lethargic squirrel on windowsill 3 stories up

[pipersville_carol]

A young-looking squirrel has been hunched up and sleeping outside the window of my corporate office for about 5 hours, on a ledge three full stories off of the ground.

Is it possible for him to safely get down from here? The building is brick and masonry, and the closest trees are at least 20 feet away.

He's been moving around a little bit, I don't see any obvious signs of injury and his eyes look bright. Breathing seems normal, fur looks normal. But he hasn't budged for hours. Could he be trapped up here and starving?

[spykitten01]

I would think the grain in the brick would be enough for him to hook his claws in, but maybe not... This does worry me a bit - its always harder to get down than it is to get up... I hope someone who may know a little more chimes in soon. Poor lil guy :thinking

[island rehabber]

He may be just enjoying any warmth coming through from your side of the window. Squirrels are very able to climb brick, masonry and stucco buildings so he should be ok. I wouldn't risk scaring him by trying to help him -- you might do more harm than good. Just my two cents. :)

[pipersville_carol]

That's my fear, that if I alert the building maintenance folks they'll scare him into falling. He just groomed himself. He does seem to be trembling a little bit, not sure if that's normal.

[pappy1264]

Has he reacted to you looking at him (does he see you?) Any chance you could put something out he might like to eat w/o scaring him?

[pipersville_carol]

He does react to me, and he just ran up and down the ledge a little bit. I can't put food out for him, I'm in a corporate building with sealed plate-glass windows.

[keetz1205]

Carol - I'm right down the road from you (5 minutes). If the baby should require any type of help (antibiotics, formula, etc.) please let me know. Hoping he'll decide to climb down to safety.

[atlantasquirrelgirl]

If he hangs out there after dark, then that would be unusual behavior, and worthy of alerting somebody.

[pipersville_carol]

Any ideas about how to get him down? I'm really dreading coming in to work tomorrow morning and seeing him still there, shivering to death.

[keetz1205]

I don't know how to get him down because you really don't want to scare him and have him fall. It's going to get pretty cold here again tonight with all of the winter storm blowing in (again)....

[keetz1205]

Can you private message. Click on my name, select private message and I'll give you my cell #.

[pipersville_carol]

A happy ending! The little squirrel is gone, he leapt off to safety as I watched. I went outside and looked all around on the ground and the rest of the building, he seems to have landed just fine and scampered off to live the rest of his squirrelly life in peace.

Thanks for your advice, everyone. I'm glad I didn't call the fire department to bring a ladder!

[island rehabber]

:rotflthe best rescues are when no rescue is needed! :thumbsup :)