If you find a baby squirrel, you only need to remember the acronym WHAM to function like a care professional!
WHAM is a four-step process to ensure you cover all the bases by providing a systematic approach to ensuring a baby squirrel has every chance to survive.
“W” stands for Warm.
Baby squirrels lose body heat very quickly, especially around the time they hatch, usually in early March. Ideally, he’d like the mother to come get him, but it’s hard to leave a nearly naked body lying in the early March cold waiting for his mother. I found that a small cardboard box with a cloth rice bag heated in a microwave and nailed to the tree keeps the baby comfortable and away from predators while he waits for his mother to find him. If she doesn’t come for it, the box and bag of rice make an excellent incubator to house the baby during early care, especially during the first five weeks when she has her eyes closed. A baby squirrel should always feel warmer than your hand when you pick it up!
“H” stands for Hydrate.
A baby squirrel can become dehydrated very quickly. Their bodies are so small that it doesn’t take long for them to develop an electrolyte imbalance. If it gets bad enough, it can cause your heart to beat irregularly or even stop. If the baby looks very dry and wrinkled and their skin doesn’t go back to its normal flat appearance when you pinch them, or if the baby is very slow to respond, even after warming them, you need to rehydrate them!
Many rehabbers and vets will tell you to give Pedialyte unflavored electrolyte replacement fluid. This is fine, just heat it up and give it small amounts with a dropper or small syringe. My only question is; Where does a mother squirrel get Pedialyte when she picks up her baby and it’s dehydrated? I have never lost a dehydrated baby squirrel by going straight to formula. So, do what you want, just moisturize the baby.
“A” stands for accommodate.
If you have reached this point in the WHAM process, you will need to make a decision about the future care of this creature. Are you going to hold it and try to pick it up and release it? Or are you going to take him to a rehab center?
Apart from accommodating it is taking a second closer look at it. She has warmed it up and hydrated it now check it out and check for other issues. If it has hair, look closely for vermin. Fleas and lice may be present. I use Hartz Kitty Flea Spray on a cotton ball to kill any bugs and pluck it off with tweezers.
Look for any bruises or open wounds. Check its paws for possible fractures. I treat the wounds with crude coconut oil. You can wash them with soap and water and apply antibiotic ointment.
Look for any signs of difficulty breathing. A baby squirrel shouldn’t have to use more than its chest muscles to breathe. If you’re having trouble breathing and your skin doesn’t look pink, you may have internal injuries. Look at your abdomen for bruising or discoloration. This may be a sign of internal injuries. If you have any questions, find a Veterinarian with experience dealing with exotic pets or wild animals.
A baby squirrel can snuggle up nicely in a box until it opens its eyes. So, you’re going to need a cage. A small cage is fine initially, but a larger cage will be necessary as the baby physically matures. My last cage before release is a large one to go into in my backyard. It allows my squirrels to acclimate to life in the great outdoors, while allowing them to observe how other squirrels behave. It also allows them space to exercise and the climbing skills they will need when released.
“M” stands for Hold.
Maintaining simply means continuing to do the things that need to be done to ensure that the squirrel has everything it needs to grow into a healthy adult squirrel. Keeping him warm and fed when he is a baby. Allow her to breastfeed until she is off formula, and then provide the right types of foods and calcium to prevent metabolic bone disease.
Keeping a squirrel until it’s ready to be released isn’t difficult and doesn’t have to be expensive, but it does require diligence and desire. My wife and I have a passion for raising healthy, disease resistant squirrels and are always willing to help others do the same! It’s a labor of love for us, and that makes all the difference in the world!