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When it comes to Long Island
wildlife, we like to
see them healthy and free, rather than in rehabilitation.
Unfortunately ,many
squirrels need rehabilitation as a result of being trapped, hit by car,
dog/cat attack, illness, orphaned or
general displacement.
A natural human
impulse is to reach out and
help those in need, however not everyone possesses the ability to recognize what
is normal or abnormal wildlife behavior. That is where the
expertise
of a professional wildlife
rehabilitator comes in to play.
Please don't be a kidnapper!
There are some species such as
eastern cottontail rabbit and
white tail deer that
will leave their young for some hours .There
also are times when a young squirrel and its mother may become separated
,temporarily.
These situations could be both natural or unnatural. For example: a young, eye open squirrel may
explore the area around its nest and become disoriented...if you allow the mother squirrel
a chance to retrieve a lost infant then in effect you are allowing the best chance
to reunite the family rather than unnecessarily placing that infant into
rehabilitation. A reunion could be possible. Sometimes a predator will disturb the nest and mom will flee momentarily but return to retrieve her
young...we only ask that you give her a chance. Sometimes nests are destroyed by inclement
weather and babies are tossed to the ground below....if you find an orphan after a severe
weather incident,please give the mom several hours to retrieve her offspring.
Then of course there are the situations when mother squirrel has
been killed or relocated by trappers or you simply have found an injured squirrel that
needs medical attention.
Generally, a wild
animal that allows you to approach it without running away is one most likely compromised.
These guidelines are
offered to help evaluate criteria to determine whether or not a squirrel needs assistance.
The list is in no particular order, and offered to help both the
injured and displaced squirrel receive prompt assistance and to help reduce
the amount of cases admitted unnecessarily .
IT MAKES
SENSE TO USE
YOUR SENSES !
 | Use your ears A
displaced infant squirrel can cry
for a considerable length of time
if separated from its mother .
Listen for a ,high pitched
, birdlike sound- the babies
may have been abandoned due
to death of the mother. Try to note how long
you have heard
the sound and at what time of the day .If heard during the evening, chances are mother is dead
or trapped
and babies are
cold and
hungry. |
 | Use your Eyes
Any squirrel that you have seen that was attacked
by a predator
should be rescued. Cat attack is a frequent cause of
small mammal admission
nationwide. Actual Cases Cat fangs can puncture the
thickest squirrel skin and introduce a deadly germ called pasteurella.
If not treated promptly with antibiotics most cat attack victims
succumb to this germ. Even if the squirrel was brought in by the
family cat, treatment would be necessary.You can easily prevent this situation
by keeping cat indoors. |

Visit
American Bird Conservancy Cats Indoors
to learn more about
the actual statistics.
TAKE CONTROL and prevent your pet from attacking wildlife.
Keep cats indoors and don't allow dogs to free roam. Dogs
are pack/hunting/herding animals that may instinctively
seek out weakened or juvenile small mammals. Leash laws help reduce this occurrence but nonetheless we still admit many cases of dog attack squirrels .
MORE SENSE
 | USE YOUR EYES AGAIN If you
find a dead adult squirrel
near the
base
of a tree with a nest ,check to see if it is a nursing
female
(babies could be
in the nest) or at the side of a road
( babies could be nearby) or if you
see baby squirrels close to a dead
adult that would raise a red flag. |
COMMON SENSE If you are aware that a female nursing mother has
been HOMEd
from an attic or other unnatural area, her offspring will be abandoned and die of
starvation .The litter will have to
be rescued in order
to survive. If not rescued ,the babies will die in
their nest from starvation and their remaining
corpses will decay,
producing offensive odor
and bacteria. If you discover neonatal squirrels
on the ground, meaning
without fur, eye closed and cannot hear, these vulnerable
mammals should be offered back to mom, but with
monitoring. These tiny
creatures cannot regulate their body
temperature properly and can become both hypo (cold) and hyper
(hot) thermic very quickly-
within less than an hour.
Mother squirrels are excellent natural mothers and
generally will not leave the nest
and offspring for long.
Generally something is wrong if you find neonates on the ground.
Either inclement weather,
a natural predator or tree trimming disrupted
the nest. Allow mom a chance
to retrieve for at
least a few hours.
Watch from a distance where
the mother squirrel can't see you.
You may have
to temporarily bring the neonates indoors to warm( body temperature) and then place back out in a small
,warmly lined
cardboard box -again to allow the mom another chance.Squirrels are
daytime animals (diurnal) active during the day
and
not active at night (nocturnal
).
 |
KEEP CHILDREN, PETS AND UNNECESSARY NOISE AWAY  |
STRESS
CAN KILL Squirrels
,like most mammals
have well developed senses.
If you have been advised that the squirrel needs to be rescued
Contain it in a
safe,warm ,dark,
quiet, place.
A sealed cardboard box with air-holes preferably.
Resist the desire to
touch or feed it.Wildlife view humans
as predators.An adult
squirrel that seems "calm" is in fact
in shock, paralyzed with fear.
MORE SENSE
 | DO NOT LEAVE INFANT SQUIRRELS OUT AT NIGHT

