Bandit the Squirrel

[Seal Morning]

Hi,

I am new to WAB and would welcome ideas about a remarkable squirrel which has taken up residence in an old empty nesting box opposite the kitchen window. He has lost his front leg and part of his rear leg in some sort of trauma ( snare, fox ?) but apart from that he is strong, mobile and feeding without any problem. In the mornings he comes down to feed alongside the moorhens, pheasants and wild birds and often goes back up the oak to lie ontop of his box for a snooze in the sun ! The only concern I have is the massive hairloss on his shoulder. At first I thought it may be related to the trauma and just needs time to grow back but he is really scratching and I am wondering if it could be mange? I wondered about Ivermectin but the only way I could think of getting it onto him would be to perhaps coat some bedding and place it in his den ? Any ideas would be gratefully recieved!

Cheers

[Farplace]

As far as I know, Ivermectin needs to be either spot-on on injectable. I may be wrong on this, as I haven't checked. In an ideal world he needs checking by a vet, which means trapping him and transferring him to a crush cage, sedation and treatment while under sedation....
However unless you are a rescue centre, or live close to one, you won't have the necessary equipment to hand.
I would suggest using a cat flea powder (pyrythrum (probably spelt wrong) based) and dust his current bedding with it. Don't over-do it.... it will smell different, and he might not use his bed if it smells TOO different.
This will not cure mange, but will sort out any fleas or lice he might have, and make him feel more comfortable.
if it is definately mange, talk to a wildlife-friendly vet and see if there is a product that can help.

[Seal Morning]

Thanks, dusting the bedding seems a good starting point as I suppose it may be the old nesting box which is full of fleas and mites and it is not mange at all.

[Jez]

Hi, my Partner has lots of contacts with people who have rescued and nursed Squirrels back to good health. If you could send her a private message to Tufftie she can then put you in touch with people in the know.

Jez

[tufftie]

I don't think cat flea powder and squirrels go well together! It's hard to say without seeing the squirrel but could just be stress; they have been known to chew the hair from their tails in stressful conditions but on the other hand it could be a small wound you hadn't noticed with an infection? Sending a pm with the details.
Squirrels can manage very well with three legs though and they are quite tough animals that have a will to live.
I will pm you the details of somebody who can help you
Give him some nuts for me ... and put some photos of him on here, pleease!

[Seal Morning]

Thank you, I hadn't thought of stress !

[tufftie]

Does he always use the same box? If he does and is itching other areas too then it may well be fleas! Just thinking and squirrels normally have more than one drey so they can change homes when the fleas get too much and then move back again when they have died (the fleas that is!).
Sorry I'm suffering from a dizzy, virus thing which means my posts might be a little like mud!

[Seal Morning]

He is very fit, healthy and happy and there are no open wounds, infection etc I suspect you are right and it IS fleas having just taken over this old flea ridden box !!! Thinking about it, if it was mange I think his condition would be much poorer.

[Hedgehoggy]

Hi Seal Morning, what a remarkable squirrel indeed!

I wonder if the fur loss could possibly be the start of the squirrel’s twice yearly moult (spring moult/autumn moult)? although a parasite infestation shouldn’t be ruled out, especially with a missing foreleg and partially missing back leg which would make grooming extremely difficult indeed.

Wildliferescuer (WAB member) successfully treats foxes for mange mites by adding Stronghold (licensed as ‘spot-on’ parasite treatment for cats/dogs) to their food, thus avoiding unnecessary stress of capture for treatment, so it may be worthwhile emailing Caroline for further advice, along with an accompanying photo (if possible) of the squirrel which may help determine a diagnosis:

Home - Vale Wildlife Hospital & Rehabilitation Centre

[Hedgehoggy]

For anybody interested in some reading material on mange mites, I highly recommend Marc's excellent article, although I challenge anybody who reads this NOT to scratch while doing so! :

Wildlifeonline - Sarcoptic Mange in Red Foxes