Wildlife Matters Rescue

01/30/2024

Thank you, Paula! We very much appreciate these much needed traps! This will help so many more foxes! 🦊 ❤️

01/21/2024

Happy national squirrel day 🐿️❤️

01/02/2024

Happy New Year from Wildlife Matters Rescue!!

Meet “Bouncer”, the red fox. Pictures didn’t post in order but are dated. He came in 9/15. Full of mange, open sores, emaciated and no hair. 9/17, 2 days later, eyes are clearing, skin is healing. 10/8 left over mange residue, wounds healed, regaining strength and s***k! 12/9 “Bouncer bounces back!”
This is what a healthy fox, after mange treatment and appropriate feeding looks like ❤️🦊

12/31/2023

Pepe le Pew, aka Skunks! Come in without moms, sometimes eyes closed, usually eyes just opened. After months of bottle/syringe feedings and giving them an all natural diet of food they would find in the wild, they go free with all the knowledge they need for survival. The big girl in the second picture is what a healthy adult skunk looks like!!! Despite popular belief, they don’t want to spray you. It’s their last defense, not their first!

12/30/2023

Ground hogs, woodchucks, whistle pigs, whatever you call them, they’re the same animal. They come in 2 varieties- spicy and sweet but all grow up spicy! After several months of TLC and good food they go free and fool you with their adorable chunk! Did you know they can run, jump and climb trees?!?! I didn’t until I rehabbed them!

12/29/2023

Virginia opossums! At the lapping stage, being weaned off of formula, and the release, (around 3-4 lbs), months later. The release is why we do what we do and always the greatest reward!

12/28/2023

2 baby raccoons, that came in as neonates, ( newborn, eyes closed, umbilical cords attached, syringe/bottle fed). 5-6 months later, watching them see freedom for the first time is the greatest reward!

12/22/2023

Thank you Lisa for your many volunteer hours helping save the foxes & a huge thank thanks to both you and your company for your generous donation!!! ❤️

12/07/2023

Happy Holidays from Wildlife Matters Rescue!! We’re trying to get prepared for springtime and could really use your help. Attached is our Amazon Wishlist, these are items we desperately need and they do get used for the wildlife only!! Take a moment to look it over and if you find it in your heart and wallet, please donate 🙏❤️🦊🐿️🦝

***pics of a few rehab animals in comments****

12/04/2023

08/25/2023

ITS FALL SQUIRREL SEASON!
They do not all need human intervention. Please read, thank you 🙏🐿️🙏🐿️

REMINDER

It’s BABY SEASON

If you find a BABY SQUIRREL, please gently inspect the baby for any issues. If the baby is dehydrated (skin remains in place when pinched),
visibly injured,
covered in fly eggs (which look like small grains of rice),
has maggots on it or in body cavities,
is cold, wet, and/or vocalizing,
has open wounds
has visible broken limbs, bones or fractures,
is dragging it's hind quarters,
has missing limbs etc
and is visibly paralysed
then immediate SKILLED TRAINED attention is needed. Please place the baby in a small container, keep warm (instructions are below), and reach out through a post, ph call or DM a member of the Squirrel Rescue Rehab fosters.

IF THE BABY SQUIRREL APPEARS HEALTHY: Squirrels are excellent mothers and will come back for their babies if given a chance. Mother squirrels are most active in early morning and late afternoon so attempt to reunite during that time.

STEP 1 KEEP BABY WARM
For the best chance of survival, keep the baby warm by using a microwave hottie warmer. Place the microwave hottie under a fleece blanket in a small container and place the baby in the container snuggled in a fleece blanket. Do not use a cardboard box as the cardboard will draw moisture from the baby causing dehydration. If you do not have a microwave hottie, you can make a warmer with uncooked rice in a sock. Fill a sock with 1 cup of uncooked long grain rice or beans. Tie a knot at the top and microwave for 30 seconds. Check the sock for hot spots. After warming, place the rice sock under a fleece blanket in the container. Place the baby in the container snuggled into a fleece blanket next to the rice sock. The rice sock will need to be warmed every 1-2 hours. Do not use heat lamps as they will overheat the baby. Do not use reptile lamps as they do not get warm enough. Do not let the baby get cold. Do not place the baby directly onto the hottie or sock. This will definitely kill them unless the eyes are open and they can crawl off if too hot.

STEP 2 TEMPORARY NEST
You can make a temporary nest for reuniting by using a small container (basket, plastic tub, milk, or juice jug). Do not use a cardboard box.

1. DO NOT FEED OR GIVE WATER TO THE BABY AT ALL. UNTRAINED IGNORANT FEEDING TECHNIQUES AND INCORRECT FOOD CAN CAUSE ASPIRATION, SUFFOCATION AND PNEUMONIA - BABY WILL INEVITABLY DIE. This goes for all species and critters!
2. Keep the baby warm as mother squirrels will not retrieve a cold baby.
3. Place the hottie warming pack or warmed rice sock under a fleece blanket in the container.
4. Place inside or attach underneath the container a cell phone or other electronic with a recorded baby squirrel cry that is looped to play for no more than a few seconds at a time. Available on you tube. Playing continuously for longer periods will distract the mother. If using a cell phone, be sure to turn off all notifications so the cries would not be interrupted.
5. Place the baby in the container snuggled into a fleece blanket.

STEP 3 ATTEMPT TO REUNITE
1. Secure the container as high as you can reach on the nearest tree where you found baby. Make sure it is secure enough to support mama squirrel’s weight. If this is a high traffic area, put the container out of view or higher up the tree away from people, pets, and other predators. If it’s not possible to secure the container up off the ground, you can place it at the base of the tree; however, you must be able to monitor closely for any threat of predators. At all times, protect the baby from direct sunlight, strong wind, or rain.
2. Observe from a distance for up to 8 hours (keeping predators, pets and people away). The rice sock will need to be warmed every 1-2 hours. This is not necessary if you used a microwave hottie heat pack as they will stay warm for 24 hours.
3. Do not leave the baby out overnight. As the sun sets, bring the baby inside and keep it warm in a quiet room. Do not handle it and do not give it any food or water. Try reuniting after sunrise the following morning at dawn.
4. If the mother does not return, please ph one of us ASAP.

As always, feel free to reach out with any questions. ❤️❤️❤️

04/17/2023

Our Mission is to provide care for injured or orphaned native wildlife. They are rescued, rehabilitated and returned to the wild.