Squirrel baby just opened eyes Feb. 14..... Next?????

[Coralreefer]

Hello everyone.

This board has been a big help.
I used to volunteer for an animal rescue in Ft. Lauderdale about a decade ago called the Wild Bird Care Center so I had some rehab experience but squirrels were new to me and this site has been a blessing. Great info that got me through the 3 weeks leading up to the time this baby squirrel we found opened his eyes. We found this baby under a tree. Tried to reunite the mother and baby by putting him in a box under the tree but the mother was never to be seen. Not sure what happened to her but we've taken care of the little one since.

He seems very healthy and plump at this point. Used the Fox valley and were now ordering the Henry's healthy Squirrel blocks for him moving forward. That said, there is a lot of information on this site for small baby's but once they open their eyes I imagine this is a whole different ball game. At this point I'm wondering what to do.

He's been living in a little shoe box with a Tshirt and blanket. Sleeping most of the time. That's going to change soon as he continues to develop. So what's next?

Do I keep him inside?
Do I buy a cage and place it outside to
start to adjust him to the outdoors?
Is there any ways to help this little one learn some skills for the potential of releasing him as an adult that could survive outside?

While my wife and I have fallen in love with this little guy we both realize it's best if he can be released when he's ready.
Just looking for some strategies or a schedule of things to do to prepare this guy for that day moving forward.
Anyone have suggestions?

The little guy is named Pee Wee by the way.

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Thanks for any info.

[stepnstone]

:Welcome to TSB
Thank you for taking care of little Pee Wee and wanting what is best for him. :grouphug

Feb 14th eyes opened and they do so at 5 weeks, he is barely six weeks of age.
You'll have a while before he goes outside for the process of a soft release, approx
@ 4 months of age, when that time comes we'll help you through it.
In the meantime you will need a decent size cage for indoors, 1/2" bar spacing is
recommended so he can not wrap his mouth around them and damage his teeth.
He will also need a nest box or sleep cube, branches for climbing skills and
for chewing to keep his teeth trimmed.
Glad you have ordered the HHB's. Diet is very important and just as important
that he is eating his block well before introducing other foods, veggies, etc.
Fleece is the recommended material for warmth and to snuggle under.
No towels or material with loops he can get his claws caught up in and damage feet.
Also a stuffed toy for play and comfort, one with a polyfill, no beads or other
substance that could be harmful.

I'm including 2 links, one of the healthy diet, the other to give you an idea on what a
soft release entails.

http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?44440-Healthy-Diet-for-Pet-Squirrels

http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?41071-SOFT-RELEASE-The-How-to-Sticky

[Rhapsody]

Thanks for finding and taking care of this little guy so far. Remember to feed hims 5-7& of the Fox Valley every 4-5 hours, you can skip the night feeding at this age. He may still need to be stimulated for a few more weeks to help him go potty, but nothing past 2 weeks should be needed. Do not add any other foods to his diet until you see that he has taken to the hhb blocks well after you introduce them at 8 weeks old. Keep feeding him the Fox Valley until he is ready to wean himself, which could be any where around 14 to 16 weeks old..... if he desires to drink the FV past this age it is fine.

You will need a safe wire cage for him (bar space no bigger than 1" apart), a glass water bottle, a nest box, a fleece blanket for the bottom of the cage, feeding bowl and some branches for him to climb on. Once he starts to eat other foods on a regular basis, you will feed him 3x a day (breakfast, lunch , dinner). He will stay will you inside in a cage placed near a window for sun light until he is 4 months old...... then you will place him outside in a larger release cage for a month while he wilds up --then he will be ready for release.

During the 30 days he is outside in the release cage wilding up you will no longer have direct contact or play with him any more --you practice "Feed & Leave" --where you only see and talk to him when you bring food or water...... then you leave the area. If after 30 days you do not feel your squirrel is ready for release, he can remain in the release cage longer.

I am in Lakeland --so please let me know if you need any help with your little guy while you are taking care of him or during the release period.
I just released 2 of my 5 Winter babies today....... :)


Squirrel Diet:
http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?44440-Healthy-Diet-for-Pet-Squirrels

Soft Release:
http://mothernaturesrescue.webs.com/release.htm

[farrelli]

Btw, two more points, a lot of people are paranoid that they shouldn't love on their squirrel because it will adversely effect them on release, but it doesn't and they need the love and attention. Also, they should not be exposed to dogs and especially cats because they need a serious fear of them when they're on their own. Cats are especially dangerous because their saliva is toxic.

[Sweet Simon's Mommy]

He needs to be with others, not alone....

