EMERGENCY CARE FOR BABY SQUIRRELS

[island rehabber]

This thread will assist you in dealing with the first few hours of finding an injured or orphaned baby squirrel. In most cases we would urge you to find a qualified wildlife rehabilitator ASAP, but please follow these guidelines to stabilize and keep the squirrel safe:

Emergency Care for Baby Squirrels

Don’ts
Don’t try to feed the squirrel.
Don’t handle him more than you have to.
No loud voices, TV, music, or bright lights.
No children or pets in the same room!

1. Warm the Baby (never feed a cold squirrel!)
Quick Methods:
-Cup the baby in your hands or under your shirt next to your skin.
-Fill a plastic bottle with very warm water. Wrap in a cloth, place next to baby, and cover him. Reheat every 2 hours.
-“Rice Buddy”: Fill a sock with 1 cup of rice or dried beans and microwave for 30 seconds. Place next to baby and cover him. Reheat every 2 hours.

2. [b] Find a Box or Container[b]
A shoebox will do for small babies. A baby that can walk will need a larger box with a lid (with holes). Put a clean baby blanket, flannel shirt, or piece of fleece in the bottom of the box. No towels or terrycloth. Squirrels can get tangled in the loops. Place baby on the material and cover him with one flap. If you have a heating pad, turn it on low and place it under half of the box (not IN the box!) so baby can move away if he gets too warm. You can use the plastic bottle or rice buddy described above, but these are only temporary methods until you get a heating pad, since they must be reheated every 2 hours and won't keep baby warm all night.
NOTE: Monitor his temperature so he doesn’t chill or overheat. His feet should feel warm to the touch.

Note: If the baby is injured, is having trouble breathing, has fly eggs on his fur, or is very skinny or dehydrated, he needs emergency care by an experienced rehabber or vet.

3. Rehydrate the Baby

Most babies are dehydrated when you find them and must be rehydrated before you can feed them. Never feed formula or food of any kind to a dehydrated baby!

How to Check for Dehydration
Pinch the skin on the back of his neck. If it doesn’t spring back immediately, the baby is dehydrated. If the pinched skin stays up like a tent for more than a second, the baby is badly dehydrated. Other signs of dehydration: pale grayish gums, dry mouth, sunken eyes, whites around eyes showing, rough spiky fur, dry scaly skin.
NOTE: If baby is badly dehydrated, he will need subcutaneous fluids, which can only be given by a rehabber or vet.

[b] Supplies You Will Need: [b]
--Pedialyte (any flavor)*
--Plastic syringes (1 cc size; no needles. Ask the pharmacist to get these for you) An eyedropper can also work.
These are available at most drugstores.

*If you can’t find Pedialyte at the store, here is a recipe for homemade Pedialyte:

1 tsp salt (teaspoon)
3 Tbsp sugar (tablespoon)
1 quart warm water
Mix all ingredients in warm water. Store in refrigerator.

How to Prepare the Pedialyte
Use a plastic syringe (with or without a nipple). Never use pet nursers or doll bottles. They will choke the baby. Fill a coffee mug with hot water. Fill the syringe with Pedialyte and place it in the mug for a couple of minutes. Squirt a drop on the inside of your wrist to make sure the liquid isn’t too hot. It should feel barely warm on your skin.

Proper Position
A tiny baby should be held upright in your hand. A baby with fur can lie on a flat surface on his stomach. A baby that can walk can be held upright or he can drink sitting up. Hold the syringe so the tip points UP to the baby’s mouth and the handle is down. Don’t let the baby get cold. Keep him wrapped up while he eats.

How to Feed Fluids
Place the syringe tip on the baby’s lips (from the side) and squeeze out one drop for him to taste. Don’t squirt a steady stream. Let him swallow one drop before squeezing more. GO SLOW! It sometimes takes a feeding or two for them to catch on. Hairless babies are fed drop by drop. With older babies (once they catch on) you can squeeze slowly for one second, wait for him to swallow, then squeeze more.

