Just like all native animals, squirrels play an important role in their native ecosystem. Squirrels are a key prey species, meaning that they are a major source of food for native predators such as hawks, eagles, snakes, bobcats, and coyotes. They also play an important role in seed dispersal for forest regeneration with the caches that they hoard for future meals.
But what if you come across a baby squirrel?
Finding a baby can be exciting and stressful. How do you help it? What do you do with it? We're here to help you figure it out!
If you happen to stumble across a baby squirrel, check to see if it’s injured. If the baby or nest fell from a tree, give the mother a chance to reclaim the young and relocate them to a new nest. Most squirrels usually keep several nests, so if a nest is destroyed they can take their babies to a different location. If a baby is uninjured you should leave it where it is, keep people and pets away, and monitor it from a safe distance. It helps if you have a way to play “baby squirrel calls" on your phone. This can help encourage the mother to come back to get her baby! If the mother squirrel does not come back, keep the babies safe while you try to figure out how to help them by putting them into a small box with a soft towel or t-shirt.
Here are a few reuniting instructions
Check the area for siblings.
Place the baby in a box surrounded by soft material, and away from pets or children.
Leave the area and observe from a distance. The mother squirrel should return within a few hours.
If possible, play baby squirrel noises to alert the mom that her baby needs her.
If the mom does not return by dark, or there is bad weather, keep the baby in a warm, dark, quiet place indoors and contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator.
If the mother squirrel does not come back to get her baby, keep the baby in a warm, dark, quiet place. Something like a shoebox with an old t-shirt kept in a closet or closed bathroom away from children and pets works great. Babies cannot regulate their own body temperature, they depend on mom for that, so they must be given a direct heat source - for example an electric heating pad set to low and placed under half of the box. This next part is very important: DO NOT FEED THE BABY. Don't give it food or water or any kind of milk or formula, not even something you found on the internet. Feeding the baby can cause it to aspirate and choke, which only complicates rehabilitation efforts. Additionally, there are many formulas online that tell you what to feed a baby squirrel, but most of those formulas are not nutritionally balanced or are no longer considered safe (kitten and puppy milk replacer used to be "safe" to use, but are not any longer due to a change in their formula!). Once the squirrel is safe and secure, text or call us: A Wild Life Animal Rehabilitation at 903-636-3193 or Tiger Creek Animal Sanctuary 903-858-1008.
Squirrels are somewhat unique in that when a young squirrel is in distress - usually after its mother has been missing for several days and it has become hungry and thirsty - they venture out of their nest to seek help. Some young will even run up to people and pets! If you are ever approached by a squirrel, especially if it tries to climb onto you or your pet, it needs help. Secure the baby as described above, and DO NOT feed it. Squirrels in this condition are usually critically dehydrated and malnourished and care must be taken to slowly and carefully rehydrate the squirrel before food or formula can be given. Despite good intentions, feeding them when they are in this condition can and does kill them! Rehabilitators have the training it takes to get a young squirrel through the worst of the dehydration through carefully hydrating both via injections and by mouth, and this is best left to the professionals. Do your part to help by getting them to a licensed wildlife rehabilitator ASAP in these situations.
But what if I find an injured squirrel?
Injured baby and adult squirrels must be treated quickly. Secure the animal in a box that can close or a pet carrier with a door, keep them warm, and seek professional help. If you are handling an adult squirrel always use thick gloves, as they have very sharp teeth that can cause serious damage to your hands and fingers. It is always best practice to use gloves when handling any wildlife to help prevent the spread of diseases and to keep yourself safe. Once the squirrel is secure, call or text us or your nearest wildlife rehabilitator for instructions.
So, to summarize what you need to do if you find yourself saying "Help, I found a squirrel:
Try to reunite a baby with it's mother. If unsuccessful, move on to step 2.
Keep the squirrel in a warm, dark, quiet place away from children and pets
Limit handling
Do not feed the animal!
Contact us at 903-636-3193 or 903-858-1008, or contact your nearest licensed wildlife rehabilitator
***IMPORTANT*** Do NOT try to feed them or offer hydration without first speaking to one of our wildlife experts! Offering food, water, or formula of any kind can end up hurting or even killing the babies. The absolute best thing you can do for that baby when you get it contained is to get it warm, and contact us immediately.
Thank you for helping our native squirrels! Thank you for doing your part to keep wildlife wild!