We found a sweet little man! A few Questions...

[Christie189]

Hi everyone. I'll start by saying that we have had this little guy 2 days now. I have read and read and there is a wealth of information here. We already have Ebsilac (powdered) and right now, we are using a syringe with a longer type nipple attached. He has been eating little bits about every 3-4 hours. He is proving rather difficult to feed, but I think he is getting the hang of it. He is not suckling much, we have to drop a little bit into his mouth and wait for him to swallow. It's a long process, but worth it. The whole aspiration thing has me a wee bit nervous, but we are taking it real slow and following his lead. I looked at the age chart and he seems to be about 3-4 weeks old? His eyes are not open as of yet. And all he wants to do is sleep, I assume this is normal for this age? Does anyone know how much formula this little guy needs and how long between feedings at this age? Assuming he is about 3-4 weeks. We are stimulating his "goods" after he eats, and he has went pee/poo. It takes a little while to get him to go...

He did have fleas when we found him. We picked them all off, dropped them in a cup of water and carefully wiped him down with a bit of Adams Flea Powder that I oddly already had when we had our dog. We no longer have a dog - just an outdoors cat, who prefers it that way. I also read that is what to use on Squirrels. Or it doesn't matter?

Here is a picture to help determine:








We do know that he weighs 88.5 grams!

It is a boy and that wasn't hard to determine.

We have a HUGE mulberry tree in our backyard and my husband found him outside beneath the tree. We tried to leave him there, hoping his mama would come back for him, but no luck. He cried and cried with this "Peep-Peep" sound. It started getting dark and there was no sign of her. Sooooo, we took over and brought him inside. We tried again the next morning and several hours later, no luck. It was breaking my heart into pieces. Also, there is quite a few stray dogs and cats that frequent our neighborhood and that really worried me. We have a hamster cage (for the time being) and we took the advice of many here, we put a heating pad on one half of the cage (on low) between a fleece blanket and he seems content. I had some fluffy rodent bedding that we tucked inside of a little cozy bed that he is all curled up in. He doesn't seem sick or anything at all, which is great. He twitches a good bit but I also read that is normal for this age, something about energy and his eyes being closed? I forget some things after reading so much!

I believe I read that keeping this little guy is legal in the state of IL, with a permit. How does one go about getting a permit to have him as a pet? My husband had a pet squirrel years ago and throughly enjoyed the experience...

I hate to say that I am already attached to this little guy, but I guess maybe the middle of the night feedings can do that?

[Momma Squirrel]

Christie, husband and that precious little baby. I am so glad you guys have taken him in it sounds like you are doing a great job Just wanted to say HI and I will let the more experienced step in and help you out on the particulars. Great pictures, such a sweetheart, have you though of a name yet??

[Christie189]

Thanks so much for the warm welcome!

No name as of yet. I guess we need to get to know his little character first and then go from there. I told my husband that he can name him. I am sure it will take him a few to think of one that he likes. The squirrel that he used to have was named Sammy. Can't use that one again.

I am so worried about this little guy. But my husband tells me that I am a worrier by nature. Doesn't make caring for this wee baby easy. But he is adorable!

BTW, my name is Christie. My husband's name is Ken.

[Dancingsquirrel]

Welcome Christie and Ken! Thank you for being such careing animal lovers and a great photographer to boot!

[rippie-n-lilgirlsmom]

to the board and what a precious baby boy!

[acorniv]

Christie,

Your adorable little guy looks beautiful! Keep it up.

I'm new here myself, and these folks have been a HUGE help to me and my little Miss Hickory. You are in the best hands here

Miss Hickory was just a little older than your guy when she was found Her eyes were open, and her ears a little more adult like, but otherwise abotu the same. She was healthy but emaciated, so had gone hungry a long while. This is her first feeding, to give you an idea of what a super eager baby looks like:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ubbEkSySAA8

When my son was born, I learned pediatricans rate how eagerly babies nurse. I've forgotten all the names, but the most eager are called barracudas (this is official language!) and that is what MH is. Yours might just be younger and more polite, or perhaps one of the experienced people here might have some suggestions. I know there are lots of different syringes and nipples, etc. You want to stay small ( 1 or 2 cc syringes to start) so you don't aspirate him, and never force the formula down him. Try to get to know his swallowing pattern and work in concert with him, giving him time to rest every few swallows if he needs it.

Have you been to Chris's website for squirrel supplies? They have a set of syringes and nipples you can buy to find out what works best for your guy.

