When we went out last Thursday morning for our too-early first walk of the day, Cricket found something. At first I thought it was a dead mouse. Cricket has found dead mice a number of times, because we have feral cats on the property who are allowed to stay because of their great mousing skills. So, I thought it was a dead mouse and I yanked Cricket away from it quickly. It was curled up a few feet away from one of the huge trees on the property, up in the lightly wooded area where we are encouraged to walk the dogs. Butterfly did her usual standing around and listening to the raindrops thing – oh yeah, it was raining, lightly by then, after a night of heavy rain – and it was a lovely sound, the way the rain drops hit the leaves far over our heads. But I was still getting wet. The girls both did their business, and we were on our way back out of the woods when I thought I saw the dead mouse move an arm. I stepped a little bit closer, but I’m afraid of dead things so not too close, and that’s when I realized that it was a tiny squirrel and not a mouse, with a big head, and grey and white fur, and not only was one arm moving, the tiny squirrel was breathing. It was alive.
I wasn’t sure what to do. I had to take the girls back inside, out of the train, first and foremost. I left them standing in the hallway while I went down to the basement to throw away their bag-o-poop, and I looked through the pile of Amazon shipping boxes outside the garbage room. I like ordering things, but I am nothing compared to my next door neighbors (with the new baby) who have ordered so many things that they now have to move into a house to make room for all of it. I chose a small, shallow box, with the new-fangled air-pillow box-filler stuff, and I popped the pillows to use it as a squirrel grabber, in case it really was dead and only seemed to be moving because of the wind and rain, but also as a temporary blanket, in case it was actually alive.
The girls watched me through the glass front door of our building as I went back out into the rain, and up the hill, to where Cricket had found the baby squirrel. It was still there, and still getting rained on, and still faintly breathing and moving an arm, but just barely. I picked it up carefully, all the time worrying that I should leave it there, to die a natural death, or to be found by its Mom after whatever calamity had sent her away. But it was alive, and I couldn’t just leave it there to die.
I took the box of baby squirrel inside to the girls, and we walked up the stairs and into the apartment, and that’s when I realized that I had to wake up my mom. She’s not a fan of early mornings, and I would have let her sleep through the drama, except that I knew I’d have to leave for my internship in less than an hour, and I needed her help.
As soon as Mom saw the baby squirrel, breathing in the shallow box on the dining room table, she was wide awake and in Mommy mode. She took the baby out of the box and wrapped it in warmed up towels and held it while I googled. There are surprisingly specific and comprehensive baby squirrel manuals online. One was long and alarmist – with the basic gist being that I should have left her out there in the rain to die. The other manual was shorter, simpler, and more hopeful.
Then Mom called our vet’s office to ask them what to do. The woman who answered the phone said that they’d stopped working with their wildlife specialist and had no other recommendations, and, really, the baby squirrel was going to die. Mom persisted, though, and looked up other wildlife groups she’d heard of in the area, and left messages for them on email and voicemail. In the meantime, we prepared the rehydrating solution recommended in the baby squirrel guide and then and I used Butterfly’s supply of liquid medicine syringes to start bringing the baby back to life.
By the way, I am not an expert at identifying baby squirrel genitalia, but we later found out that she was a girl, so let’s just pretend I knew that from the beginning. We set her shallow box on a heating pad (on low), and filled the box with fabric from Mom’s quilting closet, because the baby squirrel guide said that regular towels could unravel and choke her.
I took care of Cricket and Butterfly’s morning routine, and made sure they got extra treats for all of their patience, and then I got myself dressed for work, charged my cell phone, and reluctantly left Mom to take on the burden of keeping the baby squirrel alive while I was away.
Cricket sniffing the baby
Butterfly, worried I’m giving her peanut butter to the baby.
