Recently I received a call where the client had found an abandoned baby squirrel in the yard.  “What should they do with it” was the question they had for me. 

The correct Extension answer is “Release it back outside and let Mother Nature take its course.”  Sounds harsh I know, but in reality it is the right answer, as handling wildlife, especially sick wildlife, can be dangerous to us and stressful to the animal.

Next day, another call; baby squirrel is still alive, what should they do?  Same answer, but this time I also gave them the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks office number and warned them they will likely give the same answer. 

That afternoon, we visit again, and yes, same message by Wildlife & Parks.  I sympathize with them, & yet encouraged them to let it go back into the wild.  Four thirty that afternoon, I received a box with the baby squirrel and I was given permission to take my own advice.  Never should have looked in the box!

It reminded me how easy it is to provide the best answer or solution but sometimes it is hard to follow through on that decision.  Other factors interfere.

On a daily bases I provided non-biased, research based, information to clients.  I provide soil test recommendations, I help write lease agreements, help determine lease rates, encourage people to work on their management skills, identify weeds, make herbicide recommendations, crop rotation recommendations, manure management suggestions, soil compaction management and much more.

This incident re-emphasized to me how much easier it is to give the advice than it is to follow the advice.  Encouraging farmers to hold off harvesting or planting when the soil is moist is easier said than done when that crop is needed to pay the bills.  Encouraging tenants to take time & re-evaluate their leasing agreements is easily said, but more difficult to do when that isn’t the wheel that is squeaking the loudest.  Encouraging producers to change the way they use a herbicide is easier said, than the time it takes to find a new herbicide that works as well.  It is easy to show how a crop rotation is better than continuous wheat, but it’s harder to adapt a new rotation when in it involves new equipment and a production learning curve.

The good news though is when given factual information, most people will apply it the best they can. So please keep calling Extension & use the information to the best of your ability. 

All of us want to do the right thing, but getting there is a journey.  As for my baby squirrel, I am going to do the right thing & let it go.  I am just going to do it 6 weeks from now.