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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Aibu for leaving an injured squirrel in my garden?

71 replies

Yahboosnubs · 29/06/2015 15:27

The cat got it this morning and it had an injured leg. I've put it outside and kept the cats in to stop the torturing. I am working from home, so haven't taken it to the wildlife rescue thing 20-30 mins away by car, but could go later with the kids. (Who are young - 6 and 4 - and it might not be the best thing to do with them.)

But it's a living thing and is still going. Panting and curled up in the shade. I don't know what to do.

Am I bad for just leaving it? I'll have to let the cats out at some point. Aargh!

OP posts:
ReginaBlitz · 29/06/2015 16:11

You should have taken it straight away your cat did it Ffs leaving it is just cruel. And as for the poster that said kill itAngry

EvansOvalPiesYumYum · 29/06/2015 16:12

so would all the posters suggesting the OP takes it to the vets, be giving the same advice, if it was a rat

Personally speaking, yes Lottie. Either take it to a Vet to be humanely euthanized, or despatch it yourself (I do this regularly with vermin caught and left half-dead by my cats). Not everyone feels strong enough to do so, though. In which case - Vet visit necessary. Rat, squirrel, pigeon, etc, etc. As Lone says, the Vet won't charge for wildlife.

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 29/06/2015 16:12

What do you think a vet will do?Hmm

EvansOvalPiesYumYum · 29/06/2015 16:14

Euthanise it, humanely, of course Confused

BubGal13 · 29/06/2015 16:15

I don’t care what the vet does, but he/she is an EXPERT and has all facilities and abilities to assess squirrel and give the adequate pain relief followed by whichever course of action is for the best. OP is no expert- clearly – and no way should just make her own judgement to kill this poor creature without knowing its full condition and how to treat it for the best. OP- go to vets please!

whatsthatcomingoverthehill · 29/06/2015 16:15

Why exactly shouldn't you kill it Regina?

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 29/06/2015 16:16

There's no need to take it to the vet if you can do it quickly yourself.

whatsthatcomingoverthehill · 29/06/2015 16:17

Going to the vet is all well and good if you really can't handle killing it but that all takes time. During which the animal is still suffering.

BubGal13 · 29/06/2015 16:19

We don't even know if the injury is that serious/life threatening!! But oh well, why not just kill it anyway eh? OP is not the right person to be assessing this or killing an animal. Astounded at peoples selfishness and laziness you don't deem a trip to a vets worthwhile in trying to safe an animals life- who is only injured thanks to you anyway?? Very sad.

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 29/06/2015 16:19

I wouldn't want to try handling an injured squirrel!!

EvansOvalPiesYumYum · 29/06/2015 16:19

You're right, Dame - but as I already said, not everyone feels able to. I finish creatures off in our garden if I'm certain there's no hope, DP can't, however!

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 29/06/2015 16:20

Sorry Evans I agree with you and cross posted , I was rolling my eyes at Regina's cross face.

EvansOvalPiesYumYum · 29/06/2015 16:21

If this squirrel has an injured leg and has been lying in the garden for some considerable time, it would appear that all is not well for it, and it is trying to find a quiet place to curl up and die. Therefore, it needs help of some sort . . . .

EvansOvalPiesYumYum · 29/06/2015 16:22

Oh, okay, Dame - Smile Thanks and sorry at the same time!

queenofwesteros · 29/06/2015 16:23

I'd take it to the vets for assessment OP.
Worth remembering that every animal's life is as important to it, as your life is to you.

Therein2tics · 29/06/2015 16:24

I don't think your children are too young.

Part of me thinks this is nature, leave the cats to it.

However the cats are your responsibility so I think you should have taken it to the vet, it is likely the squirrel is seriously injured if you could tell it was. I don't think wild animals exaggerate their symptoms.

somewheresomehow · 29/06/2015 16:24

dont try picking it up without tough gloves/gauntlets it will be in pain and may well bite, but please try and box it and take it the vet to be humanely euthanized they wont try and save it as its classed as vermin and can not be released back into the wild but it will be out of its misery quicker than leaving it to die

lunar1 · 29/06/2015 16:25

I really wonder about somebody who could just leave an animal to suffer. To me it's a human instinct to help in these situations. You should have taken the poor thing to the vets and if you can't deal with the consequences of keeping cats then you shouldn't have them.

whatsthatcomingoverthehill · 29/06/2015 16:28

No, BubGal, I wouldn't take a squirrel to the vet if I could euthanise is myself. On the off chance that it is able to recover from the injury in the wild without vetinary assistance (which they wouldn't give), well, it's one less squirrel around which is pretty much a good thing.

sykadelic · 29/06/2015 16:30

I hope your cats have bells!

honeyroar · 29/06/2015 16:33

I wonder about people who can leave an animal suffering too.

Either put it out of its misery if you can, or take it to a vet/wildlife centre. Just because it's lurched a few feet up your garden does not mean it's a miraculous recovery. If it hasn't been able to climb out of your garden it is seriously injured/ill... As things stand you would have been kinder leaving the cats to finish it off in the first place..

EvansOvalPiesYumYum · 29/06/2015 16:44

Cats having bells need a collar, Sykadelic and collars are not necessarily safe for cats, as they get caught on branches and choke the cats.

I've had cats as pets for years, and none of them have had collars (and therefore, no bells).

queenofwesteros · 29/06/2015 17:02

TBH I think of cats as more vermin than squirrels. They're a fucking nuisance and decimate local wildlife wherever they go Sad
I've had cats in the past but never again.
misses point of thread

DarylDixonsDarlin · 29/06/2015 17:18

Wow OP you are getting a rough ride here Confused

Where do you draw the line though? I had an injured seagull in my garden a couple of years ago, should I have taken that dirty vermin to the vets? Or did I do the right thing by keeping my DC out of the garden until it was either dead or had moved on? Should I have had it euthanised? Hmm (I have no pets, it just landed in my garden by chance)