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Orphaned Squirrel Basics

Information on Baby Squirrel Development

Jul 3, 2008

These tree-dwellers are common wild orphans., Mary K. Baird

Squirrels live in all climates and in both rural and urban areas, so they're among the most common wild orphans. To care for an orphan, you first need to know the basics.

Squirrels are present in the city, the country and every place in between, so it’s not uncommon to encounter these rodents, and occasionally, an orphaned baby squirrel turns up. Many people choose to adopt and care for these orphans, but understanding the basics about squirrel development is vital for effective care.

The entire process begins each spring when the female squirrel gives birth to an average of three babies. These peanut-sized babies are born helpless, as they are blind, with minimal fur. The babies reside in a treetop nest until they reach adolescence.

Like all mammals, the mother squirrel nurses her young; weaning takes place around 75 and 80 days after birth. Once the babies are weaned, they acquire foraging skills, along with social and climbing skills that are necessary for survival.

According to vet Dr. Michael Levine, DVM, there are several common scenarios that lead to orphaning:

Windy conditions can result in a baby falling from the nest.
When the babies become larger, there is more crowding in the nest, and this makes it more likely that a baby will get accidentally knocked out of the nest by a sibling.
If a baby is sick and/or ill, the mother will sometimes abandon the young squirrel.
The mother may have been killed by a predator or by a car, orphaning her babies.
A predator may snatch one or more babies from the nest. So an orphan found with bite wounds may have escaped from a predator. The predator may also damage the nest to the point where remaining babies fall to the ground.

In many cases of an accidental fall from the nest, if the baby is not seriously injured, the mother will collect the baby and return it to the nest.

“If you find a baby squirrel on the ground, I don’t recommend intervening right away, as long as it’s not seriously injured. The mother will often come and find her missing baby and she’ll carry it back up to the nest,” explained Dr. Levine, who added, “But if there’s an obvious injury, then the mother will not return the baby to the nest, so it’s best to act immediately in these cases.”

If the baby appears unharmed and in good condition, waiting several hours is common practice – this will provide the mother with an opportunity to collect her fallen baby. But it’s important to closely monitor the situation from afar. A young squirrel is going to be helpless and susceptible to predation from other animals like cats, dogs and even large birds.

“I recommend waiting nearby, but be ready to move in if a predator spots the baby. Once a predator has the baby in his cross-hairs, they’re not likely to stop until they get him, so if that occurs, it’s really best to intervene and bring the baby indoors at that point. We want to provide mom with a chance to return her baby to the nest, but it’s a delicate balance because we don’t want the baby to end up as prey,” Dr. Levine added.

Orphaned wildlife, in virtually all cases, cannot be returned to the wild. They must be kept in captivity for the rest of their lives, often due to a lack of necessary survival skills. An animal who is raised in captivity will also lack the necessary fear of humans, and the odds are not good for a wild animal who approaches humans, as they’re often assumed to be seriously ill, aggressive or rabid.

An orphaned squirrel will require a great deal of care for the rest of its life, particularly in the beginning, as a baby will require frequent feedings and socialization. Most orphaned squirrels are kept as pets and when raised by hand, they can make friendly, affectionate companions, though no animal should ever be intentionally removed from the wild for the purpose of keeping it as a pet.

When finding an orphaned squirrel, the baby should be immediately transported to a veterinary clinic for an exam.

“You will need to determine if the animal is injured – not all injuries are apparent to the untrained eye. If he's been on the ground for a long period of time, dehydration could be a serious problem as well. You will also need to determine the age of the squirrel, so that a plan can be developed for the animal’s care,” Dr Levine explained.

He added, “A younger squirrel will require frequent feedings with a milk replacement, while a slightly older animal will require feedings a bit less frequently and there’s the matter of weaning him and introducing solid foods. These orphans are often very susceptible to death as a result of gastric upset, so proper feeding techniques are vital from day-one.”

For additional information on raising an orphaned squirrel, to find an organization that will care for the baby, or to locate a veterinary clinic that handles wildlife, contact a local branch of the Animal Rescue League, a local humane organization, or your state’s department of Natural Resources/Fish and Game.