08/23/2024
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Eastern fox squirrel patient 24-6328 was found on a driveway covered in ants in Oklahoma City. A caring rescuer took the time to get this little one to our center for help. Thanks to your support, we were able to help this and thousands of other animals this year.
Due to our high patient load this year, we're running low on the essential supplies we’ll need to get us through the remainder of baby season and into the fall and winter months.
It's been the busiest baby season on record at WildCareOklahoma. As of this morning, we've admitted and cared for 6,863 patients representing 191 different species in 2024.
Throughout August, we are asking for help to RESTOCK WildCareOklahoma's PATIENT CARE PANTRY - we've gone through a lot of supplies keeping up with this unprecedented demand including medications, vaccinations, food, formula, feeding supplies, and cleaning supplies.
Will YOU help restock WildCareOklahoma's pantry for patients like baby eastern fox squirrel 24-6328 and the thousands of others that need help? Below is a list to help us in the mammal nursery. All of the following items (and more) are available on our Amazon Wishlist: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/S5NN8PLP7218?ref_=abls_nvfly_yl
● Non-tipping stainless steel water bowls: Proper water bowls for our mammal patients (both 8oz and 16oz would work)!
● Supplements to mammal diets including Probiotics, Lactase, Calcium Carbonate, and Missing Link: This ensures our growing or recovering patients are getting all of the nutrition they need.
● 106 quart Sterilite latching storage box (4-pack): With a little modification, these become bassinets for all small mammals at WildCare!
● Miracle ni***es: These ni***es attach to syringes allowing us to safely feed formula to infant squirrels.
● Small swimming pools: Kiddie pools and plastic pools are helpful with young raccoons, allowing multiple raccoons to drink and get in the water on hot days! (These can also be picked up locally!)
● Small animal transport box: We love these baskets for holding small animals in incubators in admissions and animal care rooms.
● Red fleeces: When some animals are new to WildCare or they are ill, they go to isolation. Having red fleeces for these patients helps ensure their laundry is kept separate.
● Incubators: Incubators can be lifesaving for animals that are weak, cold, or too young to control their own body temperature. These incubators provide a warm, quiet, and safe space for orphaned and injured wildlife.
● Feeding tubes – 5 Fr 16” and 8 Fr 20”: We use specialized feeding tubes to feed formula to cottontail rabbits, Virginia opossums, and northern raccoons to prevent aspiration and minimize stress on the animal patients. These are available at: https://www.squirrelstore.com/clear-feeding-tubes/ (We need 100 of EACH!)
● 1 gallon of Rescue or 4 gallons of Rescue: An unfortunate reality of wildlife rehabilitation is the number of ill animals we admit daily. We use this powerful disinfectant throughout the building to keep animals and people safe.
● Disinfecting bleach: We use a lot of bleach each week to disinfect dishes, surfaces, and laundry.
● Contributions for formula: All of the orphaned mammals we care for require specialized formula. Every year, use hundreds of pounds of formula we purchase in 20 pound containers from Fox Valley Animal Nutrition. https://www.wildcareoklahoma.org/donate/
● Contributions for medications, vaccinations, and medical supplies/equipment:
One of the most expensive parts of our operations are the medications, vaccinations, and medical supplies and equipment (as well as maintenance and repairs of equipment) needed to heal our wildlife patients. https://www.wildcareoklahoma.org/donate/
Thank you for caring about Oklahoma's incredible wildlife and WildCareOklahoma!
Photo credit: Natalie Parkes, WildCareOklahoma