If fluids dribble out his mouth or come out his nose, you are going too fast. Stop and tilt the baby’s head down so the fluid drains out (support his head and neck like you would a human baby). Then wipe his nose and mouth with toilet paper. Start over, slower. NOTE: There is now a chance your baby will develop aspiration pneumonia from inhaling fluid in his lungs. This is fatal. Please contact a rehabber or vet, or the people at The Squirrel Board, for assistance.
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(http://www.thesquirrelboard.com/forums/editpost.php?do=editpost&p=240763)

[island rehabber]

PINKY SQUIRRELS: THE FOUR MAGIC WORDS

WARMTH: a heating pad on low, under half their container (not under THEM) is best. Plastic tubs or terrariums are good because the environment is more humid and their skin doesn't dry out. When feeding a pinky, if your hands are warm you can use tissue paper to wrap and hold him...if your hands are cold, WARM a cloth or glove before picking up the pinky or you will chill him instantly.

HYDRATION: pinkies need hydration in the form of formula -- or Pedialyte in the beginning -- at least every 2.5 hrs. This means getting up at least once during the night. I get up twice, and it still means they will go 3.5 hrs sometimes without food but it's usually ok. If they look flat and skinny when you get up to feed them, you are not feeding OFTEN enough. Sorry kids, it's a rough gig those first 2 weeks.

CONSISTENCY: consistent heat.....consistent feedings....if your schedule is going to make you sporadic or unpredictable in caring for these teeny-weenies, give them to someone who has the time to care for them properly. If you don't have a heating pad, GET ONE, without an auto shut-off. Microwave disks are too unpredictable for pinkies and may cook them. Hot water bottles don't last nearly long enough for these fragile babies.

PATIENCE: Feed pinkies slo-o-o--owly. Very slowly. Teeny drop by teeny drop, preferably with a 0.5 (1/2) cc syringe or a 1cc at the LARGEST. Use a nipple attachment for best results. Go very, very slowly. If it takes you 5 minutes to get half a cc of formula into a pinky, yer doin' it perfectly. This is how we avoid aspiration, the #1 cause of death in pinkies and the reason why "some say" there is only a 50% success rate in saving them.
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[island rehabber]

More original links from the experts in Squirrel Rehabilitation:

This thread hopes to provide information needed to caring for, or providing first aid for a baby squirrel. Here you will find links to well prepared work sheets as well as individual posts by our generous members.
I found a baby squirrel! Now What? (http://www.squirrelsandmore.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=feature.display&feature_id=166) Information comprised by Christina Clark. Christina is a licensed wildlife rehabilitator in the state of Connecticut and has been since 1995. She is also a member of NWRA, IWRC, and CWRA. Christina also runs an Internet store where she sells squirrel supplies and offers a gift line that helps raise money to offset expenses for the many injured and orphaned squirrels that she cares for. You can email Chris at chris@squirrelsandmore.com or call her at the phone number listed on her website at Squirrels and More. (http://www.squirrelsandmore.com/)
A manual of infant care for beginners. (http://www.squirreltales.org/) Information in this manual is the work of Sarah Rowe, a licensed rehabilitor from Columbus Squirrel Rescue in Columbus, GA. The contents of Squirreltales.org have been reviewed and endorsed by respected, trained, and experienced rehabilitators across the country. You can email Sarah at scrga@aol.com or contact her by the phone number listed in her manual.
Raising Infant Tree Squirrels. (http://www.scarysquirrel.org/special/pets/infant/squirrelmanual.pdf) Our thanks go to Mary Cummins of Animal Advocates ~ Squirrel Rescue of 359 N. Sweetzer Ave. in Los Angeles, CA 90048. This .PDF file contains an ample amount of information to help you determine the squirrels age, nutritional needs, feeding techniques, housing and other issues related to the overall processes of squirrel rescue and rehabilitation. You may email Mary at Mary@AnimalAdvocates.us or contact her by the phone number listed in her .PDF document.

