Stage 1 — Discovery, Identification & Reunification

A baby on the ground is not automatically an orphan. If it is warm, uninjured and the nest tree or original structure is known, give the mother a safe chance to recover it. For flying squirrels, daylight is a poor time to judge abandonment because the adults are nocturnal.

1. Move pets and people away.
2. Record the exact location, tree/building, date and time.
3. Check for blood, swelling, obvious fracture, pet contact, fly eggs/maggots, abnormal breathing, neurologic signs or extreme weakness.
4. If healthy, keep the infant warm and protected near the original location for a species-appropriate reunion attempt.
5. Watch remotely/from far away; a visible person can prevent the mother from approaching.

A mother flying squirrel normally becomes active around dusk. A healthy baby should not simply be left exposed on the ground all day waiting for her. Use a secure, sheltered reunion container near the original nest location, keep the baby warm, dry and inaccessible to pets/predators, and bring it back in when weather, cold or daylight timing makes outdoor exposure unsafe. If a nest was disturbed during building work, give the mother a reasonable opportunity to move the young before resuming work when conditions allow.

Southern and Northern flying squirrels overlap in parts of North America. Northern flying squirrels are generally larger. One useful field character is the belly hair: the base of the belly hairs is gray in Northern flying squirrels, while Southern flying squirrel belly hairs are white to the base. Location and elevation matter too. Do not rely on one photograph alone for a protected-species decision.

• Exact find location and habitat
• Current weight in grams
• Eyes open/closed, fur development and mobility
• Body temperature impression: cold, normal/warm, overheated
• Any pet contact, injury, parasites or fly eggs
• Urine/stool seen
• Anything already fed, given by mouth or applied to the animal
• Whether mother/nest/siblings were seen