New squirrel. Many questions.

[Pennyorf]

I just got another rescue grey squirrel who is nothing like the babies I raised which are now 7 months old. She is teeny tiny and fluffy. She acts grown but also acts like a baby. I'm soo confused about her age.

I typed in a lengthy description but it got erased somehow and now I am frustrated. If anyone could share there thoughts I would be happy to type in her details but right now, I hope this MSG doesn't disappear. UGH!

[Pennyorf]

She was rescued on a sidewalk after having been there for hours at a nearby beach. She actually was seeking human help and following people. Thank God a co worker of mine happened upon her.

She is teeny tiny, about 4 1/2 inches long with fluffy fur like a gerbil and fluffy tail but with all the markings of a grey. She has a squirrel head and tail. Eyes wide open and upper and bottom teeth. Her upper teeth are still very small, barely visible.

She will drink formula out of a syring but bites at it then nurses it, so she is almost weaned. She will climb and jump but will not stand on her hinds yet. She sleeps 22 hrs out of 24. She had fleas but I got rid of those immediately.

She is so different from they greys I have and raised from bare and eyes shut who are now 7 months old. She hasn't grown into her head yet and her nose turns up just a little. She acts more advanced for her age but then again not.

What is she?

[astra]

could you post a pic of her?

[Pennyorf]

I wish I could but my daughter in college has my camera.

She looks like, by her size, a five week old squirrel but fully furred in fluffy silky fur, not the laid down kind that my others had. She is fluffy like a chinchilla, but is definitely a Florida grey by her coloring, head and tail.

I'm confused because she can't be that young. Her eyes are open. She can feed herself with her paws. She can climb and jump when she is awake, which is not often. She eats great, healthy appetite. She gnaws on rat block until it is gone and then will eat the pieces. She poos and peas like a rock star.

She is bony but I'm fixing that. She is also shy and then very bold so I'm confused by her!

[patjones]

Are you sure you don't have a flyer you sure described one

[Pennyorf]

I'm not sure but don't flyers have a flap of skin under their pits that greys don't have?

[Darwin's Momma]

I am no expert by far, but maybe she's so sleepy because of what she's been through. When I found Darwin he was covered in fleas too, and I think they took a lot out of him. He was also seeking help from people. How long have you had her now? Do you have to stimulate her for her to go to the bathroom? Maybe since you can't take a pic of her, you could find a pic on the internet that looks similar to her?

[Pennyorf]

She was pooping and peeing all by herself when I got her 2 days ago and is doing great in that category. She also eats very well. I'm am so thankful for that because you could feel ALL of her bones. She was very thrisy when my co worker got her and had to get hydrated first.

[Pennyorf]

To patjones:

Her her nose looks almost like a flyer but the rest of her head, eyes, body, arms, legs look like a grey. She has normal looking grey squirrel limbs, no flaps.

Could she be a "downs" baby? What are the symptoms for that.

[Pennyorf]

BTW. She will cry occasionally, which makes me believe she is still somewhat a baby.

[Darwin's Momma]

http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=169

Not sure if that link is right, but that should be the section for downs. I went into specific ailments, and then into downs.

[island rehabber]

She sounds like a baby who has been on her own for awhile but barely surviving. Her size and fluffy fur ("kitten fur syndrome") can easily be because she has not gotten adequate nutrition out there on the beach. She is eating everything you give her because she is SO hungry -- stick with the blocks, it's rare that an older baby will take to them so you have been granted a gift! :thumbsup I will bet that as she gets stronger and her nutrition improves she stops sleeping 22/7, as well.

As for her little turned-up nose, check her teeth. I have seen several babies with those noses who were maloccluded....but not always. :) She sounds like such an adorable little survivor!

[Pennyorf]

What about introducing her to the 7 month old boy and girl squirrel? My boy is making new noises and clicking his teeth cause he smells her presence. I'm worried they would harm or kill her. Am I right? Could they ever meet?