If You Find A Baby Squirrel

Gray squirrels nest twice each year, in early spring and in late summer. Gray squirrels commonly have litters of three or four. Babies' eyes open at four weeks of age and the young are often out of the nest by six weeks. At eight to nine weeks of age they are on their own in the wild and no longer nurse from the mother. If you find a baby squirrel:

Is the squirrel injured (bleeding, broken bones, wounds, been in a cat's mouth, etc.)?

• If YES, take the squirrel to the nearest wildlife veterinarian or rehabilitator (for juvenile squirrels, wear thick leather gloves when handling. Even young squirrels can have a vicious bite!)


• If NO, squirrels whose tails are fully fluffed out like a bottle brush and weigh more than 6.5 ounces or 180 grams are on their own in the wild and do not need human intervention. If the squirrel does not meet these criteria, see below.

Is the squirrel fully furred with its eyes opened?

• If YES, and the squirrel weighs between 75 and 150 grams (2.6-5.3 ounces), his tail is flat or not quite full, and may seem "friendly", the squirrel still needs nursing and care from its mother. Mother squirrels may "rescue" stray babies by carrying them by the scruff back to the nest. For very small squirrels, attempt to locate the nest (big ball of dried leaves at the top of a tree) and try to get the baby to climb up the trunk. Alternatively, place the baby in an open box [without a lid] at the base of the tree.
  
  Check back several hours later to see if the baby is still there. If the baby has not been fed or attended to for an entire day, contact a state licensed small mammal rehabilitator immediately . If the squirrel is old enough to run from you, it is old enough to be on its own and does not need human intervention.


• If NO, and the baby is not retrieved by the mother for an entire day, contact a state licensed small mammal rehabilitator immediately. Keep predators (cats and dogs) away from the area if the baby is on the ground.

NOTE: Each animal's nutritional, housing and handling requirements are very specific and must be met if they have any chance of survival. Raising a wild animal in captivity is therefore illegal unless you have a state permit. For information on how you can become a licensed wildlife rehabilitator, contact the Wildlife Center of Virginia, the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries [PDF] or your state's wildlife agency.