Protecting Southwest Florida's unique natural environment and quality of life...now and forever.

Aug 12, 2016

Landscaping? Check for baby animals

By Joanna Fitzgerald | Director of the von Arx Wildlife Hospital

Three nestling grey squirrels were among the 76 animals admitted to the von Arx Wildlife Hospital at the Conservancy of Southwest Florida this past week. Other admissions include an eastern screech owl, a laughing gull, a great egret and a peninsula cooter.

The squirrels were admitted after their nest tree was cut down. The three babies arrived in good condition but had sustained some bruising in the fall. The three babies were given pain medication and placed in an animal intensive care unit to rest.

Due to their young age, the babies need to be fed several times throughout the day and night. These babies will stay at the wildlife hospital until they are old enough to fend for themselves.

August is the start of squirrel nesting season in our area. Please check any trees before performing any trimming or removal. Squirrels can nest in a variety of trees but often nest in palm trees using bits of fuzzy brown palm fiber to make their nest.

If you hire a tree service to perform trimming and removal, ask them to check the trees before doing any work. Avoid trimming while the nest is active so the mother squirrel has time to raise her babies.

If a nest is disturbed or destroyed, call the wildlife hospital for immediate assistance. If the babies aren’t injured there is a chance of re-nesting them so the mother can continue to care for her litter.