4 Baby Squirrels in SD Now What

[TerryD]

Hi,
Hope you can direct me on what to do or who to call.
Yesterday 4 baby squirrels came down a tree and followeed us as we walked our dogs across the street. (attracted to our furry little dog) We shooed them out of the road, they went back up tree. But one kept following had to pick it up and put back in tree. Clearly they'd been left on their own for awhile and were thin and obviously desperate. We had seen a dead adult in road in front of this tree last week.
Came back with fruit several times that day......no momma squirrel. To make it short........we have 4 baby squirrels. From what we’ve read looks like they could be 6 or 7 weeks old. They are covered in hair, but tails not bushy yet. Can go potty without stimulation and drinking a bit of water (not gracefully, snorting somewhat) eating by themselves and holding their food. However back legs still not muscled. Yesterday they spent eating and drinking a bit. 2 babies took formula the others no. (today none wanted formula and we put small shallow dish with water in their cage.)
Today they are much better, but very tired, still hungry drinking water and sleeping lots. They come out of their box they sleep in and grab food eat and go back to sleep. Seem rather independent and I bet they wouldn't follow us and the 3 dogs again today.

Questions........
1. Is normal to sleep so much? Is assumption that it's due to the stress of past days alone correct?
2. We are in South Dakota is their a rehab person we should get these guys too? (South, east SD....... Lewis & Clark Lake area) I have looked on your list of rehab folks no one in SD. I have googled and called a few people. Be great even someone close to SD.
3. If not.........I think they're very independent and maybe we should think about a large cage outside with nesting box? I've read your posts on that and other articles on a large cage.
4. What about the coming colder weather?

We are willing to do whatever we need for the babies, whatever is best for them.
Thanks in advance for any help and direction.

Terry

[Skul]

:wave123 TD.
Great that you found us.:thumbsup
I'm going to take a guess that you may have Fox squirrels.
Main thing at this point is to maintain hydration.
Might I ask what formula you're feeding at this time?

There are many people far more familiar with youngsters, and they will no doubt pop up soon enough.
Any additional info you could provide will aid them in helping you.:)

[TerryD]

Yes Fox squirrel. Thanks for noting that, I'm sure that is important. (3males 1 female)

No formula today they didn't want any, but yesterday the two smallest took formula and it was......I'm drawing a blank, I found the name of the brand from a site on squirrel rescue, can be used for kittens as well.

Food........they are loving the half grapes, they do fine with the skins suck juice out, cucumbers, avocados, nuts, and rat/mice food, I had read from another rescue rat/mouse cubes are good nutrition and good for their teeth to gnaw on.

They are sleeping now, they pop out eat, drink a bit, and go back to sleep.
When we clean the cage.......(very large clear plastic Tupperware thing, with lid cut out and screen mesh in it, branches from trees with no pesticides, their box they sleep in, newspaper, soft blanket....they do like that one soft little blanket)
they really don't want to be messed with now by humans. Yesterday first day they were so tired and so thirsty/hungry they were very docile and needing attention. Today a different story. Which I think is good.

Thanks for responding to post so soon.

[Skul]

Generally, we don't advocate feeding "kitten" replacement.
It doesn't have the nutrients that are needed by squirrels.
A puppy replacement may be far better.
Our prefered choice is Fox Valley 32/40.
An alternative would be Esbilac, but, it would be best to mix some heavy cream and natural yogurt with it until some FV shows up.

Sleeping is what they do best. Followed by eating, then pottying.
I drift toward a younger age. Maybe closer to five weeks maybe a few more days at the most.

[crazysquirrels]

They may not have alot of energy because of poor health at this time. Once they get a bit hydrated and eat they will slowly start to move more and more.

[TerryD]

Esbilac.....That's what we used. But it had a kitten on the front of it.

Thanks for your post. I'm still hoping that perhaps there is a rehab person around our SD area even Ne. But so far no luck in finding one. we rescued a baby possum, had him for several days then found a fantastic possum rehab person in Nebraska and drove him there.

Glad to hear sleeping is one of the baby squirrels talents. I'll keep reading the Squirrel Boards archives........lots of good info.

Thanks
Please feel free to throw this way any other advice or info you feel needed.
Terry

[philomycus]

You can hydrate with non-flavored pedialyte....even put a little kayro syrup or drop of molasess on their tounge to get their blood sugar up.