[Coralreefer]

:Welcome to TSB
Thank you for taking care of little Pee Wee and wanting what is best for him. :grouphug

Feb 14th eyes opened and they do so at 5 weeks, he is barely six weeks of age.
You'll have a while before he goes outside for the process of a soft release, approx
@ 4 months of age, when that time comes we'll help you through it.
In the meantime you will need a decent size cage for indoors, 1/2" bar spacing is
recommended so he can not wrap his mouth around them and damage his teeth.
He will also need a nest box or sleep cube, branches for climbing skills and
for chewing to keep his teeth trimmed.
Glad you have ordered the HHB's. Diet is very important and just as important
that he is eating his block well before introducing other foods, veggies, etc.
Fleece is the recommended material for warmth and to snuggle under.
No towels or material with loops he can get his claws caught up in and damage feet.
Also a stuffed toy for play and comfort, one with a polyfill, no beads or other
substance that could be harmful.

I'm including 2 links, one of the healthy diet, the other to give you an idea on what a
soft release entails.

http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?44440-Healthy-Diet-for-Pet-Squirrels

http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?41071-SOFT-RELEASE-The-How-to-Sticky



Great stuff.
Thank you!

[Coralreefer]

Thanks for finding and taking care of this little guy so far. Remember to feed hims 5-7& of the Fox Valley every 4-5 hours, you can skip the night feeding at this age. He may still need to be stimulated for a few more weeks to help him go potty, but nothing past 2 weeks should be needed. Do not add any other foods to his diet until you see that he has taken to the hhb blocks well after you introduce them at 8 weeks old. Keep feeding him the Fox Valley until he is ready to wean himself, which could be any where around 14 to 16 weeks old..... if he desires to drink the FV past this age it is fine.

You will need a safe wire cage for him (bar space no bigger than 1" apart), a glass water bottle, a nest box, a fleece blanket for the bottom of the cage, feeding bowl and some branches for him to climb on. Once he starts to eat other foods on a regular basis, you will feed him 3x a day (breakfast, lunch , dinner). He will stay will you inside in a cage placed near a window for sun light until he is 4 months old...... then you will place him outside in a larger release cage for a month while he wilds up --then he will be ready for release.

During the 30 days he is outside in the release cage wilding up you will no longer have direct contact or play with him any more --you practice "Feed & Leave" --where you only see and talk to him when you bring food or water...... then you leave the area. If after 30 days you do not feel your squirrel is ready for release, he can remain in the release cage longer.

I am in Lakeland --so please let me know if you need any help with your little guy while you are taking care of him or during the release period.
I just released 2 of my 5 Winter babies today....... :)


Squirrel Diet:
http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?44440-Healthy-Diet-for-Pet-Squirrels

Soft Release:
http://mothernaturesrescue.webs.com/release.htm


Thanks for your input as well.
Great info..... although my wife is a little angry at you for the "no more cuddling during the soft release phase" comment. :grin2
She'll get over it!

[Coralreefer]

Btw, two more points, a lot of people are paranoid that they shouldn't love on their squirrel because it will adversely effect them on release, but it doesn't and they need the love and attention. Also, they should not be exposed to dogs and especially cats because they need a serious fear of them when they're on their own. Cats are especially dangerous because their saliva is toxic.

Hadn't seen the toxic cat saliva info. Wow.
We have 2 cats but we've been keeping them in different rooms.
Two pugs as well who are now neurotic about their attention time being cut into!

Thanks.

[Coralreefer]

He needs to be with others, not alone....

What do you mean by that?

Lots of time spent with him by us or do you mean other squirrels?
He was found alone.

[Coralreefer]

This is one of our favorite pictures of Pee Wee.

Got Milk? (Fox Valley Milk that is) :grin2

226803

[Sissy]

Awww Pee Wee is a girl :Love_Icon

[Coralreefer]

Awww Pee Wee is a girl :Love_Icon


Really?

Her nub sticks so I just figured that was a "winkie."
Another girl in the house. All dogs, cats and now the squirrel! Cant win! :rotfl

[Sissy]

Yep really another girl. :grin3 Little boys nub are closer to their belly button.
Don't worry she will have you wrapped around her little paw in no time, if she hasn't already.

[Nancy in New York]

Yep really another girl. :grin3 Little boys nub are closer to their belly button.
Don't worry she will have you wrapped around her little paw in no time, if she hasn't already.

Like this sissy? :grin2
http://nmognoni.smugmug.com/photos/i-wZfpbCt/0/S/i-wZfpbCt-S.jpg (http://nmognoni.smugmug.com/Other/TSB-resizing/28182094_d4nbWs#!i=3084501629&k=wZfpbCt&lb=1&s=A)

Your little one is adorable, just adorable.:Love_Icon

[stepnstone]

Really?

