Rehabbed Western Gray Squirrel's Journey to a Wild Return

This young Western Gray Squirrel was found this past October, about 5–6 weeks old, after falling from her nest—likely a tree cavity—and being down for some time. She was cold and unable to move much. The kind people who found her bundled her up, and when Bob Bass from Forever Wild Wildlife Rescue arrived, he brought a warm rice sock to help stabilize her temperature. Cold babies can’t be given food or fluids until they’re warm. Becky Bass, her rehabber, saw signs of head trauma—poor mentation, abnormal pupils, and difficulty swallowing—so she was started on a head injury protocol with anti-inflammatories, pain meds, and a careful feeding plan. It took a couple of weeks before she could swallow well, but once she could, she began gaining weight quickly. By November, she was active, climbing well, and ready to wean. She was moved into the outdoor squirrel pen, which has two 10’ trees for climbing and jumping, a heated squirrel box, and a deep wooden box filled with moss to teach her how to insulate a nest for winter. She thrived there, developing strong skills and confidence. Because Western Gray Squirrels don’t hibernate and need well-insulated shelter to survive cold nights, her release had to wait until spring, once the rains stopped and nights were warmer. This past week, with the weather finally right and older trees available for shelter, we released her back into the wild—strong, healthy, and ready for her next chapter. For more information about Forever Wild Wildlife Rescue, visit their website here: https://www.fwwr.org/ If you have found an injured bird or animal, you can call the FWWR hotline at: (541) 459-4023