Squirrel Rescued From Dumpster Drainage Hole On North Fork

CUTCHOGUE, NY — A nursing mama squirrel was rescued from a dumpster in Cutchogue Thursday.

According to Jackie Roche, who runs the Broken Antler Wildlife Rescue in Riverhead with Joe Rocco, Carly Sallee of the Evelyn Alexander Wildlife Rescue Center in Hampton Bays got a call that a squirrel was stuck in a dumpster off of Cox Lane in Cutchogue.

Sallee reached out to Rocco and Roche; the non-profit group is fully equipped for heavy rescue situations dealing with wildlife, Roche said.

"When we got there to assess the situation we weren't expecting to see the squirrel actually stuck in the drainage hole. It had fallen in, and in a panic, it ran to the only light it saw — the drainage hole," Roche said. "The poor thing must have been there a while. Her face was so swollen from trying to get unstuck that we couldn't get her back through the hole; it was impossible."

Protecting her face, Roche held her so Rocco could cut the dumpster around the hole to free the squirrel.

"Once we got her out, she was assessed on-site and needed medical treatment for the swelling and dehydration," Roche said.

Kristin Elena Stephens, a licensed wildlife rehabber and licensed veterinary technician with the Veterinary Medical Center of Long Island was already heading from Lindenhurst to help; Stephens then brought the squirrel to VMCLI for treatment, Roche said.

"We then found out she was a nursing mama, so back out we went to find her babies," Roche said. "Rescue, Part 2! We are still actively searching."

According to Stephens, the squirrel had been stuck in the dumpster for days and has dermatitis from sitting in trash, as well as an older wound that had become necrotic. Her head was extremely swollen from the trauma, she said.

"She is recovering very well from her injuries. She’s very feisty today," Stephens said.

It was a happy ending for the critter, Roche said: "The squirrel is doing amazing, being kept for observation, and will be able to be released in a day or so — to get her back to her little family."