[A Keys]

Hello,

I found a baby squirrel, I am trying to find someone in the Montreal, Quebec area who is registered to care for squirrels. The pet store gave me two numbers to call, but no one is calling me back. Can anyone recommend someone in the Montreal area.

I think he is 6+ weeks old. I gave him pedialyte today and mixed pedialyte with a bit of puppy formula in the evening. I would like to find someone who is capable of caring for him as soon as possible.

A. Keys,
Dollard des Ormeaux

[gs1]

where are you in montreal?

we'll need to do a new thread for you ...most important warm the squirrel slowly ....

then hydrate....

then formula 24 hours later ....

pedialyte only 24 hours ...

must rush ...will do you a new thread and post

silvana.toronto.


ps: in order to help you we'll need phone numbers ... can you please allow pms or post your email address?

i won't be on for a while or i'd give you mine first....

[gs1]

new thread for you a keys....http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?t=29987




Hello,

I found a baby squirrel, I am trying to find someone in the Montreal, Quebec area who is registered to care for squirrels. The pet store gave me two numbers to call, but no one is calling me back. Can anyone recommend someone in the Montreal area.

I think he is 6+ weeks old. I gave him pedialyte today and mixed pedialyte with a bit of puppy formula in the evening. I would like to find someone who is capable of caring for him as soon as possible.

A. Keys,
Dollard des Ormeaux

[deepshreesh]

what is scalded cow's milk?? i found a really tiny baby squirrel few months back. it fell off from its nest. we tried to place it back in the nest but the mother didn't take him :( so i just kept him with me and i fed him with a cotton dipped in the packed milk(toned) for like a month. i used to feed him every 2 hours.. ya even in the middle of the night. but now after 4 months hes healthy and just soo adorable.
the thing is till now it was easy to bathe him but now its really tough cause he runs away or scratches on my skin evrytime i want to bathe him. any ideas how to do it? also he lives in the pocket of my sweater under a blanket. whats the ideal house for him..??

:thankyou

[Jackie in Tampa]

what is packed milk {toned} mean?

[Skul]

I believe "packed/toned" milk refers to ultra pasturized.
It's heated to about twenty degrees above what we refer to as pasturized.
The stuff lasts a long time, without any bad effects.
No, I have no idea why we don't do this in the US.

[deepshreesh]

what is packed milk {toned} mean?


toned milk refers to the milk obtained by the addition of skim milk powder & water to whole milk .Under PFA rules, Toned milk should contain a minimum of 3.0 % fat & 8.5% solids not fat

nd yes packed milk that we get in india is exactly what skul said! so any answeres to my original questions pls!:soapbox bathing??

[island rehabber]

Re: bathing....why do you feel you need to bathe your squirrel?
Squirrels typically do not need baths. They are very clean animals who keep themselves clean and, if they have good bedding in their cages that is changed in a timely manner they will not have any odor.

[PDXErik]

Re: bathing....why do you feel you need to bathe your squirrel?
Squirrels typically do not need baths. They are very clean animals who keep themselves clean and, if they have good bedding in their cages that is changed in a timely manner they will not have any odor.


BECAUSE when we're new, we're all of the sudden Mothers and that's what we DO!

GAH!!

K, my grey only got one bath, after that (it was a pleasant experience, too, btw) I learned better.

(posting in epic thread, also)

Edit: I didn't see what kind of squirrel the guy had. ROFLing at the idea of someone carrying around an eastern grey in a pouch.

Extra LOLs @ a four month old eastern grey. That's like carrying a 7 yo kid around in one of those baby packs you wear on your chest.

[island rehabber]

Most likely he is an Indian Palm Squirrel -- deepshreesh, am I correct? They are very small, like our chipmunks, and could be pocket pets. :)

[PDXErik]

Most likely he is an Indian Palm Squirrel -- deepshreesh, am I correct? They are very small, like our chipmunks, and could be pocket pets. :)

Don't stifle my hilarious imagination!!

[deepshreesh]

BECAUSE when we're new, we're all of the sudden Mothers and that's what we DO!

GAH!!

K, my grey only got one bath, after that (it was a pleasant experience, too, btw) I learned better.

