Blue Ridge Wildlife Center Patient of the Week: Eastern Gray Squirrel

Photos / BRWC

It’s officially ‘baby season’ at BRWC! We have our first infant squirrels of the season. The arrival of baby squirrels marks the beginning of ‘baby season’ for wildlife rehabilitators across Virginia.

Though we have received many calls about baby squirrels already, most have not needed to come in for care. This patient came to the Center with four siblings, all 1-2 weeks old and weighing only 28 grams. However, it’s possible that these babies did not need to come in for care…

In every case where babies may need help, our staff tries to assess the situation with the finder to determine if the babies need rehabilitation, or better yet, can be reunited with their parents.

This time, we were unable to get the information we needed. The finder was not the homeowner, but a contractor doing work on the property. These babies were found in a nest when a fan was being removed from a ceiling. According to the finder, they were told that the mother was dead, but could not provide proof or any contact number by which we could confirm this was the case. When asked for more information, the finder refused to provide it and left.

It’s possible these squirrels may still have a mother present in the area or just outside the home that could’ve cared for them—but we will never know, and now these squirrels will have to be raised by us. Though we provide the highest quality of care possible, we are not mother squirrels and we will never have the success rate their mother could achieve.

We’re always happy to be that second option for animals if they truly need it, but please be patient with us when you call and we inquire for more information—we just want to do what’s best for them. If you find a baby squirrel, please follow our flowchart to determine what to do!

Each year, our patient load increases, with babies and juveniles making up over 60% of the total intakes.

Why is this significant? Young patients require extra daily care, specialized diets, and are typically in care longer.

If you are able, please consider donating an item from our Baby Registry to help these little ones and the 1,000+ we expect to care for in the coming months!

Looking for an easy way to help native wildlife? Become a monthly BRWC donor! For as little as $5/month, you can provide year-round, sustainable support that helps us fulfill our mission.