Injured or Orphaned Squirrels:
Call Wild Forever.
Unable to reach WFF or make contact with rehabilitator? Call Humane Society (719) 473-7141, Division of Wildlife (719) 227-5200, or--after hours and weekends--Animal Emergency Care North (719) 260-7141 or Animal Emergency Care South (719) 578-9300.
Until help comes, keep pets and children away from area.
If clearly a small infant, you may prepare container (e.g. shoe box) with lid by making air holes, place a soft cloth (t-shirt, baby flannel, fleece)--scrunched up-- in bottom. Microwave a wet washcloth until warm, place it in a Ziploc bag, zip bag, place under bedding. Wearing gloves, cover the animal with light cloth, gently pick it up and place it in the container. Tape box shut. Keep in a warm, quiet place until help comes.
DO NOT GIVE FOOD OR WATER.
Wash hands after contact with animal.
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NOT Injured or Orphaned Squirrels:
Do you know where the nest is? Can you reach it safely?
If yes, wear gloves, cover animal with light cloth, gently pick up andput baby back in nest.
If no, prepare shallow box (e.g. shoe box) as above, with soft cloth--scrunched up around baby--and microwaved wet washcloth in closed Ziploc bag under bedding. Place box with baby at base of tree nearest to where it was found or near where you suspect nest is. Protect from sun or rain with larger piece of cardboard or plywood laid at a slant against side of box so as to protect baby but leave easy access for mother.
Watch for mother 4-6 hours. Stay out of sight
MOTHERS WILL NOT RETURN IF PEOPLE OR PETS ARE PRESENT.
Wash your hands after handling the baby.
If the mother retrieves baby, leave the area--baby is OK. If mother does not retrieve baby, baby is most likely orphaned and needs to go to a wildlife rehabilitator, as described above.
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General Information:
A baby squirrel's best chance of survival is with its mother!!!
It is illegal in Colorado to keep wildlife of any kind without a special license.
Do not handle or hold baby squirrel any more than necessary. Squirrels have a keen sense of smell, and doing so may interfere with attempt to reunite baby with its mother.
Squirrels are diurnal--active during the day, sleeping at night.
If uninjured baby is found at dusk, bring container inside.
Put into safe room closed off to pets and children.
Keep half of box on heating pad set on "Low" overnight (Make sure heating pad does NOT have automatic shut-off feature!). As close to sunrise as possible, return box to outdoor site and watch for mother, as described earlier.
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Squirrel's Nest in the Attic:
Mother squirrels will usually have more than one active nest site, so that they
can move their babies in case one site becomes unsafe or inhospitable.
Make the attic unattractive to the squirrel family by using several of the following tips:
Shine a bright light into the attic 24/7.
Leave a portable radio in the attic set to a loud rock and/or talk station 24/7.
Attach long strings to a couple of rags or knotted old socks.
When in the attic, splash small amount of ammonia on rags and, keeping ends of string firmly in your hand, toss the rags to areas near the entrance to the attic that squirrels are using.
Avoid getting rags too close to babies. Use the strings to pull rags in if it becomes necessary to put more ammonia on them after a couple of days, or to remove the rags when squirrels have moved out.
After the squirrels have moved out, close off the squirrel's entrances to the attic. However, on one of the holes, make a one-way door as follows:
On the outside of house, attach piece of ¼” hardware cloth only at the top, leaving the bottom free, so that if a squirrel has inadvertently been closed in the attic it can still escape, but not re-enter.
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Call Wild Forever at (719) 475-9453 if it is between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m.
Phone Extensions:
3 - squirrel, rabbit or small rodent, please press 3
4 - raccoon, fawn, fox, porcupine, coyote, water fowl or bird of prey, please press 4
6 - volunteer opportunities, or would like to make a donation, please press 6
Adult deer, bear or mountain lion, please contact the Division of Wildlife at (719) 227-5200.
Domestic animal or domestic bird, please contact the Humane Society at (719) 473-1741.
If you leave a message your call will be returned PROMPTLY.
If you are unable to reach Wild Forever, or if it is outside Wild Forever's phone hours, rescue the mammal.
Click here for instructions.
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When you need to call about an animal in trouble, please remember:
* Be specific about the location.
* Describe the animal's condition clearly.
* Give a contact phone number and name.
* Stay near the animal until help arrives.
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Please note that Wild Forever's area of operation is the Pikes Peak region of Colorado ONLY, which includes Colorado Springs and the surrounding areas.
If you are NOT in our area of operation, and need assistance with an animal, or in just getting an answer to a question, please do one or more of the following:
* contact your local humane society
* contact your local division of wildlife
* contact your local veterinarian
* check out the following web sites to find a rehabilitator in your area to either call or email:
The Wildlife Rehabilitation Information Directory
Wildlife care.org
Thank you!
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Contact information for animals that Wild Forever does NOT handle:
* For large game animals, such as ADULT deer, bears, mountain lions, bighorn sheep, moose, etc., please contact the
Colorado Division of Wildlife (DOW) at (719) 227-5200.
After hours on weekdays and on weekends contact the Colorado State Patrol at (719) 544-2424 and ask for a Division of Wildlife Officer.
* For domestic animals contact the Pikes Peak Humane Society at (719) 473-1741.
* For dead animals, pick them up using protective equipment (gloves, plastic bags), bag them and dispose of them. If you are concerned about diseases they may carry call the El Paso County Health Department at (719) 578-3199.
For dead animal removal on city streets and rights of way, but NOT on private property, call (719) 385-5934.
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Compassion, Respect and Freedom for all Wild Animals
Wild Forever Foundation
P.O.Box 520
Fountain CO, 80817
(719) 475-9453 (475-WILD)
Phone assistance available 8:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. daily; Mountain Time Zone.
If you leave a message your call will be returned PROMPTLY.
wildforever@wildforever.org
Copyright © 2007, Wild Forever Foundation. All Rights Reserved.
Webmaster: Alan Stockman, alan@dynawares.com
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