.
You're a God send, Clarissa. Bless you for all that you are doing to help the Lord's creatures. -- Jim and Laura from Northeastern Wisconsin --April 24, 2006
Dear Clarissa, -- We really can't thank you enough. You may not remember this but it was way back in February-March of 2002 when we desperately SOSd you regarding two baby squirrels that we rescued literally from the jaws of death, meaning our pet cats. One of the babies, the female didn't survive more than a few days & that's when we panicked & found you & your wonderful
website. You were very kind to personally respond to our querries & gave us a lot of encouragement & guidance. Raising squirrels is really not very popular here in India & although my wife & myself have been raising kittens & pups all our lives, squirrels were a different cup of tea altogether, a few years ago at least.
Well Clarissa, we're happy to inform you & anyone who wants to hear this..........our little Squirz is a happy 4 year old fellow now by the grace of God & your critical initial help. Like we said, we have always had a number of pet cats in our household & so releasing Squirz into the trees near our house was out of the question. He would have made a very tasty morsel of food perhaps as in India, predators abound in many kinds, both human & animal. So we built a large pen on our terrace (rather like a zoo enclosure) with tree limbs etc. for him to run about & play. We were very reluctant to release him any place far away from us as our mutual love & bond was too strong to allow it. He is happily living with us for 4 years now & enjoys feeding time the most as he gets to play with us
too. He is the envy of all our cats because he has his own house & struts his stuff at them from behind his safe wire-meshed pen.
We are really glad we came across you as you are perhaps the only one who advocates the scalded milk diet for squirrels, baby or adult. Surprising indeed how most others actually ban cow's milk, branding it as a sure-death formula. Just so you know, Squirz's a big fellow now but still enjoys
his daily afternoon swig of fresh cow's milk which he insists on being hand-fed. His diet is stabilized now without any variation as we don't want to upset his tummy ever. He's happy eating an assorted menu of fresh & chunky apples, fresh & crisp okra, fresh baby corn, fresh green beans & the very
occasional walnut pieces (they attract a lot of red ants though). One thing that we follow to your letter is freshness. Everything is as fresh as we can get them. In any case, Squirz knows what's fresh by now & sometimes does turn his back on a slightly rusty looking piece of apple or a limp looking piece of green bean. That's our little Squirz for you & we are sure that if he could, he too would thank you for giving him this happy life.
Thank you once again & may God bless you with everything that's nice for the great work that you're doing for our furred friends. -- Gratefully yours, Valsa & Jaideep -- jaideep-gc@eth.net -- April 23, 2006
Dear Clarissa -- God Bless You for your caring and generous spirit and the website and knowledge you make available to all the mommies and daddies of baby squirrels. 'Couldn't have done it without you! Love, Sandy Dahl in WallaWalla,WA -- April 11, 2006
Hi, Clarissa -- I just wanted to give you an update on Syd's condition. Let me begin by saying that, thanks to your website and good advice by email, my little Squirrely-Girl is doing waaaaaaay, waaaaaay better. It was a long road to get her there, but she seems to be almost completely back to normal. I still give her the Banana Milk Shake every day and she is getting better about drinking it down. I know from having an iguana how very delicate dietary issues can be, especially with herbivores and calcium metabolization, which is why I sensed that might be Syd's problem before my vet did.
My experience when Syd was sick was awful. When she was just short of five years old, she very quickly went from what appeared to be absolutely fine, to fine but hiccuping, then unsteady on her feet, then having major seizures/convulsions. She could barely walk. The poor girl would sit on
my lap through it all, taking comfort from my company, and I could just tell that she was thinking, "please, please can't you help me."
Lo and behold, I quickly stumbled over your website. As I read through it, I was seeing, this calcium issue, THIS is Syd's problem! I saw that some of the things I was feeding Syd were not good for her, although other things were fine.
Your site made it clear that I had to act fast and decisively if I was going to get her better. And you told me just what I needed to do in a way that drove home, this is serious, don't try to second guess what I'm telling you, don't try to do just part of what I'm telling you, because your squirrel will pay the price.
I have to admit that I felt ashamed admitting that I had failed so miserably in Syd's care despite my best efforts but, thankfully, more desperate to help fix the problem. I reached out to you for help. You replied very quickly, and gave such gentle, encouraging advice, along with a new recipe, Banana Milk Shake, to try to get her back into good health. I felt better just reading your response. I thought, "Okay, Clarissa does not seem to think this is utterly hopeless. That alone makes me think that I can regain some control over this situation." I felt so much hope that I was literally pretty giddy.
So, that's our story, and luckily, it has a happy ending. It was a long, heart-wrenching road back to wellness.
My vets now have on file a copy of your website and the Banana Milk Shake recipe, so that when another person comes in with a little one in need of help, the vets will be better equipped to give informed advice. I also shared your information with someone else whose friend found a baby, so that they know what they're getting into and how to take proper care.
Now you know why I'm always so gushy in thanking you. I know that my persistence plays a role, but you gave me the tools I needed to actually help her, as well as restoring hope. Do not discount what a difference that made! Once again, I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart. You will never know how very distressed I was that Syd was in such trouble and how grateful I was to stumble over your website. You are an answered prayer. You saved my girl's life. Thank you so very much, from me and Syd. You really made this tale have a happy ending. -- God bless you, --Kim -- KimS910@msn.com -- April 8, 2006
Clarissa: -- My babies will be 8 months old tomorrow. Hardy is fat and sassy, while Hattie is slimmer and more shy. If all squirrels are as funny as mine, I hope I get to come back in the next life as a squirrel. We have had a wonderful time together, and I'm very sad about turning them loose. On the other hand, I can't wait until they are able to be "real" squirrels in the wild.
I'm as nervous as a new mama about this. I get very emotional when
I think about them being out on their own, but know it is the best and right thing for them. I am so proud they have made it this far, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart for all your help, and especially the "Squirrel Bible" as my husband calls it. You have been truly a Godsend, especially in the beginning when I knew nothing at all about what I was doing. Without your website and your advice, I'm sure these babies would
not have made it. Thank you again for all you do for all the squirrels. -- Bonnie Garner -- parrothead@ripleycable.net -- April 1, 2006
Hi, Clarissa -- I spoke to you over the phone approx. 5 yrs. ago. I just wanted to let you know that
I ALWAYS pass your web site on to anyone with squirrels. I am a GM at Petco in Round Rock, Tx. I cannot tell you how many unknowing people come in the store with there babies looking for puppy or kitten milk that some other rehabber has told them to use. It burns me up! I keep your web address available at work and have shared it with all of my employees. I always stress to them (the customers) DO NOT follow any other recommendation from another site. I hope that me passing it on hasn't overloaded you - but I know that it is your passion!
My baby boy BUNKY was released summer of 2002 - 9 mos. old. (#3 that I raised over a 6 yr. period, all were pinkies). He ran up the tallest pine tree in Lumberton, Tx. (mom's house), was there about 2 days. Long and short of this story, he is still going to the back patio checking things out. He survived Hurricane Rita. I think he is a little guardian angel watching over
my mom. She said he just sits at the back porch peering in. I said, "he wants to eat!"
Thanks for helping me out and posting your info. I have learned a lot from your site and my own experiences that I will continue to share my knowledge and help keep these babies alive. You have a special place in heaven. Thanks again, Tonya -- Cedar Park, Texas --
farceneaux@hotmail.com -- March 19, 2006
A Great Big Thanks! -- Dear Clarissa, -- I just wanted to say Thank You so much for all the information and help you provide. Two years ago a little fox squirrel named Mrs. Precious Bigglesworth came into my life and I followed all your suggestions to the letter, late night milk feedings, gathering supplies for nut balls and getting the odd look at the grocery store when I would buy just 3 pea pods and other tiny quantities of fresh fruits and veggies. You even helped me when Precious had a cyst on her neck that healed perfectly.
She went from a little fur ball to a strong and vibrant beauty and that's all because of you and your guidance. Going into this I had no idea on what squirrels needed to survive and although it was one of the saddest days of my life to let her go in the forest behind my farm......thinking of her out there jumping from tree to tree and maybe having babies of her own makes my heart rejoice. I am enclosing some pictures that you can feel free to add to your site if you'd like.-- Thank You for what you do! -- Dawn Miceli and Precious -- dawn@dawnanddrew.com -- March 5, 2006
Clarissa, I wanted to give you an update on the e-mail I sent you Jan 10th. I am the one who had the two flying squirrels and my one girl had rickets. I made the Banana Shake and tried to get my little one to take it. The first day she took just a little bit and after that I could not get her to take any more. I tried every way possible and all attempts failed. For some reason she did not want it and she was really getting stressed with each attempt I made.
After four days I had to give up. I was afraid I was going to lose her because she was in such a weakened state. I had made the nut ball squares a couple of days before and had been giving them some. They were not eating them at first so I followed your advice and made sure nothing else was
in the cage. I went though their sleeping box and took out any walnuts they had stashed and at dinner time all they had were the nut ball squares first. As you had said, they started eating them. It only took about 4 days and I started to see improvement.
It has not been quite a month yet and I cannot believe the change that has taken place. My little one is 100% better. She is all over the place now. I'm going to guestimate that when I e-mailed you she had about 25% use of her back legs. Now, you would never know anything was ever wrong. Just as you also said her personality is wonderful again.
What I did not tell you in my first e-mail was that the other girl had been having seizures. I really wasn't sure what was happening to her because it would only happen if I had her out of her cage spending time with her. I would be holding her and she would go stiff as a board and fall over.
After about a minute she would come around. I'm assuming that was a seizure. The bottom line is, that they are both a 100% better. They still would like to get their normal food first, but they don't. Its nut ball squares first and nothing else until they eat them.
As with all animals they try to figure out a way to get around this. They try hiding them to make me think they have already eaten them. They even go as far as peeing in the dish that I put them in. I just go clean out the dish and put new ones in. Now they know, and I think look forward to them.
I have been going over all that has taken place, and the problems to the best of my recollection have been going on for about 6 months. I'm thinking that the reason they held on for so long is because they were being fed good. I know that sounds dumb, but they always had good veggies, good fruits and good walnuts and pecans.
I cannot Thank You enough for all the years you have spent figuring this out. I have felt so guilty for not knowing and thinking I was doing the right thing. It really makes me wonder how many people out there have done the same thing.
Every rehabber and every Vet that deals with wildlife should have your information posted for all to see. I have it and like I said in my first e-mail, I will never be without nutball squares again. Of course my friends think I'm nuts, along with my husband but they know when it comes to squirrels of any kind, I will be there to do all I can. I pass your info on to anyone I know that has a squirrel or any other animal to take care of. Most people I know will not take on this responsibility and call me. The ones that do get your info. I WILL ALWAYS BE SO VERY GRATEFUL TO YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU HAVE DONE. YOU ARE A VERY SPECIAL PERSON.
My back yard is a magnet for Grey Squirrels and flyers at night. I will be putting squirrel boxes out in some of the trees this year in case we have a bad hurricane season again. This way they will have a safe place to live. I will not give up on the Banana Shake. My two girls did not like it but that does not mean the next squirrel won't. It tastes very good by the way. Thank You again for all that you do.
Please feel free to tell anyone who might not believe you to e-mail me. I will be more than happy to set them straight. The best to you always.
Debbie -- debbiefinch@cfl.rr.com -- February 6, 2006
Hello, Clarissa.-- I'm so glad I found your web page. I wish I had found it before. -- TUBBO is the sweetest furry-bushy-tailed creature on the planet. He and his brother SHAGGY came into our lives back in September 2005. Unfortunately, SHAGGY suddenly died in November after a series of seizures. We didn't know what to do and felt so helpless watching our
little guy die. They both lost their home when trees in the area were being cut down and their mom wasn't around, so we took them in when they were just a few weeks old.
A couple weeks later after SHAGGY died, TUBBO lost his ability to move his back legs. We thought he would die soon, but couldn't bear to put him down, so we took care of him as best we could, and although he hasn't gained his legs back, he's a happy squirrel.
After finding your page I feel so bad I didn't try looking before. If I had, maybe TUBBO could've been released and enjoyed a healthy life. We obviously can't do that now, so I'm trying to find out if there is anything we can do to keep him healthy and happy. I read some of your recommendations
on healing squirrels, but TUBBO has been crippled for almost three months now, and I wonder if there is anything we can do to help him use his back legs again.
At first, he could still shake them a little, and would actually make some use of them from time to time. Now, he can't seem to use them at all. He can still climb a little (if it gets too cold at night he will actually leave his kennel and crawl into our bed to get warm!). He has become like a child to us, and we want to make sure his needs are well taken care of. Any help you could offer us will be highly appreciated.
Thanks for your work and for helping people like us help our little furry friends.
Esther & Chris Thompson, St. Augustine, FL -- January 31, 2006
Hi, Clarissa -- I wanted to share a story with you about your nut ball recipe:
We had rescued an injured squirrel in August 04, it was about two weeks old and had fallen about 25 feet out of a tree during a storm. We were originally just going to rehab her and turn her back into the wild. After she got a little older and her eyes started to open, we realized she was blind and has neurological damage to her whole right side, which meant of course that we couldn’t release her.
Well we ended up keeping her as a pet because we didn't want to have her put down as she is a happy squirrel, she just can't be released outdoors. But we were having difficulty trying to keep her diet on track and her health was failing. Her tail was not fully grown and then she started to have seizures and we thought it was due to her condition (with her head injury). That's when we came upon your site and started following your recommendation for her diet and the Nutballs (which at first we thought was crazy) but it SAVED HER LIFE!!
We have had her on the diet now for 2 1/2 months and are giving her a Nutball everyday (which she just loves) and her tail is full and bushy and she has not had one seizure!! We hope to have her for a long time, because she is a sweet little pet and very affectionate.
Thanks to you we still have our little squirrel. If it were not for the Nutballs and changing her diet, I do believe she would not be here. And you're right, we thought they would be too hard to make or that the squirrel wouldn't eat them, but how wrong were we. When I tell you that she almost rips it out of our hands, that's how much she loves it.
This was our first squirrel, so it was quite an eye opener of all the work, but well worth it!! So I wanted to thank you and tell you how you have helped out our little squirrelly!!
Thanks for all your hard work with our little friends!! --
Diane and Mary -- Franklin Square, N.Y. -- January 19, 2006
Dear Clarissa, I wrote to you this summer about my first time raising baby squirrels. I am from Massachusetts and couldn't release them in October because of the cold. We now have a little girl as well. She was at death's door when I got her at the end of August. She is doing just great now. I follow your papers by the book and have not been let down yet.
All the other rehabbers out this way in (New England) have been losing theirs. They all say the spring-born babies were all bad and most died within a couple months. I told them about the Scalded Milk formula and the Nutballs -- some of them said they have the recipe but didn't say if they used them. One told me I should have released them at 12 weeks old. No way. I am very in tune to my babies. They will let me know when they want to go.
In October I brought in a huge bag of leaves for them to play in. They had a ball, and just the other day I brought in a big round bucket of snow for them to play in, and again they had a ball. I want these babies to know all the elements when they are released.I adore them all very much and I know when I release them they will have been given the absolute best care and health to start out in their new world, even their own mom couldn't have done a better job. We also have made 15 squirrel nesting boxes for when they get released. Thanks to you and your web site.
Also I work at a Bowling Center and More than Half my Senior league now feeds their Squirrels only fresh fruits and veggies and no more sunflower seeds or peanuts. Only pecans or the holiday nuts in the shell. You would be surprised as to how many of my seniors now love the squirrels because they don't bother the bird feaders any more and they love to watch them now that they know what to look for. It also gives them something to look forward to doing every day with feeding the squirrels. My babies have never had a sunflower seed yet.
Sincerely Audrey, Massachusetts -- Dec. 11, 2005.
Clarissa,
I found my little guy under my car 2 weeks ago. I immediately went to the web and came to your site to figure out what in the world I was supposed to do with this sweet little thing. Thank you for all the information you provide, I would have never known everything it takes to provide the necessary care for a young squirrel. I have followed the care instructions to a tee, and "Jimmy" (name given by my kids) is doing fabulous. I felt like a new mother all over again this evening when I was watching him open his first peanut shell by himself. I am so thankful for your website. "Jimmy" thanks you as well. P.S. the Scalded Milk formula is a big hit.
Sincerely, Lisa Lipinski, Pennsylvania - Nov. 17, 2005
I found a baby in my driveway Labor day , I didn't know how to care for him and I fed him puppy milk from Petsmart. I wish I had found this site first. He lived a week on it. I feel as though I killed him. THANK YOU for all you are doing here!
Bryan Jones -- OnlyChevrolets1@netzero.com --September 13, 2005
Clarissa, I am sorry I have not been in touch sooner. I wanted to fill you in on Max and Raymond. I'm not sure if I e-mailed you since June. First let me tell you that those two tiny squirrels ended up making a bigger difference in our lives than you could ever imagine. And they continue now by providing healing for our family.
Let me explain. You remember how I told you Max would bite my husband. Well in spite of that, that big man loved those babies and they brought such joy to his life. We released the babies in May and from then until June 21 my husband spent every morning and every evening outside with them. He really loved them.
On the morning of June 21 my beautiful sweet husband died peacefully in his sleep. It turns out he had been suffering from Pancreatic Cancer and we never knew it. I do not want to sadden you with talking about all that right now. It is still very difficult for me.
We had sold our house before he died. My new house is not set up for squirrels that have been released. So we had to "catch" Max and Raymond and take them over to my husband's brother's house which is like a dream come true for two squirrels.
I worried for weeks over how I was going to catch them. It was so easy. They actually came back in the house. Raymond came right to me and climbed into my shirt. It took some convincing but Max finally climbed into a cat carrier. Clarissa.. they LOVE it where they are. They are both doing wonderful!!!! AND they are such a comfort for Earl's brother and his wife who, like me still hurt over his passing.
