Found a baby squirrel! Toronto Area -- HELP!

[Rosalind]

I have a baby squirrel, he is maybe a day old. I am unable to care for it. Anyone know of any place I can bring him too? I live in the Pickering area which is close to Toronto!

[island rehabber]

Welcome Rosalind and thank you for saving this baby. Keep him very warm, and away from kids and pets. We do have members in your area and I've changed the title of your thread to get more attention, more quickly.

[Milo's Mom]

We have some members in the Toronto area and we will alert them to this thread.
In the meantime, PLEASE keep the baby warm. Place a heating pad on LOW under 1/2 of the container he is in. Place a t-shirt/non-loop towel/fleece/small blanket in with the baby so he can burrow down into it and stay warm. They love to snuggle and they MUST stay warm or they will die. THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT.

If you do not have a heating pad you can make a rice buddy. Take a tube sock, put 1 cup of uncooked rice in the sock, tie the top of the sock in a knot, then place it in the microwave for 45 seconds. Mush it around to evenly distribute the heat and to make sure there are no hot spots (they can burn the baby) then give it to the baby to snuggle up to. THE RICE BUDDY WILL NEED TO BE REHEATED EVERY HOUR OR SO.

Keep the baby in a dark quiet place...no loud noises, no other animals, no kids, TV's, radios, etc.

How long have you had the baby? It might need some hydration. BEFORE it can be hydrated it MUST be WARM.

I'll be back have to alert members and find more info for you.

[Milo's Mom]

Here is some Emergency Treatment Info for you.

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. Find a Box or Container
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.

Supplies You Will Need:
--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 a tissue. 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.

[Jackie in Tampa]

:Welcome :wave123
you are in great hands...
you have been given great info...
:thankyou thank you for being there for the baby!:bowdown

[island rehabber]

Thank you, MM -- perfect advice for our Toronto baby. :):thankyou

[Rosalind]

UPDATE:
:thankyou to all you wonderful people for all your help. I found Skippy a home. A woman contacted me, she was able to care for him, she has helped may squirrels, and volunteers her free time at the Durham Region Humane Society. I'm happy that I chose the right person to care for Skippy.
Once again, I thank you for all your replys and help, it is greatly appreciated.

Kind regards
Rosalind mjs

[island rehabber]

:alright.gif Excellent news! Bless you for saving this little life! :bowdown

[Jackie in Tampa]

awesome!
thank you for the rescue...:bowdown
you made a difference!:Love_Icon