(posting in epic thread, also)

Edit: I didn't see what kind of squirrel the guy had. ROFLing at the idea of someone carrying around an eastern grey in a pouch.

Extra LOLs @ a four month old eastern grey. That's like carrying a 7 yo kid around in one of those baby packs you wear on your chest.




okay my squirrel too had just 2-3 baths.. bt now m nt able to coz hez soo active nd ya hez an indian palm squirrel. nd m nt a guy:alright.gif

[deepshreesh]

Don't stifle my hilarious imagination!!


nd he just loves to go aound in my pocket.. very adorable.. hez really tiny u seemjs

[deepshreesh]

Most likely he is an Indian Palm Squirrel -- deepshreesh, am I correct? They are very small, like our chipmunks, and could be pocket pets. :)


yes u r ryt.. hez an indian palm squirrel..nd i do carry him with me in my pocket.. he smtyms sleep der..hehhe:D

[Squirrelie]

We rescued two squirrels last spring. We sent them free with nice boxes a nice stash of food, an excellent location, high in a really nice tree. One took off and the other came back down and hated it there. She wanted us and was terrified to be in the woods. We brought her home.
She has everything she could ever want, a well balanced diet of nuts, acorns, tree seeds, apples, corn sunflower seeds and very nice squirrel blend mix complete with calcium and she uses a water bottle.
She runs the house everyday for exercise and has a Macaw cage complete with branches to run and jump on and a box to sleep on and a rope to play on. Her feces are fine and urine I believe is normal.
She loves to be out of her cage and running the house as she buries nuts in the couch and upstairs in our bed and anyplace else she feels appropriate.
WE ADORE HER and she wants for nothing.
Today I noticed she was chattering her teeth as though she was cold. I know she cannot be cold but I am concerned about this new behavior.
She is a gray and we have two fox boys with us too. (separate cages from her) The boys are waiting for spring release. It was too late in the fall to try and release them and expect them to find adequate food for winter. So they remain here until April.
She should not be a heat cycle, but I am still concerned. Can you shed any light on this behavior? Is she lacking something.
I want to try to release her again in the spring because I feel she needs to be in a tree with other squirrels, despite what she thought this past fall.
I would be appreciative of any insight you can add to this teeth chattering behavior.
(she does have a plywood box in her cage and she has been chewing on it) I will look to hear from you. Thank you.:dono

[island rehabber]

hi Squirrelie, and :Welcome!
Teeth chattering is generally a sign of anger, or pain. What was she doing, and where was she when you noticed it? Were you trying to take something away from her, like a nut? Were the foxer boys nearby, and did she notice them in particular? She might be competitive with them, taking away YOUR attention. Sometimes a squirrel just doesn't want to be messed with -- they are more like cats than dogs, that way -- and teeth will chatter. The next thing is CHOMP!

On the other hand, if it's a sign of pain try to remember exactly what she was doing at the time. Her diet is "ok" but not great -- corn and sunflower seeds are bad bad bad for an indoor squirrel, as their phosphorous levels get jacked up from those foods, and it depletes calcium. Does she eat any kind of rodent block? I would be a bit concerned about the start of MBD, which can make them achy. (achey?)

Either way, close observation on your part and a few tweaks to her diet will make all the difference! There is lots of excellent info on the Healthy Diet for Pet Squirrels in our Nutrition Forum. :thumbsup

[pieuvre42]

Bonjour,

J’habite la région de l’Outaouais (Gatienau) et j’ai trouvé un bébé écureuil d’environ 4-5-semaines je crois. Il a ces poils, les yeux ouverts et il arrive à se déplacer lentement. Je l’ai vu descendre de mon sapin il y a 2 jours. J’imagine qu’il n’a pas pu remonter. Il été en plein soleil déshydraté hier. Je lui donne du lait de chaton au biberon pour l’instant et je le maintiens dans une cage à l’extérieur (j’ai 2 chats). Cependant, je me demandais si il allait avoir trop froid? Je luis ai mis des couverture. Bref, j’aimerais savoir si il y a un endroit où je pourrais amener cet écureuil puisque je ne peux toujours être à la maison?

