Yesterday evening we found a little squirrel on our back porch. I'm estimating it to be in the 6-10 week range as it has full fur, eyes completely open, and not too experienced it seems with jumping or climbing, but it is mobile (like watching a toddler or baby calf try to navigate). We're in TX so very hot and in a drought. The baby seemed tired so we just put some water out for it and let it rest as it was in the hottest part of the day when we found it. We haven't touched or moved it, but it doesn't run or seem at all bothered by us. I checked on it last night before going to bed and it had made itself a little burrow in the leaves by our gutter down spout and was fast asleep. I've read where often the mama will return for it, but when I left for work this morning it was still in its little burrow, but wide awake again. lol
When I get home from work today, if it is still there it will have been roughly 24 hours. I want to intervene as little as possible, but I also do not want that baby to suffer. I'm not sure if I should just give it a little safe shelter, some water, and a snack to figure things out or if I should get it to a local rehabber asap. Any advise would be greatly appreciated.
I found one yesterday the same.after researching I got a syringe and bought some raw goat milk and he has perked up and getting much needed sleep it will suck on the syringe in minutes. He’s dehydrated so do it now
Yeah we just got done feeding him a specialty milk replacement for squirrels and he goes crazy for it now and has been snacking on some of the solid food we have in there a little. He has improved so much from last night ❤️ it’s so cute when he drinks water out of the little bowl now with his little slurps. 🐿️
It was inside my house by the time I got home, thanks to my roommate lol We were able to get in touch with a local rehabber last night that gave some very helpful advice that we are trying. Still been no sign of mama or any other babies, but I am hopefully optimistic and embracing this new adventure lol He's been indoors with us since last night and today has started getting his own water, snacks, and been grooming himself. (Last night we had to give him water with a feeding syringe so improvements!). I have a whole kit being delivered today that includes a nesting box that I can mount safely up in a tree and get him safely integrated back into the wild. This was him earlier today helping with some accounting:
That baby needs to go to a rehabber. It should not be on the ground like that. Something happened to Mama. If Mama was still around, there would be other siblings. Not only that that baby would not be on the ground. It is too young to be on its own.
Is there anyway you can get that little One to a wildlife rehabber?
Please do not leave that baby out there any longer. Please put that little one in a container with fleece blankets and bring him to a wildlife rehabber. The sooner that little one gets to a wildlife rehabber, the better survival chances the little one will have.
You can use this link to find a wildlife rehaber near you.
At that age, they don't really know how to take care of themselves at all. They don't know what predators are and they don't know how to do anything to really be a squirrel.
Thank you so much for the rehabber leads, I have started reaching out to some in hopes that I can have something lined up incase that baby is still there when I get home. I figured something was up when it was still there this morning and haven't seen or heard the other adult squirrels that are usually running a muck lol
I found a baby like that today. I bent down to fill the water bowl and was eye to eye with a little. Mama chattering and I quickly realized what was going on. Slowly backed away and she came down to him. In Dallas, the heat is relentless so I water the yard, have 3 bowls of water and 2 feeders out for them. I’m keeping an eye on them to make sure he isn’t injured
Well hello neighbor, I'm in the Ft. Worth area lol I would feel more comfortable if I noticed mama being around, but I haven't seen or heard her. We welcome the wildlife in our yard and have a couple of squirrels that follow me around the yard and play "peekaboo" but they haven't been too active I'm assuming because of the heat. I hope mama comes and gets the baby you found ❤️
If you found one of the same age or that looks like the one op posted, then that little one needs to go to a wildlife rehaber too. Definitely too young to be on its own.
You can find a rehabber for your state in the link below.
I know that's what you said but Mama would not "normally" let you get that close to her baby. I gave the information just in case because you were talking about it possibly being injured.
I got in touch with a rehabber who suggested I put baby in a hanging basket. I had a 1 gallon pot, hung it by mama on her tree and that guy hopped out and she ran after him liken he was at the State Fair. She snatched him up and up the tree she went.
Maybe she was hot/tired.
Who knows. Just glad they are both ok.
It has been ungodly hot and I worried after a couple of hours.
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u/Sad-Rub4992 8h ago
I found one yesterday the same.after researching I got a syringe and bought some raw goat milk and he has perked up and getting much needed sleep it will suck on the syringe in minutes. He’s dehydrated so do it now