I tried to talk about the baby with a fellow intern, but she looked non-plussed. “You brought a squirrel into your house?” She asked, looking at me like I’d slathered bloody entrails on my door posts. So I focused on being nice and pleasant and helpful all day, and tried to put the baby squirrel out of my mind. The room we work in is filled with windows, and I could see as the rain got heavier and heavier, so I thought, maybe, I’d done the right thing by taking the baby into a dry place. But my mind was still racing, telling me that I’d made a mistake bringing her inside, and she would die and it would be my fault. She had a fractured arm, and probably other injuries, she was cold to the touch, and her mother had abandoned her; who was I to think I could save her?
When I got home, Mom was sitting on the couch and the baby squirrel on her chest, squeaking away. Her eyes were still closed, but she was much more alert, climbing on Mom and grabbing her fingers with a paw. The baby had survived eight hours in our care, against all odds, and the next job listed in the baby squirrel guide was to move from rehydration to actual feeding. The guide said we needed Esbilac milk powder for puppies, and we should mix it with water and heavy cream to mimic squirrel mommy milk. I asked Mom if she wanted to go out and have a break from baby care, but she didn’t, so out I went again, in the rain and rush hour traffic, to find the puppy milk powder.
“Squeak!!!!!!!!!!”
When I came back, it was my turn to watch the baby. Her body temperature kept cooling down between feedings, despite the heating pad under her box, so Mom told me to hold the baby in my hands and try to keep her warm myself. I had to keep Cricket from sniffing too close, but Butterfly was largely uninterested in the baby; as far as she was concerned, there was no squirrel in the house.
After another few hours of rehydration, we mixed up a batch of the new squirrel baby milk, and watered it down according to the mathematical formula in the guide, and warmed it in the microwave until it was just right. The baby squirrel swallowed her milk through the syringe dutifully, only pulling her head away a few times.
I woke up every few hours overnight to feed her, and to check that she was still breathing, and when I woke up again at eight o’clock the next morning I realized that she’d survived more than twenty four hours with us. She even seemed to be a little more energetic, though that could have been my wishful thinking. Mom said, pointedly, that we shouldn’t name her and risk becoming too bonded, but she knew it was already too late.
We were still waiting for call backs from the wildlife groups a few hours later, when a friend on Facebook recommended calling other vets in the area, to see if they could help. The first one we looked up had the number of a local wildlife rescue, and when we called, they told us to bring the baby over right away.
By noon on Friday, we were on the road, the squirrel baby in her box on my lap, on our way to the rescue hospital. I kept my hand in the box to keep her warm, and she decided to crawl into my hand and snuggle.
When we reached the Wildlife center, I filled out forms about where I’d found the baby squirrel and the assumed circumstances of her injury (a fall from the nest in the storm seemed the most likely cause, especially when I found some of the nesting material a few feet away from where I found the baby). They gave me her rescue ID number and their email address and said that I could write to them for an update whenever I wanted, and then they took her away.
I was devastated, but also hopeful. I knew that the rescue hospital would be able to do a much better job than I could at treating her wounds and feeding her correctly. Giving her up was the right thing to do, but it was also awful, and painful, and I was starting to have trouble breathing. I was giving her the best possible chance to survive, though, and I had to hold onto that.
I waited a couple of days to give the wildlife center a chance to do their work, but then I got impatient for good news, and wrote to them.
This was the email I received from them on Monday morning:
Unfortunately, we had sad news about the baby squirrel. We brought her to our veterinarian right away who confirmed that she did have a fractured humerus (one of the bones in her arm). In addition to the fractured arm, she also had lung contusions caused by trauma from the fall. We began treating her right away for the fractured arm and respiratory issue, but sadly, she was so badly injured that she passed away overnight that night.
While not the outcome we had hoped for, we are glad you brought her to us so she was able to get treatment and passed away in a quiet and peaceful place rather than outside in the wild.
Thank you again for caring about her and bringing her to our center.
I read it over again a few times, to take it in, because the words were not making sense at first, and then I just cried until I couldn’t cry anymore.
On Tuesday Morning, Cricket found another squirrel, this time a full grown adult, and this time, it was dead. My first, and enduring, thought was that this must be the baby squirrel’s mother. Maybe they both fell in the storm on Thursday morning, and it took the mother longer to feel the effects.
