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lefty !AHCQs9u4y2
Alright guys, I found this thing out in the woods while hiking.

One of it's back legs doesn't work, and all the vets close on sunday and I haven't a fucking clue where to find an animal rescue place. Luckily I do work at american vet clinic on a military base, so tomorrow when I go in I'll ask if anyone knows of a wild life place, or a vet that takes care of wild animals (this vet only does dogs and cats)

Right now it's chilling in my shed in a shoebox without a lid which is inside an old chinchilla cage. I gave it some sunflower seeds and some apples which its been eating, a jar lid full of water in one corner, and bunch bedding that I also use for my chinchilla. Last I checked on it, it was burrowed in a corner, but seems ok.

I plan on handing it over to any place that helps out injured animals, but if I can't I'll take it to the vet to get it looked at and splinted so I can eventually release it back into the wild.

My question is: What the hell is this thing (I'm in germany if that helps)

And what does it eat? It seems to like the seeds and apple slices, so so far, so good.
>> lefty !AHCQs9u4y2
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I've had my rabies shots, but I ain't handling the thing without gloves. It's got what looks like lice eggs on it. That's also why it's out in the shed, I don't want whatever it may have to spread to my other animals.
>> lefty !AHCQs9u4y2
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my best guess would be that it's a mouse, but I've never seen on like this before.
>> Anonymous
It looks like it would be a mouse, but could it also be ill if it has lice? I live in a rural area and have caught wild mice on multiple occasions. Usually, the ones that are sick and dying have lice.
>> lefty !AHCQs9u4y2
>>135053
I can't be positive if it has lice or not, I'm just assuming what I saw might be lice eggs. It was rather quiet when I first found it, and chilled the entire 40 minute drive home on top of the glove. Now it's up and about dragging itself around the box and eating shit, much more lively. I figured it was just nocturnal (it's now close to 12am)
>> Anonymous
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Ein junger Siebenschläfer würd ich sagen.
>> lefty !AHCQs9u4y2
>>135057
I don't speak german, I just live here. Help me out with some english.

Also that thing looks to have a much bushier tail?
>> Anonymous
http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siebenschl%C3%A4fer

nachtaktiv, frisst nüsse, früchte, insekten
>> Anonymous
I don't have a lot of experience with European animals, but I don't think that is a typical mouse. Furthermore, I have caught and kept various kinds of wild mice, and I can tell you that unless it is extremely sick, an adult wild mouse is nearly impossible to catch. They are super fast, and they will jump, climb, and burrow like mad to get away from you. I just can't see a wild mouse sitting there on the glove like that while you take photos.

In addition to the odd coloring, its legs and feet seem very large in comparision to its body size. My guess is that it is a baby of some other animal.

OP: Have you gotten a look at its teeth? It's teeth can tell us if we're looking at a rodent of some kind or if it is something else.
>> Anonymous
>>135059
Oh right.
Well I guess it is a very young dormouse.
It is active at night, eats fruit, nuts and insects.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dormouse
>> lefty !AHCQs9u4y2
>>135062
Thanks a ton, it does look a lot like the things in these two links:
http://www.glirarium.org/dormouse/photo/dryomys-nitedula.html
http://www.glirarium.org/dormouse/photo/eliomys-quercinus.html

>>135061
Well now it's freaking out when I get near it, and scrabbles around best it can with that gimpy leg. When I first found it for the life of me I thought it looked like it was too sleepy to be bothered about getting away. It's really perking up now.
I didn't not look at it's teeth because frankly, it was kinda grossing me out. I'm nice enough to try and get it fixed up and back out in the wild, but I rather handle it not at all if I can help it.
>> Anonymous
>>135064
How could you be grossed out by it? It's adorable.
>> lefty !AHCQs9u4y2
>>135071
I'm grossed about by whatever is leaving the white little egg things on it, yuck.

But yeah, possible insects crawling all over it aside, it is adorable. If I wasn't full up on animals I might consider keeping it (after I got it deloused and checked out by a vet) as it is, I shouldn't keep a wild animal anyways, and have no room for more pets.
>> Anonymous
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garden_dormouse

I'd bet it's a garden dormouse.

This is Zeus btw.
>> lefty !AHCQs9u4y2
>>135075
The garden dormouse can be recognized by black eye markings, relatively large ears, short hair, and a white tassel at the end of the tail.

Well that sure describes it. It definitely has the white tassel and eyemarkings. Since you seem to own one, for now is leaving a little water dish, sunflower seeds, and apple ok? I don't know how long I'll have to keep this thing (hopefully not longer than tomorrow)
>> Anonymous
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>> Anonymous
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I don't own one, just stumbled across Zeus' pictures...

Anyway, since you said it already ate your stuff, it should be old enough then, according to what I read.
The german name is "Gartenschläfer" which means garden-sleeper, which explains his daytime sleepyness.
Expect it to run around all night and make noises.
>> lefty !AHCQs9u4y2
ah well, I'll hopefully be able to hand it over to animal rescue tomorrow. If not then I'll look into what I can do for it at a vet. Thanks everyone.
>> Anonymous
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I'll probably be OK. Small animals like usually die right away from shock if the injury is really severe. Your little guy (gal?) sounds like his leg may be hurt a little, but he'll probably survive with proper care.

Pic: a baby Hazel Dormouse
>> Anonymous
Thanks for taking this little one in. I hope it recovers well enough so it can be released again. If anything, you have given it a chance at life it otherwise whould not have had.