Can Squirrels Get Hurt From Falling? Rarely, by Design

A squirrel's terminal velocity is survivable and it spreads out to use it. When a fall does injure one, and what to do if you find it.

By Salma November 2, 2026 2 min read Save to Pinterest

A red squirrel braced on a branch high in a conifer — Photo: Pexels, Pixabay Content License, via Pixabay

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A squirrel can survive a fall from almost any height, and it is built to. When you find one hurt on the ground, something other than the fall is usually responsible.

The short answer

Rarely. A squirrel's terminal velocity is low — roughly 30 km/h — because drag scales with surface area while mass scales with volume, so small animals fall slowly in air. A falling squirrel also splays all four limbs and flattens its body and tail to increase drag further, and rights itself with the tail to land feet-first, absorbing the impact through loose skin, flexible joints and a light skeleton. What matters is the landing surface, not the height: paving or a road is far worse than leaf litter. Most injured squirrels found on the ground were hit by a car, caught by a cat or dog, electrocuted or poisoned, or fell because they were already ill.

Terminal velocity is survivable — around 30 km/h
They splay out to increase drag, and land feet-first
The surface matters more than the height
An injured squirrel usually has another cause
A dazed one often recovers if left alone

Why small animals fall safely

factor	effect
Drag ∝ surface area	high relative to mass in a small animal
Mass ∝ volume	low
Splayed limbs and flattened tail	further lowers terminal velocity
Tail-driven righting reflex	feet-first landing
Light skeleton, loose skin	absorbs the impact

When a fall does cause harm

landing on	risk
Leaf litter, turf, soil	very low
Shrubs, hedge	very low
Paving, concrete	moderate
Road, with traffic	high — but that is the traffic
Fence rail, railing, spike	high

Never give food or water to a cold or shocked animal

It is the most common well-intentioned mistake. A cold squirrel cannot digest, and fluids given by mouth to a dazed animal are aspirated. Warmth, dark and quiet, then a rehabilitator.

Finding one on the ground

sign	action
Moves off briskly when approached	leave it
Dazed, sitting still, no injury	watch from a distance 20 minutes
Baby, warm, uninjured	place at the tree base, keep clear, watch a few hours
Bleeding, limb dragging, flies or maggots	rehabilitator now
Cold, crying continuously	rehabilitator now
Adult that lets you touch it	rehabilitator — it is unwell

Keep the cat in

The single most useful thing while a kit is being retrieved, or a dazed adult is recovering, is to shut pets indoors for a couple of hours. The mother will not approach while a cat is watching, and most ground-level deaths of healthy squirrels are predation, not the fall.

Common questions

Can a squirrel be hurt by falling?

It can, but far less easily than its size suggests. A squirrel's terminal velocity — the fastest it can fall through air — is low enough that it is generally survivable, roughly in the range of 30 km/h, because drag scales with surface area while mass scales with volume, and small animals come out well on that ratio. A squirrel can in principle fall from any height and walk away.

Does it do anything to help itself?

Yes. A falling squirrel splays all four limbs and flattens the body and tail, which increases drag and lowers terminal velocity further, and it uses the tail to right itself so it lands feet-first. The landing is then absorbed by loose skin, flexible joints and a light skeleton. Flying squirrels take the same principle to its conclusion with the patagium.

So why do I sometimes find an injured squirrel on the ground?

Because what is beneath the fall matters more than its height. Landing on paving, a road or a fence rail is a different event from landing on leaf litter or turf. Most ground squirrels you find injured have not simply fallen — they have been hit by a car, caught by a cat or dog, electrocuted, poisoned, or have fallen as a consequence of already being ill.

What about a baby squirrel on the ground?

That is the common case and it is usually not a fall injury. Kits fall or are blown from a drey, and the mother will normally retrieve one that is warm, uninjured and left where she can reach it. The correct action is to put the kit somewhere safe and sheltered at the base of the tree, keep people and animals away, and watch from a distance for a few hours before intervening.

When does a fallen squirrel need help?

Visible bleeding, an obviously broken or dragging limb, flies or maggots, a cold body, continuous crying, or an animal that does not move away when approached. Any adult squirrel that lets you get close is unwell for some reason. The answer in all those cases is a licensed wildlife rehabilitator rather than first aid — and never food or water, which is actively harmful to a cold or shocked animal.

Can a squirrel be stunned rather than injured?

Commonly. A squirrel that falls awkwardly may lie still for a minute or two and then recover entirely. Giving a dazed animal space and time is usually the right response: do not pick it up, do not put it in a box, and check again after twenty minutes from a distance before deciding anything is wrong.

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A five-striped palm squirrel splooting — lying belly-down on a stone with its legs stretched out flat behind it

Backyard Animals · Sep 30, 2026

Can Squirrels Get Hurt From Falling? Rarely, by Design

Why small animals fall safely

When a fall does cause harm

Finding one on the ground