I just wanted you to know that and to thank you again. If it had not been for you, your advice and web site, they would have died long before they brought such joy to my husband and me. By the way.... I may be getting another baby this week. A lady from our church found one and is not up to caring for it til next spring. Oh how I hope I get it.I'll let you know.Thank you again.
Lenora James, Pennsylvania, September 7, 2005
I am a rehabber in North Carolina (also a nurse). Got my first pinkie today and wanted to thank you for the information contained in your website. After much research, yours was the only one I found that made sense. Thanks again! And wish me luck.. Hilda, North Carolina -- September, 2005
August 19, 2005
Clarissa, I just wanted to drop you a line to say thank you for your website and warm words of encouragement. Even though my last charge did not live through the night due to its injuries from a house cat, your information and care instructions are clear and informative, and were a great help.
I had been using the advice of "professionals" for years using the commercial formula recipes recommended. Yes, I had the high mortality rates you indicate. I also find it very painful to have had such high mortality rates. I will be using your Scalded Milk formula from now on. Thanks for making the time to create your WebPages, simple and to the point without extra stuff to distract from the message.
Sincerely, Beth Clawson
clawsonb@msu.edu>
Michigan - August 10, 2005
OMG..THIS LADY..CLARISSA IS WONDERFUL..SHE HAS HELPED ME OUT THROUGH THE LAST FEW YEARS...I JUST CHECKED IN TO HER SITE, AND SHED TEARS OVER THE PRAISES OF HER GUESTBOOK, I HAVE MET CLARISSA IN PERSON, AND YES, SHE REALLY CARES...SHE HAD A HOUSE, FILLED WITH ORPHANS IN NEED, AND SHE WAS THERE WHEN THEY NEEDED THEM THE MOST, THANK YOU CLARISSA FOR ALL YOU DO FOR US, AND FOR THESE PRECIOUS LIL ONES WHO WE ALL LOVE SO MUCH...I JUST WANT TO KNOW ONE THING...WHERE DID YOU HIDE YOUR WINGS WHILE I WAS THERE VISITING???....PENNY/NIPPERS MOMMIE
PENNY WALKER <nyckl@cmaaccess.com>
jasper, tx USA - Tue Apr 26 15:30:45 2005
Thank you so much for putting up a website on how to nurture and care for squirrels! I found one and could not think what to do for it!
Julie Chambers <greenprep@walla.com>
Levant, ME USA - Sat Apr 23 22:12:19 2005
Thank you...thank you, Clarissa.....because of you, two black squirrels were returned to the wild two weeks ago. We raised our fall babies thru the winter in the house then hung their cage on the garage while they acclimated and watched the wild squirrels. A month later, we turned them loose.
We were blessed to find them both that first evening. After a Nutball and a few pieces of fruit, off they went to continue exploring this new world. I count myself doubly blessed to see one of them for three more evenings...a Nutball, a piece of corn and some apple with the special treat for me of him sitting on my shoulder or foot just one more time. How I miss them but how proud I am that we raised them to become the wild squirrels they were meant to be....Thanks again, Clarissa, for this wonderful site that has helped us return these intellegent, healthy little critters to the wild!!
Kay <steadywoman@msn.com>
In USA - Fri Apr 22 21:32:36 2005
Thank you so much for this web page on squirrels. Cat brought one home last Sunday, and he seems to be doing very well (the squirrel . . .yeah, the cat's ok too). Your advice and experience, I believe, will really help this little guy out. My whole family appreciates the time and effort you took, not only to rehab squirrels, but disseminating your information to the general public on a website. You're obviously a very good person! =)
Bob Menikheim
Syracuse, NY USA - Fri Apr 22 13:34:39 2005
I very much like and appreciate that you have this information available. Many years ago I was handed three small grey squirrels which I manged to raise with the help of a book which I have long since lost. Although some people regard squirrels as a nusiance, I have a deep love and appreciation for them :) Keep up the good work! Your days will be surely Blessed.
Evelyn Cole <dragnwings@adelphia.net>
North Olmsted, Oh USA - Sun Mar 6 00:52:30 2005
I think you're doing a lot for people - without you they would be lost. I just wish I could do as much - you have a gift and thank you for sharing it with us all.
Bonnie Miller <4dogs@roges.com>
newmarket, ont. canada - Thu Mar 3 23:35:43 2005
Thank God I found your site when I did! I had been feeding "Willow" my flying squirrel cat replacement formula. He got sick all of a sudden and started seizuring. After 2 feedings of the Scalded Milk he was as good as new. He's also starting to look less scrawny. I'll be making him some Nutballs in a few weeks when he's ready for them. Thanks so much!
Becky <Beckmadd03@yahoo.com>
Tx USA - Mon Feb 28 00:22:05 2005
Thank you for your Scalded Milk formula - my baby black squirrel made it - his eyes were not open yet - he was like a gerbil with long legs real small - thanks again
Bonnie L Miller <4dogs@rogers.com>
newmarket, ont. canada - Wed Feb 23 13:39:10 2005
Thanks for such a great and INFORMATIVE site. As a volunteer at a wildlife rehab center, I have been searching for answers about a couple of black squirrels in our care who seem to have lost funtion of their hind quarters recently for no known reason. I think I have found the reason after reviewing your pages. I do know that we acquired them when they were still very young, and that they had not received proper nutrition up to that point. I now suspect perhaps rickets, or some other diet-deprived condition. Again thanks for this valuable information.
Sherry
Sherry Goff <sherry222@charter.net>
St. Helen, Mi USA - Sat Jan 15 16:24:05 2005
Please help me. I have called everyone that I can reach to tell me how to care for this little guy. A cat had him in his jaws. I think he is blind in one eye and seems to be injured in the hind quarters. He leans and cannot sit erect. He is precious, will eat from my hand. I am feeding him shelled nuts, baby oatmeal mixed with peanut butter and fruits, of course, and water. THANK YOU for responding..Lynda
Lynda Mason-Womack <indykidzHGP@yahoo.com>
Indianapolis, IN USA - Wed Dec 8 20:38:03 2004
Thank you, Clarissa. Your wise advice has gained us a new friend for life, Rocket the Grey Squirrel. Rocket was about 10 weeks old when he and his sibling fell into our yard. Rocket's mother would only take the sibling back. Your Scalded Milk stopped the severe diarrhea caused by feline pet formula. Rocket did not care much for the Nutballs but he thrived on your list of fruits/vegetables/nuts. We found him in April and he moved into his outdoor condo in June. My husband, Larry and I are terribly attached to him. Rocket comes when called and sits on our shoulder. One word of advice. Yesterday Rocket came to sit on Larry's shoulder. Rocket viciuosly attacked the hand Larry held a pair of sun glasses in. LESSON LEARNED. After release, squirrels will become wild again and we must let go. We will continue to love Rocket, just from afar.
Joanna Ingram <jingram0@edd.ca.gov>
Mariposa , CA USA - Mon Dec 6 14:08:02 2004
We have three new family members thanks to Hurricane Ivan (Happy, Bashful, and Grumpy). All are thriving, due to the wonderful advice given by Clarissa on her web site. I have had my baby squirrels for about 2-3 months now, and have enjoyed watching them grow. They started out slurping down their Scalded Milk formula and are now able to crack nuts on their own. I am excited to know that they can be released in the Spring and will continue to thrive!
Cindy Thompson <gthompson@elmore.rr.com>
Montgomery, AL USA - Tue Nov 30 14:11:38 2004
l am a licensed rehabilitator in Alabama. Clarissa's site is the only site that should be on the web for squirrel care and nutrition. There are many rehabbers and VETS out there who do not know the proper care; they are doing only as they themselves were taught. Clarissa has helped me through some difficult cases both with greys and my flyers. l am contacted via Internet and telephone and am asked how to care for orphaned squirrels and l refer EVERYONE to your site.
There is a need to 'rewrite' the instruction manuals given to new rehabbers in all states -- this would save so many lives and needless suffering inflicted on them by people who do mean well but do more harm than good. Clarissa, you are the ultimate squirrel momma! Thank you again for all your help and l am forever in your debt.
Tobie <TobieOne@nehp.net>
New Hope, AL USA - Fri Nov 5 08:07:55 2004
Nice to find someone who takes care of squirrels like me. I am a squirrel rehabber and a country girl. Sometimes advice from so-called rehabs doesn't work at all. In general, thanks to all who take care of God's creatures.
Teresa Allen <Teresa.Allen@cityofalex.com>
Alexandria, LA USA - Wed Nov 3 07:46:05 2004
I wanted to take a moment to say Thank You to Clarissa for her web page. The information contained on it as well as e-mail assistence from her were invaluable in helping me save my squirrel "Skwerbels" she has a head injury and can't be released. She is doing very well in our care. Thank You!!!!!
Christina Larson <telarson@earthlink.net>
Sanford, FL USA - Tue Nov 2 16:03:11 2004
Hi, I am sure glad I found this web sight. After finding my baby Cheddar I really didn't know what I was going to do with him. I am an animal lover and will not let any animal die if I can help it. Cheddar brought a lot of joy to me and my family, if you are having a bad day just play with Cheddar a while and the bad day goes away. I am not sure if he is a fox or a grey -- at this point he looks a little like both. I hope to release Cheddar in the Spring though I will be very sad to see him go.
Rose Martin <rose_martin55@yahoo.com>
Amery, WI USA - Mon Nov 1 08:09:19 2004
I just found "Rocky" yesterday covered with flies and eggs and have actually pulled a few maggots out of a spot on him. The spot seems to be healing and I am grateful to have found the information on this site. We are now at 36 hours and he seems to be improving. Say some prayers for him.
Susanne Johnson <susanne0270@aol.com>
Mauriceville, TX USA - Sun Oct 31 21:48:58 2004
THANK YOU!
You are a Saint in My book. I found 4 Little ones in September. We are soon November --
all 4 Have survived and are Growing to become super Squirrels Thanks To the One and only Clarissa Summers. Healthy Good tempers, Jumping real High and are getting ready for their release in Spring. Winter is Cold here. thanks again --
P Kostopoulos <petroskostopoulos@hotmail.com>
Montreal, PQ CANADA - Sat Oct 23 16:47:03 2004
Thank you - Clarissa!!! For being so true to a cause, for letting your love show in the script you write, and for having helped me to raise the cutest little nut muncher ever! She is 6 months old now... and I'm pretty sure... she thanks you too!!! :)
Chelsey McKay <chelseyvox@ameritech.net>
Madison, WI USA - Sun Oct 10 12:21:51 2004
Your website information saved my squirrel.
Kelly Flynn <krazykel55@hotmail.com>
Lakeland, FL USA - Wed Sep 29 20:25:44 2004
I lost 3 flying squirrels in the last 24 hours. I now have one left. I found Clarissa's website last night and I haven't doubted the information once. This morning I took my passing squirrel to the vet for fluids, but it didn't have a heartbeat. I couldn't wait to make the Scalded Milk formula this morning after my return home with my last baby squirrel. My heart is so broken; but, I thank God for Clarissa's gift to share information on caring for squirrels.
Miranda Swindell <miranda_swindell@hotmail.com>
Jacksonville Beach, FL USA - Mon Sep 27 21:07:09 2004
What a Godsend this site is! Spanky and Claws (2+ month old black squirrels) are VERY happy their new mommy found it. And to weigh in on the Esbilac theory......I tried Esbilac for 4 days....took 7 days to get rid of the side effects from it! Never again will I listen to the "main stream" rehabbers, they know not of what they speak! I can promise you that we will follow Clarissa's wisdom to the letter and release two very healthy male squirrels back into the wild come springtime.
Thank you, Clarissa, for sharing your knowledge and being responsible for many more squirrels than the few thousand you have personally raised survive. Blessings to you for that!!
Kay Moss <steadywoman@msn.com>
Elkhart, In USA - Mon Sep 27 20:07:07 2004
This web page is very helpful. We have found a baby squirrel that is about 9 wks old. We have had him for 1 wk since Hurricane IVAN. We love this squirrel so much and we can't believe how much he has grown and is so very active.
Angie Robinson <jrob@pngusa.net>
Mobile, AL USA - Fri Sep 24 19:19:57 2004
Clarissa - I don't know how to thank you for all the help and guidance over the last month. Like many people in this GuestBook, hurricane season delivered an orphaned baby gray squirrel to our yard. Despite our best efforts, a worm-parasite took its toll on her little body and she did not make it past 2 weeks. I was heartbroken, but grateful that I had learned so much about squirrel care and rehabilitation from Clarissa.
And, it was meant to be - because after our second hurricane someone brought me another baby. She was severly dehydrated and malnourished at first. Now, "Frankie" is doing so well on the Scalded Milk after just one week! Clarissa has guided me through everything with patience (I have a tendency to freak out) and the best advice.
There are a ton of websites out there guiding people in the WRONG direction with wildlife rehabilitation. I'm so glad I found you before I found them, and trusted my instincts to follow your advice against the majority. Looking forward to the end of hurricane season, and to watching our little one grow and prepare for her return to the wild! Thanks again!
Maureen Hinman <reverb321@hotmail.com>
Ocoee, FL USA - Thu Sep 16 17:44:33 2004
Thank you, Clarissa, for all the info. you have posted on your web-site. It has been so much help in caring for our 2 baby grey squirrels that had fallen out of the tree due to Hurricane Frances. They were probably around 1 & 1/2 weeks old when we found them cold and covered in wood chips in our driveway. We named them Chip and Dale. They have grown so much in the last couple weeks and doing so well. Thanks so much for your website.
Sonja Whitelaw <cwhitela@tampabay.rr.com>
Crystal River, Fl. USA - Thu Sep 16 11:31:34 2004
I really appreciate all the hard work you have put into this web site. We inherited two infant (maybe 2-3 wks)squirrels and because of the information we got from you they are doing great. We had raised a grey squirrel a few years ago and he did great. The 2 we have now are flying squirrels and seem to be doing pretty good. I was really amazed at the physical difference in the two. These 2 were part of a litter of four that got blown down out of their nest, 2 of them and the mother didn't make it. Thanks again for all of your help.
Sincerely,
Debbie Nicks
Debbie Nicks <drn360@comcast.net>
Augusta, GA USA - Wed Sep 15 22:07:57 2004
Hello, Just wanted to say thank you for such an informative site on the Internet. As you may already assume and rightly so, I have in my care a baby squirrel. I'm PLEASED to say at this time he made it through an afternoon and a night and I strongly believe it to be courtesy of the "scalded milk" recipe I found on your site. I'm not sure if he's weaned but he's drinking like a pig.
The guidelines for feeding frequency are a godsend. My family (Me- work full time, My husband- works 2 jobs, 15-yr-old son who bought this baby from a neighborhood brat for 4 Yu-Gi-Oh cards -- a high school student, 13-Yr-old Jr.-high son, and 11-yr-old Jr.-high son are extremely grateful that they will do ok with 4x's a day plus fruit, nuts,etc. The one trick I learned with puppies and kitties is all babies love to snuggle so the squirrel is now sleeping with Bruno, the St. Bernard beanie baby. Thanks for the help and wish us luck!
Becky McKinstry <BeckyMckinstry@hotmail.com>
Waterford, Mi USA - Wed Sep 15 07:37:31 2004
"So here I sits eatin' nutballs ~ I'm grown up big and strong ~ I started out on scalded milk formula ~ Now you can't even tell what went wrong! ~ See, I started out life in a great big tree ~ My mom, no dad, just my sister and me ~ But a great big storm came through one night ~ And I landed on the ground ~ What a terrible plight! ~ Some really nice people came and took me in ~ And oh! How they worried that I would get thin! ~ So they followed all the notes on Clarissa's Page ~ And now I am a star on the Backyard Stage!"
Benjy
Seminole, FL USA - Tue Sep 14 18:34:22 2004
I found "Foamie" on my sidewalk covered in flies and fly eggs and fleas. She was so cold and skinny I thought she would die. THANK GOD I found this site. Thanks to all the info from Clarissa, she is doing so incredible. I'm amazed at the difference in her. Clarissa, you are a true angel. I can't thank you enough for all your help.
Melissa
Colonia, NJ USA - Tue Sep 14 11:54:39 2004
Found 4-wk-old fox squirrel in my yard under an oak, followed Clarissa's squirrel care guide exactly. At 9 weeks old the squirrel is in excellent health! I'm sure it would have been dead had I followed other "expert" advice, Audubon society would have killed ("euthanised")it.
Steve Vallee <valle59@ihpc.net>
Portland, OR USA - Tue Sep 14 11:23:56 2004
This site has been extremely helpful to me. I was contacted by Clarissa within an hour of e-mailing her about my concerns with an orphan due to Hurricane Francis. Baby Francis was very dehydrated and didn't make it through the first night but baby Joey is doing well...chose not to name him Ivan for obvious reasons! May God bless all those who take the time to care for His creatures.
Esteelise <Oneesteelise@cs.com>
Jacksonville, Florida USA - Mon Sep 13 07:45:35 2004
this was full of information I needed -- I have a baby squirrel-- she is doing well!
sondrablanks <sweet_thing_1230@yahoo.com>
summersville, mo USA - Sun Sep 12 21:13:52 2004
As you know, the information that you and your website have provided was and is a great source of help with our little boarder Lazarus....Thank you always
julie kowalski <tremere123@comcast.net>
chesterfield, mi USA - Sun Sep 12 17:08:14 2004
Thank you for all the info and especially the pics. They were very helpful.
We are now raising a baby squirrel thanks to Hurricane Frances. This is the beginning of a new adventure. Hopefully we get it right and he will be able to go back to the wild.
