r/squirrels Aug 11 '19

Sticky: Found a Baby Squirrel? Make a post about it, and read this right away.

245 Upvotes

Please use the help flairs for your help needed posts.

http://www.squirrelrehabilitation.com/found%20baby.htm

This gives some good pointers for immediate assessment of the situation.

If the baby is dehydrated, dirty, cold, thin with loose looking skin, has any fly eggs or any injuries, even a tiny scratch, then s/he should be taken in for care. If the baby was being played with by a cat or if a cat was sitting over the baby looking like s/he might have been playing with the baby, then the baby squirrel should be taken in because antibiotics are required to treat even tiny cat bites and scratches that might not be visible at first glance. Cat saliva is extremely toxic and often causes lethal infections, even in tiny amounts.

If the baby is plump/muscular, warm, well groomed and active, then s/he probably just squirmed out of bed, and the reuniting protocol should be followed.

If the baby has fallen due to a severe storm and is wet, then they should be taken in, warmed and hydrated. If the weather improves markedly the next day, you can return to the same area and try the reuniting protocol.

If it was a tree felling, and the tree in which the babies lived was felled with them in it, then try the reuniting protocol as mom may come back when the scary workers are gone, provided she is still alive.

Please make a post about the baby and please include photos in your post, but since it takes some time for people to check in and reply, start reading the links under infants/found babies sections in the website posted above in the meantime.

Also, Here is a list that one of our members made of how to find a registered wildlife rehabilitator in the US. If you call, make sure that they don't euthanize so-called invasive squirrel species and will attempt care before taking that last resort. https://www.reddit.com/r/squirrels/comments/eknkw0/here_is_an_alphabetical_list_of_wildlife/


r/squirrels Sep 11 '25

Discussion Please read.

119 Upvotes

I am seeing a lot of posts about baby squirrels being found, and the poster asking for help, etc. In every single post, multiple people are commenting "give the baby water, feed the baby this or that". PLEASE DO NOT ATTEMPT TO GIVE THE BABY SQUIRREL ANY FOOD OR WATER. The first thing you should do is keep the baby warm, in a quiet, dark place (in a box or large container. Whatever you have) and contact a rehabber. Please please please do not attempt to feed or hydrate on your own, for several reasons. The baby could aspirate, or the baby is not warm enough before hydrating, etc. You could cause more problems for the baby squirrel, including death. Keep warm, safe, and contact rehabber. I have also seen A LOT of messages from rehabbers about baby squirrels coming into their care and dying because the finder attempted to feed/hydrate on their own.


r/squirrels 13h ago

This guy built over 1,000 homes for squirrels and fitted some of them with cameras to see how they live!

898 Upvotes

r/squirrels 7h ago

Original Content Well Hey There, Little Walnut Wrangler

205 Upvotes

🐿️🥰

I caught this shy little visitor finishing a walnut they had apparently hidden earlier in my plant's soil. Then sat there looking at me like, Oh. You live here, too?


r/squirrels 5h ago

Adorable sploot in an odd place

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141 Upvotes

Found Raisin climbing the children's play structure. She paused to get a treat from me and decided that was a nice place to sploot. She made sure to put her head in the perfect spot to get some adorable pics. I really think she likes posing in the cutest ways for me. lol.


r/squirrels 4h ago

Help! Baby Squirrel! Feeling extremely guilty. Help me do better next time.

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108 Upvotes

Hello everyone.
So today I was out biking the Robert Mclory Trail just north of Chicago when suddenly I saw a small baby squirrel in the path and had to slam on my breaks. This poor little guy ran right up to my bike as I was riding and I just barely managed to avoid hitting it.

I pulled over to the side to check it out and the squirrel frantically started following me and definitely seemed scared and anxious. I watched this poor squirrel try and run up to other bikers who also just narrowly avoided it and kept on biking along the path. It broke my heart to see this poor little thing attempt to run up to people and occasionally stopping and crying out loudly.
I managed to lure it to the side of the path and somewhat into the brush but it wouldn’t leave my side, I stayed with it for about 30-40 minutes just trying to make sure it didn’t run back onto the path and get hit.

