Help! I’ve Found an Injured Animal!
Eastern Gray Squirrel
Mother squirrels make their nests high up in trees, often inaccessible to return babies to. Sometimes, the babies fall from the nest, or the nests collapse and the babies fall.
If you find a baby squirrel and are unable to return it to the nest, place the baby or babies in a box at the base of the trees. Most often, the mother will hear her babies and take them to another area to make another nest. It is always better for these babies to be raised by their mother than by humans.
If the baby has an obvious injury, or if the mother does not return after a reasonable amount of time, call our wildlife hotline for further assistance.
We often get calls about baby squirrels who are running up and approaching people. This could be because the baby has been separated from its mother for several days and has been without food or water, and is hungry. Please contact us for help if you encounter this problem.
Click here to find out more about Eastern Gray Squirrels' natural history, and learn how to identify and help orphaned babies.
Autumn Orphans
Squirrels that are babies in the fall will not be releasable until the next spring, and our facility does not allow for overwintering of squirrels. Many rehabilitation centers are unable to take in autumn orphans, and for this reason, if you have found a baby squirrel, it is crucial that you try and reunite it with its mother. Fortunately, this is possible in most cases.
Squirrel nests are sometimes damaged by bad weather, but can also be damaged by other adult squirrels. Male squirrels will on occasion kill babies if they are given a chance. During this struggle, the babies may fall out of the nest. If the mother survives the attack, and is given a little time, she will try to retrieve her babies and carry them back to the nest if it is still intact. If this nest is not intact, she usually has a backup nest that she can carry them to. A mother squirrel will not take back a baby that has gotten cold. You can warm the baby by putting it in a box with towels, on a heating pad set on low until it becomes warm. When it gets warm, you can place it at the base of the tree and leave the area, but try to keep watch from a distance for about an hour or so. If the weather is cold, place the baby or babies in the box with some toweling and a hot water bottle, or an extension cord with a heating pad. Make sure the hot water bottle does not get cold. The mother does not object to her babies smelling like humans, but she will not take them back if they are cold. Keep all children or pets away from the area to allow the mother ample time to come and retrieve her babies. She will pick them up in her mouth and carry them back to the nest even if they look too large for her to carry. Usually, when she hears her babies crying she will come and get them. If you wait until just before dark and she has not come to get them, it is time for you to step in and take over for her. Only when the mother squirrel is known to be dead, or has truly rejected the young, should humans attempt to take over. Although we cannot accept these animals at our facility, we may be able to refer you to someone in your area who is currently able to accept orphaned squirrels.
A Note on Keeping Squirrels as Pets
Volunteers for Wildlife receives many inquiries from people who have found a young squirrel and would like to raise it at home, and/or keep it as a pet. Please understand that it is not in the best interests of the squirrel to do this, nor is it in your own best interests. Young squirrels often seem tame and friendly, but even a squirrel that is raised in captivity should not be expected to remain tame as an adult. Squirrels are rodents, and as adults, they have exceptionally long incisors that can do significant damage to your hand if you are bitten! Furthermore, squirrels are prey animals, and are easily stressed by being handled, being around domestic cats & dogs, hearing loud household noises, etc. For more information, please read our complete set of articles on keeping wild animals as pets.
If you are interested in raising and caring for orphaned squirrels and other small mammals, we encourage you to pursue a wildlife rehabilitator's license!
Here are links to information on becoming licensed in New York State and beyond.
NYS DEC Wildlife Rehabilitation Licensing
Becoming a Wildlife Rehabilitator