Hi, I live in Gatineau (Quebec, Canada) and I found a baby squirrel yesterday. I want to know if there is somewhere I can bring this baby for caring? It can be in Montreal also. I have a car. Thank you.

[berryan]

my cat brought in a baby squirrel tonight :(

He seems uninjured, furry, actively seeking skin contact, hasn't opened his eyes but moves to hold on when i put him back in his box. i have him in a box of soft cloths with a warm water bottle next to him, and I've given him about 1 ml of pedialyte with a syringe, drop by drop so far.

looking for ALL advice but specifically on whether and how to try and reunite this guy with his mom. problems are:
1. my cat brought him in so i have no idea where the nest is
2. its night time and all I've read says his mom won't be active at night or willing to come look for him on the ground.

with limited time to take care of him myself... should i spend an hour putting him outside tomorrow morning (and how would you advise setting him up so she comes looking) or should I just take him to a wildlife rehab center asap (the audubon society is closest here in portland i think).

thank you for the help! he's so cute and i want him to make it and lead a happy wild squirrel life :)

[stepnstone]

my cat brought in a baby squirrel tonight :(

He seems uninjured, furry, actively seeking skin contact, hasn't opened his eyes but moves to hold on when i put him back in his box. i have him in a box of soft cloths with a warm water bottle next to him, and I've given him about 1 ml of pedialyte with a syringe, drop by drop so far.

looking for ALL advice but specifically on whether and how to try and reunite this guy with his mom. problems are:
1. my cat brought him in so i have no idea where the nest is
2. its night time and all I've read says his mom won't be active at night or willing to come look for him on the ground.

with limited time to take care of him myself... should i spend an hour putting him outside tomorrow morning (and how would you advise setting him up so she comes looking) or should I just take him to a wildlife rehab center asap (the audubon society is closest here in portland i think).

thank you for the help! he's so cute and i want him to make it and lead a happy wild squirrel life :)
Cat caught needs anti biotics, cats have a (normal to them) bacteria in their slava deadly to squirrels.
Unlikely not knowing where he came from you can reunite with mom. He can not, should not, be put outside left alone.
Eyes closed w/ limited time won't work for either of you. :shakehead

[cava]

It sounds like you should call a local rehabber asap. He requires medical attention now that he's been handled by the cat.

He needs warmth, dark and quiet until you get him someplace. Keep away from all pets and small children. Place a heating pad under half of his container (not an auto shut off), give him t shirts to snuggle into and keep us posted.

[CritterMom]

I am going to PM you the name and phone number of our member "Duckman" who is right across the river in Vancouver. He and his group are just the best - I always breathe a little sigh of relief when I see people here in your area because I KNOW we can refer great help!

[berryan]

I am going to PM you the name and phone number of our member "Duckman" who is right across the river in Vancouver. He and his group are just the best - I always breathe a little sigh of relief when I see people here in your area because I KNOW we can refer great help!

Thank you thank you @CritterMom!!

I called Michael as soon as I got up this morning and he's close by and willing to take this guy today! Thank you for this referral. My only idea was to take him to Audubon but they've identified him as an Eastern Gray- an invasive species here- so their only option for him would be euthanasia.

Planning to take him to the Squirrel Refuge with Michael/Duckman this afternoon- thanks for the tip!

A

[stepnstone]

Thank you thank you @CritterMom!!

I called Michael as soon as I got up this morning and he's close by and willing to take this guy today! Thank you for this referral. My only idea was to take him to Audubon but they've identified him as an Eastern Gray- an invasive species here- so their only option for him would be euthanasia.

Planning to take him to the Squirrel Refuge with Michael/Duckman this afternoon- thanks for the tip!



:dance Best case scenario!!
Thank you berryan for reaching out to TSB! :grouphug
Thank you CritterMom for the perfect direction! :clap
Thank you Michael for always being there for these little ones. :bowdown