Eastern Grey Squirrels can breed twice a year. Metro Wildlife recently admitted the some babies from the second litter.
If you happen upon a baby, the best outcome will result from a reunion with its mother. We always encourage people to facilitate this “non-intervention” whenever possible.
We recently received a call involving a tree removal which evicted the babies from their home. After talking the homeowner through the process, the mother was able to recover the youngsters and replace them into a secondary nest.
After decades at this game, our advice is this:
OBVIOUS INJURY 1) If you see blood, flies, or the squirrel was attacked by a pet, bring it in. -or-
NO EVIDENT INJURY 1) Place the baby(s) in a small fleece-lined container and place it next to the nearest tree. 2) Wait OUT OF SIGHT for an hour or two, then return to see if the mother retrieved the babies. 3) If the mom doesn’t return, bring the babies to the Philadelphia Metro Wildlife Center.
DO NOT GIVE THE BABY SQUIRREL FOOD OR WATER. We must restore the squirrels to a stable temperature and level of hydration before they can eat. Improper feeding can cause irreversible damage.