We dug a hole for her, and covered her with dirt, to keep her safe from predators. I couldn’t think of a prayer to say, all I could think of to say was, “This is for baby squirrel.”
And it was.
p.s. Many of these pictures were taken by Naomi Mankowitz (AKA Mom)
rachelmankowitz 
A heartbreaking outcome but it is so encouraging to know that their are people like you out there! You are a fine person. You did your very best to save this little baby and that’s all you can do. On behalf of humanity I thank you.
I was so glad to find the wildlife rescue center, and see how hard they worked to save the baby. They do this work every day, despite the heart break. I can’t even imagine being that brave.
Your tender-heartedness is a beautiful attribute.
Thank you! My mom was so good with the baby, and I just followed her lead.
I am so sorry for your loss Rachel 😦
I think you showed amazing strength, compassion and love even though it hurt because of the uncertainty, you still did it, you are amazing.
Thank you! Who knew baby squirrels were so adorable and easy to love?
I am so very thankful for people like you, Rachel. You did absolutely the best thing for this little one. How wonderful that you were able to sustain her for as long as you did. She died with a full tummy in a warm and safe atmosphere. Cricket, you were a good girl for finding this poor baby.
Cricket was so good with the baby! No barking or nipping at all. It was an extraordinary experience to have the baby squirrel with us, even for such a short time. I feel really lucky.
Good job, you did what you could.
Thank you!
Such a sweet post. It really touched me and now I have ‘leaky’ eyes. Thank you for trying. Sometimes we can’t save every critter even though we’d like to, but kudos to you for trying with ear scratches to the girls. Your efforts were valiant.
Thank you so much!
Nice she had comfort and warmth at the end.
I agree.
Rachel I just want to hug you and your Mom through these stupid wires, I’m crying. I know exactly what you went through as I’ve done the same but for birds….oh god it hurts knowing they aren’t going to make it. I even had a little bird show up at my back door one time, just barely alive and I was able to get a comfortable box, some water and just make it comfortable so it could pass without worries. As Temple Grandin says, “Nature can be cruel but we don’t have to be.” Thank you, thank you , thank you for sharing this story of compassion and kindness. You gave that little one a glimpse of something — unconditional human love. The rarest of the types of love.
My brother and I found a baby bird in the backyard when we were little and we tried to take care of it. We ended up burying it in a ceremony in our back yard, and that memory always stayed with me.
You are a kindred soul!!! I can remember sleeping in a truck all night with an injured bird I had found when I was staying at a farm as a young girl. We just love them all don’t we?! I reblogged your post here and shared it on my Facebook…just moved me so much and I know a lot of animal and nature lovers that will appreciate your story too. Love to you and your Mom!
Thank you so much!
Reblogged this on As I see it and commented:
This story is an example of one of the rarest forms of love on this planet – the unconditional love of a human being for another living creature…in this case a baby squirrel. I warn you that this story will require Kleenex in hand!!! Bless you Rachel and Naomi Manklowitz!
I’m sad that the baby squirrel didn’t make it and you found the adult one also. But what you did was above and beyond and bless you for that. My heart is sad but full that you and your mom did right by that little baby, you did all you could. A big cyber hug to you. ❤
Thank you!!!!
There’s always the question would she have lived in your care?? That would be me, anyway, but you did the right thing, the strong thing in letting the wildlife rescue have her. Thank you and your mom for your caring hearts. And Cricket and Butterfly for their excellent supervision.
I had moments of thinking that my love could have saved her, but I didn’t know about her lung injuries before she was taken to the vet. The trees are so tall in the backyard, and the distance she must have fallen in the storm, it was a miracle she was still alive when Cricket found her.
You are an awesome human being. I knew it all along. So sad but glad that baby experienced your love.
I was so glad to have time with her. That moment in the car when she snuggled into my hand…it was extraordinary.
It was a kind thing to do Rachel and you can rest assured that the little one had some “creature comforts” before she left. You did right, but nature at times can seem so cruel.
Very cruel, but the chance to hold her was an awesome thing.
