About a month ago, we found 2 squirrels in my hot tub which was cold water and colder temps outside. They were both curled up in that fetal position they do when they hibernate. We weren’t fully sure they were deceased so we placed them in a box to warm them up with a lid with holes in it, a heat lamp in it but not right on them and we checked later that night and their eyes had went from shut to open and their bodies stretched out like normal rather than the fetal position. A week later, after researching and seeing that squirrels will often go into hibernation of a sort after a near death experience, we checked them in the box expecting they be dead and starting to decompose or at least be bloated, flies on them or have an odor like they should a week out but no, they had none of the above at all. They looked like normal sleeping squirrels. Well, it’s now been over a month, we just looked again to day and it’s the same, they look fine. I have to imagine that after all this time has gone by and nicer, Warmer days have occurred that we would see some sign of them being deceased after all this time or a smell. Which, none of these are apparent.

My question is, cab squirrels go into hibernation in an effort to save their life like that?

Next question, how would any mammal look perfectly in tact with no smell or decomposing body after all this time? I’d say it’s been now a couple months and they look fine. Not even flies around them or the area.

Can you possibly give me some insight to any of this? Is it possible they are Alive and just sleeping/hibernating in this box and if so, how long will they do this? Should we try to do something to make them wake up?

It’s really unreal how they are getting gross which makes me think there is a change they are still alive.

Thank you, Michelle