Weaning occurs at 8-12 weeks, but the kits may remain with their mother until the following spring. At 6-8 weeks, raccoon kits are capable of walking, climbing and running and may begin to explore alternate den sites with their mother. Their eyes begin to open at about 3 weeks of age, and at 4 weeks teeth begin to erupt. Young raccoons, called kits, are born into litters of 2-6. RaccoonĪ female raccoon will typically make her den in a tree cavity, but will sometimes occupy an attic or chimney, if accessible. Unless the mother hasn't picked up the kit after two hours, or if a squirrel is injured or acting friendly and following people or pets, it should be left alone. Keep an eye on the young squirrel from indoors or from a distance so your presence doesn't prevent the mother from returning, and so you can watch for possible predators. There is a good chance the mother will find the kit and return it to the nest herself. If the kit cannot safely be placed back in its nest, place it at the base of the nest tree on a soft, ravel-free cloth (i.e. If the kit is not injured, it should be placed back in its nest, if it is safe to do so. Tip: If you find a very young squirrel with its eyes still sealed shut, it has probably fallen from its nest. They can have multiple litters each year, so young squirrels, called kits, may be encountered any time from spring through fall. A young squirrel about half the size of an adult, with a bushy tail, is old enough to be on its own. They are not weaned until they are 9 weeks old, and they cannot survive on their own until they are at least 12 weeks old. At about 7 weeks they begin to explore outside the nest area. Their eyes open when they are about 4 weeks old. Gray squirrelĪt birth, gray squirrels are about the size of a human thumb. After you have determined the kits are not orphaned, do not keep visiting the nest as your scent could lead predators right to the nest. If the pattern has been disturbed, then you know the mother has been there to feed the kits. To determine if the nest is abandoned, you can place several grass stems or very fine twigs in a crisscross pattern over the nest and check it the following morning. Tip: If a nest is disturbed by a pet, or child or because of lawn work, the nest can be rebuilt, the kits replaced in the nest and the mother will likely return. Cottontails can have multiple litters each year so kits may be encountered any time from spring through fall. ![]() ![]() A cottontail rabbit that is about the size of a softball (4-5 inches long) with eyes open and the ability to hold its ears upright should be capable of being on its own and should be left alone. The young cottontails, called kits, open their eyes at 1 week old and begin exploring outside of the nest for short periods to nibble on the grass at about 2-to 3 weeks. To avoid attracting the attention of predators to her nest, a mother rabbit does not stay with her young but only visits the nest briefly at dawn and dusk for quick feedings. In human residential areas, these nests are often in unusual locations, such as the middle of a lawn, by a sidewalk, on a playground or in a garden. Cottontail rabbitĪ cottontail's nest is typically a shallow cup scraped into the soil, lined with some of the mother rabbit's fur and some dried grasses. To help you determine if a young wild animal is truly orphaned, refer to the bird, mammal or fawn keys for guidance on evaluating wildlife situations and choosing an appropriate course of action. For the protection of all young wildlife, please do not revisit a nest site and do not let dogs and cats near the area. The following are tips for determining whether these common animals are truly orphaned. Remember: A young wild animal's best chance for survival is with its mother! How to tell if a wild animal is truly orphaned
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