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WALTHAM, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — A Waltham Animal Control Officer rescued an abandoned nest of baby squirrels she found on Friday. Waltham Police Department shared a video of one of the abandoned baby squirrels being fed on their Facebook page.
Deanna Gualtieri, the City of Waltham's ACO, found the nest at Elsie Turner Park and took the babies into her care. In addition to her role as ACO of Waltham, Gualtieri is also a certified wildlife rehabilitator and member of the Wildlife Rehabilitators' Association of Massachusetts and the National Wildlife Rehabilitators Association. She is also a co-founder of the Northeast Wildlife Animal Rehabilitation Coalition, according to Waltham Police. In her experience, Gualtieri has helped many animals like squirrels, raccoons, and deer become rehabilitated.
While full sized adult squirrels are independent and need no support, young squirrels rely on their mothers for food and care. If a baby squirrel approaches a person and tries to follow them, the squirrel might be abandoned and in need of help, according to the Humane Society. The organization advises to contact an animal rehabilitator in this case, so they can administer the proper care.
MassWildlife urge people not to interfere with young wild animals, as they typically do not need assistance despite their helpless appearance. Wild animals are protected by law, making it illegal to take one in as a pet.
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The Humane Society says a rehabilitator should be contacted if a baby squirrel falls from a nest, a nest falls from a tree, or a felled tree has an intact nest. They do advise to wait and monitor the baby squirrels from a distance first, as the mother may return to the babies and relocate them somewhere safe.
Many rehabilitators have specialized focuses in caring for different species of wildlife. MassWildlife provides a map by rehabilitator specialty around Massachusetts to help the public get wildlife in distress the care they need.
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