Baby outside my house in rain and cold.

[TubeDriver]

I looked out my window to check on the dozen or so wild squirrels that stop by to get treats and noticed what looks like a ~9-10 (??? hard to tell because he was soaking wet) week old squirrel hanging out.


This little fellow was completely soaked. It rained all last night and the temps dropped into the 50s. He could get up and down (somewhat awkwardly) a tree that is next to my deck. All the other larger, wild squirrels just ignored the little guy. He looks much too young to be out on his own. We have a hawk and several free roaming cats so I am super worried about this guy. He is slow and awkward and does not seem to know where he is? He just ignored a couple almonds I threw out near him.

We have at least 3 grey squirrel moms who appear to be nursing, I am not sure if he is from one of these nests?

Any idea how old he is based on the pic below? What can I do to help him?

http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o291/TubeDriver/Squirrel%20Friends/oatmeal_zpse9751ad5.jpg (http://s123.photobucket.com/user/TubeDriver/media/Squirrel%20Friends/oatmeal_zpse9751ad5.jpg.html)

If I see him again, I will get a pic with my real camera, not just my cell phone. It is hard to see from the pic but he is really little and looks like a baby although his tail had some bush in it.

[Nancy in New York]

WOW he does look way to young to be out on his own.
Perhaps something happened to his mother and he came down looking for food.
If you have hawks and cats around, I would catch him and you would either have to get him to a rehabber or do it yourself.
Just make sure that before you catch him that you have a plan, we don't want a caged squirrel who is freaking out, with NO plan.:)
Can you tell us what state you live in, and the city. This way we can see if there would be a member willing to take him.
Perhaps on the next picture I can better determine the age, but right now I would say 8-9 weeks?
Go to this link and see which age he seems closest to.

http://www.squirrelsandmore.com/how-to-determine-the-age-of-a-baby-squirrel?___store=default

[TubeDriver]

WOW he does look way to young to be out on his own.
Perhaps something happened to his mother and he came down looking for food.
If you have hawks and cats around, I would catch him and you would either have to get him to a rehabber or do it yourself.
Just make sure that before you catch him that you have a plan, we don't want a caged squirrel who is freaking out, with NO plan.:)
Can you tell us what state you live in, and the city. This way we can see if there would be a member willing to take him.
Perhaps on the next picture I can better determine the age, but right now I would say 8-9 weeks?
Go to this link and see which age he seems closest to.

http://www.squirrelsandmore.com/how-to-determine-the-age-of-a-baby-squirrel?___store=default




I live in MD, outside Washington DC. I can attempt to capture him, but 1) I need to get a cage and 2) I have a LOT of wilds that visit daily. Not sure how to catch him and not all my regular squirrels?

In terms of age, it is a little difficult to say because he was completely soaked from the rain. He looked to be around 7-8 weeks but my guess is that he might actually be closer to 8-10 weeks.

I am willing to order a cage from Amazon and rush ship it to my house. Any recommendations?
If I can catch him, I am also willing to drive a couple hours to give him to a rehabber. I just wish it was not supposed to rain for the next couple days, he looked cold and miserable.

[TubeDriver]

Is this a decent trap?

Havahart-1030



http://www.amazon.com/Havahart-1030-Animal-Two-Door-Squirrel/dp/B0000ES6P2/ref=sr_1_14?s=lawn-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1367258443&sr=1-14

[Milo's Mom]

Contact Stepnstone (Russell). He is a member here, so send him a PM. I am not sure how close you may be to each other, but he will most likely have info for you and be able to advise and possibly even assist.

He is sub-permitted and has access to an awesome Master Rehabber.

[TubeDriver]

Contact Stepnstone (Russell). He is a member here, so send him a PM. I am not sure how close you may be to each other, but he will most likely have info for you and be able to advise and possibly even assist.

He is sub-permitted and has access to an awesome Master Rehabber.


Will do, thanks.