Thanks again
Cheryl Weaver <Cherylweaver28@yahoo.com>
South Daytona, FL USA - Fri Sep 10 22:48:37 2004
Thanks again & again for your patience & humor.:) :) Streak's eyes are open and I have found all the ingredients I needed for the Nutballs at a local health food store. Would they also be good for racoons? Or for Flying Squirrels (my mom-in law has both) You have earned your wings to Heaven, hope there are squirrels there!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Bettyb:)&Skip:) <bettyborne@aol.com>
Houston, Tx USA - Fri Sep 10 14:04:03 2004
This is the first time I have tried to care for a baby squirrel, and now that I know what to feed him instead of the formulas that other people were telling me, he is slowly becoming more active. I now am having better luck with "Falls" when I thought for sure I would lose him after he fell from a tree during Hurricane Frances.
Brandy Elder <brandyintampa@aol.com>
Tampa, FL USA - Fri Sep 10 07:35:08 2004
Squirrelly is doing great. she is growing.
Barbara Breaux <babsbro@earthlink.net>
Houston, TX USA - Fri Sep 10 06:01:49 2004
I have 2 baby gray squirrels thanks to Hurricane Frances. Your generous amount of information and the recipes will make their care much easier!!
Paula <FloridaSquirt@aol.com>
Jacksonville, FL USA - Fri Sep 10 01:21:54 2004
This is the second time, I have follwed your advice on raising baby squirrels. I know that "Buddy" will be a success, as "Schooter" was, with your expert directions. Thank You!! Without you, we all would be lost.
theresa a. milan <wtmilan@peoplepc.com>
jonesboro, ga USA - Thu Sep 9 17:41:09 2004
Our baby squirrel fell from his nest about 60 feet up in the air. Until we found this web site, I was sure we were going to lose him, but already, after one correct feeding, he is doing better and we hope he will survive and stay around. If he does, we will post photos. Thank you.
Christina Grumblatt <chrisgrumblatt@comcast.net>
Waterford, MI USA - Tue Sep 7 12:50:48 2004
I just want to say thank you so much for being a source of such valuable information. I found Charlie three days ago under a tree while I was walking my dogs. When I got home, I immediately began searching online for care information. I found so many sites that said "Feed Esbilac." I fed him Esbilac for a day, which gave him diarrhea. He remained very inactive. I continued to search for other sites, and the next day, thank God, I found yours. The next morning after I started the Scalded Milk, he looked 100% better-- much more active and alert, and no diarrhea! Thanks for saving his life and the lives of so many others by sharing your critical knowledge.
Jennifer <ceciljs@vcu.edu>
Richmond, VA USA - Mon Sep 6 10:25:38 2004
Hurricane Charlie delivered three one-week-old squirrels to my front door. One I found covered in fire ants and close to death. Some kids heard I were taking in a squirrel and delivered two they had run across. I couldn't have been less prepared and uneducated about squirrels. I got word from a local rehabber on a formula to use and one of the two remaining squirrels promptly died. Having no power I used a family member's computer to find information on squirrel care and found your site. THANK YOU! "Stubby" is doing fine, thanks to you.
I am now prepared to deal with any squirrels Hurricane Frances presents me with.
PS: what's wrong with some of the other squirrel rehabbers. They seem a little high and mighty.
Again ...Thank you.
Jim Hynes <coyote5486@go.com>
Winter Park, FL USA - Sat Sep 4 12:55:55 2004
Thank you, Clarissa, for your advice on saving Rascal. I have depended on your web site since finding him last week and now you have come to the rescue in helping me deal with a fly larva by taking the time to answer my e-mail. This is my first squirrel rescue and I am in love with my little guy. It is amazing to watch a dying animal come back to life and thrive after being so close to death. I went out and bought baby formula the first day so I know he would not have made it this long had it not been for the details on how to care for him and the Scalded Milk recipe. He is now ready for Nutballs so as soon as the rain from Hurricane Frances is completely gone...I'll be drying some in the sun for baby Rascal. May God Bless you for taking care of His little ones. Lisa
Lisa Dean <lea243@aol.com>
Florence, SC USA - Sat Sep 4 10:47:41 2004
You've really helped me save my Sophie so one day I can turn her back to the wild. Lost two little ones with her but I got them too late and they were not in good health. The lady that gave them to me had not fed them in 14 hrs. and they were ice cold. Their eyes were not open. Sophie is about 7-10 weeks old and doing good on the Scalded Milk. Night before last I gave her the first pecan so now I am looking for Ms. Clarissa's nutball recipe for her and how to feed her now. Thank you again. I have raised possums, raccoons and a flying squirrel and now a ground squirrel. I am a groomer and a rescuer of animals. I have 12 dogs,a cat, 2 hamsters and a parrot. So I say again, thank you and I know Sophie does, too.
Z Winkler <zzwinkler@zeronet.com>
slidell, LaR USA - Thu Sep 2 20:15:27 2004
My little guys are doing wonderful! Thanks to Clarissa's web site. I was so afraid I would do something wrong...Thank you very much.
Joan Bilinski <tombil@voicenet.com>
Warminster, Pa USA - Thu Sep 2 08:58:47 2004
On August 19, a thunderstorm knocked a squirrel nest out of a pine tree in our front yard. My husband found 2 baby squirrels wrapped in an almost woven type ball of leaves, straw, etc. I have been caring for them since. The squirrels couldn't have been more than a few hours old. I called a local vet for information on squirrels, since I've never taken care of any, and he referred me to a man in our area who referred me to this site. Thank the Good Lord I found this site! They are doing well to date and I feel like I am a Mother of twins! Thank You for all the information. I am following it to the Tee and hope they have a chance to live full lives. Again, Thank You
Donna J Tedeton <DonnaJan11361@aol.com>
Calhoun, LA USA - Wed Sep 1 20:43:58 2004
I really enjoyed the stories and all the help I got from you for my squirrels. I have three from Charlie.
Donna Russo <Nonnie13@aol.com>
Orlando, FL USA - Tue Aug 31 23:13:51 2004
I am raising a grey squirrel on Clarissa's Scalded Milk formula and he is doing VERY well. Another web site told me to take him off the milk ASAP. I sent them pictures of how well he is doing and am waiting for a reply. Thank you, Clarissa, for the prompt reply and for sharing the wealth of knowledge you have about these furry little ones.
Judy Thocher <sdfhorses@msn.com>
Kent, Wa USA - Tue Aug 31 22:42:42 2004
I found a baby squirrel Friday 8/27/04 when walking my dogs. I took the dogs home, got my car, and went back and got him. He looks to be about 4-5 weeks old.He had come accross a very busy street. I can't believe that he made it. Well, anyway, he is doing great. -- Willie Dugas
Wilfred Dugas <willydugas@yahoo.com>
Dublin, GA USA - Tue Aug 31 16:36:33 2004
I found your formula for Scalded Milk and my baby is doing I think better. His stool's better and he drinks more of this . I have the whole 27 pages. My vet knew nothing about squirrels. Thank you, thank you, thank you. I'll be giving a copy of to my vet so he will know what to tell people from now on. Thank you so much from Pepper and myself. -- P.S. I'll keep in touch -- bye .
Bonnie L Miller <4dog@rogers.com>
Newmarket, ont canada - Sun Aug 29 19:53:33 2004
Thank you so much, Clarissa -- all your information is great even though my baby didn't make it. I am sure if she had not have fallen out of that huge tree that with all your useful information she would have had a great life -- you are so GREAT. Thank you very much!!
Kim <GroovyNannan>
USA - Sat Aug 28 11:29:31 2004
your information has given me a sense of security about caring for my baby squirrels. Thanks for your help.
hayley rollins <jellyroll@charter.net>
montgomery, al USA - Fri Aug 27 15:25:13 2004
Don't know what we'd have done w/o you! Hurricane Charley left many people devastated, but it also gave many of us new "friends" we never knew we wanted. The vet gave us a formula made from 1/2 whipping cream, 1/2 milk, & an egg yolk for our new baby. The convulsions were frequent and he was almost lethargic. He is now on Scalded Milk & THRIVING. I am passing on your site info to all the vets I can. maybe we can save a few more! Thanks again!
Lisa Cantler <librarylizzie@hotmail.com>
Lakeland, Fl USA - Thu Aug 26 18:30:58 2004
Hello -- when we went to the vet they told us to feed our two baby squirrels Just Born puppy supplement, and we fed them that for about a week or two and we lost one of them last night and I was really attached to her. So last night we started feeding the other one the Scalded Milk fomula and he is doing a lot better
Jimma <sweet_red118@yahoo.com>
Newkirk, ok USA - Wed Aug 25 18:57:44 2004
Second time around with a baby squirrel and your posted info will be valuable.
Linda Mcguire <Linda_McGuire@cascades.com>
Terrasse-Vaudreuil, qc canada - Wed Aug 25 07:21:29 2004
Thank you so much for the information. There was a baby squirrel (4-5 wks) in my back yard and I could not leave it alone or it would have been eaten. This was so helpful. My intent is to release him.
Kristine <kjonesit@aol.com>
Vienna, VA USA - Tue Aug 24 13:32:13 2004
Thank you so much for your quick response to my email. Your knowledge and website have given the me confindence to try raising Charley,(his nest came down after the hurricane blew through Jacksonville. Sadly, his sister did not make the fall, and was already dead on our driveway. I'm so thankful nothing happened to him the first week of feeding him puppy formula. I will never subject him to it again. He is so much calmer now and loves the Scalded Milk. I would guess he will open his eyes in another 10-14 days, I can't wait. Thank you for loving all creatures great and SMALL. Robin Shelfer -- ROBIN
Robin <Jaxrob1@comcast.net>
Jacksonville, Fl USA - Sun Aug 22 18:22:24 2004
I enjoyed reading the stories.
Flori Johns <floritenn@webtv.net>
Cookeville, tn USA - Fri Aug 20 17:38:16 2004
Thank you. I wish you came first on the internet. You advice is above (WAY!) all the others! God bless you and how you help his creatures!
Debbie Smith <Prospermom@aol.com>
Orlando, Fl USA - Fri Aug 13 17:57:59 2004
Thanks so much for your help and advice. Sammy. Simon, and Scooter are doing great, have been released, come back at least twice a day for treats. I am worried about the winter. Just keep feeding as long as they keep coming back?
thanks again-GREAT SITE
eileen <jesse153@aol.com>
charlton, MA USA - Tue Aug 10 10:49:37 2004
I posted 9/16/03 about the little guy we found and how your site helped us. UPDATE: Scrat was successfully raised and released in our yard, after many graduated sized cages, and finally a screen tent on our deck. He was 1 yr old 7/30/04 and I still see him at our feeders. He has the same markings as when a baby. It is a wonderful feeling, and I appreciate their antics all the more. Hopefully, he'll come down for lots of 'winter feedings' as he did last winter, allowing us to photograph his growth almost every month after his release. I'd raise another in a heartbeat. Thanks so much. Julie.
julie rumreich <julierumreich@comcast.net>
Oak Grove, MN USA - Mon Aug 9 22:23:15 2004
Clarissa's site is the best to visit if you've found a baby. I had lost 2 grey squirrels before I found her site, but the third time was the charm due to her information. Two years ago I successfully raised and released my baby boy, Link (after the Nintendo game, Zelda).
He forever changed my perception of squirrels. To him, I was his mother. He never bit me. As he grew older, I taught him to play/fight. I would gently grab him and flip him on his back and he would jump up and come after me again, hopping this way and that - just like a kitten. He would roll around on the bottom of his cage with his soft toys I would buy him. He would lay on my shoulder and squawk as I scratched his back, and let me kiss him all over his face and back. Never ever bit.
I released him into my yard when he was 9-10 months old. The next day I went outside and called him. He came down a tree, allowed me to pick him up and give him one last back scratch and a million kisses - and that was the last time I saw him. What a blessing to have had the trust and love of such a beautiful, wild animal. I can't wait for the next one. Thank you, Clarissa. xo
Julie
GA USA - Sun Aug 8 03:50:11 2004
Thank you so much for responding to my email regarding the baby squirrel I found. I feel much more comfortable applying the techniques found on your website compared to some of the numerous other sites. Thank you again!!
Darlene Diaz <ddiaz66@yahoo.com>
St.Petersburg, FL USA - Sat Aug 7 17:10:52 2004
I have been caring for my first baby & using your web site as my bible for squirrel care. My cat brought me our baby on Saturday morning. So far, with your help, he is doing great, 4 days later. Thanks!!
Alisa Bourgeois <Alisa9b@aol.com>
Ocean Springs, MS USA - Tue Aug 3 10:52:50 2004
Thanks for all your hard work, research, studying and, most of all, love that you give these wonderful critters.
christine madden <critterkitty13@aol.com>
newton, ma USA - Tue Jul 13 15:05:17 2004
I could not have saved my baby squirrels without you. -- Thank you
squirrelgirl <schurchenterprises@msn.com>
Burnsville, MN USA - Wed Jun 16 07:58:13 2004
Clarissa, you are truly the Squirrel Whisperer. You have helped us successfully save 16 baby squirrel orphans over the last 3 years. Without your website with the recipes for scalded milk and nutballs, and your sage advice about all other questions that pop up I know we wouldn't have been able to release healthy squirrels, nor would we have become so involved and in love with them. They brighten our lives. One of our babies who could not be released is our forever squirrel and we love him to pieces.
Thank you for everything you've done and all you are still doing.We need you!
--Lee and Michael, Portland Or.
Lee <squirtles5@juno.com>
Portland, OR USA - Fri Jun 4 12:12:40 2004
Some years ago my mother-in-law found a nest of babies in a fallen tree. At that time she contacted everyone she could think of and was told that it wasn't possible to save them. She took that as a challenge and succeeded in raising two of the three, released them successfully and was visited through out the second summer by the little female and her male friend. My mother-in-law passed away this winter, but she would have loved your web site. She was a bit of a contrary woman and is perhaps responsible for my facination with my little squirrel friends who share my yard and feeder. Thank you your wonderful information. It's sad that so many people view squirrels as pests instead of the remarkably adaptive critters they are.
Sandy Legaard <jlegaard@ida.net>
Pocatello, ID USA - Fri May 14 11:45:17 2004
THANK YOU!!! I Love critters & because of your site these two (2 of 4) lives on! Chester & Sammie. I shoulda taken the other two... You opened my eyes WIDE! Thank you!!!!!
Aaron B <kilowat@frontiernet.net>
New Richmond, WI USA - Thu May 13 16:53:58 2004
Thanks for the web site. I just found a baby squirel and needed help in feeding and caring for it till it can support itself. Thank You
Robert
Robert Russell <rlrussell@comcast.net>
Algonac, MI USA - Tue May 4 16:50:46 2004
I have the pleasure of raising two baby squirrels, thank you for the information to help me get started.
Rhonda Coburn <lcoburn@ruraltel.net>
Quinter, ks USA - Sat Apr 24 10:58:14 2004
The web site was really helpful in my serch. It provided the information i needed in easy context, thanku!
Kerryanne <babibluebabe@hotmail.com>
Sheffield, England - Fri Apr 23 05:32:04 2004
WONDERFUL INFO /HELP , HERE! THANKS TO ALL
Terre Burnette <MaMaSqwerl1@aol.com>
Castalian Springs,, Tn. USA - Tue Apr 20 14:48:11 2004
Your's and Vicky's web sites have been very useful -- we would not have been able to care for our little "Rocky" without them -- thank you!
annette marin-naylor <amarin@dspins.com>
palatine, il USA - Mon Apr 19 21:41:40 2004
4 weeks ago yesterday our darling "Elmer" fell out of our neighbor's tree. Right away I called our vet who told me to use evaporated milk. I used that for the first feeding and luckily found Clarissa's web site after that. I am happy to say our now 9-week-old is still alive and is actually thriving. We are all enjoying watching him grow and it was a surprise to us to see the kind of personality he has. I'm really glad I found your site first! Thanks a million.
Jennifer <jhtrone@sbcglobal.net>
Independence, MO USA - Sun Apr 18 20:21:47 2004
Clarissa thank you so much your site is AWESOME!!!!!
Dara Ulery <sdu1228@aol.com>
USA - Fri Apr 16 18:59:44 2004
thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
cindi mackey <sejeaditopaz@cinci.rr.com>
hamilton, ohio USA - Tue Apr 13 22:36:01 2004
This is a wonderful website. I found 5 baby squirrels in June of 2003. Only one of them lived as I used puppy formula which is recommended on most websites. I was lucky to have found Clarissa Summers' site and started to feed the last squirrel Scalded Milk and continued with her nutball recipe when he got older. This squirrel will be released next month. What a rewarding experience!!!
Kelly
Kelly St. James <stjames@idirect.com>
Orono, Ontario Canada - Mon Apr 12 14:18:32 2004
I'm raising a baby squirrel and I love your wed site -- Thank you
catherine cross <catherine_cross2@yahoo.com>
dalton, ga USA - Mon Apr 5 12:32:37 2004
Hi Clarissa. Just dropped in to get your most recent info update. I am at the point where I must have a very large, very dead oak tree removed from my yard. I know there is at least one nest of squirrels living in it, probably more. I just wanted to be prepared in case I have to rescue any of them. Hopefully, all will escape injury and successfully relocate to another tree. Keep up the good work. Your site is the BEST!!!
Trish Chriss <tisher1@juno.com>
Warner Robins, GA USA - Fri Apr 2 14:20:41 2004
My wife and I had a nest fall from a tree on a windy day, we were able to save two female greys -- they are doing well thanks to this web site. We are looking forward to releasing them back into the yard. It is a joy to be able to watch them grow and play. I would do it over again if the chance came again. It is hard work but worth it !!
Bob Foulkrod <boggiebob@hotmail.com>
Santa Fe, Texas USA - Wed Mar 31 18:41:41 2004
We are now raising three adorable little male squarrels. What a joy to have them with us. We are excited about their re-entry to nature though. Do you think they will stay around our area or will they split up?
