03/16/2025
Baby squirrels are here!! With the high winds coming, here's what you need to know:
If you find a baby squirrel, try to reunite it with its mother by monitoring the area from a safe distance and keeping pets away. If the mother doesn't return after a few hours, contact a wildlife rehabilitator for assistance.
Here's a more detailed guide:
1. Assess the Situation:
Is the squirrel injured or sick? If so, seek immediate help from a wildlife rehabilitator or veterinarian.
Is the squirrel alone? If it's in a nest or near a tree, it might not be orphaned.
Is the squirrel cold? If it is, try to keep it warm with a towel or blanket with a heat source. A rice sock works well.
2. Try to Reunite the Squirrel with its Mother:
Monitor the area from a distance: Observe if the mother squirrel returns to retrieve her baby.
Keep pets and people away: This will minimize stress for the mother and the baby.
Consider a safe place: If the area is dangerous, try to create a safer place for the mother to retrieve the baby, such as a basket nailed to a tree.
3. If the Mother Doesn't Return:
Contact a wildlife rehabilitator: They have the expertise to care for orphaned baby squirrels.
Do not feed or give water: Unless instructed by a rehabilitator, avoid feeding or giving water to the baby squirrel. Feeding incorrectly can cause aspiration pneumonia.
Keep the squirrel warm: If the squirrel is cold, wrap it in a warm cloth or towel, and place it in a box or carrier with a heat source (like a heating pad on low).
Do not attempt to keep the squirrel: It's illegal and unethical to keep wild animals without proper permits. Also, keeping baby animals to teach your children and arbitrary lesson always ends badly.
https://ahnow.org/
