Releasing Orphaned Squirrels into the Wild

How to Introduce an Orphaned Hand-Raised Squirrel to the Outdoors

Sep 9, 2008

Squirrels are among the most common hand-raised wild orphans. Many can never be truly wild, but some squirrels can be introduced to the outdoors with some success.

Squirrels are among the most common wild orphans. A baby squirrel may be orphaned if his mother is struck and killed by a car, or attacked by another animal. Squirrel babies are also prone to falls from the nest due to overcrowding or due to a storm. In fact, a large number of orphaned baby squirrels were discovered in the Gulf Coast region following Hurricane Gustav which struck the United States during the Labor Day weekend of 2008.

The decision to remove an animal from the wild is not one that should be taken lightly, but there are cases where it becomes clear that mom is not coming to the rescue and in these instances, the baby squirrel will face certain death without human intervention. Once in a human's care, a baby squirrel will loose his natural fear of humans to some degree, and in some cases, this makes it impossible for the squirrel to become a truly "wild" animal as an adult.

Factors Affecting an Orphaned Squirrel's Release

There are many factors that must be considered when deciding whether to release a hand-raised squirrel into the wild and squirrel rehabilitators must know that most squirrels will never be completely independent in the great outdoors - some will require some degree of continuing care (i.e. access to food and a nesting box) throughout their lifetime.

"The success and potential for a successful release depends on the individual squirrel," explained Dr. Michael Levine, DVM, who is experienced in the treatment and care of squirrels, raccoons and other wild orphans. He added, "A squirrel that's rescued at a very young age and requires hand feeding and intensive care from day-one is not likely to do well in the wild and these squirrels are best kept as outdoor "pets" or in a wildlife sanctuary. On the other hand, a squirrel who has been with his wild mother for a good portion of his childhood is less likely to require as much human care, and when contact and bonding is limited, this increases the squirrel's chance for release."

Wildlife rehabilitatators also recommend limiting the number of people who have direct contact with the squirrel. This will help maintain his natural suspicion of humans - something that's vital for survival. A squirrel that is comfortable approaching unfamiliar humans is not an animal that should ever be released into the wild, as this will place him at serious risk of injury and euthanasia, as it's often assumed that a wild animal who approaches humans is rabid or seriously ill.

Releasing a Hand Raised Squirrel

A squirrel's introduction to the great outdoors should be a gradual one that begins with in-cage trips to the outdoors to help re-acclimate the squirrel with the sights and sounds of the wild world. Once the squirrel is comfortable inside the cage, he can be removed from the cage and allowed to explore the outdoors while supervised. This should only be performed once a squirrel is fully furred and about 3/4 of his adult size at about twelve or thirteen weeks of age, though in-cage trips to the outdoors can begin a couple weeks sooner, providing the baby squirrel is kept warm.

Over time, the squirrel can be allowed to spend more and more time outdoors. As the squirrel becomes more comfortable, introduce a squirrel nesting box for his use. Place food and hay inside the nesting box to encourage him to spend time in the box. Also set up an outdoor feeding station and allow the squirrel to become familiar with this source of food.

As time progresses, the hand-raised squirrel can be allowed to spend more and more time outside, but food and shelter must be provided. Some squirrels will gradually become more and more independent. Others will happily live outdoors, but will always require some degree of care when it comes to food and housing. And others still will not tolerate a transition outside and it's best to find alternate accommodations for the latter type of squirrel, as placing him outside against his will will only put him at risk of serious injury or death.

The wild is always the best option for a squirrel. They are wild animals and not pets. That said, there are some squirrels who cannot live on their own. Many caretakers will opt to get the proper licensing and to care for the squirrel as a pseudo pet. For these squirrels, it's ideal to provide a sizable outdoor enclosure with some small trees and greenery to provide a taste of the squirrel's wild heritage, while also providing the safety of a nesting box and care (i.e. food) that he has come to depend upon.

Wildlife rehabilitation and sanctuary centers are an ideal option for longterm care and orphaned squirrel care assistance, so baby squirrel caretakers should strongly consider contacting a local organization to seek guidance when caring for an orphaned squirrel.