Petnick
08-14-2011, 10:36 AM
12 days ago I found a baby red. Our neighbor's dog had found it and was " playing" with it by picking him up in his mouth.
I warmed him, gave him pedialyte then Esbilac and he now a very healthy looking dude. He opened one eye two days ago and the second one yesterday. He is a very enthusiastic eater! His name is Merlin. I can't post pictures now as I am not home and my only access to the Internet is with a 3G iPad. I will be home at the end of the month when school starts (I'm a high school teacher). I am presently at my mum's cottage surrounded by reds, but when I go home I will be in a place where there only are grey squirrels.
My plan all along is to release him, but since I live in Canada (Quebec), I don't think he will be ready in time for the winter. So I am thinking or releasing him next spring/summer when I come back to the cottage.
This is the first time I have taken care of a squirrel, but I've been taking care of hamsters, guinea pigs and rabbits for years.
Question 1
When I first got him, I wore gloves but now I don't. I just wash my hands after handling him. My family is afraid that he night be full of " sickness" and that I may catch something from him or that he may have lice or something. Should I be worried? If so, what should I do?
Question 2
I found a PDF article that tells what to feed him, but the article is about greys. Is the feeding info the same for reds? Right now he is on formula and the longest he goes without a feeding is 6 hours. When should I start with other foods? I keep reading about rodent blocks. I went to the petshop and the only blocks I saw were for hamsters. What kind of blocks should I get? I keep reading about booballs. What are those?
Question 3
Right now he is living in a cardboard box with a heating pad and tshirt fabric. I plan to get him polar fleece. I know he will need a cage for the winter. I saw a nice, big ferret cage (about 3 by 2 by 4 1/2) but it had plastic levels and tubes. I'm thinking he will chew all that. I also saw a smaller ferret cage with metal levels and ramps but a plastic bottom. What should I get him? I plan on releasing him in the spring/summer, so the cage is for the winter. What would be a good size for red (cute) squirrel?
Question 4
He is alone, so I do spend some time petting him and rubbing his tummy so he has some interaction with another living being. Is it ok for a squirrel to be raised alone?
Thank you for your help!
I warmed him, gave him pedialyte then Esbilac and he now a very healthy looking dude. He opened one eye two days ago and the second one yesterday. He is a very enthusiastic eater! His name is Merlin. I can't post pictures now as I am not home and my only access to the Internet is with a 3G iPad. I will be home at the end of the month when school starts (I'm a high school teacher). I am presently at my mum's cottage surrounded by reds, but when I go home I will be in a place where there only are grey squirrels.
My plan all along is to release him, but since I live in Canada (Quebec), I don't think he will be ready in time for the winter. So I am thinking or releasing him next spring/summer when I come back to the cottage.
This is the first time I have taken care of a squirrel, but I've been taking care of hamsters, guinea pigs and rabbits for years.
Question 1
When I first got him, I wore gloves but now I don't. I just wash my hands after handling him. My family is afraid that he night be full of " sickness" and that I may catch something from him or that he may have lice or something. Should I be worried? If so, what should I do?
Question 2
I found a PDF article that tells what to feed him, but the article is about greys. Is the feeding info the same for reds? Right now he is on formula and the longest he goes without a feeding is 6 hours. When should I start with other foods? I keep reading about rodent blocks. I went to the petshop and the only blocks I saw were for hamsters. What kind of blocks should I get? I keep reading about booballs. What are those?
Question 3
Right now he is living in a cardboard box with a heating pad and tshirt fabric. I plan to get him polar fleece. I know he will need a cage for the winter. I saw a nice, big ferret cage (about 3 by 2 by 4 1/2) but it had plastic levels and tubes. I'm thinking he will chew all that. I also saw a smaller ferret cage with metal levels and ramps but a plastic bottom. What should I get him? I plan on releasing him in the spring/summer, so the cage is for the winter. What would be a good size for red (cute) squirrel?
Question 4
He is alone, so I do spend some time petting him and rubbing his tummy so he has some interaction with another living being. Is it ok for a squirrel to be raised alone?
Thank you for your help!