Squirrels

Squirrels usually have two litters a year, in spring and late summer. The most common squirrels in Eastern Ontario are the Eastern Grey Squirrel (which comes in three colours: grey, black and brown), and the Red Squirrel.

A baby squirrel needs rescuing if:

• it is following people, pets or cars, or even crawls up your leg
• more than one baby starts falling out of a nest
• a nest is destroyed
• a crow, cat or dog was involved
• it is showing other signs of illness or injury

Follow the baby mammal temporary care instructions.

If eyes are closed, do not give any food or water. Feeding the wrong thing, at the wrong time, using the wrong tools can cause more harm than good–it can cause further dehydration, aspiration into the lungs, and even death.

If eyes are open, and it is alert and active, you can give it a jar lid of water, and pieces of cut-up fruit. Do not give any seeds or nuts as it needs fluids before it can process dry food. Also, do not give any fluids orally by syringe or bottle.

Squirrels always have back-up nests so given the chance, there’s a 99% chance that mom will move the babies. Keep the hood or lid open, disturb the nest just a little bit and check back in a few hours.

Squirrels always have back-up nests so given the chance, there’s a 99% chance that mom will move the babies. Immediately put the babies in a small box as close as possible to where you found them. Follow the instructions below to reunite.

Sometimes a baby squirrel will fall out of its nest. Usually, the mother will retrieve it as long as the baby is warm and healthy. If it doesn’t show signs of needing rescue, or illness or injury (see above), and you found the baby recently, try reuniting the squirrel with its mother:

• find a small box the baby cannot climb out of
• line the box with an old t-shirt or other ravel-free cloth
• keep the baby warm (mom will not retrieve a cold baby) by filling a hot water bottle or pop bottle with hot water, wrap it in a towel, and brace it inside the box; better yet, use two covered pop bottles and brace them at the sides of the box and put the babies in the middle; replace the hot water frequently as it cools down
• attach the box to the trunk of the tree a few feet off the ground to protect it from predators; do NOT cover the baby with bedding (mom needs to see the babies)
• play baby screaming calls in a loop and leave your phone next to the box
• the mother will not return if there are people or pets around so leave the area and monitor from a distance (watch out for predators)
• never leave a baby squirrel out overnight since the mother will not retrieve it after dark; bring the squirrel inside for the night to keep warm and put the box back outside first thing in the morning
• if the mother has not retrieved a hairless baby within a couple of hours or a total of six hours for other babies, it might need rescuing–send an email to info@rideauwildlife.org with your phone number, photo of the animal, description of how you found it and the address found