How to Care for a Newborn Squirrel That Fell Out of a Tree

Spring thunderstorms and high winds frequently knock baby squirrels from their nests. If you find one of these helpless baby squirrels on the ground, keeping it warm and safe quickly becomes your priority. Once a baby squirrel's temperature drops, its mother cannot find and identify it as her own. This means that it will likely die without assistance from you or another person. If you can't find a local wildlife rehabilitation group to take the baby squirrel, that's OK. You can take care of the squirrel yourself with basic supplies.

Pick up the orphaned squirrel gently using a towel. Place the squirrel in a plastic tub that has a soft fleece and shredded newspaper lining. Place the tub, with 1/8-inch air holes drilled all the way around the top, in a quiet and warm place in your home. Set half of the tub on a heating pad set on low. This will help keep the squirrel warm. Having only half of the tub on the heating pad will allow the squirrel to cool off on the other side if it gets too warm. Make sure the squirrel's temperature is at least 98 degrees before you attempt to feed it.

Hydrate the squirrel with Pedialyte. The squirrel will likely be extremely dehydrated. Before the squirrel can ingest formula, it must be hydrated. Heat the Pedialyte to 98 degrees and slowly feed the squirrel the liquid through the needleless syringe. If you feed it too fast, the baby can inhale the liquid and suffocate.

Check the baby squirrel over for any injuries. If there are any abrasions, clean them thoroughly with warm water, soap and apply antibiotic ointment. If you find serious injuries such as broken limbs, you should contact your veterinarian for assistance.

Feed the baby squirrel formula. The basic formula is 1 cup of water, 1/2 cup of powder Esbilac, and 1/2 cup of heavy whipping cream. Depending on the age and size of squirrel, here's how much to feed it: • Less than one week old with umbilical cord attached: nine feedings a day, 1 cc or 1/4 teaspoon per feeding. • Two to three weeks old: five feedings a day, 1 1/2 cc to start, increased to 3 cc per feeding. • Four to five weeks old: four feedings a day, 3 1/2 cc to start, increased to 5 cc per feeding. • Six to seven weeks old: four feedings a day, 6 cc to start, increased to 9 cc per feeding. • Eight weeks old: two feedings a day, 10 to 14 cc. • At nine weeks old, begin weaning the squirrel off formula with solid pieces of food.

Help the squirrel relieve itself after each feeding. This is what a mama squirrel does and you must, too. Using a dampened cotton swab, stimulate the process by gently rubbing the swab across the baby's genitals. If the baby is not defecating and urinating, contact a veterinarian.