Ruffled Feathers Parrot Sanctuary Inc.
Where Hope Takes Flight
Squirrel Rescue From a Downtown Statue: One Baby Left Behind
A Very Unusual Baby Squirrel Rescue
Some baby squirrel rescue calls make perfect sense.
Others leave you wondering if somebody is playing a prank.
Around 11:00 that morning I got a call about a baby squirrel trapped inside a downtown statue. When I arrived, I found an entire squirrel family living inside the open mouth of a giant metal sculpture that looked like a fish, a whale, or maybe a combination of both. Whatever the artist intended, the squirrels had apparently decided it made a pretty good nursery.
Unfortunately, moving day had arrived.
FFor reasons I’ll probably never know, the family was suddenly forced out of the statue. During all the commotion, one tiny baby was left behind, turning an ordinary morning into an unforgettable baby squirrel rescue.
Me and Heights Don’t Get Along Anymore
If you’ve followed our rescues for very long, you probably know I’ll climb just about anything if an animal needs help.
What you may not know is that I don’t enjoy it nearly as much as I used to.
Years ago, before vertigo and inner ear damage changed everything, climbing was just another part of the job. Today I still do it when I have to, but every step requires a little more thought than it once did.
Standing there looking up at that statue reminded me of another rescue from years ago.
The Hospital Raccoon
I once responded to a raccoon sitting outside a hospital window several stories above the ground.
The plan involved multiple wet extension ladders, slick landings, and absolutely no part of it sounded like fun.
I honestly suggested just shutting the hospital room door and letting the raccoon climb inside so I could catch it there.
Nobody liked my plan.
Before I knew it, a hospital administrator who had at least thirty years on me started climbing the ladders like he did it every weekend.
Well…
I wasn’t about to let the guy in the business suit embarrass the firefighter.
By the time we reached the top, I was questioning every life decision that had led me there.
Then, as if he had prepared for this exact moment his entire life, the administrator somehow pulled a long rope out of his suit jacket. I still have no idea where he had been hiding it.
We tied the carrier onto the rope, I managed to convince the raccoon to cooperate, and together we safely lowered it back to the ground.
It all worked out, but I’ve never looked at tall ladders quite the same way since.
The Baby Squirrel Rescue Begins
This rescue wasn’t nearly as high, but it was just as unpredictable.
Before reaching into the statue, I warned everyone nearby that there was a very good chance Mom was still inside.
The words had barely left my mouth when she exploded out of the opening.
She landed on my leg like it was a launch pad, then rocketed straight toward the person filming.
I honestly thought she was about to disappear into someone’s hair.
At the very last second she twisted in midair and changed direction.
I don’t know how squirrels do that, but it’s impressive.
She circled back several times trying to reach her babies before finally disappearing into the nearby area.
Sometimes the Best Rescue Is Waiting
Whenever possible, the goal isn’t for me to raise wildlife.
The goal is to reunite families.
That’s why I didn’t immediately remove the remaining baby.
Instead, I stepped back and gave Mom every opportunity to return.
Waiting can be the hardest part of wildlife rescue because doing nothing often feels wrong.
That’s one of the hardest lessons people learn during a baby squirrel rescue. Sometimes the best way to help is simply to give Mom a chance to do what she does best.
Hours passed.
Eventually she came back and successfully moved one of the babies to a safer nest.
The second baby remained behind.
One Baby Needed Our Help
Nearly four hours later the fire department was preparing to close the gates for the evening.
By then it was clear Mom wasn’t coming back for the last little one.
That was my signal.
I climbed back up, carefully removed the baby, and made it out before they locked the property for the night.
That little squirrel is now warm, safe, well-fed, and growing exactly as it should.
Hopefully, one day it’ll return to the wild where it belongs.
As for Mom, I hope she’s out there raising the rest of her family.
If I could give her one piece of advice, though, I’d probably recommend building the next nest somewhere besides the mouth of a giant metal fish… or whale… or whatever that thing was supposed to be.
It would certainly make life easier for both of us.
What Should You Do If You Find a Baby Squirrel During a Rescue?
If you discover a baby squirrel on the ground, don’t assume it has been abandoned.
In many cases the mother is nearby waiting for people to leave before returning. Giving her time is often the best thing you can do. If you’re unsure whether a baby squirrel actually needs help, the Humane World for Animals (formerly the Humane Society of the United States) has an excellent guide on determining whether a baby has truly been orphaned before intervening.
If the baby is injured, cold, covered in flies, or the mother never comes back, contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator as soon as possible. Quick action can make all the difference.
Below you’ll find photos from this rescue, along with a video explaining what to do if you ever find a baby squirrel that may need help.
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