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Reuniting baby squirrels
Tree-dwelling squirrels – gray squirrels (most common in Southern Wisconsin), fox squirrels, and pine (red) squirrels – sometimes tumble from their nests before they are old enough to be out of them. There are also times when mother squirrels are killed, prompting babies to venture out of the nest, hungry and thirsty (and very vulnerable), looking for her. They might approach humans, not knowing any better.
If you’ve found one or more healthy, uninjured baby squirrels, try to locate the nest in a tree near where you found them and following the reuniting instructions below:
Put the baby in a shoebox-sized box or basket deep enough that the baby can’t escape, but shallow enough that mom can lift the baby over the side.
Line the box or basket with fleece or soft cloth (not a towel, which their nails can get stuck in), and keep them warm and dry. A baby squirrel whose eyes are still closed will need an additional heat source in the container (heating pad, rice sock, bottle of hot water, or hand warmers), since they can’t regulate their body temperature. There should be at least one layer of fabric between the baby and the heat source to prevent burns. Refresh heat as needed. It is OK to touch the babies to make sure they are warm. They must be kept warm or their mother may not take them back.
Attach the container to the tree you believe is closest to their nest with a rope, nails, or bungee cord. Keep the babies uncovered so mom can see, smell, and hear them. Squirrels do not like coming to the ground to investigate because it can be unsafe for them, and the box should* be off the ground to protect against predators and parasites. (*If the baby squirrels are old enough that they could potentially crawl out of the box or basket and fall, keep the container lower to the ground, but watch it very carefully.)
If it’s raining (but not downpouring), cover three quarters of the container with a piece of flat cardboard or plastic. In stormy weather, they shouldn’t be left outside.
Keep people and pets away from the area, since the mother will be much more likely to return if the area is free from people and animals. Leave a note if it’s in an area with a lot of passersby.
Their cries should attract their mother, but you can also try this: Play a loop of “baby squirrel distress calls” from YouTube on your cell phone (your phone or Bluetooth speaker should be in or very close to the container). As soon as you press Play, leave the immediate area. Mom may come running, and if you’re still there, she may turn around.
Hopefully, she will retrieve them one at a time and bring them back to her original nest or her back-up nest (squirrels typically build more than one nest).
Do not leave them out after dusk. Bring them inside, keep them warm and dry in a box in a dark, quiet location, do not feed them, and try again early the next morning.
If mom has not returned after two tries, they should be seen by a wildlife rehabilitator. Call us for guidance.
Thank you for helping Wisconsin’s wildlife!
