A nestling grey squirrel was among the fifty-six animals admitted to the von Arx Wildlife Hospital at the Conservancy of Southwest Florida this past week. Other admissions include three royal terns, a sanderling, a barn swallow, a white-winged dove, a mottled duck, a black racer and a marsh rabbit.
The von Arx Wildife Hospital is open everyday from 8am to 7pm. Call 239-262-2273 for wildlife help. We are located at 1495 Smith Preserve Way in Naples, FL.
The nestling grey squirrel was found on a sidewalk by a man out for a morning walk. Although there was a delay in admission time because the rescuer had to work and lived in Ft. Myers, he handled the situation perfectly. He kept the young squirrel in a quiet, warm, dark area until he was able to transport to our facility and he didn’t offer the baby any food or water.
The squirrel was curled up in a ball when admitted. The nestling was in fair body condition, had dried blood around both nostrils and a small laceration on his left cheek. Staff provided pain medication and settled the nestling in an animal intensive care unit to rest for the night.
The following morning, the nestling received another dose of pain medication and was syringe fed a milk replacement formula diluted with electrolytes in order to slowly rehydrate the nestling. While the squirrel was slow to nurse at the first feeding, he eagerly nursed at all subsequent feedings. Due to his young age, the squirrel requires multiple feedings throughout the day and night.
The nestling no longer required pain medications after two days of treatment and care and shortly after that, the nestling was strong enough to move to a recovery space with another single squirrel nestling of similar age. The two nestlings bonded immediately.
Please note, we are currently in grey squirrel breeding and nesting season.
Take actions that will prevent injuries, check trees before trimming and look through any vegetation that has been blown from trees after storms to ensure no babies have been displaced from their nests. Cats also injure many baby mammals so please, never allow cats to roam outdoors unsupervised.
If you find an injured or orphaned baby mammal, please bring it to the wildlife hospital for immediate professional care. Never attempt to care for an orphan baby animal. Baby animals are incredibly delicate and require consistent care with constant monitoring to ensure no medical issues develop such as respiratory infections, bloat or diarrhea. Diarrhea requires accurate assessment and quick action to prevent malnutrition, dehydration and death.
State and federal permits are required to care for injured, sick and orphaned wildlife because wild animals have specific husbandry and dietary requirements. The average person is not equipped to meet the needs of a wild animal and the information found on the internet is typically inaccurate. The vast majority of home care situations result in animals suffering greatly even though the rescuer had good intentions.
Never hesitate to call the wildlife hospital if you find an animal in need of assistance. Hospital staff will provide guidance and determine the appropriate course of action.
Recent Releases
A Florida softshell turtle, a Florida red-bellied turtle, two eastern cottontails, a red-bellied woodpecker, a brown thrasher, two burrowing owls, a mourning dove, two Virginia opossums, and a northern mockingbird were released this past week.
Opportunities to Help
Please visit the Conservancy website to view all the great work being accomplished at the Conservancy of Southwest Florida. The von Arx Wildlife Hospital receives no local, state or federal funding. Our work is supported through memberships and donations. Your volunteer time, donations, and memberships are vital in helping us continue our efforts to protect Southwest Florida’s water, land, wildlife and future.
Joanna Fitzgerald is the Director of the von Arx Wildlife Hospital at the Conservancy of Southwest Florida, 1495 Smith Preserve Way, Naples, Florida 34102. Call 239-262-2273 or see conservancy.org.