Paula Dowell <ptdowell@sbcglobal.net>
Arnold, MO USA - Wed Mar 31 11:53:45 2004
I am new to Clarissa but she has been a lifesaver (literally)! My neighbor cut a tree down and didn't know there was a nest in it. He brought me two baby greys, about 3 weeks old at the time and told me the story of what they went through before he found them. He cut the tree down, they survived, he cut the tree up, they survived, he threw the pieces on the back of a truck and drove them to his house, and then finally saw them in one of the pieces!
I have named them Faith and Hope because....well....that speaks for itself! I would not have been able to help these little girls had it not been for Clarissa!!! She is truly a Godsend!!!! And her site is as well!!! The girls have just opened their eyes and I feel a huge amount of accomplishment, all due to Clarissa and this site. I could definitely not have gotten this far without her great amount of knowledge, help and support!! Thanks Clarissa and I am sure I will be asking for a LOT more help in the near future!!!!!! Love to you and your site!!!
Susan Hines <shines@leeandsmith.com>
Spartanburg, SC USA - Tue Mar 30 07:52:27 2004
This is a great site. My friend had two orphan squirrels that were having seizures and dying because she was feeding them espilliac. she brought them to me. It was two late to save one but I saved one after reading this site Thanks.
shonda jacobs <shonda@faithmail.,com>
mcminnville, TN USA - Mon Mar 29 23:51:58 2004
Yesterday morning we cut down a tall pine that had a nest in the top. Our Golden Retriever found one baby squirrel and stood guard over it. We found another one in the nest. They do have some hair on them, but still have their eyes closed. I right away found your site so I would do the right thing. I found it very helpful.
My husband feels so bad about cutting the tree down.We never did see a squirrel go up that tree,and the tree was leaning over our neighbor's Hosta garden. We wanted to take of it before her Hosta broke through the ground. We looked and looked thinking there were usually three babies, but only found the one on the ground and one in the nest.I hope I can raise them until they can survive on their own.They are a male and a female. Thanks for the information!
Bonnie
Bonnie Riley <bonnie.riley@comcast.net>
Adrian, Mi. USA - Mon Mar 29 19:49:59 2004
Once again I will try to do 'the right thing' and take care of these triplets that have found me! I usually get them past the critical first months only to have them die at 5 to 6 months old. Your book has given me valuable info that will help me considerably. I wish I had known this stuff earlier.This time, however, I have three, not just one baby squirrel to tend to. Lord, help me! Thanks!
Lesa Stanley <lesam00@hotmail.com>
Murray, Kentucky USA - Mon Mar 29 18:32:35 2004
I was given the "Scalded Milk" recipe about 9 yrs ago. I have succesfully raised and released 3 squirrels. All under the age of 3 wks, one actually having umbilical cord and afterbirth still on her, this one was minutes old and in a tree that had just been cut down. Prior to the recipe I had lost 2 using Esbilac or Just Born. Great products for puppies and kittens but not a baby squirrel. Please trust Clarissa and what she says.
If for some reason your baby doesn't make it, please trust it was not the milk formula. The baby could have been injured due to a fall or however it came to be in your care or an underlying illness. Follow ALL directions for raising your squirrel.
The nut balls are extremely important also. My friend decided to not do them and the baby became paralyzed in its hind legs and died. Sad, Sad, Sad! Thank you, Clarissa, for your much-needed info. I work in the Pet industry, (well known) pet store and I keep copies of your material to give to customers. Thanks again. Tonya
Tonya Arceneaux <farceneaux@sbcglobal.net>
Beaumont, Texas USA - Wed Mar 24 07:36:51 2004
I just want to say thanks for such informative feeding info. I live far from any rehab. Rehab told me I'd kill them with baby formula. I'll keep you posted on my 3 baby boys(only 1 or 2 days old).
Denise Cortellini <Cortellini1@rcn.com>
Rutledge, Pa. USA - Mon Mar 22 13:36:11 2004
Found two little ones under my hood--this site is a great help
Blaze Magyar <blaze@misn.com>
Viburnum, MO USA - Sun Mar 21 16:58:31 2004
Just received three babies. I believe they are three to four weeks old. Thanks for the good web site on how to take care of them. I am going to give it try.
Christa <moonbc@pldi.net>
Garber, Ok USA - Mon Mar 8 16:36:19 2004
Thank you, Clarissa, for setting me straight. Fortunately, my 6-month-old squirrel is a real fighter and might actually survive my mishandling long enough to be released as soon
as the weather is cooperative. I am just so happy to have found you! Betsy
Betsy Johnston <emj3257@aol.com>
Chester, MD USA - Sat Mar 6 14:43:21 2004
I would just like to say a thank you to Clarissa for all her help with the Fox squirrels that i am raising. Clarissa, the four babies are doing great, their eyes are not open yet but very soon now. I'll send you a picture when the little guys outgrow their cardboard box.
Again thanks so much.
Lester Barger <lrbarger2003@yahoo.com>
Metropolis, Il. USA - Fri Mar 5 17:53:06 2004
Clarissa is the best! She is EXTREMELY squirrel-knowledgeable. Her site has helped me so much! She has also helped me on a one-to-one basis with week-old baby squirrels and my little babies or l would not have made it through, had it not been for her. A lot of squirrel sites will give you the wrong information...Puppy Formula is not for squirrels - lt will kill them; lt just takes longer to do so. lf you're raising squirrels your best bet is to follow her instructions to the letter or give them to someone who will - like me :-) Thank you so much for your help Clarissa l am eternally grateful and in your debt!
Tobie <TobieOne@nehp.net>
New Hope, AL USA - Thu Feb 5 11:28:28 2004
Thank you, because you let us know how we can help a squirrel baby:)
Inge Larsen <lifli@mail.tele.dk>
Århus, Denmark - Tue Feb 3 12:05:22 2004
Wouldn't have been able to keep "Rocky" alive without this site! Use only Clarissa's Scalded Milk Formula and Nutball Squares - do not listen to other people or you will only end up with heartache instead of a great experience.
Lucy G. Brown <lucygbrown@sbcglobal.net>
Houston, TX USA - Tue Feb 3 04:53:09 2004
I just wanted to say thanks so much your website has really helped me a lot and thanks for writing me back to answer my qusestions.....thanks so much!!!
Kara Gratton <Angelkissez4776@aol.com>
Parrish, Fl USA - Sun Feb 1 20:53:50 2004
Great site -- finally some accurate info on one of my favorite animals !!! And thanks for the suggestions on how to build a squirrel box/nest. I shall build one !!!
Arnie Altaffer <caspertfg_200@yahoo.com>
Casper, Wy USA - Sat Jan 17 12:12:19 2004
A Squirrel Haiku:
Sweet-faced criminal ~
You stole our hearts at first sight ~
Now you steal pecans
Donna <tempestes@tampabay.rr.com>
Seminole, FL USA - Thu Jan 8 20:26:42 2004
Thank you for all your information. If I had access to it eight years ago I may not have lost a tree squirrel that was found after a tree was cut down. She lived for three months. Now I understand why. That is when I got Princess my flying squirrel. Had planned on letting the tree squirrel loose in the yard. Was playing with her outside and leaving her cage out some. Had gotten attached to her but wanted what was best and we had plenty of them out in the yard.
Joy Spears <gailon@mindspring.com>
Cisco, Texas USA - Mon Dec 29 09:49:13 2003
Hi Clarissa, It's been Awhile Since I Been Around. Keep Up The Good Work.
Cheers cRuZe--Squirrel Land - Fri Dec 19 05:05:57 2003
Hi Clarissa,
Thanks for all your help. About a week ago my 14-year-old son found a grey squirrel under the pine tree in our front yard. Not sure how old he is but he is very young. He is coming along ok. I am happy we found the site so we had all the information on how to feed him. Boy, it is no small task but they are so darling. The way he holds the syringe when eating the Scalded Milk is priceless! Your heart must be huge. -- Thanks for all your help!
Carolyn Rafferty <crafferty@anacs.org>
Silver Spring, MD USA - Thu Dec 11 18:15:45 2003
Thanks a lot, Clarissa, for all of your help and enduring through all of my e-mails to you these past few months. I wish I had found this info 4 years ago. I have raised one flying squirrel (TIMBER) but I have lost a couple of grays along the way. My 3 baby flyers(MOSSY, FERN & PEANUT) say thank you for the nut balls and all of your help. I will keep you updated on their progress. Thanks again Lisa
Lisa <Perdido1224@aol.com>
Cantonment, FL USA - Sat Dec 6 17:10:11 2003
I found your website very helpful. I have just recently become a surrogate mother to a very young flying squirrel. After reading your countless wonderful information I have kinda figured my flying squirrel to be between 3 and 4 weeks old. I have her on your Scalded Milk Formula and she is doing great!!! Thank you so much for all the information you have provided.
Faye <Fldaytonagirl@aol.com>
Daytona Beach, fl USA - Fri Nov 28 20:13:20 2003
Great site -- has helped out with our grey we found already weaned and still friendly, too young to be on his own -- the family is enjoying it all
Karen M. Otillio <otillios@charter.net>
Mandeville, La. USA - Thu Nov 20 20:36:02 2003
I Love to watch squirrels - feed them pecans & walnuts. Have not been able to get close enough to eat from my hand but a few do come within a couple of feet. Your comments have altered the way I approach and feed them - Thanks for caring so much.
James V Johnston <jvjcpa@bellsouth.net >
Nashville, TN USA - Sun Nov 9 10:23:38 2003
Thanks Clarissa, you are a lifesaver times 3...great advice and timely support...moral support AND practical :) I know you've saved thousands of little lives out here in addition to those you have had there with you. Keep up the great work.
Cindy Johnson <CindyJ321@yahoo.com>
Rockport, TX USA - Thu Nov 6 12:48:27 2003
Thanks for responding to my emails so quickly. I love your website. Just hope my little guy makes it.
Phyllis Reynolds <graphixwizard@earthlink.net>
Winter Garden, f USA - Tue Nov 4 18:25:37 2003
Wonderful site. I am hoping to learn enough to care for a squirrel which has shown up in my backyard with a nasty front paw injury.
Linda Stephens <lmstephens@shaw.ca>
Victoria, BC Canada - Sun Nov 2 16:38:04 2003
When I found two 2 3-week-old babies about 9 weeks ago I was worried I wouldn't be able to find the info needed to raise them, but this site has all the information possibly needed and if not, Clarissa herself is always able to help!
Christian Knudsen <MTLBiceps@bodybuilders.com>
MONTREAL, QC CANADA - Wed Oct 22 10:09:46 2003
You are a miracle worker and a wonderful person Clarissa! Keep up the good work. I am so happy you are around to help our little furry friends!
Pamela Sweet <sweetp@cyberiad.com>
Milwaukie, OR USA - Fri Sep 26 21:36:18 2003
LAST YEAR WHEN WE FOUND 'ROCKY' YOUR SITE WAS SO HELPFUL & WHEN I NEEDED HELP YOU E-MAILED ME RIGHT BACK WITH THE INFO. NOW WE HAVE RASIED 5 GREYS AND WE HAVE A PINKIE NOW TO RAISE. WHAT A JOY THEY BRING TO MY HUSBAND & ME. THANK YOU FOR ALL THE INFO.
karen nelson <kknelson@hotmail.com>
nortonville, ky USA - Thu Sep 25 21:05:45 2003
Wonderful site! More knowledgeable than the vet! Rocky, the 7 1/2-week-old squirrel, is doing great! All thanks to Clarissa who has endured my constant e-mails. Rocky was taken out of his tree, probably by an angry male, at about 6 weeks of age. He has really grown in the last week and a half. It was exciting to see his eyes open; even though I wonder what he thought when he looked up and saw me. With luck and Clarissa's knowledge, Rocky should be a happy and healthy wild squirrel this spring. I will post pictures in the spring!
Carol Poole <cpoole1@swbell.net>
Jackson, MO USA - Thu Sep 25 18:52:39 2003
Thanks for e-mailing me back -- this is just great -- I loved all the pics -- I will have to try to get one of Rocky and send it to you he is so cool -- growing fast and is a pig -- loves to play and I love to listen to him make noise. Well, again thank you and I will do my best with the little guy
Deena Pierce <imbadgirl2_2000@yahoo.com>
Neosho, Mo USA - Wed Sep 24 17:56:45 2003
Thank you for the wonderful info! We just found a 2-month-old darling after our recent Hurricane Isabel. Our little darling, "Nutty", is doing very well, thanks to all of your INCREDIBLE advice!
Lisa Bratley <mrs_brat_usa@yahoo.com>
Chesapeake, VA USA - Mon Sep 22 09:11:22 2003
My squirrel was one of three whose nest fell in a fierce midwestern hail storm. Mom took one back, one died and the third, named Newlie, is about 10 weeks and 'fat & sassy'. A joy to watch. And thank heavens for Clarissa's site and her willingness to respond to questions.
maria <mimiop@attbi.com>
Chicago, IL USA - Mon Sep 22 00:10:14 2003
i found a squirrel whose mom got run over. Thanks for the info!!
jalyn jacobosn <jalynj@hotmail.com>
rowlett, tx USA - Mon Sep 22 00:00:03 2003
My dog had a baby squirrel in his mouth and my daughter saved him. This happened about 30 minutes ago. I'm very scared that I'm going to do something wrong but I visited your site and it's helped A LOT. Thank You!
Beth <beth_young3@hotmail.com>
Cookeville, TN USA - Sun Sep 21 10:08:53 2003
I want to thank you for your wonderful site. I found a 3 to 4 wk old baby squirrel on my lawn, and thanks to your website, my little baby boy is thriving and very healthy.
Mary S. Johnson
Mary Johnson <lady_tazz1968@yahoo.com>
Stephens, AR USA - Sat Sep 20 18:17:56 2003
Thank you for a wonderful source of information!
Lynn Armstrong <rsfarms@aol.com>
Boothville, LA USA - Fri Sep 19 09:15:46 2003
My daughter and I successfully raised 5 male 4-week-old squirrels in 1991,when mother died(unknown cause) leaving 6 babies (one didn't make it) in an abandoned bird house. Now on 8/30/03 a tiny 3-4 wk baby was in our yard and we took on the task to raise him also. They are such a gentle little animals. He is growing rapidly and healthy, and I thank goodness for computers and your site because this is much more info than I acquired at libraries in 1991. The nut balls are on our "to do" list. Again, thank you. Julie
Julie Rumreich <jrumr212@aol.com>
Anoka, MN USA - Tue Sep 16 11:42:51 2003
Clarissa, this is a wonderful site. Such "real" information. Thank you!
Dawn <dndtropics@cs.com>
Leesburg, Fl USA - Mon Sep 15 15:52:49 2003
Thanks -- you know your stuff. I talked to people who raised babies and did not feed them right and they died after 2 years -- two different people
sandysandoval <sandysandoval>
richardson, tx USA - Sat Sep 13 10:26:11 2003
Thanks for the information! Everything was very helpful! My baby aquirrels are doing great!
Jennifer King
Jennifer King <jennifer.king@dougherty.k12.ga.us>
Albany, GA USA - Fri Sep 12 08:12:53 2003
Husband rescued a baby flying squirrel from dogs. Local State park would have nothing to do with it -- take it home and raise it. BIL's family has the baby and I hope if I give them your advice they'll be able to help it survive. We don't see them around here
Debra Hatton] <debisuzi@webtv.net>
Madison, IN -- USA - Wed Sep 10 20:07:45 2003
What a wonderful website, very helpful!! Clarissa e-mailed me back ASAP and reassured me that I can do this. Thank you and God Bless.
Julie DeLucia <sdelucia@satx.rr.com>
San Antonio, TX USA - Wed Sep 10 19:39:45 2003
Your site is wonderful. If not for you I would have no clue how to care for my first baby. He is doing well on the Scalded Milk formula and getting stronger every day. The vet recommended kitten formula, glad I found your site before I bought some. Thanks Again!
Amber <Labrys7575@webtv.net>
Breaux Bridge, LA USA - Wed Sep 10 17:14:23 2003
We found our baby about 2 weeks ago and many of the bad things that you say are no-no's have been suggested by everyone! We have chosen to ignore these people and follow your advice! Our baby is growing and is opening her eyes a little! Thank you so much for your very good and useful advice! -- Susan and baby Phoebe
susan pangburn <susantoddp@COMCAST.NET>
conyers, ga USA - Tue Sep 9 19:19:41 2003
I found Ms. Clarissa back in 99, when I was brought a lil darlin...and instantly started searching the net..this is the most informative site there is...I ended up e-mailiing..on phone and all....with Clarissa...even got to go visit her and all 44 of her babies..ALL OVER THE HOUSE...I was in *squirrel* heaven...lol...Clarissa...if I could speak for the babies...they would say thank you for caring enough about us to try to help others save our small little lives...and from us human beings...*with tears in my eyes...I THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART....because of you...I had the most precious love of my life...NIPPER...he is gone now..but he is thought of often and tears fall when I do...but one day...we will cross that RAINBOW BRIDGE TOGETHER...THANKS...PENNY -- Nini's mom...
Penny Walker <pennywalker@sbcglobal.net>
Jasper, TX USA - Fri Sep 5 12:28:10 2003
We have raised 1 red fox squirrel from birth, and then 2 older red fox squirrels. All successfully Thanks to Clarissa's help. If I didn't know something, I would just write & ask her & she would write me back & explain or answer me. So now for the first time I have 3
baby greys! Don't even have their eyes open! So I'm gonna need some more help. THANKS!! S. Ard
Sherry Ard <ARDD@homexpressway.net>
Summerville, SC USA - Fri Sep 5 09:55:38 2003
My cat just brought in 2 baby squirrels. I immediately went to my computer and luckily found your site. They are about 2-3 weeks old. One is injured with teeth bites the other seems fine. I will do my best for these little guys, but I couldn't do it without this site. Thank you.
