Something is seriously wrong with my 6 week old squirrel...

[malsprower]

I found him abandoned 5 days ago and his health is fantastic, he can see, he can hear, his poop is hard, his pee clear, his lungs are clear, he is chubby and eats enough (I have to persuade him). I am feeding him esbilac in the right amount of servings and sometimes with some pureed solids (since he refuses to touch solids). The thing about him is that he's falling behind my 4 week old who is extremely bright yet has his eyes closed. The 4 week old tells me when he is hungry, he is a good climber, he is active a lot, this morning when he was asking for food, he was climbing on the cage door! He is quite social and spunky even though his eyes are closed! However the 6 week old can't climb well at all, never tells me he's hungry, runs into walls, is very lazy, sleeps all the time, scared of everything that moves/makes noise, gets himself stuck, isn't social at all with anything including the 4 week old, and always climbs back in his closed cage between the bars. When we first found him he was quite lazy and had no fear. What could be up with the 6 week year old?

They both eat the same stuff.

[Spanky]

I am feeding him esbilac in the right amount of servings and sometimes with some pureed solids (since he refuses to touch solids).

They both eat the same stuff.

So the 4 week old is getting pureed solids?!?!?! Please share with us what is being pureed and fed to the baby(ies).

Don't worry about trying to force wean these babies (either one) as orphans will need formula for as long as they will continue to take it. Some still eat formula at 4 months old.

The first solid food any baby squirrel should be offered in a high quality rodent block. Most are partial to Henry's Healthy Blocks. Only after they are eating that should anything else be introduced, and then only after they have eaten their block that day.

Pictures or videos may be extremely helpful (along withe the rest of the diet).

[malsprower]

No the 6 week old is the one that gets the solids, but they both eat the same esbilac, I forgot to clear that up.

[Spanky]

No the 6 week old is the one that gets the solids, but they both eat the same esbilac, I forgot to clear that up.

And this is the powdered Esbilac, with pre and probiotics?

[malsprower]

For the 6 week old I made a solution of mushroom, carrot, spinach, raw frozen acorn flour (I use this for my baking too), walnuts, pumpkin seed, and kale. I mix it with the esbilac, I freeze it. I only give him a little at a time as a treat. I mostly feed him the formula alone. I wasn't giving him the solids until yesterday and his behavior has been the same the whole time. So I don't think it's diet related. I will be ordering rodent block when he starts to eat them not pureed. Can you puree rodent block?

[Spanky]

For the 6 week old I made a solution of mushroom, carrot, spinach, raw frozen acorn flour (I use this for my baking too), walnuts, pumpkin seed, and kale. I mix it with the esbilac, I freeze it. I only give him a little at a time as a treat.

I am leery of this formulation, but hopefully others will chime in. I would not puree anything (including blocks) and feed that to them liquid. Just the formula. They will start eating solids when they are ready. Seeds and nuts are the last thing to ever be given to a captive squirrel... they get those treats only AFTER they have learned to eat their healthy greens and veggies, then a smaller amount of fruit. After all that they can have an occasional seed/nut treat. Give it too early and its like a kid and candy, they want only the candy.

If this has been his normal behavior the entire time videos or pictures would be extremely helpful. I think especially the video of this unusual behavior.

How did he come to be in your care; could he have fallen from his nest or some other type of trauma or injury?

[malsprower]

Thank you for guiding me on that aspect, I see people feeding their 5-6 week babies pureed solids such as oatmeal etc and also thought it was okay because of this website: http://www.arcforwildlife.com/squirrels.htm

I will throw out the rest of the puree cubes. The place I want to rehab this squirrel to has loads of pignuts and acorns, how can I get him used to these foods if nuts are considered candy?

Where do they get their calcium from in the wild? I have a few chew bones for him too.

I have realized why I myself cannot lose weight, because I eat a lot of nuts/seeds myself, lol, convenience food.

I don't have a phone to take videos (its broken) but I have a couple pics I took for you now of the 6 week old.

[HRT4SQRLS]

:wave123 malsprower
:Welcome to TheSquirrelBoard

I just visited the site from your link. Personally I would not use that information. While there is some truth there, in the first page there are enough serious errors to make me leery of their practices.
The first thing let's straighten out is the mixing of the Esbilac. She says mix 1 part powder to 3 parts water. That is not correct. On the can the directions are 1 part powder to 2 parts water.

Here are some link that you will find helpful. The first one is basic baby squirrel care. It is 6 pages long. The NEXT button is on the top right of the page.

The second link is the healthy diet for captive squirrels.

The third link is a chart that shows the calcium to phosphorus ratio of foods. The idea ratio is 2:1 (calcium: phosphorus). The body will seek to balance out the two minerals. If the diet is high in phosphorus (like nuts, seeds, pine nuts, corn, etc) the body will start pulling calcium from the bones to achieve this balance. This is what causes Metabolic Bone Disease. It is a deadly ailment cause by a poor diet. It is 100% preventable by following a proper diet.

Hang around, we can help you! :thumbsup

http://www.henryspets.com/1-basic-setup/

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

http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=67967&d=1232419601

[Spanky]

Thank you for guiding me on that aspect, I see people feeding their 5-6 week babies pureed solids such as oatmeal etc and also thought it was okay because of this website: http://www.arcforwildlife.com/squirrels.htm

I do not know anything about his place one way or another but I have never heard of anyone feeding pureed food to squirrels, exceptions being squirrels with injuries or teeth issues. I am by no means the most experienced member here (by far) so hopefully others will chime in with opinions.


