Squirrels
There are two main ways that squirrels can be harmed: falling out of trees due to high winds and attacks from predators.
High Winds: First time mothers generally make terrible nests, allowing babies to fall out of the nest more easily. As a result, babies are often found on the ground after storms. Additionally, storms could frighten mothers, so they might not be out looking for any missing offspring. Predators: Predators, raccoons especially, can get to nests. The mother will escape, leaving her babies behind. If she is gone too long, the blind and deaf babies will begin to crawl out of the nest to look for her, resulting in some falling out. |
If you find a baby squirrel on the ground, you should immediately call a wildlife rehabilitator. The next step is to get the baby warm. Pick them up and bring them inside, especially if their eyes are closed. They cannot protect themselves or regulate their own body heat.
Take a heating pad and wrap the baby in it, rather than simply laying it on top. You can also put rice in a sock, microwave for 30 seconds, cover it with a blanket or towel, and check to make sure it's not too hot. Then wrap the squirrel up and lay them on the sock filled with rice. If you don’t have a heating pad or rice, heat up some water in a mug, pour into a plastic bag. Double bag it, then cover it with a towel or blanket, check to make sure it’s not too hot, wrap the squirrel up, and lay it on top of the bag. There are two to five squirrels in a nest, so if you find one, chances are that you will find more if you keep searching, especially after a storm when many squirrels could have been affected by high winds. |
Additional Information
- Tree trimming services
- Call a rehabber before cutting the tree down, especially if you know that wildlife lives in the tree
- If you see wildlife or suspect wildlife could be living in a tree you would like to cut down or trim, wait a month to play it safe
- Don’t ever feed baby squirrels
- They will aspirate and die
- Just put them in a warm, quiet place while you get ready to take them to a shelter
- Dog and cat saliva is toxic to animals
- If it gets on any open skin, eyes, etc., they will die
- Make sure to put bells on cat collars to provide warning to wildlife