Summer is coming, and so are baby animals. It is human nature to want to help baby animals, whether they need it or not.
The third part of this series discusses what to do if you find a baby squirrel.
Cute and playful, squirrels are the darlings of the backyard and woods. As such, it may be tempting to take in and care for an orphaned baby squirrel. Squirrels can be “orphaned“ in many ways: falling from their nest, having their tree cut down or wandering too far away from their family. But mother squirrels don’t watch their babies 24 hours a day. A baby squirrel that wanders away from the nest will probably return to it when its mother returns. But a baby squirrel that is on the ground, listless or skinny may be a true orphan.
Ask anyone with squirrels in the attic and you’ll soon realize that squirrels were never meant to be in the house. And squirrels were never meant to drink cow’s
milk. Most human food would make a baby squirrel sick and even an adult squirrel’s diet does not consist solely of acorns. A trained and licensed wildlife rehabilitator knows the correct, balanced diet for the age of the squirrel.
So, if you suspect that you have an orphaned squirrel, please call a rehabilitator right away. Describe the situation and follow the rehabilitator’s advice. The squirrel may not actually need help. Remember, the best caretaker for a baby squirrel is its mother.
If you have an obviously injured or sick squirrel, pick it up carefully wearing gloves or using a towel, and place it in a box in a warm, quiet spot and then call a rehabilitator. Never touch a squirrel with your bare hands.
To find a rehabilitator in your area, visit the New York State Wildlife Rehabilitation Council’s site at http://www.nyswrc.org.