Lisa Molligi <Ahsila1@msn.com>
Peabody, MA USA - Fri Sep 5 07:09:15 2003
Thank you so much for your efforts in sharing your expertise, it has helped and I hope for success.
Marie Odorizzi <modorizzi@toronto.ca>
Toronto, ON Canada - Thu Sep 4 09:59:38 2003
This website has been the most helpful we could find for feeding and taking care of pinkie squirrels and their growth into maturity. We can't thank Clarissa enough for all her guidance and support. Animals are truly the silent majority.
Alan Stine
Ambrose, GA USA - Wed Sep 3 17:21:33 2003
Thanks to this site a grey squirrel, who has been nicknamed "Bully", is alive and kicking after having been found... alone in a highly human-populated area over a week ago. It is so much fun to watch him grow. Thanks for all the great info, we printed it and hung it on the fridge next to his home.
Karen <jwebsterz@aol.com>
CT USA - Sun Aug 31 17:53:56 2003
Thanks a lot --I have used all your advice and a squirrel that we found is a pinkie -- there were three and the mother and two babies were killed by a tree being removed. I have had him now for eight days and he is getting big -- thank goodness that I found your web site. Thanks again -- Scarlet& Squirt
scarlet Roach <scarletr@earthlink.net>
clearwater, fl USA - Sat Aug 23 21:09:16 2003
Your website is a godsend! My teenaged daughter, Stephanie, found two baby squirrels at the base of our pine tree in the front yard a week ago. Cats (?) or something managed to get one and we decided to care for the other. "Baby" is about 4 weeks old (I think!) and is thriving. We will release him to the wild when he's ready. (But not in my urban neighborhood! We'll take him out to the country where my parents live and have them help with the transition!) This is so much work, but so rewarding! Wendy
Wendy and Stephanie <WendyPWilson@aol.com>
Salem, OR USA - Sat Aug 23 17:42:39 2003
Thank you so much for all the information. Since my husband brought home a Southern Flying Squirrel yesterday and said, "Can you save it?", I was in need of finding all that I needed to know, and quickly.
Jana <gymnastics_@msn.com>
Stillwater, MN USA - Fri Aug 22 11:44:23 2003
I have been a squirrel fan for many years and have always fed and tried to take care of babies. My kitchen currently has more than 20 squirrels as decorations, none real of course. With the help of your web page I hope the little one we found yesterday has promise of a good life. Thanks
Kathy Small <krab7@aol.com>
Williamstown, NJ USA - Wed Aug 20 10:46:18 2003
Clarissa! Is that you in any of those pictures? What beautiful children you have! Janet :)
janet cozzini <redupthehill@earthlink.net>
blue jay, ca USA - Thu Aug 14 15:28:44 2003
What a wonderful site! So much information...and so willing to share it! Kya (our Southern Flying Squirrel) and I thank you very much!:)
Katie <katiemieher@mail.utexas.edu>
Austin, TX USA - Wed Aug 13 08:48:43 2003
Thank you very much for all the wonderful information you have given about baby squirrels at your website. It is wonderful people like you that give other people the chance to help an animal in need. My two neighbor children came running to my home today crying about a baby squirrel that was being attacked by cats. We rescued the baby and I had no clue in how to care for this baby that is about 4 1/2 - 5 weeks old. Many thanks to you I now have enough information to save this cute little guy and be able to release him back into nature when he is old enough.
He seems to be doing well, with the exception of a little bloody nose but I will get the recommended Vitamin C tomorrow and start to give him doses at the times you have suggested. Again, many thanks to you and your love for the animals that this little guy has more than a fair chance to survive. The neighbor girls named him "Lucky", cause they say he is more than lucky to have the both of us to help him have a chance to survive and also cause he was lucky they found him before the cats got to him. -- Many thanks again,
Regards,
Maureen Himenes
Maureen Himenes <moxbow@hotmail.com>
San Jose, CA USA - Tue Aug 12 06:21:50 2003
Thank you so much for your wonderful site....my only regret is that I didn't find it sooner
paula d <nut_tee_nurse>
sunset, la USA - Mon Aug 11 13:30:46 2003
Great Info / this gave us alot of additional information we did not know about.
Thanks from Wild Wolf Rescue Center
Ron & Teresa Wolfe <wildwolf@fullnet.net>
Nowata, OK USA - Thu Jul 24 11:35:22 2003
We really appreciate the Scalded Milk formula and Nutball recipes. We have followed your examples religiously and have a healthy rehabilitated Northern Flying Squirrel as a result. Thanks
Christian Hardy <cchardy@tdstelme.net>
Phillips, ME USA - Sun Jun 29 20:39:53 2003
Thank you for all the info you have so lovingly put together for us. This was so helpful. I now will have babies that are more healthy, and ready to be released. Thanks again
Yvonne Hutcheson <YMH317@yahoo.com>
Montrose, MI United States - Sat Jun 28 23:09:59 2003
My grey squirrels MALACHI and SISSY are doing wonderful and have been released in a tree in my yard. I still get to enjoy them, yet let them retain their wild nature that is not only the good Lord's will but will also keep them alive and well for many years. SQUIRRELS RULE!!!!!! Lynn and Madison OWEN
Lynda C. Owen
Pickens, SC USA - Sun Jun 22 20:28:51 2003
This site is hilarious and makes sense.
claudia <claudia@vasincla3328.myblackvault.com>
erie, pa USA - Fri Jun 6 20:21:56 2003
Just thought I would let you know that I turned Secret loose a couple of weeks ago, and she is adapting very well.
Tim Simmons <simmonsoneear@aol.com>
kokomo, In USA - Tue May 20 07:35:40 2003
Thank you, Clarissa, for all the help you've given me and these sweet little ones. Some people call them obnoxious Tree Rats. I know they are a gift from Mother Nature sent to teach us by their example. From them we can learn laughter, spontaniety, curiousity and compassion.
Paula Lancaster <LaTigra54@msn.com>
Highland, In USA - Sun May 18 09:40:30 2003
Thank you for your website. It has helped my mom, my sister and me a lot in raising our two squirrels!
Hannah <hanbanz13@hotmail.com>
Urbandale, Ia USA - Thu May 15 16:16:35 2003
Thank you again for all the help you provided, When times were rough for little Skippy, you were the encouragement and the true voice of how to care for the little guy. You've saved a little life and gave us a little companion.
Ken & Ann Carlson <annc628@bellsouth.net>
Boca Raton , Fl USA - Sat May 3 00:13:16 2003
Thanks for this awesome web site, if it wasn't for you I don't know what I would have done! Squirrels are truly amazing animals.
r.calsyn <rcalsyn@hotmail.com>
fulton, il USA - Thu May 1 20:29:48 2003
This was the best site on emergency rescue care for infant baby squirrels. I THANK YOU SO MUCH! The baby is thriving now, but I have only had it for 3 days, it has since opened it eyes and also her tail is getting bushier, but I know we are not out of the woods yet! I am going to follow your instructions to the "T" because so far so good! Thank you so much for making it as easy as it can be. God bless you, Clarissa -- Sincerely, Cindy & Jack & "Lucy". God bless you Clarissa!
THANK YOU, I suddenly have two baby squirrels. Your site is very informative and to the point. Looks like I will need it all. Thank You again. Kerenna
Kerenna Gunn <kerenna@sympatico.ca>
St.Catharines, on Canada - Sat Apr 26 17:55:49 2003
Thank you SO MUCH for this information. If I ever find myself having to care for another orphan, I will follow it to the letter!! Bless you!
Ren
WA USA - Sat Apr 26 17:44:13 2003
Thanks for posting this site; it has helped my daughter and me to save at least 8 grays without one loss. We just got in three 6-week- olds that were almost dead. They're doing fine.
Diane Weissberg <diweiss8583@aol.com>
Westmont, NJ USA - Mon Apr 21 08:15:11 2003
This is a great website. Clarissa will have a special place in Heaven.
shelia cook <smileatpeople@aol.com>
pleasant grove, al USA - Thu Apr 17 21:38:14 2003
Hi Clarissa, Just Thought I Would Drop A Note Of Thanks For All Your Help From The Past Year. One On Winnie's Babies From A Previous Litter Has Taking Up Residence In Her Condo. I Have Been Watching This One Since Late Last Summer, As It Was The Only One Of The 6 Babies Winnie Had Last Summer That I Didn't Relocate. (I am Really Glad I Let Her Stay Now). Yes, She Is Female, But Still Too Young To Have Babies Of Her Own. From What I Am Told, They Don't Mate Until They Are A Year Old, So Maybe This Summer I Might See Winnie's Baby With Babies Of Her Own. It Good To Know That A Part Of Winnie Still Lives On.
Cheers!
Cruze
Some Place - Sat Apr 12 05:32:28 2003
Thank god for this sight. Thanks to you we have a very healthy little one.
charles kimbler <ccharles40@wmconnect.com>
pewee valley, ky USA - Fri Apr 11 17:51:26 2003
An incredible site.
keena <keena@keena138.cheeb.com>
yonkers, ny USA - Tue Apr 8 16:23:22 2003
Hickory is doing fine, thanks to you. He opend his eyes on Wed. morning -- we think he is a gray. Should we start him on solid foods now? Any advice you give us will be followed. Would you like a photo of Hickory? Thanks so much for your help with this little guy.
charles&betty kimbler <ccharles40@wmconnect.com>
pewee valley, ky USA - Sat Apr 5 08:46:00 2003
Bless you, Clarissa! All too often it seems I end up foster-mothering one of our furry friends. (It is a shame others do not respect the lives of our planet's cohabitants.) As a foster mom to twin boy squirrels I have returned to your site again and again for guidance and support. Peanut and Walnut are growing fine and stong, many thanks to you. We are looking forward to a successful rehab around July/August onto 3,000 undeveloped acres in North Florida. My advice to others who come to your site - follow instructions. The Scalded Milk recipe is so easy to follow once you've done it and the Nutballs are a piece of cake (in a matter of speaking!) I have two healthy, happy little squirrel boys who will attest to it! Thanks, Clarissa. The world needs more people like you.
Donna <noli.metangere@verizon.net>
Seminole, FL USA - Sun Mar 23 07:17:16 2003
I am so thankful that I found your website. I love all the information, much that I didn't even know. I have raised many babies over the past 20 years. Four weeks ago a wind storm blew a nest down with 3 pinkies, one was injured and ended up dying. The other two are doing great. I can't wait to see those precious eyes. I feel like I can help them more effectively thanks to your website.
Tammy <Tidyt4@cs.com>
Gloucester, VA USA - Fri Mar 21 18:32:12 2003
Your website was extremely helpful in assisting me in caring for my baby squirrel. I just wish I had a computer sooner so I could have had more of a chance to free my squirrel without worrying about her. Izabel (IZZY) is now almost 7 months old, I had her since she was 3 weeks, and she couldn't be released in the winter so Clarissa is currently helping me out on setting her free. I have learned so much from her. Thank you. -- It's great to go online and find so many wonderful websites about animals. Many people underestimate animals and don't have much affection for them. Personally I like animals more than people.
Sharah Nicole Kane <Horsedreamer1130@aol.com>
Phila, PA USA - Wed Mar 12 15:04:14 2003
I was given the egg yolk formaula by a vet when I first received BooBoo yet I decided to give her the milk with water and a bit of sugar. I would fix her milk the same as a kitten -- she did well on it as I have well water. I automatically boiled her formula before feeding because I was afraid of giving her germs from the water. Thanks for the site -- I love it and will be spreading the Knowledge. Thanks again. Booboo is up and running today, all over her outside trauma. AGAIN, I THANK you
Marie Bragg <mapabrag@aol.com>
Baldwin, Fl. USA - Sun Mar 2 08:55:35 2003
Without Clarissa's help, our 3 squirrels surely would have perished. We utilized the website and she IS a constant source of information and advice through email. Everything she said worked! Listen to her voice of experience to bring your squirrels safely to health. THANK YOU Clarissa!
Angie <geppeta@aol.com>
Seminole , FL USA - Sun Dec 22 14:40:38 2002
GOOD SITE. WISH I HAD FOUND IT SOONER
CHIP FULMER <CHIPFULMER@COMCAST.NET>
North Augusta, SC USA - Sun Dec 22 02:38:41 2002
Thank you for caring for these darling creatures of the universe!!
Terri Vest <terri.vest@verizon.net>
Carrollton, TX USA - Sun Dec 15 01:19:30 2002
Thank you for posting your web site. I am currently bottle-feeding a baby guinea pig. He or she is doing well and growing.
jessica
pomeroy, wa USA - Sat Dec 14 17:55:58 2002
When we found 6 furless baby squirrels nearly frozen we had absolutely no idea how to care for them. I found Clarissa's web site. The information coached us through saving their lives! I was so scared I was going to do something wrong,and would email Clarissa. She always responded to my emails right away! (Thanks Clarissa for putting up with me I know I was a pest at times!)
They are now about 11 weeks old, doing great, still on formula, eating other things well, I started them on the Nut Balls last week. I just wanted to thank you for all your help! These little guys would never have made it without you!!
God Bless You!
Vickie <hc@locl.net>
OH USA - Tue Dec 3 05:58:06 2002
Thank you so much for your web-site. A friend brought me a 5-week-old squirrel and thanks to your advice, he is now free and happy. He still comes to visit me and get a treat. It was the best experience ever, to raise a baby squirrel. Thanks again.
Sheila <adams623@earthlink.net>
Spartanburg, SC USA - Thu Nov 7 14:13:51 2002
I sent an email tonight about 3 baby squirrels. Your web site is very helpful. So far they seem to be ok, I feel they would probably have died if I hadn't found your web site. Thank you
Linda C. Richey <LindaCRichey@aol.com>
Plant City, FL USA - Wed Nov 6 23:22:30 2002
My stepdad found an orphan squirrel in his shed and this site is a great way to find out his nutritional requirements. Thanks.
Teresa Shrum <red_hotz68@yahoo.com>
Wilburton , Oklahoma USA - Mon Nov 4 14:34:48 2002
I've had Bebe for a little over 2 weeks now. She opened her eyes a few days ago and appears to be doing great. Thanks for all the helpful suggestions!!! You're a godsend. thanks again, Lisa and Bebe
lisa cooke <lisafreespirit@yahoo.com>
dobson, nc USA - Mon Nov 4 12:54:06 2002
Thank you very much for the wonderful instruction manual that you provided online. A baby squirrel came to me in my back yard a few days ago. It was very weak and covered in fleas. Because of your manual I was able to nurse it back to health. I love the little critter. He is so soft and cute. I am glad I am able to care for it.
Michelle Endsley
Edgewood, Maryland
Michelle Endsley <bm420p@aol.com>
Edgewood, MD USA - Sun Nov 3 10:37:52 2002
I have a baby flying squirrel and a baby grey squirrel. They are both 3-4 months old now. I found Clarissa'a site when I had had them for about a week. I was feeding them kitten formula. (I had a baby last year that I managed to keep alive for 32 days on kitten formula.) Anyway, the Scalded Milk formula and Nutballs are far superior to the kitten formula and they are doing great. I have had them now for about 9 weeks. They graduated from an old fish tank to a 3x2x1 foot cage with all the squirrel amenities; branches, hutch, feeding spot. Good luck to you all on your "saving" adventures! God Bless!
Christine Drozdowski <mrschristine@earthlink.net>
Coatesville, PA USA - Sun Oct 20 19:19:49 2002
Excellent site....Tks for everything
François Jacques <frankjack@globetrotter.net>
Prévost, PQ Canada - Sat Oct 12 09:11:00 2002
Thanks for the Nutball recipe. We knew the baby squirrel we have must be lacking something from his diet because he kept licking everything. Between Wal-Mart and a GNC Health Food Store, we were able to find all of the ingredients. We have just got the Nutballs dried out and the squirrel likes them(based on the odor they put off when drying, I had my doubts). While we were waiting for the Nutballs to dry out, we changed the squirrel's diet based on the things you said was okay to feed him. We did notice a drastic change in his behavior. Thanks again for the information.
Gayle and Vance Johnson <johnson5@kimbanet.com>
Martinsville, VA United States - Tue Oct 8 21:03:01 2002
Hi Clarissa, Your Scalded Milk recipe and Nutball recipe saved my little squirrel (Rocky-the girl)last year.I know you don't remember, but she almost died. She was the one that lost the use of her front legs, and you told me to get her on the milk and Nutballs. Well, now she is the most beautiful little thing, very healthy and rambunctious. I was going to release her this summer, but as we are moving way out into the woods in 2 months, I decided to keep her with me until next spring so she could live in the woods, not in a development in town with the danger of cars or the neighborhood cats.
He (she) lost half her tail.It got caught in the fringe of her hammock (kitchen towel with fringe, hanging in her cage)and she twisted around and around until it snapped in half. She now has a fringe-less hammock. She likes her hammock better than the house I build her or the cage. Yesterday we adopted another 6-week-old squirrel, being fed Pedialite. I brought him home and immediately tracked your website down to get the Scalded Milk and Nutball recipes again.
Thank you for being there again to help me keep my little squirrel healthy until I can release her. Sincere regards and God bless, Dorothy
dorothy <jlewis355@aol.com>
wilmington, nc USA - Tue Oct 1 09:19:32 2002
Thanks for the information. The baby is doing great.He just opened his eyes today.
