How to Take Care of a Hurt Squirrel 
How do you take care of a hurt squirrel? This article will help you to do so! Here, you’ll learn how to treat a baby squirrel, how to release a hurt squirrel, and how to release a warbled squirrel. You’ll also learn how to release a squirrel back into the wild. The best place to find a squirrel is outside your home, where it’s likely to be more protected from humans.
Table of Contents
Taking care of a baby squirrel
If you are a pet owner and have seen a baby squirrel injured in a park, or on the roadside, there are steps you can take to help it heal. First, make sure the baby squirrel is warm. You can do this by covering it with old clothing or a blanket. If the baby is crying and not responding to your calls, play a distress call. Play the distress call loudly and only once.
If you notice a baby squirrel with an open wound, break, or maggot, immediately bring it indoors. Place it in a separate room with a heating pad. You may also want to call a vet for instructions on how to stabilize the baby squirrel. The following steps can help the baby squirrel recover. Make sure you use gloves when handling the animal. If you see a broken bone or rice-grain-like caterpillars on the injured baby, he or she is most likely hurt. If the child is crying nonstop, it is likely suffering from a wound and needs immediate veterinary care.
Treating a hurt squirrel
To treat an injured squirrel, you need to know how to handle the situation. First, you need to determine which species of squirrels live in your area. You should then make sure the squirrel’s environment is safe for it to live. Depending on the condition of the squirrel, it may take a few days for it to adjust to the wild. Secondly, it may be dangerous to release the injured squirrel near a busy road, highway or intersection.
Symptoms of head trauma are similar to those of poisoning and include listing to one side or walking in circles. There may also be blood coming from the mouth or nose. You must be cautious when handling an injured squirrel, as they have strong jaws and teeth. A good bite can easily puncture a leather glove. Be sure to isolate the squirrel from other animals. If you are unsure whether your squirrel is infected with any disease, it is still advisable to contact your veterinarian.
Releasing a squirrel in the wild
Ideally, you should release a injured squirrel back into the wild after a few days of recovery. However, this can be difficult as a squirrel needs a couple of days to get used to the environment and can be a potential target for predators. To prevent this, release the injured squirrel as far away from busy roads, intersections, and highways as possible. Depending on the extent of the injury, the injured squirrel can take a few days to readjust to the environment.
A few years ago, Bella was injured, but the Harrison family took her in and treated her with antibiotics. After a week, she gave birth to three baby squirrels. The Harrison family believes Bella is special and has a special purpose in life. They have named her Bella, but don’t tell anyone this, because if they release her back into the wild, she’ll be misplaced.
Treating a warbled squirrel
How to treat a warbled squirrel depends on the severity of infestation. Infestation levels of four to five warbles are considered healthy for the adult host. However, higher levels can be dangerous for young infants and pregnant or nursing women. Warbles are large, fluid-draining growths on the skin. If the growths become so severe that they itch or hurt, you may want to call a vet.
A veterinarian can diagnose the condition using a stethoscope. Using this tool, you can determine if the squirrel is suffering from this disease. If the squirrel has a sore penis, it may have a parasitic infection. Fortunately, most of these conditions are easily treatable with a diluted form of ivermectin, which kills the parasite. Your veterinarian may also prescribe probiotics, which will prevent diarrhea due to the use of antibiotics.
What should you do if you see an injured squirrel?
The best thing to do if you see an injured squirrel is to contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator.
How can you tell if a squirrel is injured?
You may be able to tell if a squirrel is injured if it is bleeding has an obvious fracture or is having difficulty moving.
What should you not do if you see an injured squirrel?
Do not try to feed or water the squirrel.
Doing so may further injure the squirrel or cause it to become aggressive.
How can you help an injured squirrel?
The best way to help an injured squirrel is to contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator.
What should you do if you find an orphaned baby squirrel?
The best thing to do if you find an orphaned baby squirrel is to contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator.
How can you tell if a squirrel is orphaned?
You may be able to tell if a squirrel is orphaned if it is not with its mother it is younger than 6 weeks old or it has not yet developed its fur.
What should you not do if you find an orphaned baby squirrel?
Do not try to feed or water the squirrel.
Doing so may further injured the squirrel or cause it to become aggressive.
How can you help an orphaned baby squirrel?
The best way to help an orphaned baby squirrel is to contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator.
What should you do if you find a sick squirrel?
The best thing to do if you find a sick squirrel is to contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator.
How can you tell if a squirrel is sick?
You may be able to tell if a squirrel is sick if it is lethargic has difficulty moving or appears to be thin.
What should you not do if you find a sick squirrel?
Do not try to feed or water the squirrel.
Doing so may further injure the squirrel or cause it to become aggressive.
How can you help a sick squirrel?
The best way to help a sick squirrel is to contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator.
What should you do if you find a dead squirrel?
The best thing to do if you find a dead squirrel is to contact your local animal control.
How can you tell if a squirrel is dead?
You may be able to tell if a squirrel is dead if it is not moving and does not respond to touch.
What should you not do if you find a dead squirrel?
Do not try to bury the squirrel.
Doing so may put you at risk for contracting diseases.
Jessica Watson is a PHD holder from the University of Washington. She studied behavior and interaction between squirrels and has presented her research in several wildlife conferences including TWS Annual Conference in Winnipeg.
