Need some help with a Richardson's Ground Squirrel!!

[Lovette's Kara]

I was at an auction and they had this "Whistle dog" and as soon as I found out what it was and what they do to the poor thing, I got it. The problem is that I really don't know how to care for it!

Worst still, the auctioneers were being cruel to the animals and being really rough. When I saw him before the auction, he was fine. He didn't seem bad and was eating some hay with his front paws. But before his turn, he was being manhandled by the aunctioneers and even one poked him with a marker through his cage! But the VERY worst thing is that when I went to get him, his leg was broken! Many of the animals were handled roughly, and the people selling them had them in poor cages (as was he) But I really believe that if he wasn't manhandled soo badly, this would not have happened.

He is acting fine (he does have a bit of runny poo), and currently has water, hay and seeds, and lots to chew, but he can't see a vet til morning! I know I am not the best owner, I should have read up on him and how to properly care for him, but I didn't want him to be used as a whistle dog! So hopefully I can get him to be happy with me, but for now any help on how to care for a Richardson's Ground Squirrel would be much appreciated!

Tomorrow he's off to the vets where hopefully he will be well looked after, and everything will be documented. We will be looking into legal actions because the state the animals were in, and how they were treated were deplorable... But for now, I just need some help in way of information for how to properly care for him...

The two pictures are of the squirrel and the "cage" he was auctioned in...

 

[minrex]

Aww, poor little guy. Good for you for rescuing him! One question: what do you mean by the term "whistle dog"? A quick Google search didn't exactly turn up any definitions that I think you meant.

 

[eroomlorac]

Yeah, I am not familiar with that term, either. I'm glad you have him, though, and he will be getting good care. Poor little guy.

 

[Lovette's Kara]

Aww, poor little guy. Good for you for rescuing him! One question: what do you mean by the term "whistle dog"? A quick Google search didn't exactly turn up any definitions that I think you meant.

A "whistle dog" is any gopher/prairie dog/ground squirrel that is used to draw out others. Odds are, my Richardson's Ground Squirrel was born as a wild one, caught and was intended to be used to draw others. They would use this captive one to make noises or whatever else to make other ground squirrels in the wild believe its safe and then the person would shoot the wild ones...

 

[eroomlorac]

Oh, geeze. I'm not sure I wanna know how they make it make noises. Wouldn't it's calls be calls of alarm or fear if it were in a cage? Anyway, I'm glad you have the poor little guy. Maybe once he heals up you can let him go free again.

 

[alli713]

Aww it's so cute! And I don't know anything about them so I had to look them up, looks like they're like gopher/prairie dog type things that we have in the US.

It seems some people do keep them as pets, so you wouldn't necessarily have to release him to the wild. Especially if they're colony animals I wonder if it'd be hard for it to get back in with a colony after having been gone for so long.

I read that in the wild they hibernate and that by not hibernating as pets they probably don't live as long as wild ones. So it seems like there is a small bit of info on them online, but not much!

Good luck with him I hope his leg is okay!

 

[Tanya]

Great that you rescued him! How people can be so cruel?
You can read about care and diet at www.exoticnutrition.com/richardsons_ground_squirrel.htm
Good luck with your cute new friend!

 

[Lovette's Kara]

Aww it's so cute! And I don't know anything about them so I had to look them up, looks like they're like gopher/prairie dog type things that we have in the US.

It seems some people do keep them as pets, so you wouldn't necessarily have to release him to the wild. Especially if they're colony animals I wonder if it'd be hard for it to get back in with a colony after having been gone for so long.

I read that in the wild they hibernate and that by not hibernating as pets they probably don't live as long as wild ones. So it seems like there is a small bit of info on them online, but not much!

Good luck with him I hope his leg is okay!

No, you can't release them. After they have been taken away, there are usually not accepted back within any groups and often die in horrible ways.. at least that is what one website I saw said...

 

[Lovette's Kara]

Oh, geeze. I'm not sure I wanna know how they make it make noises. Wouldn't it's calls be calls of alarm or fear if it were in a cage? Anyway, I'm glad you have the poor little guy. Maybe once he heals up you can let him go free again.

Tame ones make communication noises I think, like Chinchillas do. The wild ones look around to see who the heck is on there turf and... well, you get the point...

Sadly, I don't think you can return them.

 

[Jeanette]

Wow... do NOT google 'Whistle dog'...
sheesh!

On wikipedia, it says that they are a plague in some areas. It lists all sorts of 'ingenious' ways of killing them. That's sort of sick. But I understand how they could threaten crops and livestock, etc.

 

[Lovette's Kara]

Wow... do NOT google 'Whistle dog'...
sheesh!

On wikipedia, it says that they are a plague in some areas. It lists all sorts of 'ingenious' ways of killing them. That's sort of sick. But I understand how they could threaten crops and livestock, etc.

I think plague is pretty harsh... they can be a pest for farmers, but I don't think they would be a plague.

Yeah, google is not very good for searching Whistle Dogs. They are Richardson's ground squirrels and that's the easiest way to come up with correct info.

 

[Lovette's Kara]

On a side note, She's doing okay. Her leg is still injured, but its not a break. However, the vet believes she has a sprain or possibly soft tissue injuries, which will take longer to heal. But she is still on antibiotics and the swelling has gone considerably down, but its obvious it is still injured at what would be her elbow joint. She's using the leg more, but not as much as I would like, but doing much better. She's eating, I am giving her better and more appropriate food and she's getting used to me, so things are going well. He is a She, and her name is Kesler now.

We are still trying to talk to the auction about the cruel treatment...

 

[LucksAngel28]

I'm glad to hear that Kesler is doing better! You really have to be commended for taking her in to save her life and putting the time, money, and effort in to making it the best life possible! You should take another picture so we can see her cute little face! I hope things go well with the auction! Keep us updated!