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 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.

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

Squirrels always have back-up nests so given the opportunity, there’s a 99% chance that mom will move the babies. Keep the car hood or BBQ 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 opportunity, 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 by following the directions 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 the squirrel does not show signs of needing rescue, or signs of illness or injury above, try reuniting the squirrel with its mother:

• find a small box it cannot climb out of
• line the bottom of the box with an old t-shirt or other ravel-free cloth
• keep the baby warm to the touch (the mother will not retrieve a cold baby) by filling a hot water or pop bottle with hot water, wrap it in a cloth and brace it inside the box; replace the hot water frequently as it cools down
• attach the box (do not cover the baby with bedding) to the trunk of the tree a few feet off the ground; you can play squirrel baby distress sounds
• leave the area and monitor from a distance (the mother will not return if there are people or pets around)
• never leave a baby squirrel out overnight since the mother will not retrieve it after dark; bring the baby inside for the night to keep warm and put the box back outside first thing in the morning
• if the mother has not retrieved the baby within a couple of hours, it might need rescuing: email info@rideauwildlife.org with a photo of the baby, your phone number, description of how you found it, and address found

Thanks for helping baby squirrels!