For sure! That was a special gift that not too many people have the chance to experience!
Rachel you are an amazing, sensitive person. You tried, you went beyond to try and you kept that baby comfortable and safe overnight.
She was such a sweetheart!
A sad and touching story. You and your mother certainly made extraordinary effort. Sorry it all didn’t turn out better. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you!
Whatsoever you do for the least of my brothers/sisters….(It may not be part of your teachings, but I am sure you are familiar!)
Thank you!
Was smiling so much through your story. The pictures really brought it to life. Got all teary when she didn’t make it. Thank goodness she had a great, loving 24 hours with you and your mom. What a sweet baby she was.
She was the sweetest little one. I was so lucky to have her, even for a short time.
A true gift in little tiny package. ❤️
Absolutely!
A beautiful post! You and your mom definitely did all you could for the baby squirrel! You gave her warmth, tenderness and compassion…and a real chance at life!! And Cricket did her part in finding the baby and Butterfly gave you the space you needed to tend to her…so it was a family affair! 🙂 I’m sure you won’t forget this experience…I won’t forget reading this story anytime soon.
I’ll never forget that baby, or Cricket’s sweetness with her. I always thought Butterfly would be the maternal one, but it was Cricket.
Good girl, Cricket!! 🙂
I was rooting for the little squirrel. I was so sad that the little one didn’t survive. You and your mother did your best to help the little one. Thank you for sharing.
I was rooting for her too. I wanted to believe I could fight the odds. I may have a tiny bit of a super hero complex. But it gave me a day with her, so it was worth it.
So glad you could give the baby squirrel a peaceful and loving time, even if the outcome was so sad. Glad to buried the mum too. A very touching story and very grateful you shared it.
Thank you!!!!
Rachel, I’m so sorry the baby squirrel didn’t make it. Thank you to you and your mom for going out of your way to give the little one a fighting chance.
Cuddles to Butterfly and Cricket for helping you and being so patient.
~ Margret
Thank you!!!!
You took the route of compassion and did your best to provide care for the little one. So kind of you and your mom and of course Butterfly and Cricket for maybe considering the thought of sharing peanut butter…
Butterfly is generous with everything, except food.
Your mother is amazing, Rachel. I can hear exactly what my mother would say: “Stay away from that thing! It will bite you and you’ll get rabies and have to get painful shots in your stomach!” Good for you guys.
My Mom is a softer touch than I am. You should see how Cricket runs her in circles!
Thank you for your efforts. We are such animal lovers, we’ve tried to save a family of baby opossums whose mom was killed. Fortunately, we found the person in our area’s wildlife rescue group who dealt with opossums and bunnies. I don’t know their outcome but we did the best we could, just as you and your mother did. Ya’ll are good people as “they” used to say.
How wonderful! A whole family saved!
Oh that is so sad! Nature can be cruel and it is not easy for us emotional people… I think you and your mom are wonderful for caring and trying so hard! 💚
Thank you so much!
Thank you for trying to save the baby squirrel and the most important thing, is it didn’t pass on being scared and lonely, which is a lovely thing 🙂
I’d love to think she felt less lonely once she came inside with us. Just that one thing would be enough.
I’m sure she was 🙂
Rachel
You and your Mom and dogs brought love to this sweet soul. Maybe it came into this world just to receive such love.
Linda
What a lovely idea! Thank you!
Some humans are incredibly bad, but you knew that. My predecessor was a cockatiel who flew onto my peep’s shoulder out of the blue. They tried to find the owner but couldn’t so it stayed five years with them until it passed. He told a co-worker about this and the co-worker said he would have stomped on it because “it was just a bird”. Say what?
That’s awful! What a horrible thing to think, let alone say out loud. I just don’t understand humans like that.
A little sad for tonight. But life is full of those moments, so we can remember the caring moments. Think of the peace of mind you were able to give this baby. She’ll always be a special memory for you, I’m sure;-).
She will!!!!
So sad she didn’t make it. I got tears in my eyes reading the e-mail you got. Rachel, you and your Mom did your best for the little baby squirrel and for the possible mother.
