Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-07-24

found four young gray squirrels clnsing
feebly to the foot OF a pine tree, and al
most dead from cold and hunger The
parents had been shot the day before by
n pot-hunting rascal from the city. an
the poor little orphans. driven to despera-
ton, had crawled out of the nest and down
the tree in search of relief. The lady
picked them up and carried them home,
and gave them a good meal OF warm milk.
administered with a dropper The effect
was magical. Within an hour their
strength had returned and they were frisk-
ing about the room. They were put into
a basket of cotton wool, where they curled
up and went to sleep. Next morning they
were found lying stiR and cold. and scarce
ly able to move their limbs. The night had
been cool. and the little squirrels had sadly
missed the warmth OF their mothers body.
A fire WAS lighted and warm milk was adj
mnistered. but It was several hours before
the patients were on a fair way to recov-
cry.
Here let me say that warmth is prob
ably of more Importance than food to
many very young animals. While they
may live two or three days without food
II kept In a warm room, they will often
die IL deprived OF artificial heat for one
night In March. April or May. There are
doubtless many exceptions to this rule,
but 1t certainly applies to the young OF
many Of the small quadrupeds Of eastern
among the hardest Of animals seems to
make little difference. I have known a
pair OF flying squirrels to sleep away the
winter in n frozen tree trunk, with less
than a single handful Of leaves for bed.
yet their young, even when covered with
fur. would probably die II left alone for
one March night, though they might be
we'll fed and carefully wrapped up. They
must have the heat Of their mothers body
or its equivalent in order to live.
Last spring I was making a special study
OF young flying squirrels, and there were
three litters born in my house. Ono litter
was born about two weeks later than the
others. and while the little fellows were
still quite helpless their mother mysteri-
ously disappeared. I divided the litter be-
tween the other two mothers who took
the orphans in and showed them every at
tention. l congratulated myself In solv-
ing the problem SO easily, but soon found
that the mother squirrels, kind and loving
as they were, had not sufficient nourish-
ment for so many babies, and that the lat
ter were losing strength and becoming
thinner. Every night after that they were
given a good supper OF warm milk, which
they willingly took from dropper. and
also gave the mothers plenty Of milk to
drink When the young ones had their
eyes open, cracked nuts were given 10
them in addition to the milk and they soon
began to nibble a little on their own ac-
count. Every one of them lived, and with
the exception OF four which are retained
for further study, all have been liberated
In favorable localities
Not long ago l had occasion 70 rear a
family Of young red squirrels which had
lost their parents before their eyes were
open They were fed with milk from a
small rubber bottle, the neck of which they
seized with both front paws and held tight
until they were satisfied. They were
49, t@Ir Ill HV% an
and later to lap It from a saucer This
last accomplishment was very difficult &c
teach them. as they persisted in getting
their nostrils into the liquid. and this
| would cause them to snort and sneeze for
several minutes. The difficulty was over
come by covering the bottom Of the sau-
| Ger with thin film Of milk only and grad
ually adding more as it was Tapped up
| Young squirrels should be fed as Otter
| as they will take food. and they should
| be given as much each time as they care tc
drink or eat They seem to have pretty
| fair idea as to how much is good for them
At first they may be quite unwilling &c
accept the offered nourishment. and it will
then be necessary to make them take It
| When this is the case they should be helt
| firmly, one at a time In the left hand. with
the neck between the thumb and fore
| finger. while the milk Is dropped very. very
slowly into the mouth from dropper helC
|
| skunks may be fed In the same way
| Young mice are much more difficult L
rear. They are so small that 1t Is Difficult
to hold them firm without hurting them
particularly as they usually struggle
great deal. Their mouths are not larg
enough to take the end OF dropper, bu
If one is not very clumsy the milk may b.
administered with the point OF camel
hair paint brush But It is a tedious opera
ton at best, and IT has to be repeated t.
Il often that one can count on little sleel
during the first forty eight hours. A fam
lily OF eight blind young house mice whicl
reared last year required feeding seven
teen times during the first day and nigh
and to feed them once took about three
quarters Of an hour
Among the most interesting animal
which | have ever undertaken to rear ar
four young raccoons. which were sent t
me not long ago They take their mil
, from an ordinary baby's bottle and tn
/, four OF them drink a pint at meal. Afte
, drinking all they can they usually go I
sleep, and wake up hungry about fou
hours later. When they are ready to
fed, they notify us OF the fact by cryin
: very much like a tree-toad. and II thei
, wants are not attended to scream like ba
, bies In passion
ERNEST HAROLD BAYNES.
THE COST OF THE COAL STRIKE.