Beautiful simple thoughts

Squirrel Baby help

Do try to take the baby to her mother. Always first try to get the baby to its mother. 

If the baby is hurt, cold, or it's night time or mom does not come to get the baby within 2-3 hours, the baby is probably a orphan and needs you to help it.

 Pick the baby up.

• Get a small box about a foot square; a cat carrier, a large Tupperwaree (without the lid on) or another container.
• Place soft fabric at the bottom but no towels - squirrels can get their claws stuck in the loops.
• Put on thick leather gloves (just to be safe).
• Gently pick the baby up. Take this chance to observe the baby to check for injuries, bugs, bleeding, bumps or wounds. If they are bleeding or you see broken bones or serious injury, take them to a vet as soon as possible.

 Make the baby warm.

• Find or borrow a heating pad or electric blanket. Put the heating pad or blanket on low to medium temperature, depending upon type. Place the container on top of half of the pad. This way if it gets too hot, they can simply crawl off the pad.
• Baby squirrels should be incubated at about 99 degrees F. They can't make their own heat when they are babies, so they need heat.
• Make sure that you check to make sure the container and/or squirrel doesn't get too hot. Some heating pads shut off after a few hours, so check it often to be sure it is still on. Place a towel over top of the container to keep the heat inside. If it's a summer day, they might not need the towel on top.
• If you don't have a heating pad or blanket, you can use a hot water bottle wrapped in a towel. Don't let their skin touch the bottle or they can be burned.

 Get the baby hydrated.

• Most fallen babies will be in need of water. You can see how dehydrated they are by gently pinching their skin.
• If the "tent" of their skin stays there over a second or more, they are dehydrated.
• If they look wrinkly, have sunken eyes or appear emaciated, they are dehydrated. Most super markets and drug stores carry Pedialyte in the baby section or their own brand of rehydrating baby fluid. Gerber has a brand also. Squirrels like fruit flavors, but plain will do if it's all they've got. If you can't find Pedialyte, there is always Gatorade.
• If you are nowhere near a store or drug store, here is a homemade formula:
  • One teaspoon salt
  • three teaspoons of sugar mixed into one quart of warm water.
• Use oral syringes, i.e. syringes with no needles, but you can use a clean eye dropper or an oral baby syringe. They also sell syringe feeders at Petco and Petsmart right next to the Esbilac puppy milk.
• Make sure the baby is warm before you give it any fluids or it won't be able to digest them.
• If they are tiny hairless pink babies about 2-3 inches long, you must be very careful when giving them fluids. It's easy to aspirate the babies and get the fluid in their lungs. This will give them pneumonia and they might die. #*Just put one little drop on their lips at a time and let them suck that in.
• If they their eyes are open, you can let them take the syringe in their mouth and gently give them a few drops.
• If a lot falls out of their mouth or comes out the nose, you're going way too fast.
• If you get some coming out their nose, hold them upside down instantly for 10 seconds then blot the fluids off their nose, out of their nostrils. Wait a about minute before you continue.
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• Make sure you give these fluids warm, but not too hot. Store unused amounts in the refrigerator.
• If they won't take the fluids, put a drop on their lips or poke a drop in their mouth so they can taste some of it first. Some will just open their mouths wide and start sucking away. Give tiny, eyes-closed pink babies 1 cc every two hours, fully furred eyes-closed babies 1-2 cc about every two hours, open-eyed babies 2-4 cc every three hours until a rehabber calls you back with your instructions. (1 cc is about 20-25 drops from an eye dropper,5 cc is 1 tsp)

 Stimulate the baby squirrels as they need to be stimulated to poo and pee when their eyes are closed.

• After each feeding of fluids you will need to gently wipe the genital and anal area with a warm, moist cotton ball or Q-tip until they pee or poo. If they are very dehydrated and haven't eaten in a while, they may not pee for a quite a few feedings and may not poo for a day.
• Keep trying after every feeding time.