I will throw out the rest of the puree cubes. The place I want to rehab this squirrel to has loads of pignuts and acorns, how can I get him used to these foods if nuts are considered candy?

The majority of a squirrels diet is not nuts, contrary to the popular impressions. Nuts are usually only available in the fall and while they are perfect for burying as winter stores when other food supplies are less available. And corn is bad for them as well despite being in all the "wild squirrel" mixtures that are sold.

Pignuts are not actually nuts but a root bulb? Squirrels do eat a lot of plant matter including seeds, but also tree bark, flowers, dandelion greens and the like.


Where do they get their calcium from in the wild? I have a few chew bones for him too.

The will chew antlers they come across as well as rocks containing lots of minerals and they will even eat dirt they detect that contains lots of minerals. In the wild,
Metabolic Bone Disease (MBD) which is caused by a lack of calcium is almost unheard of. Even in squirrel populations that get lots of nuts and seeds from a human that has taken to feeding them. So the little wild ones do a good job of making sure they are getting what they need. I also believe their much higher level of activity is an advantage for the wilds as well. Just consider how much energy it takes to climb a 60 foot tree when you are only a foot long yourself... then do that all day long. I am tired just thinking about it!


I have realized why I myself cannot lose weight, because I eat a lot of nuts/seeds myself, lol, convenience food.

I think most of us can relate to this!! :grin3


I don't have a phone to take videos (its broken) but I have a couple pics I took for you now of the 6 week old.

I don't really see any thing that stands out in the pictures. Do you know when his eyes opened? I am thinking he may not be quite 6 weeks just yet.

[malsprower]

Wow thank you all for the information. I am considering making my screened in porch into a "greenhouse" and adding a variety of plants and small trees in it. I live in Florida and so the nuts are around all the time, the pignuts are a type of hickory. I have aloe vera, venus flytrap, and mimosa in there so far. Are all plants ok to have around when the squirrels are hanging out in the screened in porch? What are your thoughts on feeding the squirrels dry mealworms? (I have a huge bag of them) I thought the proportion on the site was too watered down so I follow the instructions on the can. What are some wild plants I could use to collect in Florida that would be alright for the squirrel? I know that's quite a loaded question. I thought about giving them some of my hibiscus flowers (the wild ones love them!)

[malsprower]

I have noticed that whenever I feed the 5-6 week old squirrel, I have to always wake him up and when I do he is scared. I also notice that his fear is becoming more and more intensified. I am assuming that's because he did not imprint on me, and has imprinted on his mother since he was found so late. How should I handle his fear in the possibility that he could end up biting me? When is the earliest I could release him?

[Nancy in New York]

I have noticed that whenever I feed the 5-6 week old squirrel, I have to always wake him up and when I do he is scared. I also notice that his fear is becoming more and more intensified. I am assuming that's because he did not imprint on me, and has imprinted on his mother since he was found so late. How should I handle his fear in the possibility that he could end up biting me? When is the earliest I could release him?

OK are you talking about an eyes opened squirrel?
What I typically do, is I talk softly to them, let them smell your hand and feel comfortable with you.
Then I have a piece of fleece, and I cover them up, especially their little heads, pick them up and hold them close to my body,
and I take them to their feeding spot, which is the kitchen table.
Some like to have their heads covered while eating and some are relaxed enough without offering the cover up.
The older they get the more you will see this happen, as their eye sight gets better and better.
Just keep reassuring him.
Even though you are in Florida most babies are overwintered due to lack of tree leaves come release time.
Not sure if this will be the case with your's.
Release is at the BARE minimum, 4 months old.

[malsprower]

For the 6 week old, I've tried everything to be calm with him and all he is a ball of fear and anger. He clicks his teeth a lot and groans. He is about 6 1/2 weeks now and he bit the baby squirrel and when I was trying to put him to bed, he just kept running away from me. I don't have the energy to chase him around in the porch. I finally caught him after a long twenty minutes and put him in his cage. I tried to send him off to rehab but they dont have the funds to care for him. I am not comfortable letting him back out of the cage just to watch him tear up the porch and run away from me all the time. Since we found him at 5 weeks, he is sure imprinted on his mother, he rarely approaches me and is not socializing or playing at all whatsoever. He knows anger and fear before he even knows how to climb. What can I do? I don't want to let him free just to watch him get eaten by one of the 10 types of predators lurking around here. Anyone willing to take him in the Daytona Florida area? :sad

[Sara in NW MS]

You might have more luck finding someone if you start a new thread and title it something like... rehabber needed in Daytona, FL area.

I'm sorry to hear about this little guy giving you such a hard time.

[malsprower]

Whenever I try to approach him to feed him the formula, he will just be aggressive and refuse to take it. I gave him some solid food and he won't eat that either. Its sad that when a squirrel catches the fear bug, it never goes away. Am I supposed to just let him starve? I'm so hopeless...

[Mieloka]

Did you ever find someone to take him? I'm looking for someone to take my 7.5 week old one for similar reasons...