When a female squirrel encounters a baby squirrel that appears to be orphaned, her behaviour can be complex and intriguing, though adoption of unrelated young in the wild is relatively rare. Nevertheless, maternal instincts can sometimes drive the female squirrel to investigate, nurture, and ultimately care for the baby if it is indeed abandoned. This process can involve several stages, each driven by both cautious curiosity and nurturing behaviour.
Initial Investigation
Upon discovering a baby squirrel, the first thing a female squirrel is likely to do is investigate the situation. Squirrels are naturally cautious animals and are very aware of their environment. The female squirrel will likely observe the baby from a distance, trying to determine if it belongs to another nearby squirrel or if the baby’s mother will return. Squirrels are territorial creatures, and this cautious observation serves multiple purposes: it protects the female from a potential conflict with another adult squirrel, and it allows her to assess the situation without prematurely getting involved.
During this time, the female may engage in behaviours such as sniffing the baby, watching it from a safe distance, or circling the area to check for signs of a nearby nest. The initial phase of investigation could last a few hours or even days, during which the female will remain cautious, ensuring that she is not interfering with a baby that still has a mother who may be foraging or briefly away from the nest.
Determining Orphan Status
Once the female squirrel has spent time observing the baby and concluded that no mother is returning, her behaviour may shift. Female squirrels possess a strong maternal instinct, particularly if they have recently given birth themselves. The absence of the mother may trigger a nurturing response, especially if the baby squirrel appears helpless and in need of care. However, it’s important to note that squirrels, like many animals in the wild, are primarily concerned with the survival of their own offspring. Therefore, the decision to intervene and care for an unrelated baby is not common, but it is possible in rare circumstances.
At this point, the female may start feeding the baby, which usually involves nursing if she is lactating. Female squirrels produce milk to feed their own young, and if the baby is young enough, she may begin nursing it along with her own litter. The squirrel’s strong instinct to nurture and protect her young can sometimes extend to an orphaned baby, especially if it is found in close proximity to her own nest. Her feeding behaviour is a clear indicator that the female has identified the baby as orphaned and in need of assistance.
Providing Care and Protection
After taking the baby under her care, the female squirrel will treat it much like her own offspring. She will ensure that the baby is warm, protected, and fed. Squirrels are known for building nests, or "dreys," in trees, where they raise their young in safety from predators and the elements. If the orphaned baby is particularly vulnerable, the female may move it to her own nest, where it will benefit from the security and warmth that her other young enjoy.
During this time, the female squirrel continues to be vigilant, making sure that no other squirrel—particularly a rival mother—comes to claim the baby. Squirrels are fiercely protective of their nests and young, and this protective behaviour would likely extend to the orphaned baby if the female decides to raise it. She will spend much of her time gathering food, nursing, and grooming the baby to ensure its well-being.
Ongoing Monitoring and Decision to Raise
Even after adopting the baby, the female squirrel will likely continue to investigate for any signs of the original mother. While unlikely, if the baby’s biological mother were to return, a territorial conflict could arise. However, if no parent comes to claim the baby after a few days, the female squirrel may accept it fully into her family, raising it as one of her own. This ongoing vigilance demonstrates the squirrel’s cautious nature, even as she is driven by a powerful maternal instinct.
Squirrel mothers are highly attentive and caring. They feed their young with great dedication, groom them to keep them clean and healthy, and teach them important survival skills as they grow. If the orphaned baby survives under her care, it will likely receive the same attention and protection that her biological offspring would, and it will remain with the female squirrel until it is old enough to leave the nest and fend for itself.
Rare but Fascinating Behaviour
While this type of adoption is rare in the wild due to the competitive nature of survival, it is more common in captivity or controlled environments, such as wildlife rehabilitation centres, where squirrels may be placed in situations that encourage cross-nurturing. In the wild, a squirrel’s primary instinct is to ensure the survival of her own offspring, so the decision to adopt an unrelated baby is usually only made when the female is confident that it won’t threaten her own litter’s survival.
This fascinating behaviour demonstrates the complex social and maternal instincts that some animals exhibit. Though squirrels are not typically known for adopting orphaned young, cases where this occurs highlight the strength of their nurturing instincts, even in the competitive and harsh environments of the wild.
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