That email wrecked me, because they really seemed to understand how much the baby squirrel mattered to me. I love that these wildlife rescues exist and are so full of love themselves.
I know the outcome isn’t what you wanted, but you did two good things there: you attempted to help the poor thing, rather than leaving it to its fate, and you accepted that it needed skills and experience that you didn’t have. I would raise my glass to you, but as it’s only just turned 9am, I shall raise my coffee cup to you instead.
How about some hot cocoa?!
Hot chocolate would be okay.
This story brought tears to my eyes! So glad you gave the poor little thing such tender care!
Thank you so much!
You did the right thing for the baby squirrel and in her very short life she was loved by you and your mum after her own mother was unable to care for her. Thank you for sharing this beautiful story 💗
Thank you!!!!!
Ah, that is so sad! I know how attached you became to her, but at least you know that you did the right thing. It would have been awful to have left her out there in the rain and cold, once you knew she was alive. Shame, poor little thing looks so tiny in the photos, it makes you realise what a miracle it is that so many of these little creatures survive at all.
My Indian friend back in South Africa would say: “God knows what you did and you will be so blessed for doing it.”
That’s lovely! Thank you!
Well done to you and your mum for trying so hard. What a heartbreaking end but at least she knew love in her short life.
I think she really did know that she was loved. I hope she did.
A tender, well written, post Rachel. You did all you could when facing the dilemma and difficulties we all have when finding injured wild creatures.
Thank you!
Every action we take sends out a reaction into this quantum universe of ours. For every great kindness and action and care given you send out a huge ripple into that universe. A ripple of pure goodness that is kindness. I’ve been reading your posts here for a very long time and this is the first time I’ve commented. Except to myself I guess. LOL. I’m proud to live in a world in which you exist. And may every ripple of that kindness come back into your life to bless you. big hugs my friend, Cindy and Elizabeth the Beagle xo 🙂
That’s beautiful! Thank you so much!
Wow. Just wow that I can read this lovely post and shed a tear for you and Baby and Mama squirrel. There is hope for humanity and our world. I am certain of it when I read this.
Thank you!!!!!!!!
Thank you for such a caring story.
Thank you for reading!
what a beautiful and heartwarming story….you will be blessed for the love you gave to one of God’s precious creations. Even though she passed away you gave her love and whether we are humans or animals – love speaks louder than words.
Thank you! Love really is the loudest thing, isn’t it?
Thank the Lord for humane people like you! ❤ I'm sorry to hear about Baby Squirrel passing on, but (in my view) now she is whole and well and in Squirrel Heaven, free from terror and pain. Maybe reunited with her mother. And it's wonderful that you gave her 24 hours in warmth and peace instead of out in the cold, afraid and dying. These are the stories that we SHOULD hear, it warms the heart and gives the soul some fodder to keep on trying. Thank you Rachel and blessings on you!
Thank you so much! I hope there really is a squirrel heaven for her.
My dog and I used to take our morning walk around our block. It is a big loop of about 1/2 mile. One morning my dog, Autumn Eve, found a new baby squirrel that had fallen out of the nest or was kicked out by something. It had been on the ground too long and was dead. So we laid it carefully in the grass and went on our way.
Not too long before that, I was on my bike riding the 13 miles to a neighboring village when I came across a mother and young chipmunk laying on the asphalt bike path. There were no signs of any struggle and nobody had ridden their bike on top of their bodies. I never figured out what could have killed them unless it was something more dramatic than poison because there was no sign of a struggle to live.
So many sad stories.
God bless you for your efforts to save this little baby squirrel.
Thank you!
A sad ending for the poor baby but you and your mom are so caring and kindhearted to have taken care of her like that! ❤
Thank you!
Poor little critter! She was lucky to have you both! ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
Thank you!
so sad…
What a moving piece. You have the heart of an angel!
Thank you so much!
All tenderness matters.
It does!
Oh what a heartbreaking end.You did the right thing though.xx
Thank you!
What a touching post! And thank you for trying to save the squirrel!
Thank you!