Need advice on baby gophers

May 18, 2004

Last night I saw my cat with a baby gopher in her mouth, I got it away from her, contacted native animal rescue, took care of her overnight and when it became obvious this evening that she was really suffering and would die I took her to a vet where they helped her to make her passing more peacefully.

No sooner did I return but my cat had another baby gopher! I got her a lot sooner this time and I think she may be perfectly well (I’ll have to wait and see).

Molly, our native animal rescue guru of many years said I should keep her and raise her and gave me some advice about how to do it. I assume that if I put her outside she may die as she is very small.

I am seeking information, advice, etc about gophers and how to care for them, release them to the wild, etc. any help would be much appreciated. Also, they told me at the vet that I could plug up the holes so my cat cant get to them that way but don’t they need air?

P.S. - Yes, I am keeping my cat inside now! molly said that gophers have 4 – 6 babies so I’m sure there are more out there.

Thanks!

~cybrena

May 18, 2004

Rather than care for the Gopher yourself I would avise taking the

gopher to a wildlife rehabilitation and release center. They can care

for the animla properly and release it into the wild. Or they can tell

you how to care for the animal. I don't know where you are located,

but the Wildlife Center of Silicon Valley can help you with what I

have discussed.They should also be able to advise you about the gopher

holes. The center's phone number is 408-929-9453 and their website is

http://www.wcsv.org/ They are very friendly so please do contact them.

Good luck,

Laurie

, cybrena everett <cybrena@s...> wrote:

> Last night I saw my cat with a baby gopher in her mouth, I got it

away from

> her, contacted native animal rescue, took care of her overnight and

when it

> became obvious this evening that she was really suffering and would

die I

> took her to a vet where they helped her to make her passing more

peacefully.

>

> No sooner did I return but my cat had another baby gopher! I got her

a lot

> sooner this time and I think she may be perfectly well (I¹ll have to

wait

> and see).

>

> Molly, our native animal rescue guru of many years said I should

keep her

> and raise her and gave me some advice about how to do it. I assume

that if I

> put her outside she may die as she is very small.

>

> I am seeking information, advice, etc about gophers and how to care for

> them, release them to the wild, etc. any help would be much appreciated.

> Also, they told me at the vet that I could plug up the holes so my

cat cant

> get to them that way but don¹t they need air?

>

> P.S. - Yes, I am keeping my cat inside now! molly said that gophers

have 4

> 6 babies so I¹m sure there are more out there.

>

> Thanks!

> ~cybrena

May 18, 2004

FYI, regarding wild animals, be aware that Fish & Game is not shy of coming to

your home, confiscating and killing the animals, and handing you a fine. They

are extremely vigilant about it. Check out the story on BrightHaven.org

regarding a hawk that had been rescued and they had cared for for two years. I

heard on Craigslist they have taken ferrets, and last week they apparently took

an owl that a family had rescued and cared for for 5 years. I know they want to

discourage people from making " pets " of wild animals, but it seems to me that

they may have other agendas.

Laurie <lulubuns

May 17, 2004 9:28 PM

Re: Need advice on baby gophers