Helping Orphaned Squirrels Found at My Farm
What would you do if you found an orphaned baby squirrel?
Three months ago, my outdoor grounds crew found three baby squirrels in the trunk of a fallen tree at my farm. They were just days old, hairless, and each only about one to two inches long. When finding any baby wild animal, it's important to first wait and see if the mother is around - if she can, she will retrieve her young and care for them. After several hours alone, the kits were safely wrapped and handed over to a knowledgeable veterinarian and experienced wildlife rehabilitator, Dr. Shannon James, in nearby Brewster, New York, where they remained in great care until they were old enough to be released.
Here are some photos, enjoy.
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- This is the carriage road leading to my woodlands. This tree fell across the road after a late winter storm last March.
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- Here are three members of my outdoor grounds crew, Cesar, Adan, and Pesang. They were preparing to clear the tree when they came across something very special…
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- … baby squirrels. Three to be exact. Unsure whether the mother was still around, the three were returned to the tree and left alone for several hours. If the mother is near, she is sure to return and retrieve her offspring.
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- After it was clear the mother squirrel would not return, my property manager, Doug White, took the three squirrels to Dr. Shannon James, an area veterinarian and experienced wildlife rehabilitator. She has cared for many orphaned squirrels over the years and is equipped to house them until they are released.
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- Baby squirrels are completely helpless when born. Their eyes and ears are closed and they are without fur or teeth.
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- Dr. James keeps them warm in a crate for several weeks, feeding them every two to four hours.
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- Squirrel litters average between two and four kits – usually born in February or March. Mature females can also produce a second litter in August.
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- When they were first found, the squirrels were about 10 grams each. A week later, the babies are 30 grams each.
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- Squirrel kits are fed a special formula from syringes starting with 1cc or 3cc. Dr. James weighs the babies to regulate their feedings.
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- Here are the kits after a couple weeks with Dr. James. Their fur has started to grow and they now have whiskers.
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- Here, Dr. James examines one of the girls at 18 days old. Her heart rate is 300 beats-per-minute, perfect for a baby squirrel.
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- At this stage, Dr. James has named them – Maple, Magnolia, and Oak-ley after trees. All three are females.
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- There are certain growth stages for squirrels. At about three weeks of age, their teeth start to come in. Their eyes open at about a month and at six weeks of age, these kits are old enough to move from a crate to an indoor enclosure.
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- Baby squirrels sleep for about 14 to 22 hours a day. All the rest is essential for proper growth and development.
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- The squirrels are able to eat solid food at about five weeks of age. Dr. James starts them on avocados and cereal.
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- Here is one of the kits eating a Cheerio.
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- At six weeks, the squirrels have full coats and fluffy tails. They are now old enough to be in a larger indoor enclosure where they can safely practice climbing and jumping.
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- And at eight weeks, they move outside to a soft release cage where they spend the remaining weeks of rehabilitation. Here, they are exposed to the sounds and smells of nature and other squirrels in the area.
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- The last four weeks is also when the squirrels learn how to live on their own.
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- At 12 weeks old, the squirrels are released. They are now free to come and go through this opening whenever they please. Dr. James feeds all her squirrels twice a day all year round, so it is not surprising to see youngsters return at night for the first few days or weeks.
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- After the first day, the three did return and are still friendly and playful. Dr. James finds that females are more prone to return than the males, who love to explore and live on their own sooner.
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- The females have also taken up residence in this nearby nest – all three of them together.
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- It’s nice to know they are all healthy and happy and exploring the world around them. Depending on the species and genetics, squirrels can live up to 10 years in the wild.
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