30 minutes East of STL

[outlawspeeder]

I have 4 babies, eyes closed but starting to show fur. Found in backhoe when operating. I can't put them back as their nest is wiped out. I have them in a box with towels and hand warmers back with the backhoe where it was. I am hoping the mom comes back. It is looking to get really cold tonight but with the hand warms they should be good.

I did not try to feed them but they were not crying of making noise.

I am posting to see if someone will take them if that the mother does not come back for them.


They all look to be between 4 and 5 weeks going by the photos on https://henryspets.com/6-is-your-baby-squirrel-healthy/

[Tashahaven]

I am not sure where you are located, “STL”…

I am unclear, based on your post, what your plan is, or what you have done/or are doing with these little ones for the time being.

If attempting to reunite with the mother, it is only POTENTIALLY possible, during daylight, close to the tree/place the nest was located, IF there is no heavy traffic/machinery, etc in the vicinity, and the babies USUALLY cry out for their mom (or baby sounds can also be played.) In this circumstance, during the day, when it’s more mellow, the babies should also be warm and uninjured. Often if all other factors are PERFECT, the mother will still abandon them if she suspects they are sick, ill, injured, dying.

From your post, it seems you may have left them in a box with hand warmers, where found? I hope I misunderstood that part…these little ones NEED at a MINIMUM, plenty of WARMTH, & hydration. ASAP. But MUST be warm before they can even process plain water. Formula and calories are important, but if cold or dehydrated, unfortunately they probably won’t make it through the night.

Is there ANY way to keep them inside with you, overnight? In a VERY cozy, WARM, WELL insulated bin (shoe box, with flannel, tshirts, fleece anything) Since there are 4, if they can keep insulated they can at least HELP each other stay warm) at this age, they are unable to regulate their body temperature, and typically must be quite warmer than you might expect. Almost feels like they have a slight fever. But if they get below, temperatures even we consider as “average” a lot of their primary, biological processes sustaining them, start to fail and not work.

if you were able to keep them warm together tonight, it could certainly make a huge difference in whether they MIGHT have a chance. Better yet if there was a way to even get a few drops of water in each of their little systems (even if it is done one drop at a time, or using the end of a qtip), it could mean the difference between life and death FOR SURE!

please let us know whatever we can do to help or support you and these precious little babies! ❤️💕🙏🏻🤞

[Mel1959]

Please let us know where you are located so we can try to find help for you. If you want to raise them we can guide you. Leaving them in a box on their own is a death sentence. They must stay warm and hydrated.

You can try to reunite again by placing their box near where they were found during daylight hours. You must watch them to be sure no predators get them while attempting to reunite. The babies must be warm or mom won’t take them. Feel them to be sure they’re toasty warm. Here is a one hour recording of baby squirrel cries. https://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/...act-the-Mother If you play it and mom is around she will come for them. Mom squirrels typically have two nests so she will grab them and move them to her backup nest.

Please keep us posted and let us know where you’re located so we can help find someone to take them if mom doesn’t.

[CritterMom]

My guess would be St. Louis...