Jean <Bambi412@AOL.com>
S.I., N.Y. USA - Sat Sep 28 11:56:38 2002
I was again on the site to seek advice, have managed to keep 4 squirrels alive by using the information supplied by your site, (They were just pinkies when they were brought to the veterinary clinic where I work.) Thank you very much, I am looking forward to the day they will be old enough to return to the wild, we have a great place to release them. Thank you. Geri
Geri Gregory <norrisgregory@msn.com>
hendersonville, tn USA - Fri Sep 27 12:04:04 2002
Thank you so much Clarissa for all you do to help those of us who love the little animals !
Kim Brown <brown632000@earthlink.net>
Whitehouse, TX USA - Tue Sep 24 08:32:28 2002
I am so glad Clarissa's love for animals and squirrels in particular has brought us this wonderful website. It was invaluable with the information it provides. THANK YOU CLARISSA
Tessie
Corbett, Or USA - Wed Sep 18 05:10:49 2002
So glad i have found Clarissa's site! I need advice and lots of help along the way. I have printed out her pages. I always raised baby squirrels only to have them die from convulsions later. Never fed them scalded whole milk that we drink. I am now feeding this to my baby squirrel, in hopes it will help him live to be released. Great advice, Clarissa! Thanks for responding to all my e-mails. I never knew much about nutrition in squirrels. I am now learning.
As my baby is around 6 weeks I would guess, eyes are open. chewing on tip of syringe is starting to happen. And behaviour is great! No convulsions! Eating great now, and poops are getting harder, not runny. I just need to take the time to make the proper food Clarissa advises. lol when ready.
Thanks -- great site for our little furry friends!
Pamela
Pamela <pamela@nebutel.com>
Melb., Fl USA - Tue Sep 17 13:02:33 2002
THANK YOU FOR RESPONDING AS QUICKLY AS YOU HAVE . YOU SHOW THAT THE LOVE FOR NATURE AND ANIMALS IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF LIFE. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR VALUABLE INFORMATION ALSO. IT HAS BEEN VERY BENEFICIAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
KATHLEEN H--D <STEWYKATHY@AOL.COM>
NEWARK, DE USA - Tue Sep 17 09:59:46 2002
I have just adopted 4 baby squirrels. The mother threw them out of a nest about 40 feet high. I am feeding them the Scalded Milk formula and they LOVE it. they are about 6 weeks old acording to your age chart. Thanks for the information and keep up the good work.
Phil Ferris <pcf6677@yahoo.com>
Lilburn, GA USA - Sun Sep 15 10:35:55 2002
Thank-you Clarissa for all your knowledge and hard work. A beatiful job well done. The information is very helpful and I hope I have much success in raising my abandoned flying squirrel. Thank-you again.
JEAN C. HECKMAN <jaman52000@aol.com>
Pen Argyl, PA USA - Wed Sep 11 19:14:31 2002
Thank GOD for someone who will help those of us who just want to do something right and take care of GOD's little creatures and not just let them go by the wayside. I have a little girl named Jill. She developed a problem with her two pinky toes on both back feet and you, Clarissa, were the only one who would actually take the time to try and help me get her through her little problem.
I had called some local supposed rehab people to try and see if they might have some ideas of what I could do for her. One actually told me, and I quote word for word "I know exactly what is wrong with her and am not going to tell you what to do." The nerve of someone who is supposed to be in the business of rehabbing animals to tell someone like me who is just trying to help one little squirrel be in the best health possible. It's not like I have one of those endangered species kind of animals, it is a squirrel. I know plenty of people who sit on their back porches shooting these little guys out of their tree. Where are those supposed wildlife concervation people and why aren't those shooters facing some kind of prosecution. I am just trying to save one little squirrel and make her time with me as special as possible. And maybe teach my 6-yr-old something positive, instead of having him think you can just go around killing GOD's creatures, instead save just one life and he will remember this for the rest of his life.
Your site is a true Godsend for those of us who actually care about these sweet little babies. I got mine on Aug. 1st and she is thriving on the Scalded Milk formula and soon will be eating the Nutballs and EXACTLY everything on your site. It is my SQUIRREL BIBLE and I will look nowhere else except to you for all my future inquiries!!! Thanks for caring like I do, Clarissa, Your sister in squirrel care -- Elaine from Kansas. GOD BLESS ALL GOD'S CREATURES GREAT AND SMALL!!
Elaine <IMSVDRU8865@aol.com>
DeSoto, KS USA - Sat Sep 7 22:36:33 2002
Hi there, we are fortunate enough to be able to plan ahead for our soon-to-be adopted baby flying squirrel. Without all the info on this page we would not only be unprepared but much less confident and excited about it! Thanks!
castello family <jshcakes@aol.com>
grand rapids, mi USA - Fri Sep 6 21:40:03 2002
Thank you for publishing such a helpful guide on line in my desperate attempt to find out what I should "really" be feeding this little abandoned squirrel that was given to me.. I've rescued baby squirrels in the past and I'm called from time to time for help. Plenty have made it and some have not.
Although I had been given a formula 25 years ago by a local vet, I was hearing for several years about some "new, better formula" that I should use. Well,after visiting some arrogant websites warning that milk would kill any squirrel, I was so worried and didn't know what to do. I just didn't feel right about that puppy formula!
Then, I happened to find you! I could not get over how informative and helpful your web site was. My previous formulas needed correcting and I was indeed "supposed to use scalded milk", contrary to what other sites were saying. I was so impressed with your knowledge and background........you know what you're talking about!!
Things you said rang true with what I had observed in all the years I'd rescued and raised these precious little babies. In the past, if something would go wrong, I didn't know what was causing it. You took the time to e-mail me and gave me the key........I should "not" add egg yolk to the milk like I had been instructed. Then, you took the time to give me much needed
encouragement and advice on feeding my baby squirrel.
Little "Buzzy" is doing fantastic now that he's on "your formula!!" In an amazingly short time (4 days), he has bounded back and looks "plump", bright-eyed and energetic. He's looking better and better with every feeding. It would have broken my heart to think I wasn't giving him the best formula to save his life.
Thank you for your dedication and sincere concern for the squirrels and the people who are trying to help them. You are a wonderful "Godsend" to those of us who are looking for guidance with caring for these gentle little creatures. God Bless You --Mickey -- Mickey King >-- Metairie, LA USA - Fri Sep 6 12:24:43 2002
Thank God that I found your site.. three days today and the baby who looks to be about 6 weeks (full Fur white belly so I'm thinking Fox squirrel.) Didn't know what to give him. the first site I found said KMr and kitten formula.. That didn't sound right to me.. When he woke up we were able to give him water from a syringe, and he sucked on a peach, ate some banana and apple, then went back to sleep. He has baby teeth in front. I knew he need protein and fat.. then I found the Scalded Milk formula.. I just hope I got it to him in time.. He drank three syringes.. (I use this type for feeding my baby birds)...After reviewing the feeding table, I felt confident that that was ok.. but.. I can't get him to poop or pee.. ???? I tried the stimulating the rear end thing.. today is day three.. no sign of anything.. I am concerned.. any advice? thanks.. And thanks so much for posting this so very important information!!!!
Adrienne
Adrienne <lilqueenie99@yahoo.com>
Ukiah, Ca USA - Thu Sep 5 14:14:38 2002
I'm so glad to find a website with useful information to get these babies raised. Thank You -- Sabra
Sabra Brinlee <brinlee@moment.net>
Burnet, Tx USA - Mon Sep 2 21:48:01 2002
Thanks for the information page.I found a lot of helpful information and will keep it close for my next little ones. Thanks for giving me a shoulder to lean on when I had the humane issue -- it's nice to know I'm not alone.
Maggie <Feline2828@aol.com>
Coatesville, PA USA - Sat Aug 31 00:28:33 2002
I have a 5-6 wk old female squirrel. These sites have helped my more than I could tell you. Thanks to people that love animals, I can take care of an animal that has become very important to our lives!!!
Casey <RallyMc@aol.com>
Lehigh Acres, FL USA - Wed Sep 4 13:38:43 2002
Thank you for publishing such a helpful guide on raising baby squirels. They are such wonderful little creatures.
Holly <hulagivesadamn@aol.com>
Pensacola, FL USA - Thu Aug 29 12:13:58 2002
Thank you, Clarissa, for putting your manual online and for the personal assistance that you offer. I raised two grey squirrels from the age of 4 weeks until release and followed your advice to the letter including making the nut balls! These were healthy, round, and very active squirrels when released and they still eat at my backyard feeders. Thanks for saving their lives and for being there for us. Linda and the Backyard Babies
Linda <macysmom@tampabay.rr.com>
Riverview, FL USA - Wed Aug 28 12:56:40 2002
My dog found a baby squirrel about 2 weeks ago. I found your site. How Great! She just opened her eyes last Saturday. She went with me on vacation to Colorado and New Mexico because I did not have anyone to keep her and we were taking the truck. She went in the hotel rooms in a shoebox and I took a heating pad to keep her warm. In the daytime she went in her shoebox into a cat carring case in the car. We carried an ice chest with her milk and I asked people at restraunts to heat her milk. I also heated it in the sun on the dash board a couple of times. She's growing a lot every day and seems very healthy. I am off to the health food store this week for her Nut Ball ingredients.
I could not have done this without all your information. Thank you for putting it on the web it is wonderful.
Judy
Judy Riley <jrileyreps@aol.com>
Highland Village, tx USA - Tue Aug 27 17:51:50 2002
Clarissa, Thank you for your caring responses to all of my emails. Your web site is a treasure chest of information that I am printing to help us get the release stage. We have been raising our babies for 3 weeks and are confident in your advise and information. THANKS AGAIN!
Rhonda <Rhonda_Payne@msn.com>
Smithfield, VA USA - Mon Aug 26 12:04:26 2002
Dear Clarissa, thanks so much for the prompt response to my query about Golem, our little 8(?) week old. I am amazed and heartened to see all the guests and hear their stories. i am also not a little relieved to see that im not the only one who has grown "overly" attached to the little creature (besides my mean tough husband, who wouldn't even let me prepare the formula for the first week or so, since that was his specialty). This little squirrel came to us at exactly the wrong time but as is the case with many of God's blessings, it worked out perfectly (we HAD to use the cheaper homemade formula) and having to go the extra mile as far as labor is a real lesson for me. Thank you for the web sites(this and Vicki's) and may God bless you and the others going out of their way to care for these creatures that have been placed under our stewardship.
jeannie <rscoop2jr@aol.com>
pc, fl USA - Thu Aug 22 09:56:10 2002
This is a TERRIFIC site!!!! My son found a baby grey yesterday I think it is about 3 weeks old. We think the mother was killed by a car. The other sites I visited refused to give any info at all other than send them to a rehabilitator(which is not an option for us since there isn't any close). We plan to follow your advice and hopefully will be able to report back with a success story. Keep up the good work.
Gladys E. Gerber <ggwyche123@aol.com>
Jay, FL United States - Thu Aug 15 22:32:07 2002
Clarissa, I know that I have already inundated you with emails about my squirrel. But I just wanted to thank you for your kindness, attention, encouragement and willingness to help. Even forgetting the hotly debated milk formula, your website has so much valuable information that is simply lacking on other sites that offer information on orphaned squirrels. And while your website is full of all sorts of information explaining the nutrition info and pros and cons of diets for infant squirrels, you still were willing to give me one-on-one time, so to speak, through our emails to relieve my anxieties about feeding my baby squirrel properly. You even were helpful in trying to find a location nearby to take care of the baby...and extremely informative in what to watch out for in places where they say they will take care of the squirrels.
Jamie <jmatjax@aol.com>
Jacksonville, FL USA - Sat Aug 10 14:16:53 2002
Thanks so much for your site. It has given me the confidence to raise the 2 babies we found. We have a boy and a girl and have named them Toby and Rose. We have lots of trees in our backyard and have decided to release them there at the proper time.
Kathleen Parker <deltabayou@copper.net>
Saraland, AL USA - Tue Aug 6 21:02:34 2002
Very informative -- thank you. I found an approx. 3-4 wk old (by your picture), I feel he may have a broken back, from the fall. It won't move its back legs. I can not get it to use the bathroom, stimulation does not seem to help. Any ideas would be gladly appreciated. I had no intentions of keeping it, but if its back may be broken, it will not make it in the wild, Thank you for any advice. KIM
kim shell <shell_kim@hotmail.com>
leesville, la USA - Tue Aug 6 12:31:21 2002
Thank You so much for all this great info. I printed all of it. My son found our baby squirrel in our driveway. I guessed it to be about a day old. Eyes and ears still closed with no hair and about 3 inches long. We have had him a week and he's still hanging in there. I'm so glad I found your site. -- Again Thank You
Becca
Becca Brown <BJalya@aol.com>
Louisville, KY USA - Sat Aug 3 19:29:53 2002
I really enjoyed the information on squirrels. I'm raising a baby that fell out of the tree. There were 2 but my Lab. got to one. I believe it is a gray one. Again, thank you very much. Trish
Trish <ke_bon@hotmail.com>
Seymour, Tx. USA - Tue Jul 30 12:31:42 2002
A baby squirrel is now healthy, happy, and living with other squirrels because of Clarissa's amazing web page and the outstanding information she's provided. I was disheartened to see the scathing-toned comment made by a guest signing this book about 11 of 18 squirrels died within one day using Scalded Milk formula. I have to disagree. If an animal dies within one day of your care, Scalded Milk or not, it probably wasn't the formula that killed him. Internal injuries perhaps? Inadequate nutrition BEFORE getting the squirrels, perhaps? Please be careful about such a strong accusation towards someone with such a wonderful website, with such great successes for so many. Thank you, Clarissa.
Danielle <ArtistDMC@aol.com>
MA USA - Thu Jul 11 02:02:00 2002
This a very informative site .Glad I found it. THANKS
jackie hogstrom <fawn1950@hotmail .com>
Hibbing, mn. USA - Wed Jun 12 07:32:38 2002
I agree!!!! Clarissa TRULY cares!! So what the heck kind of "formula" were they feeding?? If it really was what Clarissa recommends, then someone did it WRONG!! Maybe it was what they were feeding WITH and maybe something else was given to them!! Clarissa has always given me great advice and I have had no problem with the ones I have raised. They are beautiful and healthy! When I got a couple of them they were in bad shape too!! Besides what you say makes no sense!!! You say they were "raised" on her formula. Well obviously if they were "raised", they did NOT die!!! How could they die within ONE day as you say? WHAT did YOU do to them???
SOOOO...maybe you should have your license revoked!!!
Teresa <forseeb@one.net>
USA - Fri May 31 21:40:30 2002
Daryl -- You are so unbelievable! Why are you and your cronies so threatened by Clarissa!?? I have raised over 50 babies on Clarissa's formula and ALL have done beautifully. I am now married to a Wildlife Veterinarian who thinks Clarissa is doing a marvelous job! It's because of fools like you, who start all this in-fighting, (and the animal's needs kicked to the curb) that my husband no longer volunteers his services to so-called Rescue Groups.
Put your ego aside and use your brain! And stop making up garbage to post on a website. You just look silly. And you do a disservice to the animals you claim to care about. -- Chelsea Pembroke
Chelsea Pembroke <Chelsea69@webtv.net>
San Clemente, CA USA - Tue May 28 21:45:23 2002
I am a licensed Maine Wildlife Rehabber. In the last three years I have had to treat 18 different baby squirrels raised on your "formula". Don't you do your homework? This is a totally inadequate diet for a squirrel.You shoud have your licensed revoked for life. By the way, 11 of the 18 babies died within a day of irreversible malnutrition. I suspect that the ones I saved will always have weakened immune systems and bone structure. You are a menace to squirrels everywhere.
Daryl DeJoy
Daryl DeJoy <daryldejoy@panax.com>
Penobscot, ME USA - Tue May 28 10:39:32 2002
It is wonderful that there are people out there, just like you, trying to save lives of little squirrels. All this war and terrorist talk on tv and I am sitting here trying to save this squirrel's life. I'm glad to have the distraction. Keep up your good work, you are appreciated.
Sallyann
Sallyann Lefevre <Chris_Sally@hotmail.com>
Milton, WV USA - Tue May 21 14:52:29 2002
This Flier will hopefully live a long life due to your concern and effort, Thanks
Rob Faddis <robfa@earthlink.net>
Cartersville, GA USA - Sat May 18 14:35:08 2002
Thanks for the page.I was sitting on my neighbor's front porch on Saturday talking to her, and her dog came up on the porch and behind him was a small squirrel following her. At first I thought it was another dog she used to have, but he jumped on my shoe and came right up to my chest and of course you know the rest of the story. I took him to church on Sunday and now I guess I have another friend. I just love the little guy. Oh, by the way, I named him after her Brother who I was going to see that stays with her. His name is Bo so I named him Bo Jr. Thanks for the lovely page and may God Keep shining on you and your Website.
Eli Olds <RockE8@aol.com>
Nashville, Tn. USA - Sun May 12 21:02:07 2002
THANK YOU FOR THIS SITE! I AM A ANIMAL LOVER & HAVE RECENTLY DISCOVERED THAT I HAVE A NEST OF BABY SQUIRRELS & OF COURSE I HAD TO SNEAK A PEEK . THEN MY CURIOSITY WAS AROUSED AND I WANTED TO LEARN ABOUT THE CARE OF THESE BEAUTIFUL LITTLE CREATURES , SHOULD THE NEED EVER ARISE. SO I WENT ON THE NET & IT TOOK ME FOREVER TO FIND THE INFORMATION I WAS SEEKING . BUT I FEEL I HAVE FOUND THE ULTIMATE INFORMATION SITE . I WILL BE WATCHING THESE LITTLE DARLINGS & ENJOYING THIER BEAUTY ! THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WONDERFUL INFORMATION ! GOD BLESS !
JANICE <FEBRUARYDOLPHIN@AOL.COM>
AUGUSTA , GA USA - Sat Apr 27 22:28:17 2002
Your website is really useful and I'm glad I found it. The UK seems lacking in any info on squirrel care. My baby is doing very well and I'm relieved I've found some helpful information on how to care for him.
