Helped save a life today; UPDATE Pg 2 Post 29

**Freedom** · 08-01-2008, 04:00 PM

I was driving and saw an odd brown ball shape roll off from the front of the car ahead of me. That car jammed on his brakes and swerved left, then proceeded. I couldn't believe what I saw, so I cautiously pulled around, over and stopped to check.

A young woodchuck had tried to cross the road in mid day! Totally stunned, I could easily see it was breathing still, but it didn't budge when I carefully moved my foot near. So I put it in the car and returned home. As I'm driving, it started to come around and moved so it was facing me. I was a bit nervous at that, I thought "what if he reacts like a feral cat? I'm confined in the car with a loose wild animal!," but figured I was in for the long haul now. Got home, grabbed a carrier and moved it into that.

I checked on the Internet and found the small mammal rehabilitation was handled by The Wildlife clinic, so I drove him(?) there. The doctor was called to come check him over, was going to get there about 1 PM. I phoned once, but only got the voice mail so will have to wait until tomorrow to learn more.

**Kirsten** · 08-01-2008, 04:42 PM

Wow! Never saw such an animal before.

It's wonderful what you did, and I really hope they can help this little guy at the clinic.

Thanks for helping this animal!
Please keep us updated.

Kirsten

**RICHARD** · 08-01-2008, 04:44 PM

Originally Posted by Freedom

I was a bit nervous at that, I thought "what if he reacts like a feral cat? I'm confined in the car with a loose wild animal!," but figured I was in for the long haul now. Got home, grabbed a carrier and moved it into that.

The Auto Club Manual says that if you do pick up a injured animal and attempt to move it,you should remember this in case the animal goes off on you while you are driving.

"If the injured animal becomes aggravated and gets loose inside the vehicle, Aim the car toward any pole, fence or wall, this will set off the airbags and momentarily stun it, so you can safely exit the vehicle."

**lvpets2002** · 08-01-2008, 04:52 PM

How so Sweet & Brave for you to have picked up this wittle one.. This baby is just too Cute.. Hope all is ok & the baby can go back to the wild.. Thanks Freedom

**Scooter's Mom** · 08-01-2008, 05:45 PM

Aww, you're a good samaritan. I hope the little one makes it okay! I've never seen a woodchuck before.

**moosmom** · 08-01-2008, 06:02 PM

Great job Sandie!!!!

Poor thing. He was probably just stunned. Hope he's not hurt.

**RockyRoad** · 08-01-2008, 06:45 PM

Wow, I`ve never seen a woodchuck before either! Good job helping him out - I`m sure he appreciates it in some way.

**Freedom** · 08-01-2008, 08:00 PM

Originally Posted by RICHARD

The Auto Club Manual says that if you do pick up a injured animal and attempt to move it,you should remember this in case the animal goes off on you while you are driving.

"If the injured animal becomes aggravated and gets loose inside the vehicle, Aim the car toward any pole, fence or wall, this will set off the airbags and momentarily stun it, so you can safely exit the vehicle."

Richard, I have a feeling that will only succeed in stunning ME, not the critter!

**krazyaboutkatz** · 08-01-2008, 09:11 PM

For some reason I misread this and I was expecting to see a very small chipmunk.LOL I've never seen a woodchuck either and I sure hope he'll be okay. I'm glad that you were there to save him.

**jennielynn1970** · 08-01-2008, 10:45 PM

Is a woodchuck the same as a groundhog? He looks like a big, chubby sucker!

I'm still a bit freaked out by groundhogs, I got chased by one when I was about 12, and those babies can run!

I hope that he/she will be ok. I'm glad that he didn't flip out while you were in the car! That would have been scary!

**K9karen** · 08-01-2008, 10:54 PM

Luckily, Mz Logan is sleeping..and I'll never tell.
Looks like, what we call a groundhog. Mz Logan's favorite pasttime (besides catching moles) is to corner them and harrass them. She lets them get away because she can outrun the fat suckers anyday.

You did a really good deed. I'm glad you weren't injured. I guess it sensed you were helping.

How'd ya get it in the carrier, anyways????

**Pam** · 08-02-2008, 06:43 AM

WOW!! You are very brave. I would have been way too afraid to touch him. Let us know what happens!

**Freedom** · 08-02-2008, 09:00 AM

Yes, groundhog, woodchuck, same thing. (I had to google it and check, wasn't sure myself!)

The photo is misleading, he was small, maybe 2 pounds at most. Definitely a youngster.

Woodchucks are rodents and are 'rabies vector' mammals. This means they can carry the rabies virus on their fur and transmit it to our skin, so you aren't supposed to touch them directly. I wasn't thinking about that, all I thought about was fleas, te hee. Turns out rodents, except for squirrels, are very clean animals and don't have fleas, ticks or mites. Woodchucks clean themselves and each other regularly. They would only have those things if they were ill and staying still in one place for a length of time. (As you can see, I learned a LOT yesterday! Didn't know ANY of this.)

How'd ya get it in the carrier, anyways????

Being a dog owner, I always have plastic bags -- in my car, in my pockets. First I gently nudged him with my foot. But he was totally stunned and in shock there in the street and didn't move. I didn't want him biting me out of either fear or pain! So as he didn't budge, I put used the plastic bags picked him up and put him on the floor on the front passenger side. Turned around and headed for home. On that short drive is when he started to recover and moved around to face me. That's when I started to really THINK about what I was doing.

I left the car in the driveway because I didn't want him loose in the garage if he escaped as I transferred him to the carrier. Ran in and got the carrier, and used the plastic bags again. Now the carrier was on the front passenger seat and the door wouldn't remain open so I had to pick him up with one hand. That was a bit awkward, and he was feeling a bit better and wriggled once; but only once.

Not sure if he was sore or what. So in he went.

Now for the REALLY nutty thing. I put the carrier in the garage (shady), went in for my camera, and had to open the carrier door again to get a photo as I KNEW all my PT friends would want to see! At this point, I was just asking for him to escape, but he didn't move a muscle even when the flash went off. Just blinked his eyes.

When I got him to the clinic, I asked about him being so still in the carrier. They said he is feeling "really crappy" just now, because that is not at all normal for a wild one. Oh they also said for an adult I would have needed a much larger carrier, would never fit an adult in this size carrier.

When they tried to get him out (wearing those thick leather gloves) he held on with all his claws, he did NOT want to leave, he hee. They put him in their carrier with a blanket and wrapped a towel all over it. Then that went into a "bin" which has heating lamps in it. That is where he was to wait for the vet to arrive.

BTW I keep saying "he" but have no idea if it is male or female.

**columbine** · 08-02-2008, 09:11 AM

I always think of woodchucks as "he" because I never met a Chuck who was a girl! Anyway, thank you for helping out this confused little critter, and for keeping us posted.

Love, Columbine