Squirrels: Emergency Care

If you have found a baby and know that the mom is dead this information is to hold you over until you can contact a wildlife rehabilitator. Here is what you need to do.

Keep the baby warm.

Check the baby for maggots, ticks, and other parasites. If found you need to take the baby to a veterinarian immediately.

For the first 24 hours you need to hydrate the baby with pedialyte. That is all you feed the baby for the first 24 hours. Hold the baby upright or lay it on its stomach. Never put the baby on its back. Use an eyedropper for small babies and a pet-nursing bottle for older babies. Warm the pedialyte to a little above room temperature. Feed the baby one drop at a time and make sure they swallow. Once the tummy is full but not tight stop feeding.

After feeding you must take a warm, damp cloth and rub the babies tummy until the baby goes to the bathroom (What goes in must come out).

The baby needs to be fed every 3-4 hours even through the night.

The baby needs to be kept in a warm, quiet place, with a hide box. A hide box is a small container inside the box or cage where the baby is kept. Put a small dishtowel in an old butter container; place the baby in that then inside a larger container. Keep the baby away from noise, cold drafts, and your household pets.

This information is just for emergency purposes until you contact a wildlife rehabilitator.

If you cannot locate a rehabber in your area please contact your conservation office, vet clinic, humane society, animal shelter, or use Wildlife International's Rehab Search. If you are still having trouble please contact Symbiotic Wildlife Rehabilitation Society for more information.