Clare Valentine <cav6@ukc.ac.uk>
Canterbury, Kent UK - Thu Apr 18 07:42:45 2002
Clarissa -- Thanks so much for the site and personal advise. The 2 girls; Spring and Fall, are doing great. Fall opened her eyes today! This is what life is all about!
Jeff Piccione <paleo74@aol.com>
Grove City, Ohio USA - Tue Apr 9 18:40:54 2002
Thank you so much for all the advice and the web page. Tiko is doing fine now, and hopefully will continue to do so. I'll take excellent care of him. Sincerely, Karen Wright
Karen Wright <Writony4888@aol.com>
Jacksonville, Al USA - Tue Apr 9 16:42:56 2002
Thank you so much for this site. The information is extremely helpful, and we hope we wil be able to do a good job in raising our little baby Sammy until we are able to release him. We'll keep you posted on his progress.
Patti McBeain <pmcbeain@attbi.com>
Jacksonville, FL USA - Sun Apr 7 10:32:14 2002
Enjoyed your site! A wonderful guide to the care of squirrels. Jan
Jan Shafer <jan500s@aol.com>
Morton, IL USA - Sat Apr 6 19:23:12 2002
I love what you have done, you have and will save many lives, two here already. Thanks so much.
Amy <amylynne12@yahoo.com>
Benton Harbor, MI USA - Fri Apr 5 23:44:46 2002
I would definitely being remiss by not signing in after all this time!!! Thankfully I came to Clarissa's site first after getting 3 babies brought to me from a cut down tree in our yard on 08/26/1999. They still had their eyes closed and were the littlest things! I am glad that after reading the messages here that so many people appreciate her efforts and her tremendous help. I do not know how she does it all!!!If the squirrels could talk they would all be cheering for her. She helped me a lot and listened to me whine after I set mine free. Strong and healthy I might add! I have truly become a squirrel lover after all this and I know I can count on her to help when I need it with any more I might "adopt" along the way.
God Bless ya Clarissa!!!
Teresa <forseeb@one.net>
New richmond, oh USA - Fri Apr 5 17:40:07 2002
Its been 12 hrs. since we found a baby squirel crying in our back yard. I immediately looked on the web and found your site. I've helped a baby rabbit and thought that a squirel would be the same. But they're not.
I keep praying that he survives. At least with the info, he has a fighting chance.
Angel Doe
Blairstown, nj USA - Sat Mar 30 06:42:06 2002
Excellent information- thanks for putting it here and making it available- and, Adele Davis is/was pretty cool!
I expect "Rocky" our squirrel, thanks you too. He's about 12-14 weeks old, it appears, and doing fine but will certainly do better with this info.
Bob Scripter <robin44@aol.com>
Clearwater, Fl USA - Fri Mar 29 20:56:10 2002
A large dead tree, home for 4 squirrels, has become a danger to the children in the area. It is our plan to build some squirrel nest boxes to be placed in nearby walnut trees before the dead tree is removed. Thanks for the plans to build the nest boxes.
Gregory C. Rogahn <gallorojo@aol.com>
Lubbock, TX USA - Sat Mar 16 16:14:01 2002
I think the site is wonderful and very helpful. I think you have alot of knowledge and it is wonderful your sharing it and help save alot of little lives
shelly hogrefe <skeeter@clnk.com>
cameron, ok USA - Wed Mar 13 20:29:31 2002
I was so very happy to have found your web site.It really helped me out to know when was the right time to let my squirrel go.Thank you!
Itala <alati16@hotmail.com>
Oak Point, Canada - Tue Mar 12 11:23:18 2002
I am caring for a very young baby squirrel, the youngest I have ever tried to rehab--your information is so helpful. IN the past I have raised and released 2 squirrels and 1 opossum but they were not this young. I just hope it survives. I'm following your online advise. Thank you!!!!
Marilyn Fowler <Fowlerm805@aol.com>
Kernersville, NC USA - Sun Mar 10 22:33:50 2002
Clarissa's willingness to share both her knowledge and her time so selflessly is an example to us all. I am very indebted to her for all of her cyber-help in rescuing 3 baby greys. I've kept a photo record of the babies' progress which can be viewed on my web page (www.great-ideas.ca). The page is not Netscape-friendly at the moment but will soon be viewable in all browser flavours! Thanks, again, Clarissa. I wish more people had hearts as large as yours! Cheers, Cindy
Cindy <ripley@videotron.ca>
CANADA - Sun Feb 3 23:16:34 2002
CLARISSA SAVED MY FLYERS LIFE, HER WEBSITE IS THE MOST BENEFICIAL OF IT'S KIND, SHE IS A DEVOTED REHABILITATOR, THIS IS THE INFORMATION I PLAN TO GIVE ALL OF OUR CLIENTS AT MY ANIMAL HOSP. THANK-YOU SO MUCH!!!
Allison <rvstardust@aol.com>
Tampa, FL USA - Sat Jan 26 15:45:49 2002
Clarissa thank you so much for helping me with my baby Worlee. Thanks to your email and directions she is happy healthy and almost fully rehabilitated. I now realize the importance of nutball squares and she gets one everyday. Thanks again for everything! You are a special lady. God Bless You.
Dana Dixon <bzordd@friendlycity.net>
Tifton, Gs USA - Wed Jan 2 21:02:30 2002
Clarissa has been so much help. Always taking the time to answer our questions by e-mail. This is a great site for people who love wild life and want to give a helping hand.
Bill & Cora Clemmer <Bcclem@aol.com>
Stockton, CA USA - Fri Dec 7 09:04:49 2001
Sept.16 My life changed forever. In my backyard I found a 1 week old Eastern Grey (Buster). I'm getting him ready for the world outside? Sometimes I wonder if I'm doing right? I will never look at a squirrel the same!!!
Ron Shelby <Swamp_Rat_71105@Yahoo.com>
Shreveport, La. USA - Sat Nov 24 09:48:38 2001
Clarissa, I just received your e mail with this web address. My question was Do you think I am being selfish for wishing to raise these 5 babies on my own. I am awaiting your answer, however, since reading your guest book, it appears many people are successful with their babies because of your loving help. I nearly am ready to cry because I love my babies already. I think your answer will be the one I am wishing....praying.....hoping for. For the rest of you, the babies were in the floor joist of a house we were building. We had to remove them because it was about to be boarded over and they would have starved. Good Luck and God Bless to ALL of us.....specially the teeny weeny critters.
Sheri Taylor <taylorframing@cs.com>
Baltimore, MD USA - Mon Nov 12 16:26:59 2001
I have been in contact with Clarissa earlier this year
about a very sick squirrel I was trying to save-when she
passed you were truly sympathetic like an old friend
Allison Tweedy <AllisonTweedy@aol.com>
Keeneyville, Illinois USA - Thu Nov 8 21:57:25 2001
Thanks for your webpage,I'm just sorry I didn't read it first. I made a few mistakes in the begining,but with your advice,and the recipe for nut balls,I think Stuart Little is gonna make it just fine.
patty gilbert <pbg38@aol.com>
dade city, fl USA - Tue Oct 30 21:41:08 2001
Thanks for all the details you provide here. It's fun being the squirrels' friend. 4 months ago squirrels ran away from me. Now they run to me. :) I have about 10 squirrels in the area that come to my backyard. I go outside for a few minutes and a squirrel always shows up.
Mike <webmaster@mikeswebsitedesign.net>
Brockville, ON Canada - Fri Oct 26 11:44:22 2001
Dear Clarissa: Thank you very much for all this valuable information about squirrels. "Squichy" is the name of our squirrel, we think she had fallen out of her nest. She is really growing up very fast and I will follow your instructions. I was very worried because many people told me that squirrels can transmit diseases to us. We will keep her until the spring and them wish her a happy life in the wild. -- Thank you Jeanette
Jeanette Ackermann <jachef@hotmail.com>
Arlington, Ma USA - Fri Oct 19 12:13:20 2001
Clarissa, Thank you so much for your help. I will do exactly as you say. Will let you know how she does. Thank you, thank you. Dorothy -- (her name is Rocky, I didn't know she was a girl).
Dorothy Lewis <jlewis355@aol.com>
Wilmington, NC USA - Thu Oct 18 13:16:05 2001
My husband and I have raised several baby squirrels (fox squirrels), but we just lost a little flying squirrel...don't really know why, other than possibly he was injured by the cats that found him...no apparent injury, but he did fine for several days, was older, had teeth and hair, but he died in the night...anyway, we have learned a lot from your website...thanks!
Sherri and Wiley Ezell (bige4@earthlink.net)
Sherri Ezell <bige4@earthlink.net>
Eros, LA USA - Sat Oct 13 13:24:50 2001
A wonderful site, just wish I'd found it sooner. Thankfully, Chester survived despite what the local rehabber did and did not tell me! Clarissa, thanks for your quick response. Carol
Carol Martin <rvjmartin@aol.com>
Monrovia, IN USA - Sat Oct 6 22:58:20 2001
Clarissa, thanks so much for your help! My baby squirrel is big, plump, and healthy now thanks to you. This site is the only site, as far as I'm concerned. Thanks for your emails and encouragement.
Shannon <shannonhall3@home.com>
Tulsa, OK USA - Mon Oct 1 12:16:55 2001
I have been raising a baby squirrel who was about ten days old when she was found by a dog at work.She was cold and hairless just getting her pigment and the ony hair she had was on her muzzle. She is now eight and a half weeks and doing great. I just found this site and have made her the nutballs which she loves and gets one each night before bed. Thank you Clarissa for this informative site. I just wish I had found it sooner!Stacey
Rygel1hardt <Stacey kronk@hotmail.com>
Flippin, AR USA - Sat Sep 22 17:53:47 2001
Anyone needing a home for squirrels in Georgia, feel free to email us. Thank God for this website. These methods DO work and are the best! ----- Caren in Georgia. hstreasures@juno.com
Caren <hstreasures@juno.com>
GA USA - Fri Sep 21 22:28:07 2001
We rescued 3 little squirrels a few days ago and found your website which has been SO informative. Clarissa, it has been wonderful e-mailing you with all of our questions and problems - thank you ever so much for such quick responses, and good advice! We really appreciate it!
Penny Born <pborn@pobox.com>
broomfield, co USA - Thu Sep 20 10:17:02 2001
Thanks for all your information! I rescued a baby squirrel whose nest had fallen out of a tree and your information has helped me keep him alive and thriving!! I've only had him seven days and so far so good. Thanks again!:)
Wendy Cox-Dixon <WendyCDixon@netscape.net>
Washington, NC USA - Sat Sep 8 13:46:36 2001
Your Site is Awesome.. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE INFORMATION. I have been rehabbing squirrels for the first time this summer. I have 2 babies that are about 6 weeks old. And never in my Wildest Dreams did I ever think I could love something as much as I do these squirrels.. GOD BLESS YOU FOR ALL THIS WONDERFUL INFOMATION, AND I KNOW ALL THE SQUIRRELS ARE THANKING YOU ALSO
Debe <jobson@directcon.net>
Placerville, CA USA - Sat Sep 8 12:24:01 2001
Your site is great. We have taken a young gray into our home. He was rescued from a busy road and brought to us by a friend who knew that we had taken in a squirrel before. It is nice to have a guide to help us do it right. The last guy we had fell about 25ft. from a tree when he was only a few days old. He had suffered brain damage (according to the vet). He was never able to walk upright without leaning on something, so he lived in a 60-gallon aquarium where he could use the walls as support. He loved to climb and play, and he survived for two years. We still miss him. It is our intention to help this new guy 'Rocky' who appears to be about 6 wks old, grow strong enough to survive being returned to the outdoors. Your website is really informative and very much appreciated. -- I do have one question...what is the average lifespan for a gray squirrel? -- Thank-You!
Lori Hibbert
Lori Hibbert <chib1000@earthlink.net>
Ewing, NJ USA - Wed Sep 5 12:24:26 2001
MY SON GOT 3 BABy SQUIRRELS THAT FELL OUT OF THEIR NEST WHEN THE TOP BROKE AFTER A STORM WE HAD. THESE BABIES HAVE BECOME A BIG PART OF OUR FAMILY'S LIVES. I AM GLAD I WENT TO THIS WEB PAGE,IT HAS HELPED ME A LOT IN RAISING THESE BABIES.
GAY HYDE <hydegay@Hotmail.com>
ROSELAND, LA. USA - Wed Sep 5 04:16:19 2001
I just moved into a new place and the last owners must have had the squirrels as pets because they were quite bold, but friendly. My heart melted, and I'm happy to share the yard with them. This website let me know what I should and shouldn't feed them. Thank you!
Jill King <king_jill@yahoo.com>
Denver, CO USA - Thu Aug 30 11:55:16 2001
When I found this site, I knew that I had found a friend in Clarissa with all her Godly guidance and advice for all of us animal lovers that do try to save and nurture the helpless...may God bless and keep you always........kathy
kathy <LiLKrAzE@bellsouth.net>
Kennesaw, Ga USA - Thu Aug 30 11:07:04 2001
I love squirrels and love to watch them. My yard is like a haven to them. I have everything they need. I have 12 squirrels that come to "Mommy" every morning and night. This web sight is very informative. Keep up the excellent work.
Terri Craib <tcraib@worldnet.att.net>
Madison Heights, Mi USA - Mon Aug 20 22:17:48 2001
This is the best. My daughter rescued 3 baby squirrels that had been abandoned when their tree was cut down. She tried to do everything to get the mother to pick up and move the babies but she would not have anything to do with them. We needed help and found this site. We will try are best and that's all that we can do. With your insight and experience maybe we can make a diffrence.
Thomas M Waxler <tmwaxler001@msn.com>
Douglasville, GA USA - Wed Aug 15 07:36:34 2001
Dear Clarissa, my old cat just brought in a baby -- by your guide -- about 4 weeks old. We are going to have a go at keeping him alive. Without your web site this would not be possible. Paul
paul johnston <stilalive3@aol.com>
hubbardston, ma USA - Tue Aug 7 13:20:36 2001
This has to be the best site ever, after calling the local vet and wildlife pres.(we got no help), I found this site and Clarissa got right back to me! You're very sweet and "Chipper" our grey baby squirrel is doing good! One week so far. Wish us luck! Rochelle
Rochelle <mieko2day@excite.com>
Kettering, OH USA - Sun Aug 5 21:27:54 2001
Thank you so much for the information you have on your beatifull site
Marijke Kattenburg <mammamuis@dolfijn.nl>
Hulshorst, The Netherlands - Sun Aug 5 08:10:20 2001
This is the most informative site I have seen in reference to squirrels. I love to raise baby squirrels. I have raised puppies,kittens,and squirrels and I enjoy raising squirrels the best. I hope that I am as sucessful as you are with the care and nurturing of such wonderful babies.
Rayanne Webster <Rayjay613@aol.com/*or*/ rayjay613@yahoo.com>
St. Cloud , Fl USA - Sat Aug 4 18:10:49 2001
I appreciate your scientific and informative site. I found your site when I was searching for why one of our yard squirrels has a near hairless tail. I'm ashamed to say we've been filling our feeders exclusively with black oil sunflower seeds. I'll begin putting out fruits and veggies from now on. Thanks for the squirrel diet information and thanks for giving us a website that lets us realize there are many, many of us who care about our wild/urban-life.
Terri Hirsch <thirsch@tulsatech.org>
Tulsa, ok USA - Fri Jul 6 15:56:40 2001
To ANYone surfing the internet and finding various, conflicting advice regarding squirrels---Do Be Warned. After talking with several veterinarian offices it was clear that their directions, as well as others on the Internet, is not working and most other instructions have resulted in death because of their advice. Clarissa's instructions are natural and far better than any drugs and they work!
Please DO read carefully her website instructions before emailing her, because we appreciate and are so grateful for her time and care and more than likely you will find all the answers you need there. THANKS AGAIN, Clarissa! Your time and encouragement for my frantic emotions are priceless. I apologize for not reading your website pages more thoroughly and for your time in repeating your instructions again to me personally. Never before have I been a so-called animal lover and it has amazed me how attached one can become to these tiny, precious, helpless babies, that would otherwise die. Clarissa, you are one in a million. God Bless you Abundantly in ALL areas of your life and in all that you do!Sincerely,Caren in Georgia
Caren <hstreasures@juno.com>
GA USA - Wed Jun 20 23:56:53 2001
THANK YOU so very much for the best diet info on the web for baby squirrels. The cat squirrel and the two flying squirrels are all thriving, thanks to you. I had NO IDEA of what to do and your article tells the whole story. Keep up the great work.
Denise Richard <Denise11151@aol.com>
Montmorenci, SC USA - Wed May 16 14:46:53 2001
I went from finding a lost 8-week-old dehydrated and hungry male fox squirrel and being deathly afraid of being bitten (I am embarassed) or of unintentionally killing it, to being the proud Mama to a healthy young male named Wedgie. Clarissa patiently talked me through that first time when I had to hold him in my hands and feed him with a nurser. She has patiently answered my "first-time mother" hysterical emails about every little thing. I can attest that Clarissa's nutritional advice is right-on. Wedgie is a lovable bouncing happy-hopping 9 month-old "Junior" thanks to Clarissa, a true angel to small furry creatures. Hugs and Kisses from Wedgie and DeAnne!
DeAnne <DeAnneH@webtv.net>
Los Angeles, CA USA - Tue May 15 01:55:35 2001
Hey, Clarissa!!!!I think that you are the best thing since a slice of bread!!!!There are no words to express my gratitude that you have given me through your site and personal emails. You always pull me through all the tough times with my 2 male foxes. WHAT A BLESSING YOU TRULY ARE!!! I will forever be grateful to you for your love and support when I lost "Sally". If there were more people like you, the world would be a much better place! (and I mean that)THANKS ONCE AGAIN!
