First things first, mother squirrels usually have back up nests in case their current nest is threatened or destroyed.
There are several reasons why a baby squirrel may be separated from their mother.
Some of these include trees being cut down, storms blowing them out of the tree, losing their balance and falling, or an attempt to be taken by a predator.
There should always be an attempt to reunite UNLESS the conditions outside are too dangerous to attempt a reunion. Some situations to avoid are cold weather,
rain, high human transit areas and outdoor cats.
The steps to take to reunite:
Do not feed or give water to the baby squirrel(s).
Keep them warm!!! You can place them in a box with dry hand towel and a sock baby. To make a sock baby fill a sock with rice, tie off the end, and microwave for 30 seconds. Lay under the towel so the baby does not have direct contact with in case it is too hot.
Check for injuries. If they are injured, contact call Wildlife Response at 757-543-7000 immediately.
Place the box at the base of the tree or attach the box to the trunk of the tree with rope or wire. If the tree has been cut down, please the box near where the tree was, as that is likely where the mother will look for her babies.
Play baby squirrel calls to help the mother locate her babies faster. These can be found on YouTube and there is a link provided below. Do not linger around too while playing the sounds as she will consider you (and pets, and children) a threat and will not return. A bluetooth speaker is ideal, but if you must use your phone, lay it next to the box and leave.
Observe from a nearby place for her return. It can take 6-8 hours for their mom to return. Reheat the sock every 2 hours.
If the mother does not return before dark or if there is inclement weather, call a Wildlife Response at 757-543-7000
This video is one hour of baby squirrels crying. Use it to attract the mother to
collect them, by placing both the babies and your cellphone in a box near the tree, with the phone playing this video. Watch for mother to collect the babies. Also watch out for
any cats, dogs, or other predators.
LINK TO ONE HOUR OF BABY SQUIRREL CRIES
