# What should I do with this baby animal? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 15, 2023, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-do-with-this-baby-animal/987067 "2023-07-15T12:51:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2023, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-do-with-this-baby-animal/987067/21 "2023-07-15T22:40:29Z")
Are you suggesting they’d be better _raw_? ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2023, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-do-with-this-baby-animal/987067/22 "2023-07-15T23:55:58Z")
“But the gourmet in me quivers at the thought of mouse tartare” he said as he buttered Fievel again and wrapped him in a piece of lettuce." ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2023, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-do-with-this-baby-animal/987067/23 "2023-07-15T23:59:33Z")
_Oh fresh mouse, what a delight/let’s eat Mickey every night_ ---
**Author:** ![Ynnad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/4491bb/32.png) [@Ynnad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ynnad)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2023, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-do-with-this-baby-animal/987067/24 "2023-07-16T02:14:29Z")
Many animals like this are immediately euthanized or maybe fed to another animal when they are submitted to a “wildlife center.” ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2023, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-do-with-this-baby-animal/987067/25 "2023-07-16T02:48:05Z")
A couple of months ago, a tourist tried to “help” a buffalo calf that was struggling but after he intervened none of the herd would have anything to do with it so in the end it was euthanized. I think the explanation was that the animals could smell the human and that caused the rejection. Something similar might be the case with this small animal. ---
**Author:** ![scudsucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scudsucker/32/14101_2.png) [@scudsucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scudsucker)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2023, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-do-with-this-baby-animal/987067/26 "2023-07-16T05:55:34Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > May I ask why? Traditional food in Zimbabwe, so I had to try it. Just once. ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2023, 6:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-do-with-this-baby-animal/987067/27 "2023-07-16T06:46:59Z")
> [@scudsucker](#): > > I’ve eaten field mice that were cooked on a fire. Do you eat them whole, like canned sardines? I can’t imagine nibbling on a teensy little drumstick. How many does it take to make a proper meal? Like, a hundred of 'em? ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2023, 6:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-do-with-this-baby-animal/987067/28 "2023-07-16T06:47:15Z")
Squirrels are fickle and heartless pets. Believe me I’ve tried. But if you decide to raise it, get it a rabies shot as soon as you can find one. A vet most likely wouldn’t do it. That will probably kill it. I’m sorry but weights and amounts are not my strong suit. So maybe Google that. When it’s fur comes in you’ve won half the battle. Find a milk it can tolerate. And prepare to have your heart broken the first time the window is left ajar and he’s moving around good. They’re not very loyal. I still have a squirrel I bottle fed come to my deck occasionally for peanuts. At least I think it’s him. He will take one from my hand. But don’t try to pet him, he cusses like a sailor. Good luck. ---
**Author:** ![scudsucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scudsucker/32/14101_2.png) [@scudsucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scudsucker)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2023, 6:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-do-with-this-baby-animal/987067/29 "2023-07-16T06:51:58Z")
> [@purplehorseshoe](#): > > Do you eat them whole, like canned sardines Exactly. The fur is singed off on a very hot fire, then they are roasted on a hot fire on a skewer. They come with head, tail, entrails and all. They are considered something of a delicacy, so would not be a full meal by themselves. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2023, 6:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-do-with-this-baby-animal/987067/30 "2023-07-16T06:58:10Z")
Mice are bad. Mice guts? Umm. No thank you. ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2023, 9:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-do-with-this-baby-animal/987067/31 "2023-07-16T09:18:09Z")
I read ages ago that mice guts’ content is an important source of certain vitamins for cats. Would be hard pressed to find a cite if someone insisted. ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2023, 11:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-do-with-this-baby-animal/987067/32 "2023-07-16T11:00:23Z")
Update: the little beastie has passed away😢. I’m surprised by how bad I feel, but it seemed inevitable. I may not be able to get that picture but I’ll try. Weather permitting, we’ll have a little ceremony and burial today. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2023, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-do-with-this-baby-animal/987067/33 "2023-07-16T13:42:05Z")
I’m sorry. You no doubt lessened its suffering though. I think that’s important. ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2023, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-do-with-this-baby-animal/987067/34 "2023-07-16T15:49:26Z")
[[Album] imgur.com ![](https://i.imgur.com/X14mYgp.jpeg?fb "imgur.com") ](https://imgur.com/a/9HbARcZ) This is after it passed away. ---
**Author:** ![Apodder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/apodder/32/17727_2.png) [@Apodder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apodder)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2023, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-do-with-this-baby-animal/987067/35 "2023-07-16T16:27:12Z")
And make sure it’s high-fat milk. ETA, sorry, I just saw that it died… I’m so sorry… ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2023, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-do-with-this-baby-animal/987067/36 "2023-07-16T16:43:41Z")
Yep. Squirrel. Or chupacabra 😮 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-do-with-this-baby-animal/987067.md?page=1)