We came across this little guy while walking north on 46th Street near the intersection with Hazel at about 11:45 a.m. today. He’s small – about the size of your hand – and he has some blood on his nose. He was very scared, was clinging to our shoes and crawled up into our hands. A dead adult squirrel was lying nearby, which we assume was a relative of his.
We left him there because we weren’t sure how our pets would react. If anyone has any ideas about what to do with an orphaned squirrel can probably find him on the east side of 46th Street. He’s not shy and will walk right up to you.
November 23rd, 2012 at 12:24 pm
I have no idea if they’re open today, but this place will take him:
http://www.schuylkillcenter.org/departments/wildlife/
November 23rd, 2012 at 12:52 pm
Not there as of 5 min ago [12:40]. Nor the corpse. A couple [two] of big healthy squirrels took time to watch me off of SW corner on Hazel and another across the street from there.
November 23rd, 2012 at 1:22 pm
I second the Schuylkill Wildlife Rehab. They’re open every day until 8pm. I volunteered there this summer and took care of tons of squirrels. They’ll have him back on his feet in no time.
November 24th, 2012 at 2:52 pm
I third the SWR idea! Have taken orphaned squirrels there in the past. They do AMAZING work!!! Awesome volunteer work there! I hope this little guy makes it.
November 24th, 2012 at 5:11 pm
I appreciate that people agree there is a good place to take care of the little guy, but has anyone taken the time to call it in yet?
November 25th, 2012 at 10:57 am
Eve, did you call? I suppose not but you did take the time to write a comment which is interesting.
If you had, you would have learned that the Schuylkill Wildlife Rehabilitation Clinic is an all-volunteer organization and they are not going to come out and look for an orphaned squirrel. If someone finds the squirrel and can trap it, they can bring it to the clinic for care.
November 25th, 2012 at 1:31 pm
Anonymous (I like how we all have names here until we have some knee-jerk defensive-attack comment kung fu to do),
I did not call because the Schuylkill Wildlife Rehabilitation Clinic, which is an all-volunteer organization, doesn’t care about my phone tip. They care about someone who is involved trapping it for them. So maybe someone who has walked by or lives right there can do something about that, instead of everyone agreeing Schuylkill is a most fabulous place for someone else to take care of this with like this is a bloody Yelp review instead of a baby squirrel that needs rescue.
November 25th, 2012 at 3:49 pm
Here, I gave myself a name which could be my real name but obviously isn’t. Does that make you feel better, Eve? Do you not know how the Internet works?
If you were asking people to trap the squirrel rather than call the center, your comment was poorly worded. As for the squirrel, by now it is likely dead and eaten by a cat or the older male squirrel that probably killed its parent returned to finish the job.
There. You made me point out the obvious. Thanks to this “bloody Yelp review” more people know what to do next time and can act quickly with a trap or may be moved to donate towards the center and its good cause. Happy Thanksgiving, everyone.
November 26th, 2012 at 1:55 pm
I don’t get what all the fuss about…it’s a squirrel. They are basically rats with fluffy tails.
November 26th, 2012 at 10:15 pm
Ella – I know someone who says he traps them and then “takes them to the Schuylkill,” and I’m pretty sure he doesn’t mean the Wildlife Rehabilitation Clinic.
November 26th, 2012 at 10:49 pm
LW-I’m not advocating mass squirrel murder (unless you have an overpopulation issue like there is with deer) but if a mama squirrel dies and the baby dies later because there’s no one to take care of it, well, ‘it’s the ciiiiiircle of life’. Why are we spending time carting squirrels to a wildlife center when the school system is crumbling around us?
November 26th, 2012 at 11:34 pm
Ella, I was agreeing with you – and also with the squirrel ‘donator’ …
November 26th, 2012 at 11:59 pm
Ella,
I’m guessing the difference in the minds of most people is that the ciiiiircle of life isn’t necessarily adapted to motor vehicles, disappearing habitats, and sociopaths of all ages in great abundance. Squirrels and raccoon seem to be two of the most urban-savvy pieces of wild fluff out there, and I think it’s a pretty huge shame there’s an argument as to whether or not something should be done to help the little guy orientate for and survive the impending winter.
November 27th, 2012 at 8:29 am
Was not going to admit to this as it’s definitely one of the nuttier things I’ve done but I spent a night feeding a much younger baby squirrel Pedialyte through an eyedropper after not being able to get to the Wildlife Center before it closed for the day. Would have looked for this guy if I’d been in town.
Part of what makes this area great in my opinion is that it’s a place where a lot of people have room in their hearts and attention spans for the big, important and difficult problems as well as the smaller, easier and fluffier stuff.
November 27th, 2012 at 1:46 pm
who cares?
November 27th, 2012 at 1:52 pm
Ella; NJ: Thanks for proving once again that no good deed goes unpunished.
November 28th, 2012 at 10:39 am
The Wildlife Center does not have the staff to do mobile pick-ups, but they will take excellent care of the little guy once he is brought in.
A quick tuck into a box using a heavy towel or thick gloves, place him/her in your bathroom, five minutes to Google the Wildlife Center and maybe an hour or two to take him there and this little guy would be on his way to getting the care he needs without interrupting anyone’s life too much. Now, he’s probably laying in some bushes somewhere, in shock, cold and dying.
Now, you know what to do when you find a baby squirrel. ):
Wish I had been there to save him. Wish more people knew the basics of First Aid. Not only have I seen people behave callously toward their fellow wildlife and stray animals, I’ve seen them turn their backs on humans lying on the sidewalk having seizures! Ugh!
November 28th, 2012 at 2:37 pm
Is this a serious post?
November 28th, 2012 at 6:15 pm
Poor little guy. Most of the people on this post are heartless and lacking in humanity. Penn Vet School probably would have helped, too, or at least directed, should the initial folks who found this squirrel ever see another animal in distress.
November 28th, 2012 at 7:15 pm
Penn Vet directs people to the Wildlife Center.