[stepnstone]

:thankyou (again) Betsy. :grouphug
I spoke with Pete, we will stay in touch and prepare to try and bring
the little one in if it's spotted again and appears nessasary.

:thankyou Pete for caring about our wildlife. :thumbsup

[SammysMom]

:Love_Icon :wahoo :Love_Icon

[Milo's Mom]

:thankyou (again) Betsy. :grouphug
I spoke with Pete, we will stay in touch and prepare to try and bring
the little one in if it's spotted again and appears nessasary.

:thankyou Pete for caring about our wildlife. :thumbsup

You are welcome, but YOU are the one I should be thanking!

THANK YOU RUSSELL!!!!! :thankyou:thankyou:thankyou:thumbsup:grouphug

[TubeDriver]

I talked with Russell, he is ready if further action is needed. Thanks! We talked about cages and nets. I am currently on baby squirrel watch (ie keeping an eye open for the little fellow). My wife was home all day and did not see him but I hope he reappears later today. Will get more detailed pics to assess age and condition. I hope he is alright.

[Nancy in New York]

Usually when they are this small and abandoned, they will actually walk right up to people, so at this point, I'm not sure that a trap would be necessary. That would really depend on how desperate he is.
Glad that you and Russell are both working on this, you are in good hands. :grouphug
Just remember that if you got him to walk up to you and crawl up you, you would still need a secure place to keep him for transport.
Thank you for watching his back, you're the best!

[TubeDriver]

Usually when they are this small and abandoned, they will actually walk right up to people, so at this point, I'm not sure that a trap would be necessary. That would really depend on how desperate he is.
Glad that you and Russell are both working on this, you are in good hands. :grouphug
Just remember that if you got him to walk up to you and crawl up you, you would still need a secure place to keep him for transport.
Thank you for watching his back, you're the best!


Ok. Have not seen him tonight so far. :(. Actually, my regular guys have not been around either, it is just miserable out.

[TubeDriver]

Still no sightings. :(.

Maybe he returned to his nest?

[Nancy in New York]

Fingers crossed. I hope you spot him later. :grouphug

[stepnstone]

Still no sightings. :(.
Maybe he returned to his nest?

At a certain age they do venture out during the day and return to their drey and momma in the evening, it is a normal process of induction to the world in which they will live. Just as we as humans prepare a pre-release for our captured ones for a final release, there is a natural process among the wild for their own "pre-release."

We as humans know the vulnerability of these little ones and want to intervene but I personally think way too many times people see these small ones and think they are abandoned when that is not the case at all.

As Nancy pointed out, most of the time when one has been abandoned and or orphaned and ventures out to find momma or food they are more then eager to come right up to a human seeking help. By that time it is usually apparent that they are in dire need of help and intervention.

I have a couple baby black squirrels that I have been keeping watch on, they are (were) almost palm size when I first saw them. I watched them very intently discovering their new world playing in the brush, nibbling on leaves and branches and climbing trees. They seemed perfectly healthy and fine with exploring their environment and staying clear of me. When I got to close to them they returned to their drey. Of course at first they were a bit "awkward" in their skills, four days later as I sat and watched them they had improved immensely and were climbing around like experienced troopers. Now, they are more like teenagers and have joined the troops of the other free squirrels that live in the trees.

Had I have intervened with my protective "human" instinct, it would have served no other purpose then to interrupt their own natural process.
Hopefully the little one you saw was just going through the normal process of a young wild. :grouphug

[TubeDriver]

Well, no sightings at all. I talked with my next door neighbor and he is keeping an eye out as well. I hope he was just out exploring and found his way back. If so, I will probably see him in the not too distant future. Pretty much every squirrel on my block knows they can get a tasty snack and a drink of fresh water from my deck. :) Good luck little fella!

I don't leave much out unattended because I don't want them to stuff themselfs on junk and I also don't want them battling over the treats. But I do feed them a couple treats each most mornings and evenings.