If you’ve found a baby squirrel on your property, there are a few things you should do. First, you should make sure the baby is in a safe place. Leave it alone until nightfall, and then put it back into the nest. While you’re doing this, keep in mind that the mother may be watching it and relocating her litter to another location.
Secondly, it’s vitally important to stimulate the baby’s bowel movement and urination. Try wiping its abdomen with a warm damp cloth for several minutes. Then, release it slowly and softly. Make sure to keep a close eye on it as it might need to urinate or pass a bowel movement. If that doesn’t work, contact a wildlife rehabilitation facility to have the baby taken care of.
Next, you should check for injuries. If you found the baby in a dog or cat’s territory, it’s likely that it’s been harmed by a cat or a dog. If the squirrel is crying or covered in fly eggs, you may want to contact a wildlife rehabilitation center right away. If the squirrel has a tail and is active, it’s probably old enough to be independent and self-sufficient. If it has been harmed by a pet dog or cat, you can try contacting a wildlife rehabilitation center immediately.
After you’ve gathered the baby squirrel from the tree where it was found, you should return it to its nesting tree as soon as possible. If the baby squirrel has no injuries or is fluffier than usual, it’s safe to return it to its mother. If the baby squirrel falls to the ground, you should place it back into the tree for the mother to collect. You can also try to move the nest back into a tree and allow the mother to pick it up.
Place the baby squirrel in a warm container under a tree. The mother squirrel will soon find it and take it back to her nest. It may take a few hours for the mother to retrieve her baby. If you wait for two hours, you may find her. If the mother squirrel does come, she will bring her baby to a new home. If the mother doesn’t come within two hours, you should call a wildlife control company.
After you find the baby squirrel, you should determine whether it is a female or a juvenile. Remember that a baby squirrel will be small and unable to walk, so you’ll have to be cautious in handling it. It’s best to use thick gloves to prevent the baby squirrel from becoming a threat. If you are worried about your safety, make sure the squirrel is healthy. It’s important to make sure the mother is safe, otherwise the baby could get sick and die.
The gray squirrel has two breeding seasons per year. It usually has litters of three to four pups. A baby gray squirrel’s eyes open at four weeks. At six weeks, the squirrel may start exploring outside the nest. At 10 weeks, the baby squirrel is ready to be on their own. If a female is still a mother, she will carry the young back to the nest and care for them.
What does a baby squirrel eat?
At about 6 weeks old your squirrel will be ready to start nibbling on solid food. These foods may include kale, broccoli, apples, grapes, sweet potato, and hard-shelled nuts out of the shell and a good quality rodent diet. ( At Chris’s Squirrels and More we offer Mazuri Rodent Block or Zupreme Primate Dry Diet.)
What do 8 week old squirrels eat?
Weaning Diet These foods may include kale, broccoli, apples, grapes, sweet potato, and hard-shelled nuts out of the shell and a good quality rodent diet. ( At Chris’s Squirrels and More we offer Mazuri Rodent Block or Zupreme Primate Dry Diet.) Your squirrel will still be consuming formula till about 9-10 weeks of age.
Can baby squirrels survive without their mother?
They are typically weaned and ready to be on their own at 10 weeks of age. A baby squirrel has the best chance of survival when it is cared for by its mother. Sometimes healthy young squirrels are found on the ground by are not orphans — they simply need help being reunited with their mothers.
What do I do if I find a baby squirrel?
Place the baby near the tree from which he fell, and be sure to keep pets away. Watch to see if the mama squirrel returns and brings the baby back to the nest. If the mother doesn’t come, you’ll need a contingency plan. Find a wildlife rescue center near you that can give the little guy the care he needs.M
Can a baby squirrel survive on its own?
If squirrels are prevalent in your area, then at some point, you may come across a lost baby in need of rescue. Once a baby squirrel is six weeks old, it will begin to explore away from its mom and the family nest. Squirrels that are eight or nine weeks old are big enough to survive on their own without their mothers.
Can a baby squirrel survive without its mother?
They are typically weaned and ready to be on their own at 10 weeks of age. A baby squirrel has the best chance of survival when it is cared for by its mother. Sometimes healthy young squirrels are found on the ground by are not orphans — they simply need help being reunited with their mothers.
What do you do with an abandoned baby squirrel?
If the baby and/or their nest fell from the tree today, give the mother squirrel a chance to reclaim the young and relocate them to a new nest. If the baby is uninjured, leave it where it is, leave the area, keep people and pets away, and monitor it from a safe distance.
How old can a squirrel survive on its own?
10 weeks
What do I do with a baby squirrel I found?
If the baby and/or their nest fell from the tree today, give the mother squirrel a chance to reclaim their young and relocate them to a new nest. If the baby is uninjured, leave them where they are, leave the area, keep people and pets away and monitor them from a safe distance.
How do you start feeding a baby squirrel to solid food?
You can also introduce small sticks or branches for him to gnaw (oak and maple are good; see the Healthy Diet for Pet Squirrels for lists of safe trees and plants). During the transition to solid foods do not give nuts, fruit, or treats of any kind. Concentrate on formula, blocks, healthy veggies, and wild foods.
Will a mom squirrel come back for baby?
(Normally a mother squirrel builds several nests and will move the babies if she feels threatened or there are fleas in the nest.) The mother will generally come back and check to make sure she has all the babies, however she may miss some and leave them behind.
Can you touch a baby squirrel?
Many people believe that if you touch and handle a baby squirrel and the nest, the mother squirrel will not take the baby squirrels back. Not true. Don’t worry, the mother squirrel will always take her young back.
How do you take care of an abandoned baby squirrel?
Cover the baby, even its head, and put the box on a heating pad or next to a heater. Check on the baby every 15 minutes. If you found more than one baby squirrel, place them next to each other for comfort and to share body heat. The presence of a littermate will help the squirrel feel safe and relaxed.
When can baby squirrels eat seeds?
approximately 6 weeks old
When can baby squirrels eat solid food?
about 6 weeks old
