FOUND A SICK, INJURED OR BABY
SQUIRREL?
I CAN HELP
my focus is quality care --
-----------------------------
Greetings!
This site is dedicated to the care and well-being of baby squirrels
and opossum, non-rabies vector species although I am glad to refer you to a rehabber of orphan raccoon, fledglings or any
other wildlife. I am FWC permitted and first want to thank you for taking the time to help the baby until you can get the
orphan to me or another rehabber.
FIRST: TWO CRITICAL THINGS: Warming & hydrating. Warm
up baby in a few ways: put the little critter in a box next to a warm water bottle wrapped in a towel, or a heating pad set
on low or even hold baby against your tummy. Squirrels' temperature is a few degrees higher than we humans. They'll warm up
fast with your help. Placing baby in a small box, swaddled in a t-shirt will help keep baby warm as well as reduce stress
and fear. Please keep a heating pad on low under the towels or wrap a bottle with very warm water in a pinch.
NEXT: Check for serious injuries such as bleeding,
gouges, scratches. If baby has been attacked by a cat is it urgent to bring it to a wildlife vet as cat saliva contain
properties lethal to squirrels and time is of the essence. I can direct you to a 24-hour wildlife vet who can help.
IMPORTANT: If you can, try to remove any fleas,
ticks, lice, maggots and ants from baby's fur and hide. I know this is less than pleasant but you are handling
a very small critter and those parasites can do a lot of harm quickly. It's better to place the baby in a small baby tub of
warm water to rid then keep baby in a towel over a heating pad. It's rare to find orphans wildlife that bad because if you
find them alive quite likely they have not been away from nbsp;baby mom for too long. But they are fragile,
helpless and parasites put a lot of stress on developing immune systems.
HYDRATE: PLEASE! Never feed a cold baby. Their little
systems cannot digest when they are cold. Once warmed, try to get baby to drink some room temperature pedialyte through an
eye dropper or a small syringe. A mix of warm water and sugar, or apple juice cut with water will work in a pinch. With squirrels,
please take care not to aspirate as they will choke very easily. Feed holding them in an upright position, in tiny amounts
at a time. ABOVE ALL please do not give the baby milk of any kind, even baby formula, or soy beverage. They cannot tolerate
dairy milks or infant formula. Their systems will shut down, they will become terribly constipated and the backed up will
poison their systems. Time and again Pet Ag's puppy milk replacer (Esbilac) is the only tried and true way to feed an orphan.
If you don't have access to that, please just offer pedialyte until you can find a rehabber. Please, please please do not
wait because pedialyte is not food, and the babies are already hungry and dehydrated by the time people find them.
REUNITE: Most wildlife moms will be nearby. Contrary
to popular belief, a squirrels and other mammals will will take back young that have been handled by humans. But mom won't
retrieve a cold baby, so that's why warming baby up is so important. Once warmed, leave baby near where you found it
such as at the base of a tree -- only if you can watch it to be sure it will be safe from cats and other predators.
If mom doesn't fetch her offspring in a few hours, she won't.
THAT'S WHERE I come in: Please please call a wildlife
rehabber. I have raised both orphaned squirrels and opossum and I am happy to come pick up baby, or you can drop it off. I
have supplies and enough facilities for a few babies, both squirrel and opossum. I'm also happy to talk anyone though helping
to keep the little one hydrated until you can drop baby off at one of several wildlife vets or I can get it the next day.
If you are out of the area I am glad to help direct you to a rehabber in your area.
813-690-1326
Please leave a voicemail and if
I don't answer immediately I am usually good about getting back to you within an hour or two.
And thank you for caring! We who grew up in Florida have watched
our precious natural resources decimated during the past four decades with unrestrained growth that has destroyed our wetlands,
eroded our shorelines, downed palm and oak trees and boy it's taken a toll on our wildlife. They struggle to survive on ever
decreasing habitat. Saving a little critter may seem insignificant in the whole scheme of things, but I figure you got to
start somewhere, even if it is one orphan at a time.
