Sometimes, you come across a squirrel that just looks off, and honestly, it’s hard to know what to do. If you see it moving slowly, refusing food, struggling to breathe, or showing obvious wounds or weird discharge, those are big red flags. When you notice severe weakness, labored breathing, open wounds, seizures, or if the squirrel doesn’t respond at all, it’s probably in real trouble and needs help fast.
Let’s break down the physical and behavioral signs to watch for, plus what you can actually do right away. You’ll figure out how to tell if it’s just shocked or seriously sick, and when it’s time to call a wildlife rehabilitator or vet.
How to Recognize If a Squirrel Is Dying
You’ll probably notice changes in how the squirrel moves, eats, breathes, or looks. Watch for slow or no movement, weird discharge, wounds, or a body that feels cold.
Most Common Signs to Watch For
Here’s what you should keep an eye out for:
- Lethargy: the squirrel barely moves, stays put, or can’t stand.
- Loss of appetite: it ignores food and water for over a day.
- Abnormal breathing: loud wheezing, gasping, or super shallow breaths.
- Discharge: pus or fluid coming from its eyes, nose, or mouth.
Any of these can mean it’s seriously ill or hurt.
If you see blood in its poop or vomit, don’t wait—get professional help. For more details, check out this guide on recognizing a dying squirrel (https://petshun.com/article/how-do-you-know-a-squirrel-is-dying).
Physical and Behavioral Symptoms
Take a close look at the squirrel’s body and how it acts.
- Fur and skin: patchy fur, open sores, or weird lumps could mean infections or squirrel pox.
- Movement: stumbling, seizures, or not being able to grip branches usually point to major problems.
- Temperature and hydration: cold ears or a dry mouth make you think of dehydration or hypothermia.
- Wounds: if you see broken bones, deep cuts, or fly eggs on wounds, it needs help right away.
If you have to pick it up, wear thick gloves. Put it in a quiet, warm box, and then reach out to a wildlife rehabilitator or vet.
Common Illnesses and Conditions
Some health issues pop up more often than others.
- Squirrel pox: causes skin sores and lumps, and can really weaken young or old squirrels.
- Viral infections: things like encephalomyocarditis can cause them to collapse suddenly.
- Parasites and fungal infections: if the squirrel has lots of parasites, it might lose weight and fur, and just not bounce back.
- Trauma and shock: falls, cars, or predators often leave them with internal injuries or in shock.
Treatment really depends on the problem, so you’ll want to get a wildlife rehabilitator or exotic vet to check it out.
Signs in Baby Squirrels
Baby squirrels act a bit differently when they’re sick.
- Poor warmth and motion: a dying baby feels cold, limp, and barely moves at all.
- Feeding refusal: they won’t suckle or take formula, and sometimes spit it up.
- Skin and weight: if you see thin, see-through skin, ribs, or sunken eyes, that means dehydration or not enough food.
- Respiratory distress and discharge: noisy breathing or gunk from eyes or nose usually means infection.
If you find a sick or cold baby, warm it up slowly and get in touch with a wildlife rehabilitator right away. A little rehydration might help for now, but it’ll almost always need a vet.
What to Do If You Find a Dying Squirrel
You’ll want to act fast, but don’t panic. Keep yourself safe, help the squirrel if you can, and get in touch with someone who knows what they’re doing.
Keeping the Squirrel Safe
Move slowly and try to stay calm.
If the squirrel’s on the road, grab some gloves or a towel and gently put it in a cardboard box lined with a soft cloth.
Keep the box somewhere quiet, warm, and dark, away from pets and people.
Don’t try to feed or give water unless the squirrel is awake and swallowing.
If an adult squirrel seems weak but alert, you can offer a few drops of lukewarm water with a syringe or teaspoon.
Skip the milk, bread, or any human food.
Take note of any injuries—bleeding, weird breathing, seizures, or strange behavior.
Snap a photo and jot down where and when you found it. That info can really help a wildlife rehabilitator figure out what to do.
Contacting a Wildlife Rehabilitator
Call a licensed wildlife rehabilitator or local animal control as soon as you can.
If you’re not sure who to call, search for “wildlife rehabilitator near me” or contact your state’s wildlife agency.
Let them know your exact location, what shape the squirrel’s in, and whether it’s a baby or an adult.
Follow their instructions carefully.
They might ask you to bring the squirrel in the box, or just wait for someone to pick it up.
If you’re driving, go slow and keep the box steady.
If they tell you to wait, keep things quiet and don’t open the box.
If you can’t reach a rehabilitator, try a vet who handles wildlife.
Call ahead so they’re ready.
And honestly, wild animals can carry diseases, so always wear gloves and wash up well after handling one.
How to Help a Dying Baby Squirrel
Handle baby squirrels with extra care. Honestly, they’re so fragile that even a little roughness can harm them.
If the baby feels cold, warm it up slowly. You can use a wrapped warm water bottle or set a heating pad on low under just half the box. That way, the little one can scoot away if things get too toasty.
Don’t put heat directly on its body. That’s just risky.
Check if the squirrel is dehydrated. Gently pinch the skin at the scruff—does it snap back? If it doesn’t, you might want to offer tiny drops of Pedialyte or an electrolyte mix with a syringe. Only do this if you’re sure the baby can swallow.
Never feed it formula or cow’s milk. That’s a quick way to make things worse, honestly.
Call a wildlife rehabilitator as soon as you can. Let them know how old you think the baby is, its weight if you have it, and the situation—was it alone, did it fall, or was the mom nearby?
Stick to their feeding and transport instructions. If you want the baby squirrel to have a chance, following their advice is the best move.
