Baby Squirrel’s Release to the Wild doesn’t go to plan (Episode 5)

Summary

The script tells the story of Rue, a young orphaned squirrel who is rescued and rehabilitated after breaking his leg. He makes great progress and is eventually released into the wild, but soon falls ill and returns weak and skinny. Rue is diagnosed with aspiration pneumonia but responds well to antibiotics. After regaining weight, he is released again but returns home once more, seemingly knowing the humans can provide care. The story highlights the bonds formed across species during wildlife rehabilitation.

Takeaways

• 😢 Rue was orphaned at a young age but was rescued and cared for
• 😀 Rue was making good progress in his recovery until he broke his leg
• 😟 After a month of recovery, Rue was released back into the wild but returned sick and underweight
• 🤗 Rue becomes very attached to his human caregivers who work to rehabilitate him
• 😊 Rue's injured leg fully heals over time
• 😮 Rue knows instinctively how to build a nest even though he lacks parenting
• 😀 Rue enjoys playing with his human friends when released
• 😢 Rue falls gravely ill after his first release into the wild
• 😥 The cause of Rue's illness is unknown but antibiotics help him recover
• 😌 Despite being wild, Rue returns to his human caregivers when he needs help

Q & A

How did Rue become an orphan?

The transcript does not specify how Rue became an orphan. It simply states that he "was made an orphan" at the start of his life.

What happened to Rue's leg and how did it heal?

Rue broke his leg after a month of being in care. After a 2 week recovery period, his leg had almost completely healed, though it was still a bit weak. By the time of his first release, his leg had healed fully.

Why did the narrator decide to delay releasing Rue at first?

The narrator delayed releasing Rue because of his broken leg. They wanted to wait until his leg was completely healed before releasing him.

What illness did Rue develop after his first release?

After his first release, Rue developed aspiration pneumonia. This was likely due to eating or inhaling something harmful while he was wild.

How did the narrator manage to get Rue to take his antibiotics?

The narrator masked the taste of the antibiotics by mixing them with milk and maple syrup in a syringe. This fooled Rue into happily taking his medication.

Why do you think Rue returned to his enclosure after being released?

It seems Rue returned because he was ill and weak after his first release. He likely remembered the care and safety he had received previously, so returned seeking help.

What treatment helped Rue recover from his illness?

Rue was given a course of antibiotics by the vet. This treatment helped him recover from the aspiration pneumonia.

What food finally tempted Rue to start eating again when sick?

When refusing other foods, Rue finally started eating crackers topped with egg and avocado. This seemed to tempt his appetite back.

What plans are made for supporting Rue on his next release?

A feeding station is going to be set up in the woods to help provide food support for Rue on his next release.

Do you think Rue will successfully adapt to the wild next time?

It's unclear, but the additional feeding support should help Rue better adapt and survive in the wild on his second release attempt.