As of: February 28, 2024, 10:28 a.m
By: Jasmin Farah
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Many squirrels are currently raising their young.
If they fall out of their nests, they also turn to us humans.
This is how you help them.
Squirrels have offspring from March to August.
The rodents build spherical nests in trees made of brushwood branches, which are also called kobel.
There the female squirrel gives birth to up to six young and raises them there for three to four months.
But for a few years now, experts have noticed that a particularly large number of young animals are falling out of their nests.
With fatal consequences.
Baby squirrels: If they cling to your pant leg, they need help
Baby squirrels can be exhausted and hypothermic and need a lot of warmth now.
© Anna Maloverjan/Imago
If the mother doesn't notice this or notices it too late, it can have dire consequences for the survival of the young.
These usually cannot find their way back to the nest, are too weak or are even attacked by other animals.
If they are left to their own devices for a longer period of time and cannot find food, there is a risk of a lack of food and, in extreme cases, even death.
For this reason, people walking through a park, for example, should be particularly careful.
You might end up with tiny baby squirrels running after them on the ground or even perhaps clinging to your trouser leg.
But why are they reaching out to people?
Do not be afraid?
This may be because they may have observed that people tend to respond kindly to squirrels and even feed them to some extent.
The young animals then take advantage of this in their desperation.
Baby squirrels: It's better to call emergency services
However, clinging does not pose a threat to us; the animals do not want to harm us.
Plus, they don't have diseases like rabies that we have to worry about.
Instead, the little ones are desperate and ask us for help.
Then you shouldn't go any further, but rather call the squirrel emergency number.
You can reach this nationwide on the mobile number 0176-55 37 68 64.
After all, the animals belong in experienced hands and the association can, depending on the location, call you a rescue center that you can contact.
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It is not recommended to do it yourself or take the baby squirrels home to foster them.
This can often result in incorrect care, which is difficult to correct later.
For this reason, you should not feed the animal or give it anything to drink.
If the squirrel cub finally becomes hypothermic, the circulation must first get going again.
Otherwise it could be life-threatening if it ingests something.
Baby squirrels: How to behave correctly
So how do I behave correctly?
It is important to first search the area for the mother animal or siblings.
When the former is nearby, she usually brings her young back to the nest within a few hours.
In the latter case, it is important to know whether the others might also need help.
They then warm the young animal.
Put it in a cozy blanket or, ideally, in a small box that you have padded with a blanket, recommends the
MDR
.
You should also make sure that there are no cats or crows nearby that could take the helpless animal.
If the mother doesn't come back, you should take the animal into a warm place and contact the squirrel emergency number.
The employees will pick it up and take care of it professionally.