Fox Squirrels - Renesting and Reuniting

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Baby mammals are most successful when raised by their mother in the wild. Their mother will provide them with the best sources of nutrition and teach them how to find food and recognize and avoid potential threats. This makes baby animals raised in the wild more adaptable and prepared to survive. For these reasons, we urge people who find baby animals to evaluate the situation and attempt to renest or reunite babies with their mothers before bringing them to Project Wildlife for care.

Very young mammals are often left alone while their mother looks for food and to avoid attracting other animals to the nest or den site. If you find a disturbed nest or a baby mammal without their mother, it doesn’t necessarily mean that the baby has been abandoned or orphaned. We always assume the mother is alive and caring for their babies unless proven otherwise.

If you moved a baby, found a single baby or disturbed a nest, please use this resource to attempt to reunite them with their mother and monitor their health unless the mom is found deceased.

Background Information

Squirrels have multiple nest sites, so if their nest is damaged or a baby falls, the mother may just need time to relocate her babies. Mother squirrels spend a lot of time and energy raising their young. Please note that, contrary to popular belief, a mother won’t abandon her babies because a human touched them. However, she will not return if you are too close to the baby or nest, because humans are seen as threats.

Animal Age

Before you begin the renesting or reuniting effort, please use the information below to confirm the age and type of squirrel you found. Once confirmed, follow the renesting instructions based on the animal’s age.

Please note, these instructions are for renesting and reuniting fox squirrels only. If you determine that you found a ground squirrel, please call Project Wildlife for further guidance at 619-299-7012.

Fox Squirrels More brown or red in color Nest in trees or other structures off the ground Larger and develop slower than ground squirrels Eyes only starting to open at 6 weeks old (a large baby squirrel with eyes still closed is likely to be a fox squirrel)	Ground Squirrels Mottled brown fur and white eye rings Smaller and develop more quickly than fox squirrels Create burrows in the ground for nests At 6 weeks old, ground squirrels fully emerge from the nest and are active
Infant Eyes closed, partly open or fully open Fur may range from no fur to fully covered Sleek fur and tail not fluffy May appear clumsy May be unafraid of people	Juvenile Eyes fully open Covered in fur Fluffy body fur and tail Climbs and moves well May be afraid of people

Health Check

Renest or reunite healthy babies only. Mom won’t return for a sick baby or be able to help them recover.

Check for the following:

Significant injury (the animal has broken bones or deep cuts, or is non-responsive, gasping, limp, bleeding, etc.)
Signs of illness (falling over, discharge from eyes or nose, crusty eyes)
Seen attacked by a cat (or other animal)
Fleas all over their body
Ant, fly or maggot infestation on the baby or in the nest/den

We recommend bringing any baby with these symptoms to Project Wildlife for evaluation and potential rehabilitation (See Box 2). Minor scratches or bruises are not cause for concern unless known to be caused by a cat attack.

If the baby does not have any of these symptoms and seems healthy, begin the renesting process. If the baby is cold to the touch, warm them before the renesting process (Box 1).

Box 1: Heat Sources

Instant Hand Warmers
Hand warmers like HotHands® or similar products can serve as a heat source and last about 5 hours.

Rice Sock
You can create a DIY heat source by filling a sock with uncooked rice and microwaving it until warm. This will last for 1-2 hours.

Check that heat source won't burn baby.
Make sure baby has space to move away form heat source.

Timeline

Renest or reunite crows or ravens during the day when the parents are active. If you picked up and kept the bird for eight daylight hours or more AND no other babies remain outside, we recommend bringing the bird to Project Wildlife for evaluation and potential rehabilitation (See Box 2).

Renesting Infants

Identify where the infant came from. Look around the location where you found the baby for an adult that could be the mom. If possible, simply return the baby to the original nest or place them in a safe space to allow the mom to come back for the baby. If you aren’t able to access the nest on your own, ask for help from tree trimming services, building maintenance or neighbors.
If you cannot find the original nest or the nest is damaged, you will need to create a new one. Choose a container that is big enough to keep the baby from climbing or falling out. Line it with a towel and poke drainage holes in the bottom. Cover half of the opening with fabric, lid or cardboard. Remember, the mother needs to be able to fit in the container to retrieve her baby!
Secure the nest up high. Return to where you found the baby and attach the nest to a tree (or fence) as high as possible (minimum of 5 feet off the ground). Nail the nest directly to the tree or use zip ties or bungee cords to secure the nest to branches. Do not leave the nest on the ground.
Place baby in the nest during daytime. If possible, play a baby fox squirrel distress call (from YouTube) a few times after placing the baby in the nest, and then leave the area. Mom may be too scared to approach if people or pets are too close.
Recheck nest at dusk. Bring the baby inside for the night if they are still present. Keep them in a container with lid, ventilation and heat source on one side overnight. Do not give them any food or water. Do not talk to, handle, cuddle or peek at the baby.
Repeat the attempt to reunite the baby the next day. If the baby is not retrieved within 24 hours or their condition is worsening, we recommend bringing them to Project Wildlife for evaluation and potential rehabilitation (See Box 2).

Reuniting and Monitoring Juveniles

Return or leave young juvenile squirrels on a tree trunk or similar place. Put the baby as close to the location where you found them as possible. At this age, they are starting to move around their environment and do not need a nest or supplemental heat.
Recheck the baby at dusk. If they are still there, bring them inside for the night. Keep them in a container with a lid and ventilation. Do not give them any food or water. Do not talk to, handle, cuddle or peek at the baby.
Repeat the attempt to reunite the baby the next day. If the baby is not reunited within 24 hours or their condition is worsening, we recommend bringing them to Project Wildlife for evaluation and potential rehabilitation (See Box 2).

Box 2: Project Wildlife Drop-Off and Contact Information

You can drop off confirmed orphans during our admission hours: seven days a week, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. (excluding major holidays).

Project Wildlife
Pilar & Chuck Bahde Wildlife Center
5433 Gaines St.
San Diego, CA 92110
619-299-7012
sdhumane.org

Background Information

Animal Age

Fox Squirrels

Ground Squirrels

Infant

Juvenile