Ruth C.
Pest Control in Bealeton, VA
Eastern gray squirrels bear young in trees or structures high off the ground. The nest, or drey, may look like a basketball-sized wad of leaves and sticks stuffed between branches or it may be out of sight, situated inside a tree cavity or structure. Young squirrels may be seen venturing from the nest at about 6-7 weeks and by 10 weeks of age, they are bright-eyed, bushy-tailed, and independent.
If you find an uninjured young squirrel that is easy to capture, every effort should be made to get it back with its mother. Mother gray squirrels have more than one nest site and will move her young naturally due to a variety of triggers, including parasite infestation, structural damage, or other dangers. Squirrel mothers are very attentive and will almost always retrieve their young if given the opportunity.
Gray squirrels are only active during the day (diurnal) and retreat to their nests at night. Reuniting young must only be attempted during daylight hours.
Wearing gardening gloves and/or using a clean hand towel, scoop the young squirrel into an open-topped container just deep enough to prevent escape (cardboard box, storage bin, etc).
Very young squirrels may need help getting warmed up before the reuniting process. To warm a cold squirrel, wrap it in a hand towel that has been heated in the microwave for 20-30 seconds; replace the towel as it cools every couple of minutes. Very young squirrels are not able to stay warm without supplemental heat.
If reuniting is not successful, contact the Wildlife Rescue Center at 636-394-1880 or animalcare@mowildlife.org for further instructions.
Fairfax, Alexandria & Arlington, VA
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