Feeding wild foods

[Oly's mom]

Hi-
I have more questions on Oly. I am trying to continue to work on his diet - and although he will NOT eat rodent block, he does like the homemade squirrel block I baked (but not the critter treats). If he eats the homemade blocks, along with his fruits/nuts/veggies -- do I have a reasonably balanced diet for him?
I am also trying to bring in as much wild food as humanly possible. I am pretty good on wild plant identification -- however, it still worries me a little. Will he have the sense to avoid something that isn't good for him? For example, I brought in some red berry clusters last night - and in looking them up, found out they were nightshade. OOPS. Fortunately I have been looking everything up prior to feeding. But, would he have eaten that if I had given them to him, or does he innately know poisonous plants?
Lastly, can anyone in the northeast give me an idea of what is edible out there now? I have brought in acorns, shagbark hickory, rose hips, pine cones, oak branches, and pine branches............and am freezing as much surplus as possible (I have 5# of acorns in the freezer!). What else can I safely collect and store?
Thanks all -
Oly's mom......and Oly!
Hopefully I can figure out how to paste in a picture of him soon!

[FallensMommie]

I use this website as a guide:
http://www.moondance-sugargliders.com/sugar_glider_plant-tree_information.htm

Also I collect wild mushrooms and have learned what he likes and doesn't like...he will only eat wild mushrooms...won't touch store bought :shakehead

...and he eats cicada insects and Florida wild grapes amongst some other things :D

[ShesASquirrelyGirl]

I also collect wild mushrooms for our squirrels. Please mind you they are poisonous to US so do not attempt to eat them yourself however they do not have the same affects on squirrels.

[Oly's mom]

OK, an attempt at an Oly picture!
:crazy


The system tells me the "upload failed" and when I try a different picture, it tells me that it exceeds the allowable size.

Can I shrink the pic somehow?

Oly's mom......with lots of Oly baby pics!

[FallensMommie]

Your photo software should have a resize option, if not we all use different things on here.

I use www.photobucket.com download picture. If you have to resize it just click on edit, resize photo...choose size, apply...save and then click on the IMG CODE and paste it inside the thread and you should be fine.

[Oly's mom]

Back to Oly's diet.....
Yes, he does not like the scones. In fact, he RAN AWAY from the first one I offered. I tried them. They are quite good! :)
He eats SOME higher calcium foods (dandelion greens) and we are working on gut-loaded crickets. However, I am unimpressed (as is he!) with a lot of the stuff I'd like him to eat. Acorns go well, as do walnuts, bananas, apples - most of the other offerings are hit or miss.
And he HATES his full spectrum UV light. Closes his nest box over with oak leaves! :nono
I just want to be beyond sure we have a balanced diet for him.......
-Oly's mom

[Feeze]

I can't help you on the diet thing. I'm still trying to figure that out myself.:thinking I can't believe he doesn't like the critter scones!:eek: What flavor of peiasure/ensure did you use? I've only used strawberry.(smells terrible:rotfl)


Is he going to be staying with you or are you releasing him? (I might have missed that part)

[Sciurus1]

I would be careful with feeding wild mushrooms, for inspite of what you have been told on that, there is evidence that poisonous mushrooms can kill squirrels. Squirrels raised by surrigate mothers will trust their judgment as to what is good for food, just as they would trust their wild mothers. It is best then NOT to give your squirrel mushrooms you wouldn't eat yourself.

[Oly's mom]

Thanks all for the replies.
I have NO trouble with tough love. It isn't a problem to put the "good stuff" in the cage in the morning and let him "deal with it" -- until evening playtime in which case he can have the "treats" as a hand fed meal. ALL of my animals learn quickly that begging and sad faces don't do much for you, so Oly won't be any different!
So if I left him in the morning with rodent block, squirrel block, an acorn, bell pepper, dandelion greens, rose hips, his trees (bark and leaves) and his calcium treats (antlers, bone, and cuttlebone).........to follow with fruits and nuts at bedtime ---- does that sound better?
I have been nervous about the wild foods -- and you confirmed it with the "surrogate mom" comments -- thanks.......and yes, I'll be careful about mushrooms. I actually won't eat the wild ones since I can't be sure they are safe (hard to ID). I can buy them at a local foods health food store for him, though, then I know they are safe.
And, I do have windows XP. I will try tomorrow again to upload some pictures, maybe I can figure out how to shrink them -- it isn't the picture size itself, rather the MB or whatever they call it (not particularly computer literate! ;)
Thanks again. Sorry to need so much hand holding. I don't want to mess anything up, this is a big responsibility! (and to the question, I am not planning to release him unless he asks me to. :)
Oly's mom

[ShesASquirrelyGirl]

The wild mushrooms I collect are local and eaten by the wildlife in the area with no ill affects. I've been using them for 2 years now so I am not worried. If you are uncomfortable then don't use them unless you see other wildlife eating them.
Mine like the others mentioned will not eat store bought.