How to Rescue a Squirrel Who Won’t Leave
A new baby squirrel named Bunk has been living outside Patty’s kitchen window since the spring, but Bunk refuses to leave! A mother squirrel is needed to raise the baby. When a baby squirrel is not around for its mother, it can become aggressive and jealous. To help them deal with their situation, Patty decided to take in the squirrel and raise it herself. But Bunk’s stubbornness has made it difficult for her to do so.
Baby squirrels are helpless
If you’ve found a baby squirrel in your yard, there are a few things you can do to help it survive and recover. While humans may have no idea how to care for wild animals, it is illegal to keep them as pets. Keeping wild animals as pets is usually dangerous for them, as they don’t get to live their natural lives. Luckily, there are a few ways to help out.
They need their mothers
In some cases, baby squirrels may fall out of their nests. Mother squirrels might drop their babies if they feel threatened or have fleas. Whether they have been injured, the mother will not retrieve them. If you see a baby squirrel, call the Native Animal Rescue Helpline immediately. There are several steps to take to help the baby squirrel. Follow these steps to save the baby squirrel and its mother.
They can become aggressive
Squirrels are known to become extremely aggressive and can also be dangerous if they’re left unattended for a long period of time. If you are considering adopting a squirrel, you should do so with caution. If you’ve ever been attacked by a squirrel, you probably know how dangerous it can be. Luckily, there are ways to help rescue squirrels that won’t leave.
They can become jealous
A good bit of fur on the back of a squirrel will end their days. For this reason, it’s important not to give your pet squirrel food for at least a week. Even if your squirrels are accustomed to your food, you should stop giving them food altogether. Even if your squirrels aren’t wild, they’ll still check on your yard if you’ve stopped feeding them.
They can be infected with salmonella
If you’ve ever tried to rescue a squirrel that won’t leave, it’s important to know what to look for. The signs of salmonella infection may include diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and fever. You also need to check for signs of Lyme disease, a bacterial infection. Lyme disease is often treatable with antibiotics. Salmonella infection, on the other hand, can cause more serious symptoms. The animal may appear drowsy, depressed, and puffy.
They can be infected with rabies
While you’ve probably seen a squirrel in your backyard that wouldn’t leave, you’ve probably wondered how to handle it safely. The best way to protect yourself is to be as cautious as possible, wearing gloves, and call wildlife control. Squirrels are members of the rodent family, so they are unlikely to carry rabies. If you find a squirrel in need of rescue, however, it is essential to protect yourself and your family by wearing gloves and avoiding close contact with the animal.
They are not pets
One woman in Shingle Springs, California, has a passion for squirrels, and she named three of her babies with Lakota words. She called them George Clooney, Amal, and Bunk. The couple moved to the El Dorado County area from Oregon eight years ago. Two years ago, Judy volunteered with Sierra Wildlife Rescue. Although she is primarily interested in raptors, she was thrilled to rescue the misfortune squirrels.
They can be evicted
If you are looking for a pet, you might be surprised to find that there are many ways to rescue a squirrel that won’t leave. Wildlife rehabilitators are trained to intervene when other methods have failed, but in many cases they prefer to let nature do its thing. Rescue squirrels are usually non-releasable due to illness, injury or a deficit in squirrel skills. Nonetheless, Michael and Christina couldn’t bear the thought of euthanizing Thumbelina.
How do you rescue a squirrel who wouldn’t leave?
You can try to coax the squirrel out with food or you can call a professional.
What if the squirrel is injured?
If the squirrel is injured you should call a professional.
What if the squirrel is in my house?
If the squirrel is in your house you can try to coax it out with food or you can call a professional.
What if the squirrel is in my attic?
If the squirrel is in your attic you can try to coax it out with food or you can call a professional.
How do you coax a squirrel out with food?
You can try putting some food outside and see if the squirrel will come to get it.
What kind of food do you use?
Any type of food that squirrels like will work such as nuts or seeds.
What if the squirrel won’t come to the food?
If the squirrel won’t come to the food you can try calling a professional.
How do you know if a professional is needed?
If you can’t get the squirrel to leave on your own or if the squirrel appears to be injured you should call a professional.
What do professionals do?
Professionals will generally try to catch the squirrel and release it back into the wild.
What if I don’t want the squirrel released into the wild?
If you don’t want the squirrel released into the wild you can try to find a wildlife rehabilitation center that will take it in.
What is a wildlife rehabilitation center?
A wildlife rehabilitation center is a facility that cares for injured or orphaned wildlife.
How do I find a wildlife rehabilitation center?
You can search online or call your local animal shelter.
What if there is no wildlife rehabilitation center near me?
If there is no wildlife rehabilitation center near you you can try to find a local animal shelter that will take the squirrel.
What if I can’t find an animal shelter that will take the squirrel?
If you can’t find an animal shelter that will take the squirrel you may have to release it into the wild.
How do I release the squirrel into the wild?
You can release the squirrel into a park or other area of woods where there are trees.
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.
