Can a non-nursing female nurse abandoned babies?

[397rs]

We have a 5 month old female squirrel "Rani" that was born to our 2 year old released female "Daisy". Rani was born in the wild of our backyard. Soon after Rani was old enough to leave the nest , Daisy ran her off because she was soon going to have another "batch". Daisy did have another batch but over the past several weeks, it has become evident that she is no longer nursing and we think that the babies must have died in the extreme heat that we have had.

In the mean time, Rani appears to be nursing. We know for sure that she hasn't already had babies and we are baffled at the possibilty that she is nursing. Is it possible that she has "acquired" her mother's baby(s) and is nursing them herself? Is this even possible?

[island rehabber]

It is possible. Although 'the books' say that squirrels are not good at fostering other squirrels' babies, 'the books' aren't always right. :D

[ransacklv]

:osnap that is awsome --- i did not kow that could happen :poke but suprised -- congrats? :wahoo

[TinyPaws]

I know with rats, a non lactating female will produce milk when givin nursing babies........so anything is possible....It's also possible at her young age she may have had only one or two babies.....