If you have found an injured squirrel, the first thing you should do is assess the situation to see if it is safe to approach.
Many times, squirrels are injured as a result of being attacked by predators or hit by cars. If the squirrel appears to be in pain, try to comfort it as best as possible until you can get it to help.
In some cases, the squirrel’s injuries may be too severe and euthanasia may be the kindest option. Keep reading for more tips on what to do if you find an injured squirrel.
The Short Answer Is …
Squirrels are injured because of being attacked by predators or hit by cars. If you find an injured squirrel, we can pick it up and put it in a box or a cage, bring it home, keep it warm and look for signs of injury.
It is suggested to get professional help and find a nearby wildlife rehabilitator to handle it.
How Do Squirrels Get Injured?
One of the common causes of squirrel injuries is being struck by a car. These creatures are drawn to roadways by the presence of food, and they often dart out into traffic without looking both ways first. Some squirrels are fortunate enough to escape with only minor injuries, while others are not so lucky.
Squirrels can be injured by predators including dogs, cats, and foxes in addition to automobiles. In urban areas, dogs and cats pose a hazard as well.
It’s vital to keep dogs away from areas where squirrels have been found and for drivers to be cautious while driving in locations where they’re frequent, to protect the squirrels.
Should You Help An Injured Squirrel?
Anyone who has ever seen a baby animal knows they can be irresistibly cute, especially baby squirrels.
They may appear to beg for your needs with their big eyes and fluffy tails. It’s easy to feel like they require your help. However, before you go picking up that injured squirrel, it’s essential to consider the risks.
Although wild animals may appear tame, they may bite or scratch in self-defense if provoked.
Also, they can easily carry diseases that are transmittable to humans.
Furthermore, many wild animals are safeguarded by law. Thus, if you try to take care of them without the proper permits, you could end up receiving a fine.
While it’s tempting to save an injured squirrel, it’s best to let them go where they belong in the wild.
What To Do If You Find An Injured Squirrel?
If you find an injured squirrel, there are a few things you could do.
Look For Signs Of Injury
The first thing you should do is look for signs of injury.
If the squirrel is bleeding or has a broken bone, it is best to call a wildlife rehabilitation center for assistance.
Handle With Care
If the squirrel does not appear to be seriously injured, you can try to catch it and provide care yourself.
Towel To Scoop The Injured Squirrel Up
When handling a squirrel, use gloves or a towel to avoid being bitten. Gently scoop the squirrel up and place it in soft bedding such as a shoe box or a cage lined with towels.
Keep Warm & Provide Food & Water
Keep the squirrel warm by placing the box next to your body or in a sunny spot. Offer the squirrel water or light foods such as cooked rice, but do not attempt to force feed it.
If possible, release the squirrel back into the wild once it has recovered. If you are unable to release the squirrel, contact your local wildlife rehabilitation center for help.
Get Professional Help
If you find an injured squirrel, the best thing you can do is to get professional help. Wildlife rehabilitators are specially trained to care for injured animals, and they will be able to provide the squirrel with the best possible care.
In the meantime, you can place the squirrel in a box or cage in a quiet area away from bright lights and loud noises.
Be sure to wash your hands thoroughly after handling the squirrel, as there is a risk of contracting the disease.
With proper care, most injured squirrels will make a full recovery and be able to return to the wild.
How To Scoop Up And Put Down An Injured Squirrel?
When you find an injured squirrel, the best thing you can do is to scoop it up and put it down in a safer place. But how do you do that? Here are some tips:
First, find a container that is big enough for the squirrel to fit in comfortably. A shoebox or plastic tub will work. Line the bottom of the container with soft material, such as cloth or paper towels. This will help keep the squirrel from getting hurt while you’re transporting it.
Next, gently scoop up the squirrel with your hands cupped around its body. Be careful not to grab its tail – this can injure the squirrel. Hold the squirrel close to your body to keep it warm, and try to minimize its movement.
Once you’ve got the squirrel safely in the container, find a place where it can rest undisturbed. If possible, put the container in a quiet room away from any pets or children.
Leave a few inches of space between the top of the container and the squirrel so it has room to move around if it wants to.
In any case, following these steps will help ensure that you’re doing everything you can to help an injured animal.
How Do You Comfort An Injured Squirrel?
If you should ever come across an injured squirrel, the best thing to do would be to contact a wildlife rehabilitation center. These centers are managed by experts that know how to properly care for wild animals.
There are a few things you can do to make the squirrel more comfortable while you wait for professional help.
First, cover the animal with a light blanket or towel to help keep it warm.
Then, using a dish or syringe, offer a tiny amount of water. Do not give the squirrel milk or other liquids since this might make its stomach upset.
Finally, keep everything quiet and calm so that the squirrel may recuperate. You can assist a sick squirrel on its way to recovery by following these basic instructions.
How To Feed An Injured Squirrel?
If you find an injured squirrel, the best course of action is to call a wildlife rehabilitation center. If you cannot reach one or if instructions from the center are unavailable, then you can try feeding the squirrel yourself.
To begin, combine equal amounts of Pedialyte and water in a mixing dish. Then, use a syringe or eyedropper to feed the squirrel this preparation every two hours.
If the squirrel doesn’t seem interested in the Pedialyte, offer it smaller pieces of fruits or vegetables instead.
Once the squirrel is taking in liquids on its own, you can begin to offer it solid food like nuts or seeds. Remember that injured animals are sometimes stressed, so handle them with care.
You can assist a wounded squirrel in recovering fully if you give it a little time and effort.
Will A Squirrel’s Broken Leg Heal On Its Own?
Squirrels are quick, agile animals with lightning-quick reactions. This does not, however, imply they are invulnerable to injury.
Falls from heights or car accidents often result in a broken leg for squirrels, but can squirrel legs heal on their own?
The answer is yes and no.
If the fracture is minor, the squirrel may be able to mend on its own with rest and time. If the break is severe, it’s likely that the squirrel will require aid in order to recover.
Since squirrels have a high metabolism, they not only heal quickly but also get tired easily. If a squirrel has a broken leg, it will need help in getting more rest to heal properly.
How To Humanely Kill An Injured Squirrel?
It may be the most difficult decision of one’s life: to put down an injured animal or not.
On the one hand, it is conceivable to act out of compassion and end the creature’s suffering.
On the other hand, some people feel that it is never our right to take a life, regardless of how much pain the animal is in.
If you come across this situation, it’s best to defer to the experts at the wildlife rehabilitation center. They will be able to assess whether or not the animal is truly injured or if it is just scared.
If the animal is scared but uninjured, there is no need to kill it. However, if the animal is severely injured and in pain, the decision of whether or not to euthanize may be best left up to a wildlife rehabilitation expert.
When trying to figure out how to end an animal’s life in the most humane way possible, you should consider using intravenous injection of barbiturates. This will allow the animal to fall asleep quickly and with no pain.
When the expert has made your decision, move swiftly and resolutely. The longer you wait, the more suffering it will be for the animal.
Conclusion
What to do if you find an injured squirrel?
If you find yourself in a position where you must care for a wounded squirrel, there are several things to consider.
To take care of an injured squirrel, follow these steps: handle with care, provide warmth and soft bedding, wash hands thoroughly after handling, and contact professional help from a wildlife rehabilitation center.
