With the temps swinging between the 40s and the 60s, it's tough telling if it's winter or spring around here lately! But the critters seem to know what time of year it is, and according to the squirrels, it's spring baby season!
Colorado is home to 3 kinds of tree squirrels-the red fox squirrel (most commonly seen in our area,) the Abert's squirrel that is found in coniferous forests, and the pine squirrel, or chickaree, found in high timber areas.
Along with the recognized types of squirrels, from time to time in Colorado we see tree squirrels with quite a variety of coloration, from peachy-marmalade color to jet black, and shades in between.
The fox squirrel, though a tree squirrel, spends a considerable amount of time on the ground. The Abert's squirrel spends most of its time in the trees. Both squirrels are diurnal and neither squirrel hibernates. Fox squirrels consume fruits, nuts, seeds, buds, and other food. The Abert's squirrel consumes its tree and parts thereof. Fox squirrels stash and bury food, Abert's squirrels don't.
Our phone is ringing with calls regarding orphaned (?) baby squirrels. Sometimes they're orphaned, sometimes not. Since the mother squirrel is the best parent for the job and since State law prohibits people from keeping any and all wildlife they find, an important job at Ellicott Wildlife is determining if indeed the baby is truly orphaned or not. Ideally, as with ALL wild animals, the baby belongs with its mother. Fox squirrels are currently having their first batch of babies right now. Problems are happening because of our windy weather blowing the nests apart and also the squirrels outgrow their nest and begin falling out of trees. Of course, there are the usual problems with predators like hawks and corvids (jays, magpies, crows, and ravens) preying upon those babies as well. This is a difficult time for those babies!
But Mother Squirrel has a bail-out or contingency plan of her own-she has more than one nest, just in case! Mammals are able to smell your hands on their babies so minimal handling is critical in helping to reunite the babies with their mother. Wearing gloves protects the babies as well as yourself. If the baby is obviously injured, it needs medical attention and likely a rehab situation-please call us or visit us at www.ellicottwildlife.com to find a licensed squirrel rehabber near you-for immediate care. We make every reasonable effort to allow the mother squirrel the opportunity to retrieve her babies and move them to the other nest nearby. We take a small box, place clean, soft towel in it, place the babies in the box, and leave the area while closely observing from inside, if possible, to see if the mother indeed comes and moves her babies. When that happens, we call that success!
However, unfortunately sometimes the mother squirrel has had an accident and is not able to return for her babies. The male is not going to raise those babies! Babies are sometimes yelling from their nests, falling from their nests in search of their mother, and are found by concerned individuals cold, weak, lethargic, dehydrated, and highly stressed. Sometimes, just like adult squirrels, the babies have suffered injuries from falling from trees; broken backs, pelvises, and extremities. These babies need help from qualified and licensed caregivers, as in veterinarians and wildlife rehabilitators.
There are precious few squirrel rehabbers state-wide and this is a significant problem. The number of baby squirrel calls far exceeds available baby squirrel caregivers. Carefully determining which babies really need to come to rehab helps give the most squirrel babies the best opportunity for success. Baby squirrel feeding schedules and regimens from veterinarians must be adhered to, and this is quite time-consuming. Properly raising and socializing squirrels for their ultimate release back to the wild requires experience and skill. It is very important that all wild babies, including squirrels, be cared for preferably by their natural parent and if that isn't possible, by licensed wildlife caregivers.
Squirrel babies are the first babies of the season. Over the next several weeks and months, more wild babies will turn up needing help, including birds, raccoons, foxes, and others. Please contact us if you need help with your wildlife situation.
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www.ellicottwildlife.com
P.O. Box 75069
Colorado Springs, CO. 80970
719-683-8152