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Mother squirrels are extremely good mothers! They will nearly always take their babies back if it is safe for them to do so, and if the babies are healthy. So if you find a baby on the ground and it appears healthy, try to reunite mother and baby by doing the following: |
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Check to see if the baby is warm to the touch. This is extremely important, as the mother will NOT usually retrieve a cold baby. If the baby is cold:
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Put it in a small container such as a shoebox, lined with a T-shirt.
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Place the container on a heating pad set on the lowest setting.
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Make sure the box is partially on and partially off of the heating pad so the baby can move to a cooler location if it gets too hot.
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If you do not have a heating pad, you can fill a small (8-16 oz) water bottle with hot water, insert the bottle into a sock, and place it in the box, near the baby. The radiating heat will keep it warm. Alternatively, you can put a cup of raw rice into a sock and heat it in the microwave for 20 seconds.
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It will take about 30 minutes to an hour for the baby to become warm again.
Do NOT put the baby under a lamp or heat source. This often gets too hot for the baby’s delicate skin.
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Once the baby is warm, carefully put the baby in a small box or basket with an old t-shirt for comfort and warmth. The container should be SHALLOW. If it is too deep, the mother will be reluctant to go inside to retrieve it.
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To keep the baby warm, make a portable “heating pad” as described above. Put this “heating pad” near the baby, but not touching. A heat source is extremely important, especially if the baby has no fur. They can chill quickly, even if the air does not seem cold to you.
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Put the basket or box in or near the tree, in a shady location, and wait for the mother to return. This could take several hours, so be patient.
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Keep children and pets away, and do not watch from any location where the mother can see you. Watch from INSIDE the house. She will not retrieve her baby if anyone is nearby.
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Don’t attempt a reunion in inclement weather such as rain, high winds,
extreme heat, or extreme cold.
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Squirrels usually have backup nests, so if the nest is destroyed, the mother will move her babies to the backup location. Fashion a makeshift nest as described above, and then let the mother retrieve them. Even if there is no backup nest, she can build a new one from scratch in just a couple of hours, so be patient! |
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If the mother is known to be dead, or if the squirrel, young or old, is injured, it must be taken to a rehabilitator. In this case, call the DFW Wildlife Coalition hotline (972.234.9453). This hotline is operated from 7am to 10pm, 365 days a year, and the volunteer on the phone will be able to put you in touch with a permitted rehabilitator.
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Remember: Never feed a baby squirrel food or water. Although they may appear to like milk, cow's milk will eventually kill the baby because it does not contain the proper nutrients, and it is not digestible by the squirrel's digestive system. Babies can easily aspirate liquids into their lungs if eye-droppers or small nippled bottles are used. Liquid coming out of the baby's nose is a sure sign of aspiration! This can lead to pneumonia. So please do not feed them!
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Thanks so much for helping to save a life and reduce suffering! Every animal is special and deserves the best we can do for them. We know you love animals, or you wouldn't be reading this. So thank you so much....we appreciate your concern and willingness to help. If you have any questions or concerns about anything suggested here, please call our hotline for assistance. |
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