If you find a wild baby squirrel exhibiting any of the following signs listed below, call Willowbrook Wildlife Center at 630-942-6200.
View a list of licensed wildlife rehabilitators in your area.
Or, find information about an injured or orphaned animal you have found.
Find the information you need to assess the animal's condition, determine if it needs help and then take action.
Before you make a drive to Willowbrook Wildlife Center, call first at 630-942-6200. The animal admittance area is open 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., but call first for no-contact curbside drop-offs.
Tree squirrels in DuPage County have two breeding seasons, one in winter and one in late spring or early summer. Females under two have one litter a year, and older females have two. Litters consist of two, three or four young, which are weaned within two months. Baby squirrels stay near the female until the next litter is born.
Occasionally, fox or gray squirrels' leaf nests are destroyed by storms, and the young fall to the ground. If there is no evidence of a leaf nest, look for a cavity-type nest. Try placing the baby squirrel in a box at the base of a tree, and see if the mother will retrieve it. If she does not or the young exhibits one of the signs that it needs help, bring it to Willowbrook.
A baby squirrel found unattended should always be given a chance to reunite with its mother.
If you have helped a baby squirrel, you might experience one of the following outcomes:
Once the original den is destroyed, the baby's chance for survival is greatly diminished. Your attempt to reunite a baby with its mother gives it a second chance at survival, but it is not a guarantee.
Trapping and removing an animal is not always the solution to the problem. Removing the animal is illegal without the proper permits and only creates an open space for another animal to inhabit. A trapped adult may also leave young behind to die of starvation. Focus on removing the attraction, not the animal.
Never move young from a den.
Never use poisons. They're inhumane and may be illegal. They can also result in secondary poisoning of other wild animals or pets.
It's illegal to keep wild animals, even for a short time. They have special nutritional, housing and handling needs, and inexperienced individuals who try to raise or treat them inevitably produce unhealthy, tame animals that can't survive in the wild.
If a squirrel has already established a nest in or around the home, try the following deterrents — preferably two or three at the same time.
After a few days, pack crumpled newspaper into the entrance. If the squirrel is still there, it will pull the paper out. If the paper stays in place for a few days, repair any openings.
The visitor center, outdoor exhibit and nature trails, and surrounding Willowbrook Forest Preserve are closed until further notice. Willowbrook accepts most wildlife patients 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., but call 630-942-6200 first for no-contact curbside drop-offs.
Get tips for common issues with wildlife, and visit Living With Wildlife.
Forest Preserves
Illinois Nature Preserves
Danada Equestrian Center
Fullersburg Woods Nature Education Center
Kline Creek Farm
Mayslake Peabody Estate
St. James Farm
Willowbrook Wildlife Center
Banner image by Shane/CC-BY-NC-ND 2.0
3S580 Naperville Road
Wheaton, IL 60189
Visitor Services
Monday – Friday
8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Phone: 630-933-7200
Email: forest@dupageforest.org
Police: 630-933-7240
Email: police@dupageforest.org
Contact Our Board