Before deciding to keep him as a pet, read as much as you can about what that means. Since getting MH two weeks ago, I have met doxzens of peopel who have had them. I had NO idea they were such a common pet - or should I say ~attempted~ pet. Everyone has a story or a dozen stories to tell me about serious mischief (look at this scar! It went all the way through my finger!) or tragedy. I met one man who told me his friend raised a baby racoon and when it hit sexual maturity and got aggressive ( as virtually all wild animals do) he felt betrayed and beat it to death. Know your own limits, how well you will able to meet his needs for life ( this might not be the best pet to have around babies, for example) and what quality of life he will have with you vs out in the wild. He will miss out on the pure joy of swinging through the trees and developing a relationship with his own species. As social as they are, this is a serious consideration. Squirrels are not domesticated and as sweet and baby like as they ae now, they are just that wild later. I am already seeing it, and my baby is just 8 (?) weeks old!

If you want one as a pet, consider getting rehab certified and finding one that cannot be released to the wild due to health issues. That way everybody wins

Having said that, I TOTALLY relate to those maternal instincts. Mine has the temperament of my first born child, and boy is that ever bringing back memories and longings! Plus she is just so darned cute, I can hardly stand it. But because of that, I want her to have the best life she possibly can.

Oh - a word about bedding. I don't know if squirrels ever eat it, but we just lost a hamster to supposedly 'proven safe' stuffing she ingested. In that experience we learned one should never give them any loose bedding that does not dissolve easily iin water (think toilet paper).

What we use, and I HIGHLY recommend this, is a fuzzy bedroom slipper. MH LOVES them. They are very snuggly, make a great first playground, can be adjusted by eve very small squirrels for warmth ( she sleeps in it, on it and under it, depending) and the size is just right. Best of all, that critical first week, is it feels like Mom. MH's first one was silky, and she liked to run her paws through it and muzzle it looking for a nipple. She never nursed on the fur, but I used a wig brush and brushed it realy well after each washing, just to make sure. Her new one is thiick and fuzzy, like a good quality stuffed animal. It's made by Dearform and she loves the part that cups the heel - perfect for curling into and feeling that proporecptive feedback that you get form a ple of sibs The other advantage is she has a cave, to call safety in. This is where her treats are taken straight off, and where she herself goes when there is a loud noise or whe wants to play hide and seek with us. You can see her playing with her slipper in the second video at the link I gave.

The third pair are frogs. Seriously - silkscreened nylon frogs - with big plastic eyes. They are not warm, so are just for play, unless she gets really hot, and wants to sleep there. I'll get soem photos because seeing a squirrel play in a big frog is pretty funnny!

So far, I've found all three pairs, brand new, at Goodwill. They are a popular Christmas gift that people do not want, and this is the season to find them. It's too warm now ( at least in Georgia~!) to find them in most other stores.
I got a seam ripper and removed the rubber sole from each slipper and pulled out the foam padding. We keep one in her box and the mate in the wash at all times. I also cut baby washcloth sized squares from a fiber fill baby blanket and she likes to pull them over the entrance to her cave when she is sleeping. This is safety instinct - when she is grown we'll give her an outdoor box with a door she can shut.

Enjoy him, and I look forward to watching I grow up

Laurel.

[squirrelsrule&bunniestoo]

Welcome to the squirrel board! He is a very cute little guy. I happen to have a fox squirrel that is the same size as your little guy. She weighed 87 grams this morning. I am feeding her 4 times a day and she can take between 5 and 6 ccs per feeding (she always wants the 6 ccs). It will probably take him a few days to get used to you feeding him, so don't worry that he doesn't suck it down very quickly. You will want to listen to his breathing and make sure there is no clicking though, because if there is he could have pneumonia (mine had it when I first got her).
As for keeping him as a pet, I would think long and hard before making that decision. A pet squirrel is a huge long term commitment as anyone on the board that has a pet squirrel can tell you. I would not recommend keeping him if he is healthy, which it looks like he is. When he grows up and matures, he will want to live a regular squirrely life in the trees.

[TexanSquirrel]

You can't use Sammy because we already have a Sammy on here! You'll have to watch LynninIN's videos of him sometime. I personally like Reese, that way when he makes poopies they are Reese's Pieces!



And welcome to the board. We're thrilled to have you and the little guy. He is absolutly precious! Are you sure it's a boy though? Is his wee-wee kind of in the middle of his tummy or down between his legs?

[acorniv]

You can't use Sammy because we already have a Sammy on here! You'll have to watch LynninIN's videos of him sometime. I personally like Reese, that way when he makes poopies they are Reese's Pieces!



> Are you sure it's a boy though? Is his wee-wee kind of in the middle of his >tummy or down between his legs?

Yup, when I got MH the poor little thing was so emaciated her lady bits hug loose from her body and looked like what shuld be on a boy. She was Hercules Hickory for a week, because we thoguth she was male and she likes to get under her slipper and do push ups. But I kept calling her 'she', so I think I knew Finally this board helped me sort it out. Girls are rather prominent but it's down between the legs, compared to boys. The boys don't have discernable testicles until later.

Laurel

Laurel