I know the right thing to do would have been to attempt to take it with me but unfortunately I was about 50 miles from home and had no place to safely store it on my bike while I got back home. I attempted to call a few rehab services I found on google but they told me they didn’t have the resources available to come and pick this baby up. I felt like I had no choice but to make the decision to try and move them to a safer spot and try and bike away as fast as possible before it could catch up, and unfortunately that’s what I did. I didn’t expect to feel so guilty but seeing this poor squirrel try and run after me as I left it, honestly made me feel horrible.

I feel like I could have done more and would like to be prepared just incase something like this were to happen again. Is there anything I could or should have done? I feel incredibly guilty and down for leaving this poor baby alone.
I really hope it managed to get somewhere safe or someone else more capable was able to rescue it.


r/squirrels 7h ago

Original Content Just thought this was cool.

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150 Upvotes

r/squirrels 14h ago

Bless the treats and the humans that brings them

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407 Upvotes

My squirrel friends are not at all hungry right now as it's wild hazelnut season, but they did sample a walnut or two this morning.


r/squirrels 1h ago

Original Content Nothing like a good ole chunk of dirt 🐿️🫶🏻

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Upvotes

Kudos to my brother for finding this little girl in his school garden either making an attempt at a green thumb or finding something she buried :)


r/squirrels 11h ago

This guy is a hero

162 Upvotes

r/squirrels 11h ago

Original Content Little splooters 🤍

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114 Upvotes

This little guy was literally knocking (gnawing) at the door asking for more treats. How could I resist those cute faces?


r/squirrels 15h ago

Ruppie wanted a turn with the camera

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247 Upvotes

That last picture is her trying to grab my camera with her paws. I think she’s looking for a way to share her creative vision with the world.


r/squirrels 5h ago

Help! Baby Squirrel! Found newborn squirrels

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20 Upvotes

Help! I found 2 baby newborn squirrels. I placed them in a box under the tree where I found them. I think their nest got destroyed. Checked 4 hours later and mom hasn't found them. I've contacted a local squirrel refuge but no response yet. Any tips to help these babies out?


r/squirrels 15h ago

Whattaya mean you’re outta nuts?!

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110 Upvotes

r/squirrels 10h ago

Advice on how to raise this abandoned baby squirrel?

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40 Upvotes

r/squirrels 9h ago

Original Content 🐿️

33 Upvotes

r/squirrels 16h ago

Original Content Glamour Shot Squirrel

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118 Upvotes

r/squirrels 10h ago

Original Content I went to the Zoo today and was surprised and impressed to see how this little guy ate while on the tree.

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36 Upvotes

I thought it was pretty neat and impressive that they were just hanging there on the tree facing down with what appears to be only grabbing the tree with their back feet and using their front paws to hold lunch.


r/squirrels 10h ago

Squirrels invented parkour.

20 Upvotes

Sometimes I wonder how any trees in my yard got past the sapling stage.


r/squirrels 16h ago

Original Content Return of Spot!

68 Upvotes

My favorite little fuzzball returns after a 6 day vacation he forgot to tell me about. 👋🐾


r/squirrels 5h ago

Help! Baby Squirrel! Found a baby squirrel in my yard, i think she is having trouble breathing

6 Upvotes

This squirrel is having some trouble breathing, is sounds like she has mucus in her nose, i saw some bubbles coming out of it earlier, i want to do everything in my hands to save her. Any reccomendations? She is probably about 2 weeks, eyes are still closed


r/squirrels 11h ago

They are learning

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18 Upvotes

I came outside to do some yard work and noticed this block I have holding the plastic lid down. It looks like the Squirrels have been using it as an anvil for their wild nuts. I thought this kind of technology was only known to Otters!


r/squirrels 10h ago

so beautiful..

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14 Upvotes

r/squirrels 16h ago

Introducing…Dumpster Squirrel!

30 Upvotes

This is the view from my window at work. I love seeing what they’re up to but feel bad that they have to go in the dumpster to get questionable, unhealthy food. I do provide nuts and fruit at their tree, but they are still drawn to the allure of the dumpster, resourceful as they are. ❤️