All Corners Wildlife Rehabilitation, Inc. A non-profit corporation
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Lola has been on her own since June 2006
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four week old - Feb. 17, 2006

eight week old female, fall 2006. Tessa
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This girl was released at four months. Release with squirrels is gradual.

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FOUND A SICK, INJURED OR BABY SQUIRREL?
 
I CAN HELP
 
my focus is quality care -- 
 
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Greetings!
   This site is dedicated to the care and well-being of baby squirrels and opossum, non-rabies vector species although I am glad to refer you to a rehabber of orphan raccoon, fledglings or any other wildlife. I am FWC permitted and first want to thank you for taking the time to help the baby until you can get the orphan to me or another rehabber.
 
FIRST: TWO CRITICAL THINGS: Warming & hydrating. Warm up baby in a few ways: put the little critter in a box next to a warm water bottle wrapped in a towel, or a heating pad set on low or even hold baby against your tummy. Squirrels' temperature is a few degrees higher than we humans. They'll warm up fast with your help. Placing baby in a small box, swaddled in a t-shirt will help keep baby warm as well as reduce stress and fear. Please keep a heating pad on low under the towels or wrap a bottle with very warm water in a pinch.
 
NEXT: Check for serious injuries such as bleeding, gouges, scratches. If baby has been attacked by a cat is it urgent to bring it to a wildlife vet as cat saliva contain properties lethal to squirrels and time is of the essence. I can direct you to a 24-hour wildlife vet who can help.
 
IMPORTANT: If you can, try to remove any fleas, ticks, lice, maggots and  ants  from baby's fur and hide. I know this is less than pleasant but you are handling a very small critter and those parasites can do a lot of harm quickly. It's better to place the baby in a small baby tub of warm water to rid then keep baby in a towel over a heating pad. It's rare to find orphans wildlife that bad because if you find them alive quite likely they have not been away from nbsp;baby mom for too long. But they are fragile, helpless and parasites put a lot of stress on developing immune systems.
 
HYDRATE: PLEASE! Never feed a cold baby. Their little systems cannot digest when they are cold. Once warmed, try to get baby to drink some room temperature pedialyte through an eye dropper or a small syringe. A mix of warm water and sugar, or apple juice cut with water will work in a pinch. With squirrels, please take care not to aspirate as they will choke very easily. Feed holding them in an upright position, in tiny amounts at a time. ABOVE ALL please do not give the baby milk of any kind, even baby formula, or soy beverage. They cannot tolerate dairy milks or infant formula. Their systems will shut down, they will become terribly constipated and the backed up will poison their systems. Time and again Pet Ag's puppy milk replacer (Esbilac) is the only tried and true way to feed an orphan. If you don't have access to that, please just offer pedialyte until you can find a rehabber. Please, please please do not wait because pedialyte is not food, and the babies are already hungry and dehydrated by the time people find them.
 
REUNITE: Most wildlife moms will be nearby. Contrary to popular belief, a squirrels and other mammals will will take back young that have been handled by humans. But mom won't retrieve a cold baby, so that's why warming baby up is so important. Once warmed, leave baby near where you found it such as at the base of a tree -- only if you can watch it to be sure it will be safe from cats and other predators.
 
If mom doesn't fetch her offspring in a few hours, she won't.
 
THAT'S WHERE I come in: Please please call a wildlife rehabber. I have raised both orphaned squirrels and opossum and I am happy to come pick up baby, or you can drop it off. I have supplies and enough facilities for a few babies, both squirrel and opossum. I'm also happy to talk anyone though helping to keep the little one hydrated until you can drop baby off at one of several wildlife vets or I can get it the next day. If you are out of the area I am glad to help direct you to a rehabber in your area.  
 
813-690-1326
 
Please leave a voicemail and if  I don't answer immediately I am usually good about getting back to you within an hour or two.
And thank you for caring! We who grew up in Florida have watched our precious natural resources decimated during the past four decades with unrestrained growth that has destroyed our wetlands, eroded our shorelines, downed palm and oak trees and boy it's taken a toll on our wildlife. They struggle to survive on ever decreasing habitat. Saving a little critter may seem insignificant in the whole scheme of things, but I figure you got to start somewhere, even if it is one orphan at a time.
 

or email me here

I use the money from my stained glass art I make to help pay for supplies. Please see my gallery page for the stained glass I make. I also started selling on Amazon.com. Click HERE to see some of the stuff I have from my personal collection, not garage sale stuff. OR please click the Paypal link at the bottom of this page to make a tax-deductible donation.

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Sisters.
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Rescued early January 2008

11 week old Lola, March 2006
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I called this guy Buster because he survived.
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Rescued September 2007

6-week-old baby boy, fall 2005
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This was Buddy, my first squirrel I rehabbed

5-week-old opossum siblings, spring 2005
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At 8" long, I released both in my yard, where i found them

5 week old female, Christmas Day, 2005
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I called her Christmas. She remains in the area as is normal. She had a litter August, 2006

she had fallen from her nest Christmas Day '05
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three weeks later, a thriving 8-week-old girl

OH THOSE OPOSSUM!! SEE HERE...

Please! I know it's tempting to want to keep and care for baby yourself when it's tiny, needy and adorable. But wildlife require special care, special diets. Too often I've gotten calls from people who either have a very sick opossum from improper diet or a juvenile squirrel going nuts (literally) because they are coming into season and no longer behave like the sweet baby. Please do the right thing and call a rehabber right away. If you cared enough to save it, you care enough to bring it to one who can help, as soon as possible.
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I don't solicit money or receive money for each squirrel or opossum I raise. But a donation of esbanil, nutrical, calcium supplement -- if you can -- is greatly appreciated. I do this as a labor of love. I make and sell stained glass panels and artwork that -- when I sell! -- I use to replenish wildlife supplies. Please follow the link to see my work. Thanks,
Gina Thomas P.O. Box 320302 Tampa, Fla. 33679

iOffer.com, an easier way to buy and sell.

Max at nine weeks. Rescued in July '06.
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Time flies! Max was about four weeks, eyes closed, when rescued. He's been on his own for 7 months.

Member of the National Wildlife Rehabilitators Association CLICK HERE

Member of the Florida Wildlife Rehabilitators Association CLICK HERE

In addition to the animals I rehab and release, I field an average of three calls a week about orphaned bunnies, racoon, skunk, even deer and ducklings and I always provide a referral. Calls have come from as far as Nova Scotia (really!) and is a wonderful statement of people's concern for our environment and natural resources. So please, no amount is too small and it is greatly appreciated.

one of a pair of twin herons
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SEE GALLERY PAGE CLICK HERE