A baby red squirrel which was found close to death has been nursed back to health by rescuers who even fashioned a pintsize hammock for the animal.

The ‘almost-lifeless’ animal was discovered in a woodland ‘shivering, soaked and sodden’ after it was thought to had been blown out of a tree during high winds last week.

Two boys found the poor creature, who they named Stormy, near the Necessity Brae area of Perth, Scotland, on Saturday and carefully wrapped it in tissues and a plastic doggy bag before calling local wildlife volunteers.

Katie McCandless, from Missing Pets Perth and Kinross, said he is thought to be only eight weeks old.

She and volunteers swiftly arranged a ‘little cave’ for the animal – with a squirrel-sized hammock, and daily snacks consisting of nuts, broccoli and apples.

A baby red squirrel which was found close to death has been nursed back to health by rescuers who even fashioned a pintsize hammock for the animal

The ‘almost-lifeless’ animal was discovered in a woodland ‘shivering, soaked and sodden’ after it was thought to had been blown out of a tree during high winds last week

Katie McCandless (pictured), from Missing Pets Perth and Kinross, said he is thought to be only eight weeks old

Katie said: ‘We received a phone call and our volunteer Christine Faulds Quinn was straight on the case.

‘It was essential to get him warmed up – so when Christine first got Stormy, she put him down her top to get him all dried up from the rain as it’s the quickest way!

‘We always would want to help any animal, but as a protected species, him being so young, and the condition he was found in, we wanted to make sure he had the best chance of survival possible.

‘Stormy is doing extremely well and is living is the best life in squirrel paradise.’

Christine added: ‘He was literally in a poo bag and tissue and he was just absolutely drenched.

‘I just sat with him down my top and cuddled him and dried him off with a towel. We then took him to the house of one of our volunteer’s for him to look after him.’

The animal is now under the care of another volunteer who is experienced in rehabilitating red squirrels, Judith Hogg – and is being ‘spoiled with love’.

The team have confirmed Stormy will be released back into the wild in two to three weeks – in a countryside location with lots of woods, no main roads and with others of his kind.

A selection of squirrel boxes are being made by the team, which will be placed around the new area for him to move into.

Two boys found the poor creature, who they named Stormy, near the Necessity Brae area of Perth , Scotland, on Saturday

Wildlife rescue volunteers swiftly arranged a ‘little cave’ for the animal – with a squirrel-sized hammock, and daily snacks consisting of nuts, broccoli and apples

The team have confirmed Stormy will be released back into the wild in two to three weeks

A selection of squirrel boxes are being made by the team, which will be placed around the new area for Stormy to move into

Red squirrels are classed as endangered on The Mammal Society’s Red List for Britain’s Mammals due to their overall population decline.

Scotland supports 75% of the UK population, yet even there they are classed as near threatened.

About 150 years ago, grey squirrels from America were introduced in the UK. 

This has led to competition between the two species for food, with grey squirrels coming out on top and red squirrels being ‘starved out’, the trust says.

Grey squirrels also carry diseases which can kill red squirrels.

The Scottish Wildlife Trust encourages the public to report sightings of squirrels, to allow populations to be monitored.

Updates on Stormy and the other animals in the care of Missing Pets in Perth and Kinross can be found on the group’s Facebook page.