Step 1 — Decide whether this squirrel actually needs rescue
A baby on the ground is not automatically orphaned. A healthy, warm, uninjured infant has the best chance with its mother. A fully furred juvenile may be exploring while the mother is nearby but staying hidden because people are present.
- Observe first when the baby is warm, alert, uninjured and the area can be made safe.
- Intervene now if the mother is known dead, the nest tree was destroyed, the baby is cold/lethargic, visibly injured, covered in fly eggs/maggots, caught by a cat/dog, or in immediate danger.
- Keep the exact location. Mothers search where the baby was lost; moving a healthy infant far away can make reunification fail.
Estimate age by development
| Approx. age | Common development clues |
|---|
| Newborn | Mostly pink, no fur, ears flat/sealed, no visible eye slits. |
| 1–2 weeks | Dark pigment on head/back, eye slits visible, ears starting to lift. |
| ~3 weeks | Short fur over most of body; belly still less furred. |
| ~4 weeks | Thicker fur, eyes nearly open, lower incisors beginning to emerge. |
| ~5 weeks+ | Fully furred including belly, eyes open, upper incisors emerging, much more mobile. |
Weigh the baby — use the actual number
Use a gram scale and record the baby’s actual weight. Developmental appearance can help estimate age, but do not estimate feeding volume from an age-to-weight chart. Species, sex, condition and individual growth vary too much for a single weight chart to be a safe feeding tool.
Use the measured gram weight again in the feeding stage, together with the tree-squirrel-specific instructions and the baby’s hydration, stool, appetite and body condition.
Initial body-condition check
- Cold? Cold babies must be warmed before routine feeding.
- Dehydrated? Scant/dark/smelly urine and slow skin return are warning signs.
- Too thin? An emaciated baby may need smaller initial feedings and slower progression.
- Injured? Check limbs, jaw, head, abdomen, tail, skin and breathing.
- Fly eggs? Inspect eyes, ears, mouth, anus, wounds and skin folds. Fly eggs look like tiny beige grains of rice and need immediate removal.
- Pet contact? Cat/dog mouth contact can hide punctures and infection and should be professionally evaluated.
What to write down before you forget
Record the exact find location, date/time, weather exposure, whether the nest/tree was disturbed, whether a pet touched the animal, approximate age, body weight in grams, injuries, urine/stool, and anything already fed or applied. That log becomes the starting record for every later stage.
