Baby Squirrel Care

Did you spot an orphaned baby squirrel near your home? Wondering what to do with it? Normally, the mother nurses the baby for 2-3 months and teaches them basic skills that would be required for their survival, but sometimes, the babies might get separated from their mother. The mother might get trapped or killed. Their nest might get destroyed due to storms or it might be disturbed by a predator. A baby may fall out of the nest and crawl to other areas.

Many states have laws against possessing native squirrels, therefore if you find a baby, you must try to locate a wildlife rehabilitator soon. Till you are able to locate a wildlife rehabilitator, it would be a good idea to gather some information on baby squirrel care. First of all, you need to keep the baby warm and hydrated. Sometimes, the mother might come looking for the baby, though she might not be bothered by the human smell but she might not take back a cold and dehydrated baby. So, do keep the baby warm.

How to Care for a Baby Squirrel

You need to learn how to care for a baby squirrel till you find a wildlife rehabilitator. You need to check if the baby is healthy. A newborn squirrel will be pink and hairless. If you touch a healthy baby squirrel, it will feel warm and it will respond to your touch. A very small baby squirrel's eyes might be completely closed or slightly open. The first thing you need to do is check if the baby is dehydrated or cold. If the squirrel's gums and lips have turned gray and the baby seems to be lying still or curled up, it needs immediate attention. You need to keep the baby warm.

Take a soft cloth and pick up the baby. Wrap the baby properly in the cloth and hold it in your hands. The warmth from your hands will make the baby warm. Providing a constant heat source might also help in keeping the baby warm. If it is cold, you must not try to feed the baby. Look for any injuries. If you see any signs of bleeding, it's advisable that you consult a vet. You also need to check if the baby is dehydrated. Get hold of a syringe or a clean eyedropper to hydrate the baby. You could warm Pedialyte in a microwave. Check the temperature of Pedialyte before feeding the baby. It shouldn't be too warm. Give it every 15 minutes for 2 hours.

How to Feed a Baby Squirrel

You need to watch out if the baby's stomach is getting bloated during feeding. Keep the baby wrapped snugly and hold it in an upright position. Be very careful while feeding and make sure that the baby is not sucking vigorously. This might create problems as the water might enter the baby's lungs. So, place just the tip of the dropper near the baby's mouth. If you see water or Pedialyte coming out of the baby's nose, you must immediate stop. In case the baby's condition seems to be improving, you could give Pedialyte every 4-6 hours. Before you switch to formula completely, you could mix Pedialyte with formula.

You could buy puppy formula from any pet store. You should seek advice from a vet to find out the amount of formula that needs to be given. This will vary depending on the baby's age and body weight. After feeding, clean the baby's body using a soft cloth and rub near the genital area to stimulate defecation and urination. Once the baby opens his eyes, you could introduce solid food also. Break the food into tiny pieces, so that the squirrel can pick up the food and eat. Keep the baby in a small cage indoors. When the baby is about 4-5 months of age, you should move the baby's cage outdoors. Let the baby stay in this cage for 3-4 weeks and then release it.

If you ever find a baby squirrel, you must contact a wildlife rehabilitator soon. Till you find a rehabilitator, use the aforementioned tips for protecting the baby.