‘Twas a month before Christmas, and there on the ground Was a small baby squirrel, and good thing he was found!
In mid-November, a good Samaritan in Alexandria, VA spotted a very young eastern gray squirrel, maybe only a week old, curled up on the ground. They quickly called Wildlife Rescue League’s helpline (703-440-0800) to report their find. Volunteer Ingrid answered and asked Barbara Prescott, an experienced rehabilitator and former nurse, if she could take care of the little guy for the night. Not only could she indeed do so, but the finder was even able to transport the squirrel to her!
The squirrel had a large open wound, about an inch wide and 1.5-2 inches long, along his abdomen and chest area. The next day, after Barbara provided initial treatment, transporter Dean drove the little squirrel to Tony Rankin, chief of the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria and a fellow WRL transporter. He then brought the squirrel to Danielle Cook, a squirrel rehabilitator working in Arlington, Alexandria, and King George Counties. It was time for her to put her 5 years of experience helping squirrels to use.
The squirrel required round-the-clock care. His tendency to curl up in a ball and stretch only reopened the wound, even after Barbara managed to close it earlier. Placing the squirrel in a small cage to prevent movement and promote healing, Danielle repeatedly cleaned him, gave antibiotics and other medicines, and applied ointments to his wound.
Two weeks later, he had fully healed and was regularly eating, gaining weight, and moving around without issue. Danielle will continue housing the squirrel until he can be released in April, as he needs to grow big and strong enough to head back into the wild.
If you ever find an injured squirrel, make sure to place it in a box if possible. If it is a “pinkie” and has no fur, keep it warm with safe heat sources. If it has fur, put it in a container lined with a towel. Don’t try to feed or give water to the squirrel until speaking with a rehabilitator. And of course, call Wildlife Rescue League’s helpline at 703-440-0800 to report your find and we’ll ensure it gets swift care and treatment.
Written by Conall Rubin Thomas
Conall Rubin Thomas is a volunteer with Wildlife Rescue League.
