Hey guys, so it's 9pm here and my cat, like she so often does, decided to bring something she caught into the house. Usually it's mice, moles, or a huge gray squirrel. But tonight she brought in a northern flying squirrel. Usually I'm away when she brings in her prey, and I find the unpleasant surprise when it's too late, but tonight she had just recently caught it so of course, me being the animal lover, I immediately rescued it from her.
First thing I looked for were injuries. The poor thing was clearly in shock, but alive. Both of his eyes were bleeding but still intact. The area where my cat had been holding him in her mouth (on his stomach) had saliva on it, but I couldn't see any visible puncture wounds/blood on that area. The only visible blood was from the eyes.
Surprisingly, considering I've lived in New England my whole life, I've never seen an actual flying squirrel in real life. Then again they are nocturnal and are most active from dusk til midnight. But at first, I assumed it was a baby that she had caught from the nest. Judging from looking at it, it looks to be about 5in. or 6in long. I did some research and found that adults are about 10-12in. in length. So I'm assuming he isn't exactly full grown yet, but I have no idea exactly how old he is.
When I rescued him I caught him in a thick blanket and warmed him up. After several minutes he started to come out of shock and become more active, and I didn't want him to escape in the house, so I placed him in a clear plastic box with a cover on it, put a blanket in the box (in which he quickly snuggled into to hide), placed a dark blanket over the box to reduce light, and put the box in a quiet, dark room. Other than that, no other treatment has been administered. So here are my questions...
1. I know that cat saliva is fatal to prey once it enters the blood stream. I can't see any visible puncture wounds, but the bleeding eyes (which are looking a lot better now, and don't seem to be bleeding anymore...eyes are still intact, too) are worrying me. Is there anything I can do to treat them myself?
*NOTE: I'm not able to get to a vet anytime soon, unfortunately. Mostly because of the cost it would probably take just for one visit.
2. Based on the size, about how old do you think he is?
3. I made sure not to touch him with my bare hands. I do have clear latex gloves, but I'm worried about being bitten. I've read that many flying squirrels are friendly and make good pets, but considering he's a wild animal and is scared for his life, it's highly possible that he'd bite (am I right?) But I would like to be able to handle him to check for wounds, etc...
4. Any other information I should know? Has anyone dealt with a similar situation? Anything else you can tell me is greatly appreciated!
Thanks!
First thing I looked for were injuries. The poor thing was clearly in shock, but alive. Both of his eyes were bleeding but still intact. The area where my cat had been holding him in her mouth (on his stomach) had saliva on it, but I couldn't see any visible puncture wounds/blood on that area. The only visible blood was from the eyes.
Surprisingly, considering I've lived in New England my whole life, I've never seen an actual flying squirrel in real life. Then again they are nocturnal and are most active from dusk til midnight. But at first, I assumed it was a baby that she had caught from the nest. Judging from looking at it, it looks to be about 5in. or 6in long. I did some research and found that adults are about 10-12in. in length. So I'm assuming he isn't exactly full grown yet, but I have no idea exactly how old he is.
When I rescued him I caught him in a thick blanket and warmed him up. After several minutes he started to come out of shock and become more active, and I didn't want him to escape in the house, so I placed him in a clear plastic box with a cover on it, put a blanket in the box (in which he quickly snuggled into to hide), placed a dark blanket over the box to reduce light, and put the box in a quiet, dark room. Other than that, no other treatment has been administered. So here are my questions...
1. I know that cat saliva is fatal to prey once it enters the blood stream. I can't see any visible puncture wounds, but the bleeding eyes (which are looking a lot better now, and don't seem to be bleeding anymore...eyes are still intact, too) are worrying me. Is there anything I can do to treat them myself?
*NOTE: I'm not able to get to a vet anytime soon, unfortunately. Mostly because of the cost it would probably take just for one visit.
2. Based on the size, about how old do you think he is?
3. I made sure not to touch him with my bare hands. I do have clear latex gloves, but I'm worried about being bitten. I've read that many flying squirrels are friendly and make good pets, but considering he's a wild animal and is scared for his life, it's highly possible that he'd bite (am I right?) But I would like to be able to handle him to check for wounds, etc...
4. Any other information I should know? Has anyone dealt with a similar situation? Anything else you can tell me is greatly appreciated!
Thanks!