Lisa (Lovey) <xamishlover@hotmail.com>
PA USA - Mon May 7 20:44:59 2001
A heart-felt thank you for the note. The world is a better place in which we live, because of people like you. Best to you in all that you do. -- Regards Rob { another bushy tail lover}
Rob <rcampion@multipro.com>
Crossville, Tn USA - Thu May 3 21:49:47 2001
I found your site to be a really pleasant surprise - especially as an avid animal lover.
Chris
<vegetarianguru@lifetips.com>
USA - Wed May 2 14:04:25 2001
When we found our baby squirrels in the backyard nearly frozen we had absolutely no idea how to care for them. Immediately I found this and related web sites. The information coached us through. They are now about 10 weeks old, doing great, still on formula, but eating other things well, and about to start getting their Nut Balls. This has been an amazing experience. It has also opened up a whole new world of interest. I had no idea that there were so many people who are so dedicated to squirrels. We have many that have lived in our yard and interacted with us for generations. This has opened up entire new avenues of appreciation for them. Thank you and anyone who inadvertantly aided in our education. These little guys would never have made it without you.
Jim Rolando <rolando@selway.umt.edu>
Missoula,, MT USA - Mon Apr 23 15:27:31 2001
Clarissa: thank you for the good information. The only problem we've had so far is finding the small nipples for the 1cc syringes and the right fit for the 3cc. 2 brown babies, 2-3 weeks old, 1 male and one very small female, rescued a day and a half after top of old dead tree cracked right where their nest was and fell on the lawn. Found them in the grass with the neighborhood predators about to discover them. One week on your diet and they're doing well. Thank you again.
Bill Sahley <wsahley@hotmail.com>
Pepper Pike, OH USA - Sat Apr 14 12:28:08 2001
Thanks for the great tips and the expertise one cannot put a price on!
Terri M. Pagels <wtaoffice@aol.com>
Kenmore, NY USA - Wed Apr 11 00:41:56 2001
Very informative. Our little squirrel is doing great thanks to your website. He is a little spoiled but I think he will do just fine.
Penny & JT Jones <Penny@PDQ.NET>
Houston, TX USA - Thu Apr 5 11:53:31 2001
We have 2 gray squirrels.We think they are around 3-4 mths old.When we found them they were covered with fur, their tails were kind of sparse and just gray now they have full tails and some color. We have had them a month and have been feeding the Scalded Milk -- have since added nut,fruits,veg. About 3 days ago started them on the nut balls.They are very protective of their food esp. the pecans.We have them separated because they fought when we put them together, should we let them work it out?One looks to be a runt and cries when the other one gets on him so we keep them separated.I also wanted to know if it was ok to substitute bone meal for dolomite powder in the nut balls.
Rick & Stacey Brooks <rlbrooks15@juno.com>
Ocoee, Fl USA - Mon Apr 2 16:51:57 2001
Your website site is very helpful. The baby squirrel we found is getting stronger and is doing great.
Teresa Burleson <burleson@adalink.net>
Haleyville,, AL USA - Mon Apr 2 04:41:20 2001
I am an Adele fan. enjoyed your insight. You believe in megadoses of Vitamins I do also. Best Regards, LM
Lawrence Mahoney <lorenzo1@wyoming.com>
USA - Sat Mar 24 15:54:33 2001
Excellent web site, both informative and practical.
Many thanks for sharing your knowledge and experience.
Lise <xantan@netdoor.com>
Vancleave, Ms USA - Sun Mar 18 05:23:54 2001
Clarissa is the best. She helped me raise Maverick. She is almost ready to be released. I have had her for 7 months. Clarissa was and still is always there for my questions and support. Thanks a bunch!
Jaynie Kittle-Perry <Jaysons3@cs.com>
Wall, NJ USA - Tue Mar 13 21:31:21 2001
Great site.Squirrels need more sensitive and caring people like you,Clarissa! You've already helped our squirrels by way of your website. Such helpful information. Thanks again! Looking forward to more info. It's also nice to know that you are just an E-Mail away:):)Take care!
Cindy Guiette <NaturePics@AOL.COM>
Saginaw, Mi. USA - Fri Feb 23 13:59:52 2001
Thank You, Clarissa, for all the information on your web page. Thank you for all the emails. You are a Angel sent from God above. Your dedication,concern and love for all squirrels should be commended. You are #1 in my book. I thank you and so do my baby sqirrels on educating me!
Doris Seifried <DSeif28849@aol.com>
Seminole, OK USA - Thu Feb 22 20:16:08 2001
My parents are retired in upstate NY, and have been feeding the squirrels in their back yard for two years. There's so little info around (even on the net) that tells you anything at all about these beatiful and very intelligent animals. Thank you for your site and for your info. My parents are so involved with these babies and yet they'd like to make informed decisions about feeding them (even though it's at a distance) and doing whatever they can to help them.
Dawn Morgenstern <dmorgenstern7@mac.com>
New York, NY USA - Sun Feb 18 18:22:45 2001
Two baby flying squirrels fell about 30'. One died and the other is doing great. Found your article very helpful because I've never raised anything like this before. Found on Thanksgiving Day and seems to be doing great. I'm going to make the Scalded Milk tonight. Used an expensive brand of milk from the store for chipmunks, squirrels. I just want him/her to be healthy. It is so precious. Thanks for your help.
Brenda Kemp <Brenda.Kemp@Neste.com>
Andalusia, al USA - Tue Nov 28 14:48:55 2000
Thank you very much for all your support. I couldn't have done it without your help!! Baby is 12 weeks old and doing great, getting into everything, though -- lol-- he's just like one of the kids.
sherri <blues651@aol.com>
IL USA - Thu Nov 2 19:18:59 2000
Thanks for being here. My sister found two babies and asked me to search the Internet for info. I know she will give her all to nurture the babies .
lisa kellysmith <lisakellyisa@aol.com>
cocoa, fl USA - Mon Oct 9 18:17:27 2000
I was amazed at all the information I found at this site. I wish I had thought to search the web for such stuff sooner.
Kelly Gibson <lilwarrior_1@hotmail.com>
Jonesboro, Ar USA - Mon Sep 25 22:21:13 2000
Thank you for all the information on raising a baby squirrel. Last week I noticed my dog carrying around what I assumed was a dead chipmunk. After two days I noticed where she left it and decided to dispose of it. After leaving it to lay in the yard for most of the day I approached and to my complete surprise found that it was a live baby squirrel. With less than a week and a half to go in my pregnancy I all of a sudden had another responsibility on my hands. Your information should be of great help. See, in the last week he has become very special to us, not to mention spoiled. I don't know if it was due to his age or what, but he is very social with my husband and me and insists on being held or sitting on our shoulders most of the time. He will approach our fingers and nuzzle until we start rubbing him under the chin and behind the ears and has decided that his hang out and sleeping place of choice is inside my jogbra with his head and paw bearly peeking out. When left in his cage he will stand at the door and whistle for us to come get him. He will also let us know when he needs to go to the bathroom (screeching or hopping in small circles) and will wait for us to take him to the sink and place a paper towel for him to go on and then lift his front paws up for us to pick him up and clean him before he bathes himself.
We have fallen in love with him completely and want to raise him to thrive and to be ready to go out on his own as of spring if he wishes (husband wants to put in "doggie" type door for him). Any additional information would be appreciated. It seems that he is becoming overly tame (which we very much enjoy), but we also want to make sure that if and when he decides to go out on his own he will be prepared. While we don't pick him up unless he requests it, we will give him all the love and attention that he wishes for. I plan to make now only the scalded milk for him today, but also the nutballs. He should greatly apreciate both.
Abigail Vile <abivile@ivillage.com>
Columbus, GA USA - Wed Sep 20 05:56:47 2000
love your site!! I have learned so much from it.
Debbie Hastings <debbiehastingsd@aol.com>
Rochester, NY USA - Tue Sep 19 12:15:55 2000
Hi Clarissa! I'm so glad to see your squirrel information made available to animal lovers world-wide. Living here in the Santa Cruz Mountains, I don't see many squirrels (more racoons, deer and the like) but I do keep two guinea pigs. Having little furry animals to care for gives me so much pleasure, and I love watching their behavior. They have two cages, one for sleeping and one for eating and waking time. I also made a portable corral for them I can set up when I want to give them time walking on the earth itself. They always seem wilder after this corral time, which is good for their hearts! Thanks for your work, and for sharing your love for squirrels with others. Love, Janet
Janet Blondeau <jsblondeau@yahoo.com>
Boulder Creek, CA USA - Sun Sep 17 13:47:58 2000
I found a baby squirrel tonight and through your information, I hope to help this tiny creature to survive. Thank you for your kindness and information.
John K. Smith <jksmith@tcac.net>
Amarillo, TX USA - Sat Sep 16 23:16:05 2000
TWO WEEKS AGO IN A WIND STORM IT RAINED BABY SQUIRRELS ON US. WE FOUND THREE OF THEM ALIVE. TWO WERE IN DEEP SHOCK AND ONE FEISTY ENOUGH TO FIGHT WITH OUR POODLE WHO FOUND THEM. TWO OF THEM DIED DURING THE NIGHT AND THE FIESTY ONE NOW RUNS OUR HOUSE. HE'S THRIVING THANK TO YOUR INPUT AND DIRECTIONS. GOD BLESS ALL OF YOU. HE'LL BE STRONG, ALERT AND HAPPY AND READY TO BE SET FREE IN A COUPLE OF MONTHS. OUR BEST AND THANKS,
DICK AND JO
DICK AND JO LUEDERS <KJNDICK@BELLSOUTH.NET>
ZACHARY, , LA USA - Sun Sep 10 13:14:06 2000
This web site provided me the support I needed and answered all my questions. Thank you!
Robin Degatina <iholdgold@aol.com>
Summerfield, FL USA - Wed Sep 6 11:53:35 2000
I love your site it has helped so much! i found a squirrel nest that had fallen out of a tree with 3 little pinkies in it. They are approx. 5 to 6 weeks old now and doing great!
Jill Brown <JBrown7575@aol.com>
Paducah, ky USA - Tue Sep 5 09:44:24 2000
What a wonderful Article. Very informative. Thanks for sharing
Joan Smith <Jsmith751@earthlink.net>
Wyandotte, MI USA - Mon Sep 4 13:33:55 2000
Clarissa, thank you for the time you have taken to help all the rest of us novices with some no-nonsense information on caring for baby squirrels.
Dolly M. Rosales <rrosales@cfl.rr.com>
Cocoa Beach, FL USA - Sun Sep 3 12:05:50 2000
Help, You have the best site for the rescue of baby squirrels. Made the mistake of giving mine Enfamil low iron, veterinarian advised, how can I safely switch him to the scalded milk formula?
Joan Bailey <tooie@inetone.net>
USA - Sat Sep 2 13:37:31 2000
Your site is great-- we hope to raise 2 healthy squirrels from it -- Nancy
nancy schwope <brandon ray 11@arkansas . net>
nashville, ar USA - Sun Aug 20 13:56:45 2000
Thanx to the quick response and the good advice we got we now have two healthy baby opossums. Thanx
RJ <RjPequot@aol.com>
Bradenton, Fl USA - Tue Jul 25 09:16:28 2000
We have been raising a baby that was stranded, and Clarissa has been such a HUGE help, as well as her website. THANKS!!!!! From us and Secret Squirrel
Christina and Douglas <Grkarckn@aol.com>
IL USA - Wed May 17 18:55:29 2000
I an a new rehabber. I presently have three squirrels, 6, 7, and 8 weeks old. I plan on making nut balls tomorrow.
Joan Bryan <bryan1520@aol.com>
Norfolk, VA, 23508 USA - Fri Apr 28 16:51:14 2000
It has been so wonderful hearing all the advice Clarissa has given my wife and me. We have a 10 week old grey squirrel and could not have cared for it without her help. We are truly grateful.
micky & Fiona Brown <Jeepmanm@aol.com>
haughton, la USA - Thu Apr 20 00:20:32 2000
IT'S BEEN 9 DAYS SINCE I FOUND A FROZEN, HAIRLESS BABY ON THE GROUND APPARENTLY HAVING FALLEN A GOOD 50' FROM THE NEST. MAMA WOULD NOT TAKE HIM BACK. WITHOUT CLARISSA'S WONDERFUL, EASY TO UNDERSTAND ADVICE, HE WOULD NOT HAVE MADE IT. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL YOUR TIME IN ANSWERING MY QUESTIONS. HE IS NOW TAKING ALMOST 6 CC'S A FEEDING, GETTING BLACK HAIR AND HAS 2 TEETH. I WILL CONTINUE TO FOLLOW THE "BIBLE\' TO THE LETTER WITH THE INTENTION OF GIVING HIM THE FREEDOM TO COME AND GO AS HE PLEASES WHEN HE'S READY. THANK YOU CLARISSA! HOLLY
HOLLY HURD <HOLLYHURD@AOL.COM>
SEAFORD, NY USA - Mon Apr 10 09:13:31 2000
VERY FASCINATING! I THINK I CAN LEARN A LOT FROM
THE SQUIRREL LADY.
LAUREL <WWW.I'MTHESQUIRRELTHAT'SPLAYINGONYOURCOMPUTER.COM>
HOUSTON, TX USA - Sat Apr 8 11:32:44 2000
THANK YOU!!! THANK YOU!!! THANK YOU!!!! Your article is my "Squirrel Bible" !! We have been raising 4 grey squirrels that were found after a tree had been cut down that they were nesting in. We have had them for 4 weeks now and they are about 8 weeks old at this time! Thanks to you and your care and devotion and your wonderful site - our squirrels are doing FANTASTIC!!!! Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge with those of us that didn't have a clue on how to raise a squirrel! I can't say enough to tell you how wonderful you are! -- Laura Cooper <ImACopLvr2@aol.com>
Murfreesboro, TN USA - Wed Apr 5 16:33:35 2000
Deb and I thank you very much for all the information. We cant believe it took 44 years. We have had squirrels around us all these years and just recently had a baby fall from a tree into are lives. We have learned so much in such a short period of time thanks to you. It has truly changed us for ever. thanks again.
richard luck <richard.luck@compaq.com>
houston, tx USA - Tue Mar 14 07:47:12 2000
Wonderfully informative, I am so glad Charles referred me here. I was feeding a few things I should not have---egg yolk products. I know now...........Thank you very much !
Lisa <jazzyskunk@juno.com>
Datytona Bch, FL USA - Fri Mar 10 08:03:54 2000
Clarissa
Thanks for your fantastic article! I have been raising squirrels for several years and your article answers some of the questions I have been plagued with such as some bad dispositions in some squirrels. Anyway, the Scalded Milk diet sounds great. I have a 5-6 week old Cat squirrel now that is on kitten formula so I e-mailed you on how to change the diet. Thanks for all the help.
Donnie Ponder <catfish@prysm.net>
Marshall, Tx USA - Tue Mar 7 20:53:03 2000
Hello :-)
Clarissa, I am so glad you did this!! It is great!! I just wanted to tell everyone what a special person you are. I have never met anyone that was so clearly in tune with squirrels. Your guidance has meant so much to me and your friendship. I cannot tell you how comforting it has been to have someone to call for help and sometimes late at night just to chat while feeding babies. Your grace of living and gentle spirit has been an inspiration to me so many times. You are a wonderfull person, a superb rehabber, a great mentor, and most of all, my dear friend!!
Vicki :-)
Vicki <hatjvje@aol.com>
Houston, Tex USA - Wed Nov 3 11:27:30 1999
I am a freelance photographer and have been befriending squirrels for at least 10 years trying to get better photos of them...some children brought me a baby last week...i have never seen such love from an animal ( he totaly trusted me)...needless to say he only lived 2 days...i was very uneducated...i found your page because of this and am gratefull to you. Thanx...Luv ya...barb
Barb Wire <BarbWhyer@aol.com>
Redford, MI USA - Wed Sep 29 11:40:59 1999
Clarissa is a squirrel guru. Follow her advice to the LETTER,and you will be able to raise and release the healthiest squirrels in the world! She also gives good nutritional advice for other mammals and birds. She has helped me save many!
Brenda Adams <djdirect@vsdi.com>
Houston, Tx USA - Wed Sep 22 23:23:52 1999
Thanks for the info. We have found a baby gray -- it's about six weeks old and is in great shape. It has made himself right at home. He eats well and gets along well with the other orphans that we have found or had brought to us by neighbors and friends. We have raised everything from seaturtles to hedgehogs, and some things in between.
bill mackenzie <tazman20685@yahoo.com>
st. leonard, md USA - Sun Sep 19 08:53:28 1999
Thanks for the excellent information. Raising squirrels is not as easy as I thought. Your info helps so very much. Thanks again, Valerie
Valerie <mnv@bitstorm.net>
Debary, Fl USA - Sat Sep 18 21:23:43 1999
Thank you for your information. Do you have a chat room on squirrel information. Also, how does one become a licensed rehabilitator? We also have two bluejays...one has a broken leg and the other one is getting over the pox virus.
Louise Walzer <wez904@hotmail.com>
Kenner, LA USA - Sat Jul 17 08:27:16 1999
It will be nice to be able to send people to your site to get reliable information. You wouldn't believe some of the things I've been told that are on the web.
Ron Anuszewski <theloft@jump.net>
Austin, Tx. USA - Wed Jul 14 21:45:46 1999
This is a well-educated, well-read person who truly cares for squirrels!
Heather Summers <hsummers@msn.com>
Austin, TX USA - Mon Jul 5 13:37:53 1999
First Entry
John B. Summers <jbsum@hal-pc.org>
Houston, Tx USA - Mon Jul 5 13:19:48 1999
