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I get numerous requests for me to help people raise the baby squirrels they have found or help them with ones that have been in their possession for quite some time. I know that I have upset some people by refusing to help. And I am going to explain here why I cannot help you raise a squirrel yourself.

A rehabilitation permit gives me the authority to "possess native sick, injured or orphaned wildlife, except endangered or threatened species, for the purpose of rehabilitation and release back into their natural enviroment."

You notice it does not give me the authority to give out rehabilitation information to individuals that do not hold the proper permits. By doing so I would risk losing my permits that I had to work very hard to get.

I recently had someone tell me that they were willing to settle for "second best" for the squirrel they had found, which was to be raised by them. They refused to let me help them locate a rehabber to take the baby. There is never a reason to settle for second best where wildlife is concerned. These animals never asked to be brought into this world, a lot like our children, and we owe it to them to give them the best possible care while they are here. The first option should be to get the animals to a licensed wildlife rehabilitator as soon as you can. People must remember that wildlife babies and human babies are different and their needs are not the same.

I know there are a lot of well meaning people out there that think they are capable of raising wildlife on their own with just a little bit of instruction that they have found on a web site, but believe me it is not that simple. If it was, we would have more than enough licensed rehabbers to handle everything that comes our way. The babies demand 100% of our time and a lot of sleepless weeks, not just nights, which most people do not have as they have paying jobs.

If you are interested in helping the baby that you have found, let me or one of the Squirrel Connections locate a wildlife rehabilitator for you. If thru the experience of finding this little one, you want to learn more about wildlife rehabilitation and getting your permits, talk to the rehabilitator that you take this baby to. I am sure they will be more than happy to tell you what is involved in becoming a rehabber.

All states have different rules and requirements for obtaining rehabilitation permits, so your local rehabber would be the perfect one to give you the information or point you to the state agency in your state that issues the permits. Most states do require that you take classes and work with a licensed rehabber for a certain period of time. This is so that you have time to learn what is necessary to take care of the wildlife that you get.

I have set up an auto responder that will send you emergency care information. Send an email to Emergency Care Information and it will be sent to you. Then go to the Locate A Wildlife Rehabilitator page and contact the rehabber closest to you.

Please keep in mind that we are here to help the babies that you have found, they are our main concern. Remember something very bad has already happened in the baby squirrels life or it would not be with you. Just doing what is necessary is not enough, we as wildlife rehabilitators go way beyond that in an effort to ensure a healthy animal that can be returned to the wild. The trees and being free are their birth right, they deserve no less. So please get in touch with us and let us help you locate a rehabilitator in your area.

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