Gray squirrels
are
diurnal creatures (daytime ) and Mom will
not retrieve in the evening . Nocturnal predators such as
raccoon, cat,
opossum
,owl ,fox, coyote, can prey upon
them. |
BRING UNCLAIMED INFANTS INDOORS and keep warm and quiet away
from children and domestic pets.
Wrap babies in ravel -free cloth (t-shirt or flannel)
placed in a small box. Set the box halfway on a heating pad set on low heat. Monitor
closely as neonatal squirrels cannot self regulate their body temperature-their skin
should feel as warm not warmer-than ours . Furred infants may be weak and debilitated so providing
supplemental heat is the first positive step. Although
tempting, we ask that you not make any attempt
to feed these tiny squirrels .Serious problems can occur
when attempting to feed debilitated mammals such as aspiration pneumonia( life
threatening), when
squirrels incorrectly swallow a large volume of fluid forced through an
improper feeding utensil. The fluid can be forced into the lungs and in a few days
aspiration pneumonia will develop . In most cases the rehabilitator cannot
reverse this condition. It is life theatening.If you are able to
assist and keep their core temperature warm-this
is the most critical step toward their recovery.Older eye open juveniles can
be offered an apple slice to nibble on.
 | RED FLAG
- If a young eye open juvenile squirrel approaches you or makes
an
attempt to climb your leg- this type of
behavior warrants a strong
reason to rescue. Young Wildlife raised by
their natural mother are
are
wild and wary of all predators-including
humans, under normal circumstances,
young squirrels do not
seek
humans out of curiosity
or naivety .
A young squirrel that approaches or follows
you is one that is most likely
separated from its mother and most likely
has been without water and food for many days.Rescued squirrels
that have exhibited this behavior are
found in extremely dehydrated, hypothermic
(cold), and emaciated (starved) condition. |
Transporting injured adult squirrels
TRANSPORT
Consult with your
local arborist, if you need to trim or take down a
tree. Trees are the habitat for tree squirrels and
many
other species of wildlife including birds and
arboreal mammals. Nests can be built in
both the limbs and the cavity of a tree. Some arborists are well versed in wildlife natural
history . Ask for referrals from your local
wildlife organizations.
.
Wildlife
do not make good pets and
a captive life for them will be one
silently filled with stress and
frustration. If you are
considering keeping a young
squirrel as
a pet please reconsider. Not only is it illegal to possess wildlife as most
are protected under federal and State law, it is ultimately selfish and cruel as
wildlife have specific needs that cannot be met in captivity.
Their temperament grows increasingly
unpredictable as they mature and they can become dangerous.
An adult gray squirrel can
bite through your fingerbone and their claws are razor-sharp.Liability
insurance is another consideration if the animal bites anyone,
Another concern is
internal parasites and disease which could affect both you and
your family.See Zoonotic Disease .
http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/land/wildlife/whealth/factshet/
If you know someone who is keeping wildlife illegally, please
contact your local wildlife center or veterinarian
.In New York State mammals are protected under NY
Conservation law section 11-0910 .If you have inadvertantly raised a
wild animal, and need to return it to the wild, PLEASE
do so with the assistance and expertise of a
species specific rehabilitator. Most hand raised
wildlife need to go through an
acclimation (adjustment) period
before being released to the wild. They instinctively
learn to trust their wild instincts and fend for themselves. Please
do not drop them off somewhere and hope for the
best. Their chances for survival are greatly reduced at
that point. We would be more than happy to discuss these issues
with you. Sciurusav@aol.com
Wildlife are genetically designed
to be Wild. And so should they be.
CATS and DOGS DO make GREAT pets because for thousands of years
they have been bred to co-exist with people .

SQUIRRELS DESERVE TO CLIMB AND
DANCE IN THE TREES,
NOT IN A CAGE 
*
To locate the nearest licensed wildlife
rehabilitator call your local wildlife care center, humane society, veterinarian,animal
emergency hospital, law enforcement agencies, local
animal rescue groups ,local pet supply stores ,Department of Fish & Wildlife office or Department of Natural Resources .In
New York State contact the DEC for a list of Wildlife Rehabilitators;
DEC Regions.
You
can call us at 516 333 6840 and leave a message. Our answering machine is
monitored daily and we will do our best to return your call as soon as possible.
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