Hydration is so important!!! There's a section in the emergency thread where you can readd all the details until we can find a rehabber to help you :)

Thx for saving them!!! :jump

[TerryD]

Ok will do.

Thanks
Terry

[Skul]

Esbilac.....That's what we used. But it had a kitten on the front of it.
The other one. Puppy.:D :rotfl

[Kristal]

Probably a bunch of people will chime in soon to tell you that fox valley is better. If you can't find a rehabber it will save you a lot of money, and it is better quality. I think the little guys should be nursing to about 10 weeks of age, so maybe give them formula in a little bowl if they don't trust you enough to nurse? These guys are very lucky to have found such kind people. :thankyou on their behalf. I am sure they would say it if they could :) Maybe the opposum rehabber might know of someone who takes care of squirrels?

Oh, and here is a link for the fox valley formula http://foxvalleynutrition.com/prod/details.asp?CID=1&PLID=1

[TerryD]

Thank you so much.

The possum rehab gal has moved........she was great though.

Terry

[marvin's mom]

Not sure if you saw my other post. Do you have pictures of the babies so we can tell how old they are? We would love to raise your little ones. We found our little Marvin early this spring and he now lives in the trees of our backyard and visits often. We still have Fox Valley formula in the freezer. You should not feed them the kitten Esbiliac - I know it's hard to find the right stuff around here to feed them. I believe we started with the puppy Esbiliac (which is still not very good for them). Feeding them out of a dish when they are that little could be harmful as they might aspirate. You need a 1cc syringe and it's a little easier to add some heavy whipping cream to the formula they seem to like it better. We are only about 80 miles nw of you so let me know what you want to do.:D

[Jackie in Tampa]

Not sure if you saw my other post. Do you have pictures of the babies so we can tell how old they are? We would love to raise your little ones. We found our little Marvin early this spring and he now lives in the trees of our backyard and visits often. We still have Fox Valley formula in the freezer. You should not feed them the kitten Esbiliac - I know it's hard to find the right stuff around here to feed them. I believe we started with the puppy Esbiliac (which is still not very good for them). Feeding them out of a dish when they are that little could be harmful as they might aspirate. You need a 1cc syringe and it's a little easier to add some heavy whipping cream to the formula they seem to like it better. We are only about 80 miles nw of you so let me know what you want to do.:D:Love_Icon :Love_Icon :Love_Icon :Love_Icon :Love_Icon :Love_Icon :Love_Icon :D :D :D :D :D :D :bowdown :bowdown :bowdown :bowdown :bowdown :jump :jump :jump :alright.gif :alright.gif :wahoo :wahoo :grouphug :grouphug :thankyou :Love_Icon :bowdown :multi :jump :multi :bowdown :Love_Icon
That is such a wonderful offer!:Love_Icon

[TerryD]

Thank you so much for that gracious offer.
I didn't see this post of yours till after I responded to your other email to me.

Had the squirrel rehab gal in Omaha (from the wildlife group) not gotten a hold of us this morning we would have loved to bring the babies to you.

Having these babies only 2 nites and worrying continually we are doing something horrid to them. This makes you volunteering to take this fret over mean even more. So thank you.

The kids go on their road trip tomorrow. They are doing well, they do not seem to like us. They want back out.

Thank you again for your offer.
Terry

[Kristal]

I am glad that you found them a placement :)

[Hannah]

TerryD, :wave123. I'm glad to hear you found someone to care for them. Good luck on your road trip.

[TerryD]

The 4 South Dakota squirrels are now officially Nebraska squirrels.

Dropped them off to the head squirrel rehab ga in Omahal, she had 8 she was taking care of and had released 2 already in her smaller area so she had set up 2 options for the squirrels, first was squirrel rehab people with acreage in Ponca, a very nice wooded area on the outskirts of Omaha, 2nd was to rehaber in another wooded area in town.

These rehab folks had the larger cages outside too, and if all went well wd work up to a soft release in another month. Keeping food supplied for the winter for them as well as a nesting box and I guess the cages to go back to. We donated to their organization for food. Least we could do.

I'll be interested to follow how the proceedure goes. Be interested if they come back to the box and food and for how long.

Thank you all again in this group. Those of you that take care of these little creatures are to be commended. We were stressed out just having them for 3 nights.

Terry