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Squirrel problems
Tiny,
blind baby
Is the mother is still around?
Has the nest been destroyed?
Why is it out of the nest? Are trees being cut down nearby?
Very young squirrels are never seen unless their nest has been
destroyed or they are orphaned.
Often in early spring, gardeners
think they are pulling down an empty magpie nest and find 2 to 5 young
squirrels in
a cosy, carefully built drey.
Gather up the babies and the warm, inner remains of the nest, put them
in a box or bucket near the tree and let the
mother squirrel have a
chance to rescue them. She will have run away in terror
when the nest was damaged but will be
somewhere nearby, waiting for the chance to
rescue the babies.
Give her time by stopping the work and moving away for a while.
Squirrels are devoted parents and usually will locate the youngsters
within about an hour and move them to another nest site.
If for some reason the mother does not come back within 2-3 hours, the
babies will need to be warmed (see below) and
taken to a rescue centre
for
rearing.
Don’t leave them outside for longer than about 3 hoursin cold weather
as babies lose heat
quickly and will need feeding.
Baby
squirrel on
ground
If you find a very small baby squirrel
on the ground, treat it gently
as it may have fallen from a tree.
Is it warm?
Put it in a small box or container lined with
warm material (shredded paper, kitchen roll etc.) and take it to a
wildlife centre for a check- up.
It may have lost its mother and be dehydrated or injured.
Is it cold?
Wrap a hot water bottle or small plastic drink
bottle filled with hot water in an old towel, put it in a box and place
the baby squirrel on top to warm it up.
Get it to a rescue centre as soon as possible.
Baby
squirrel
following you, sitting on your foot, climbing your leg
This is a newly weaned baby who is
out of the home
territory and wants a mother substitute.
Have a look around; if there are other young squirrels nearby it may
rejoin them if you take it to them.
If you can't find the family but could look after it in a hutch or cage
for a few days it should then be able to survive alone.
Provide a nest area full of straw and feed with wild bird mix,
sunflower seeds, chopped apple, mixed nuts, grapes, fresh sweet
corn and drinking water in a heavy bowl.
If you can’t provide short term help, take it to a rescue centre.
Squirrel
adult/juvenile, lying on ground.
It needs to be eased into a box or
carrier but extreme caution is
advised, as frightened squirrels will inflict a painful bite.
Cover with an old towel, tuck the ends under the animal and gently ease
into a carrier by using something like a dustpan or shovel.
Keep fingers out of range of the teeth and do not attempt to pick it up
in a bare hand.
Make sure that the carrier is secure - having a miraculously revived
squirrel running about in the car is not the most enjoyable experience.
Squirrel
up a tree,
on a fence / bird table / window ledge and not moving at all
Squirrels can go into a catatonic state
after a shock or being chased.
If it is away from danger from cats or dogs, it is best to leave it
alone to recover gradually.
If it is in a vulnerable position, cover with a thick towel and ease
into a box with a broom or dustpan.
Leave in a shed or garage where it
can easily escape when it recovers.
Sometimes just touching it will break the trance and the squirrel will
run off.
Rescue Centres
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