baby squirrel growls at me?

[Mieloka]

Hi all new to the forum I acquired about a 7 week old baby squirrel thanks to our cat. He was unharmed for the exception of some tail damage. He's started antibiotics and is eating well..sleeping a lot..going to the bathroom..but today during feeding he would scratch around for a burrowing spot and kinda growl almost like when a cat is growling under their breath that's what it sounded like..is he frustrated with us or something?

[HRT4SQRLS]

Hi Mieloka, what you are describing is perfectly normal. :tilt A seven week old is old enough to know that this new situation is NOT normal. He misses his family and knows that you are not it.
Not to worry, when you offer formula, he will growl and then gladly take your formula. Give it a few days ... they usually get over the growling. :grin2
Oh, and don't be afraid. At this age they can't hurt you at all. It's all bark and very little bite. :)

[Mieloka]

We owned a squirrel when I was very young so I don't remember much about him as a baby..but I read this horrible lady talking about how she was a wildlife rehabber. She said squirrels were very territorial after grown, how they imprint on one person and one only and that they'll attack anyone who isn't that one even if they were raised by them. So I think I was already nervous...even though I don't believe her because ours wasn't that way I think it's still in the back of my mind..he also is very uninterested in solid food..I've tried nuts, seeds, peanut butter, and fruit he only wants the bottle. He's on a puppy formula, water, and yogurt mix (yogurt for the probiotics due to his antibiotics) but he loves it and is doing well...I'm just a nervous new momma..:panic:panic:panic:panic

[LaurelLynn]

We owned a squirrel when I was very young so I don't remember much about him as a baby..but I read this horrible lady talking about how she was a wildlife rehabber. She said squirrels were very territorial after grown, how they imprint on one person and one only and that they'll attack anyone who isn't that one even if they were raised by them. So I think I was already nervous...even though I don't believe her because ours wasn't that way I think it's still in the back of my mind..he also is very uninterested in solid food..I've tried nuts, seeds, peanut butter, and fruit he only wants the bottle. He's on a puppy formula, water, and yogurt mix (yogurt for the probiotics due to his antibiotics) but he loves it and is doing well...I'm just a nervous new momma..:panic:panic:panic:panic

That's so identical to the advice I give when people are thinking of keeping a squirrel as a pet, that its making me wonder if I'm the horrible lady HAHAHA! :laugh2

On a serious note, they really do tend to get territorial and aggressive around 6mo old. ... this leads to attacks on family members and visiting company unfortunately and squirrels can inflict serious damage. Please don't disregard advice from those of us with first hand experience (and the scars to prove it) just because we are explaining the less desirable traits that squirrels have. ... cause I know when I'm explaining their aggressive tendencies, by no means am I insulting squirrels! They are my absolute favorite and I'm crazy about them! But they are hardwired to be wild, protect their space and defend themselves which doesn't usually mesh well inside a family home. ...

[Mieloka]

Idk what to believe our squirrel wasn't like that at all..he was very sweet..the only time he ever "hurt" anyone was when he wanted to jump on them from a distance and he grabbed a hold with his claws.. not that I don't believe you..I think each has it's own personality..just like dogs..some are nicer than others..how they are raised and socialized etc helps determine how they act with their territory, strangers, children, other pets, food etc... I'd like to hear advice from other squirrel mom's and dad's as well...about everything I've mentioned...thanks for your input.

[LaurelLynn]

Idk what to believe our squirrel wasn't like that at all..he was very sweet..the only time he ever "hurt" anyone was when he wanted to jump on them from a distance and he grabbed a hold with his claws.. not that I don't believe you..I think each has it's own personality..just like dogs..some are nicer than others..how they are raised and socialized etc helps determine how they act with their territory, strangers, children, other pets, food etc... I'd like to hear advice from other squirrel mom's and dad's as well...about everything I've mentioned...thanks for your input.

I didn't mean to mean to minimize how wonderful and affectionate can be. ... I have one that is over a year old and has so far resisted release attempts and chooses to hang out with us and watch tv lol.... she's very happy being part of the family but it's on her terms and she can go to the trees if she decides to. I also have a baby that will not be releasable and she doesn't know she's a squirrel, probably because she has some brain damage.

I'm not saying they're mean. ... just that they are squirrels and we have to accept them as they are and expect them to act like a squirrel, which is sometimes being aggressive especially if they want freedom :-)

[Mieloka]

Ok lol so today he's still refusing solid food. So he's still on the bottle, but when I tried to take it away cause his greedy butt would drink it all he played tug of war with me and growled Lmao...is this normal!!??

[stepnstone]

..he also is very uninterested in solid food..I've tried nuts, seeds, peanut butter, and fruit he only wants the bottle. He's on a puppy formula, water, and yogurt mix (yogurt for the probiotics due to his antibiotics) but he loves it and is doing well.

Stop with offering the junk foods...
Your baby needs the formula and we recommend letting them take it until they are ready to wean themselves. The first solid food your baby should be introduced to is a good quality rodent block. You want them to start eating that and eating it well before introducing any other solid food. Once weaned, block is your best assurance against mbd. Feeding the "junk foods" first will be counter productive to getting them to accept eating their block. Even after they are eating their block well nuts should only be offered and limited as a treat, seeds are not good for a squirrel nutritionally and should not be fed.

One must remember a wild knows what to eat and how to eat to balance their daily nutritional needs, in the wild they eat a variety of things to accomplish this. Captive squirrels have to depend on their caretakers to provide that need and this is why a good quality rodent block is so important, even vital to their health and survival.

Many of us feed HHB's (Henry's healthy block) It is formulated and made especially for squirrels and contains all the nutrition they need in their daily diet. HHB's can not be found in stores and must be ordered on line or by phone. They are made fresh with each order and 1 bag will last the average squirrel a month.
Once eating block well you want to be feeding from the Healthy diet listed below. A nutritionally healthy diet is the key to a squirrel's longevity and extremely important to their survival.

This is the url to Henry's Healthy Block:
http://www.henryspets.com/squirrel-diet/

This is the url to the Healthy diet:
http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?44440-Healthy-Diet-for-Pet-Squirrels
(Clicking on picture will enlarge it each time you click on it.)

[stosh2010]

263754
We are all here to help...
We are serious about health issues...so please listen and learn...
and your baby will grow strong...
WELCOME to TSB... ( we need pics)

[Mieloka]

K...I'll bottle feed till he's ready...anything on the vocals? Tug of war with the bottle?

[Mommaluvy]

Ok lol so today he's still refusing solid food. So he's still on the bottle, but when I tried to take it away cause his greedy butt would drink it all he played tug of war with me and growled Lmao...is this normal!!??


Sort of normal.

Sometimes when I have an older baby come in I do pick them up with a blanket or piece of fleece when they feed.. if they are not used to me. How often are you feeding and what Percent of Body weight? Is your baby gaining weight steadily? if that is all good you may just have the typical greedy baby. But if not then then you may have to adjust your feeding.

Your squirrel from child hood may have been raised since it was a naked newborn baby and may have become very habituated to people.

But as a rehabber I have seen babies that are 7-8 weeks old, who would let me pick them up and give them meds with now problem, growl and charge my husband just for walking past their cage. So the imprinting etc can and does happen.

Recently I even went to another rehabbers house to help her examine and older baby and saw the same behavior displayed toward me! just for walking in the room!

[Mieloka]

He's taking about 10 mls 4x a day...poo is solid and black...He's a sweet heart...gaining daily eating more and more getting stronger and WAY more active then before...are females less mean or territorial? We think we have a boy but he's shy lol can't get a good look.