Help Wildlife Rescue Feed Baby Quail, Rabbits & Squirrels

Hi everyone.. I am a wildlife rehabber and need your help with the Baby Quail, Bunnies and Squirrels.

This season, we have been blessed with dozens of baby Quail, wild bunnies, 15 abandoned baby rock squirrels, 7 little antelope ground squirrels and 1 roundtail ground squirrel.

Baby Quail have been nonstop this season. They are just the cutest little creatures around. Baby Quail are so delicate and if they are not cared for properly, will not survive. They get fresh food and water daily and when small, a maintained 91° temperature for their environment while growing feathers.

We all love the baby quail and the adults that frequent our areas. Any support to help maintain their growth is most graciously appreciated.

Wild bunnies... have also been continuous this season. On the average, I rehab approximately 300 wild rabbits each season, if not more. They are fed fresh alfalfa and Timothy hay plus I get fresh lettuce at wholesale pricing, $29.40 for 15 pounds. We go through about 25 pounds weekly.

Usually I rehab around 4 or 5 baby rock squirrels each season. However, this season, there are 15.

The baby rock squirrels are so dear and sweet; they are growing quickly and are always hungry. They are such a joy to raise and far more personable than the other two squirrel types that are here right now.

Unfortunately, we dont know what happened to the mother of the first 7 babies that we received. They were found in a very concerned couple's backyard around Tatum and Dynamite. Unfortunately, poison is suspected for the second group of 8 that came down to us from Payson. These poor babies were trying to nurse from their deceased mother when they were found. They were no bigger than a tennis ball at that time.

Feeding 15 of these little guys, plus the 7 antelope ground squirrels, has become a slight hardship for my rescue. The rock squirrel babies eat an abundance of fresh vegetables and fruits. We always choose the fresh veggies with the highest calcium content so that they stay happy and healthy, without a risk of developing MBD. MBD is a disease they can suffer from when their diet does not contain enough calcium and not healthy, such as bags of squirrel food.

On a weekly basis, it costs approximately $240.00 to feed the baby squirrels, quail and bunnies. The bunnies and quail alone are not as financially demanding as the squirrels. The bunnies and quail cost around $70 a week to feed. The squirrels are what require the variety of vegetables and fresh fruits and with 15 growing, the cost and quantity is increasing.

The squirrels will be with me until sometime in August, when they will be released in a conservation area far away from any homes or structures. We have a very nice soft release area, with a large wooden box for shelter that contains a generous supply of food to last them a couple of weeks.

We provide this soft release setup since the rock squirrel is a ground burrowing creature and depends on food storage for their survival. This same system is setup for the antelope ground squirrels as well.

I have done extensive research on the rock squirrel, and have spoken with experts in California that have extensive knowledge and experience. Together, we came up with this almost perfect system to give them the best chance of survival.

We do not dump release any of the animals that we rehab. It is very important to offer the best start possible, especially when you devote so much of your precious time and resources into raising them. :)

With this gofundme, we are hopeful that we can raise enough funds to feed and take care of them through the middle of August.

If you would like to see more pictures and video of the little rascals here this season, please visit www.quailandwildrabbitwildliferescue.org

I will upload more pictures and video of them all and also on the Facebook page for Quail Cottontail and Wild Rabbit Rescue North Scottsdale.

Thank you so very much for your generous contribution to their care. ❤️❤️

Donation receipts can be provided upon request. 501(3)(c)