If you find injured or orphaned wildlife:

• Call ARC for instructions or read the information provided  in this site.

• If it is determined the animal needs assistance, then:  Pick up the animal gently with gloves on;

• Place animal in a small box with soft cloth on the bottom.  Secure lid and create ventilation.

• Place a heating pad set on "low" half way UNDER the box, or a plastic bottle filled with hot water and wrapped in a cloth IN the box;

• Place the box in a quiet, dark room. DO NOT give food or water.

Baby flying squirrels fall out of nest for various reasons. The first thing to do is to put the baby in a box up off the ground, to keep domestic animals from being able to get it, and leave it  for 2 to 3 hours. If it is cold weather, heat up a water bottle or bag of rice and place it in the box with baby. This will assist in keeping him/her from getting Pneumonia.

Flying squirrels are nocturnal, the mother will only return at night to get her baby. Place the baby in the exact location that you found him/her and leave for a few hours. If the mother does not retrieve her baby after 3 hours, please call ARC Hotline, at 704-552-2329.

If you find a baby flying squirrel deposited on your doorstep, compliments of your dog or cat, the baby needs to be rescued.  As with all small wildlife, wrap the baby up in soft  towels or and old t-shirt, put the baby in a box, and set the box halfway on a heating pad set on low. You do not need to feed it; just contact ARC as soon as possible. They will care for the baby until it can be released back into the wild.

As fast as they are, dogs occasionally catch adult flying  squirrels, with disastrous consequences for the flying squirrel, or they may survive being hit by a car, but be unable to move due to a back injury. Injured adult flying squirrels can be picked up by using thick gloves, scooping them up in a towel, then carefully laying them in a box. If the back is broken or the flying squirrel is dragging both back legs, it needs to be taken to a veterinarian for evaluation. The vet can then contact ARC for its continued    care.

It is very important to cover the box containing the flying     squirrel, and keep it in a quiet place until you can transport it to a licensed rehabilitator or a veterinarian. It is very stressful for flying squirrels to be in captivity. Transport them as quickly and quietly as possible for a successful rescue.