How to Care for an Injured Baby Squirrel

Whether you live in a big city or a rural area, chances are you may come across an orphaned or injured baby squirrel. You should always first check the area to make sure the mother is not around before attempting a rescue and, after you have performed immediate emergency care, contact your local department of natural resources or fish and game for a wildlife rehabilitator as soon as possible. If you cannot find contact information for these departments, your local ASPCA, Humane Society or a veterinarian should be able to assist you with locating the correct office.

Things You'll Need

• Clean washcloths
• Basin of warm water
• Microwave
• Pedialyte (or other infant oral rehydration solution)
• Oral feeding syringe
• Puppy milk replacement/formula
• Clean sock
• Dry rice
• Shoebox

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Instructions

• 1

  Pick up the injured baby squirrel in a clean washcloth, wrap it in the washcloth, and hold it gently in your hands to calm and warm the baby.

• 2

  Hold the baby over a flat surface in a quiet room and check it for injuries. Dip a washcloth in warm water and clean the baby all over, concentrating on any injuries and cleaning its nose and mouth. Use small strokes to mimic a mother licking a baby clean.

• 3

  Pick off any fleas, ticks or small white specks that could be fly eggs, and dispose of these carefully.

• 4

  Heat up some Pedialyte, or other infant oral rehydration solution, in the microwave until it is about body temperature. Give the infant a small amount every 30 minutes using the oral feeding syringe. Be patient; baby squirrels can take only a small amount of liquid at a time, but it is important the baby get rehydrated.

• 5

  Stop feeding if liquid bubbles from its nose. Lower its head to allow the liquid to dribble out and wipe its mouth and nose with a warm, wet washcloth. Once the baby is rehydrated, you can switch to feeding it milk replacement formula designed for puppies.

• 6

  Hold the baby over a washcloth and stimulate it to urinate and defecate after each feeding. Baby squirrels cannot urinate and defecate on their own and must be stimulated to do so. Dip your finger in warm water and stroke over its genital area and small nub near the anus.

• 7

  Continue stroking as the baby empties its bladder and/or defecates.

• 8

  Fill a clean sock halfway with dry rice. Knot the top of the sock and microwave it for one minute.

• 9

  Wrap the sock in a towel and place in a shoebox. Line the shoebox with additional washcloths and lay the baby inside to rest. Periodically reheat the sock to help the baby stay warm.