What to do if you find an injured or orphaned squirrel in North Carolina

Help, I found a squirrel! Do this FIRST!

Finding a baby squirrel alone does not always mean it has been orphaned. Eastern gray squirrels are attentive mothers and will often return for healthy babies that have fallen from a nest. It is important to try to reunite uninjured, healthy baby squirrels with their mother when possible.

What to do RIGHT NOW:

DO NOT FEED OR GIVE WATER
Check the squirrel for visible injuries
Keep pets, children, and people away
Keep a baby squirrel warm using an external heat source (warmed up water bottle with a cloth over (change every hour), a sock full of warmed up dry rice or beans(change every three hours), hand-warmers or a heat pad set on low under half of the box. Even if the babies are furred, they cannot regulate their temperature.)
Contact CWCC immediately if the squirrel is injured or has been in a cat’s or dog’s mouth
Text a clear photo to 980-389-1133

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What NOT to do

Do NOT give milk, formula, food, or water
Do NOT leave a baby squirrel cold
Do NOT place the baby in direct sunlight
Do NOT leave the reunion box outside overnight
Do NOT stand near the baby while waiting for the mother
Do NOT handle an adult squirrel with bare hands
Do NOT attempt to treat injuries yourself

Keeping the squirrel warm, quiet, and safe while you contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator gives it the best chance of survival.

When does a squirrel need help?

Even if no wounds are visible, a squirrel that has been caught by a cat or dog may have hidden punctures and needs immediate professional care.

A squirrel likely needs immediate help if:

It is bleeding or has an open wound
It has a broken or improperly positioned limb
It is cold, weak, lethargic, or unresponsive
It is covered in ants, flies, fly eggs, or maggots
It is having difficulty breathing or moving
It has been in a cat’s or dog’s mouth
Its mother is confirmed deceased
It is an injured adult
It is a flying squirrel that has been attacked by a predator

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Eastern Gray Squirrels

Healthy baby squirrel found on the ground

It is not uncommon for baby gray squirrels to fall from their nests. If the baby is warm, alert, and uninjured, you can attempt to reunite it with its mother.

Gray squirrel mothers will often return to retrieve their babies, even if the original nest or tree has been damaged.

How to reunite a baby squirrel with its mother

1. Check the baby for injuries

Look for:

Blood or wounds
Bruising or swelling
Ant bites
Flies, fly eggs, or maggots
Broken limbs
Difficulty breathing
Weakness or unresponsiveness

If the baby is injured or has been in a cat’s or dog’s mouth, contact CWCC immediately.

5. Give the mother space

Bring dogs, cats, and children inside and move away from the area.

Watch from inside a building or from a considerable distance. The mother may not return while people or pets are nearby.

You may briefly play the sound of a crying baby gray squirrel to help alert her.

2. Prepare a reunion box

Place the baby or babies in a shallow, open container such as:

A shoebox
A small cardboard box
A clean milk jug with one side cut away
A secure hanging basket

Line the container with a soft T-shirt, fleece, or smooth cloth.

The container should be deep enough to keep the babies safely inside, but shallow enough for the mother to enter. Do not cover the babies or close the box. Their mother must be able to see and hear them.

6. Check periodically

Pink or nearly hairless babies may be checked after approximately one to two hours.

Older, furred babies may need four to six hours or longer.

The mother may retrieve the babies one at a time. Check that the remaining babies are still warm and rewarm the heat source as needed.

3. Keep the babies warm

Baby squirrels must be kept warm using an external heat source. The sun and outdoor temperature are not enough.

Safe heat sources include:

A bottle of warm water wrapped in cloth
A sock filled with warmed dry rice or beans
A microwaveable heat pack
Hand warmers wrapped in cloth
A heating pad set on low beneath half of the box

The heat source should feel warm, never hot.

Mom may not retrieve a cold baby.

7. Bring the babies inside overnight

Never leave baby squirrels outside overnight.

At dusk:

Bring the babies inside
Keep them warm
Place them in a dark, quiet area
Keep them away from people and pets
Do not feed or give water

Return them to the reunion location at dawn.

A reunion may generally be attempted for up to 24 hours for very young, eyes-closed babies. Contact CWCC for guidance if the mother has not returned.

4. Place the box near the original nest

Secure the box to the tree where the nest is located or place it as close as safely possible to where the baby was found.

If the tree was cut down, place the box on a nearby tree or near the stump, provided the area is safe from predators.

Keep the box:

Out of direct sunlight
Protected from rain
Away from pets
Open and visible to the mother

Baby squirrels in a box nailed to a tree for mom to find.

Eastern Gray Squirrels

If the nest or tree was destroyed

If a tree containing a squirrel nest was cut down or damaged, first determine whether the mother may still be alive.

If she was not injured:

Gather all healthy babies
Place them together in a warm reunion box
Secure the box to a nearby tree or close to the original stump
Keep people and pets away
Watch from a distance

The mother may need time to locate the babies and prepare another nest before moving them.

Important squirrel reunion reminders:

Do not feed the babies
Keep them warm throughout the reunion attempt
Do not cover the babies
Keep the area free from people and pets
Do not place the box in rain, extreme temperatures, or direct sunlight
Rewarm the heat source whenever it cools
Never leave the box outside overnight
The location must be safe, warm, dry, and protected from predators

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Injured adult squirrels

Adult squirrels can bite and scratch severely. A squirrel that appears calm or unconscious may suddenly become alert and defensive.

Important safety information

Handling

Only attempt containment if it is safe
Wear thick gloves
Use a thick towel or blanket
Prepare a secure, ventilated container
Approach slowly and calmly
Cover the squirrel with the towel
Gently scoop it into the container

After containment

Keep the squirrel:

Dark
Warm
Quiet
Away from people and pets
Protected from flies and outdoor heat

Do not offer food or water and do not attempt to treat the squirrel.

Text a clear photo to 980-389-1133 for further instructions.

Help, I found a flying squirrel!

Flying squirrels are often encountered after an attack by a cat, dog, or other predator. They may also be displaced from a tree cavity or found inside a building.

Because flying squirrels are small and may have hidden injuries, please contact CWCC immediately if one appears injured, weak, orphaned, or has had contact with a predator.

Cat or dog contact

A flying squirrel that has been in a cat’s or dog’s mouth needs immediate professional care.

Tiny punctures may be hidden beneath the fur and can cause severe infection, even when the squirrel appears uninjured.

Keep the squirrel contained, warm, dark, and quiet while contacting CWCC.

What happens after you call?

Our dedicated team of highly trained professionals will help you assess the situation. We will ask you basic questions like your location and the status of the animal.

We will guide you step by step along the way and provide you with expert advice. You are NOT expected to handle this on your own!

If we determine that help is needed for the animal, we will work with you to arrange care.