Her nub sticks so I just figured that was a "winkie."
Another girl in the house. All dogs, cats and now the squirrel! Cant win! :rotfl

:jump

[kastillo]

Hahahahaha! A pink winkie on a black squirrel..... I have to say that's a first for me...

Yall's babies up there are SOOOOO much bigger than ours it's unreal.

Like you got a baby sasquatch in your hand.

[crazy4squirrels]

Awe, she is a doll!! Watch Craigslist for cages. I find some really good ones for less than what I can make. 1/2" bar spacing or 1/2 hardware cloth wire. I am just north of you in Pasco County so if you need anything shout:grin2

[Coralreefer]

Since everyone seems to like updates and pics I thought I'd give both!

I want to thank everyone that helped us get PeeWee to where she is now.
Lots of great info and help.

We went out and got a "starter cage" for PeeWee to learn to climb and adventure out a little.
Some good climbing sticks
Deer antler for nibbling like some suggested which she does nibble.
A "Tree Stump" plush house made for birds that suspends from the cage that she absolutely loves.
A Wicker material cubby hole with a hanging ball she plays with.
Also using the Fleece blankets as flooring rather than the hay based on others suggestions so thanks.
Little by little she's getting more bold and is starting to fly around climbing all over the place in here!

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PeeWee inside her plush "Tree Stump hanging room"

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PeeWee hanging onto my shirt after a feeding.

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Only issue were having at this point is that she has no interest at all in the HHB blocks.
Only wants the formula.
The blocks seem very crunchy and rigid.
Is this the normal consistency?
I remember reading somewhere here that they were more spongelike.
Wondering if I got a stale batch.

PeeWee says Thanks! :grin2

227231

Thanks all!

[stepnstone]

Only issue were having at this point is that she has no interest at all in the HHB blocks.
Only wants the formula.
The blocks seem very crunchy and rigid.
Is this the normal consistency?
I remember reading somewhere here that they were more spongelike.
Wondering if I got a stale batch.

She is just precious! :Love_Icon
Kudo's on the cage and set up, very nice! :thumbsup

She will be on formula for a while yet and you want her to wean herself
when she's ready, not before. Many will still take formula in a dish even
after weaning.

The hhb's (block) is the first solid food they should be introduced to and eating before
other foods. Until she is ready to chew, she may ignore it, play with it, or even pee on it,:eek
But eventually she will began to eat it.
Block can be on the ridged side and since hhb's are made to order very doubtful you got a
stale batch. That's not saying they can't or won't go stale.
How are you storing them? Hhb's do not contain the preservatives store brought block
does and therefore must be kept in the fridge or freezer.
At this point until she does start eating them I would cut them and give her a smaller
section to limit waste.

[Coralreefer]

She is just precious! :Love_Icon
Kudo's on the cage and set up, very nice! :thumbsup

She will be on formula for a while yet and you want her to wean herself
when she's ready, not before. Many will still take formula in a dish even
after weaning.

The hhb's (block) is the first solid food they should be introduced to and eating before
other foods. Until she is ready to chew, she may ignore it, play with it, or even pee on it,:eek
But eventually she will began to eat it.
Block can be on the ridged side and since hhb's are made to order very doubtful you got a
stale batch. That's not saying they can't or won't go stale.
How are you storing them? Hhb's do not contain the preservatives store brought block
does and therefore must be kept in the fridge or freezer.
At this point until she does start eating them I would cut them and give her a smaller
section to limit waste.

Thanks for the reply.
She is ridiculously cute. Cracks us up to see her head sticking out of the little tree stump house during the day.
Yes we are storing the HHB's in the fridge.
We'll start cutting them in half. Good idea.
Since the HHB does not have the preservative I imagine you only leave them in with them for one day and remove for another right?

[stepnstone]

Since the HHB does not have the preservative I imagine you only leave them in with them for one day and remove for another right?

It's what I do with my releases if they leave one behind,
but as long as it's just dried out and not moldy I give them
to my wilds. They don't care how hard they get...

[Coralreefer]

Update.

PeeWee is doing great.

I want to thank Step-n-Stone and Sammy'smom who helped us so much in the Diarrhea thread.
She came out of it fine in about a day.
She is now eating solids as well in between Formula feedings. An HHB block a day along with Blueberry's and some Kale Greens.
She's getting much more aggressive and exploratory.
She actually chews up the oral syringes pretty bad at her feedings.

227980

We bought her a couple trees at Home Depot and put them inside so she could get some real tree climbing experience in a safe environment.

She's getting good at running up and down and jumps from tree to tree. :grin2

227976

She helps my wife and I with work to earn her keep

227977

She appears to not like paying bills, instead she shreds them.

227978

After a long day of work she likes to climb on us.... or pee or poo on us as well. Yay!

227979

[farrelli]

She looks like she's doing great! Awesome job! Super cute!