![]() ![]() Then our Medical Staff goes into action to do the intake and medical exam, and evaluate and stabilize the little ones, while our Front Desk team talks to the rescuer to determine the situation, the location (the exact tree!) and other details including permission for us to go on the property. So many people make our squirrel reunites possible.įirst the animals must be rescued by a caring person, and brought to the Wildlife Hospital. Not only do reunites save WildCare's resources for injured and orphaned animals that truly need our care, it is best for both the baby animals and their mother to reunite the family whenever possible. Even releasing healthy rehabilitated squirrels takes time and manpower. As they age, baby squirrels move into larger caging and learn to eat nuts, acorns, fruit and other things, still requiring daily ongoing care. Setting up a successful reunite attempt takes hours of time, but it is absolutely worth it when it is successful!Ī nest of eyes-closed baby squirrels will be in care at WildCare for on average 10-14 weeks! Baby squirrels must go into care with a dedicated Foster Care volunteer, who will feed them specialized squirrel formula every 3 - 4 hours while they're young. It takes years of species-specific patient care experience, as well as reunite experience, to learn how to decipher all of these pieces and put together a proper reunite plan. Thankfully those reunites were not successful so the injured animals were eventually brought to WildCare, but it would have been much better to get them into care for pain medications and supportive care as early as possible. We have many examples of well-meaning members of the public leaving babies outside all day in an attempt to reunite, not realizing that the baby had a skull fracture, wing fracture, or broken teeth. Is there an outdoor cat in the yard, is it in a construction yard, or is tree work happening?.Is the location safe enough to leave babies in a box?.In some cases, the babies need hospitalization and treatment for a few days before a reunite attempt can safely be made, and, of course, sometimes their medical issues are too extensive so they must stay in care at the Wildlife Hospital.Īdditional considerations include environmentally-specific things like: Injury - all babies should receive a physical exam by an experienced wildlife rehabilitator before attempting a reunite.Body temperature - a mother wild animal will not take back a cold baby, so it is important to know proper body temperature, and to be able to provide a safe, proper heat source if needed.Age - are the baby animals so young that they cannot thermoregulate? Or are they so old that they will climb out of a containment box?.Birds cannot pick up their young, but some owl species can climb trees before they can fly.Once baby opossums drop off of their mom's back, they are on their own. Certain species, like opossums, do not return for their young.Some considerations are species-specific. Only wildlife experts will be able to determine if a reunite is possible and if so, to decipher the best plan with the highest chance of success. ![]() ![]() Each situation has different, varied considerations and requirements. The reasons you must contact wildlife experts before attempting a reunite are many. ![]() You must always call WildCare (41) first (or your local licensed wildlife care center) for advice on your specific situation. PLEASE DON'T TRY REUNITING BABY ANIMALS ON YOUR OWN!Ī very important note regarding this story and these videos, please do NOT attempt reunites of mammals or birds on your own. We always say that we do an excellent job raising orphaned squirrels, but mama squirrel does an even BETTER job! As long as the baby squirrels are healthy and not injured, we're always ready to attempt a reunite. Especially right now, when we have 55 baby squirrels in care, we're thrilled, and grateful, when a mother squirrel takes her babies back! Every year, WildCare's Wildlife Hospital successfully reunites approximately 20% of the baby squirrels we admit, saving a tremendous number of volunteer hours and resources for the injured babies who truly need our care. ![]()
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