Raising Baby Red Squirrel

[Squarl]

I'm raising my first squirrel :D

Is it ok leave a deer antler in his box? I offered him one today and he really liked to nibble on it. I think he's about 5 weeks old.

It would be nice to know if anyone has experience with a red/pine squirrel. Most of the information I've found is about fox/greys, Although,I figured they are pretty much the same.

His eyes opened about 5 days ago. A couple days ago he starting to do a little more that just eat and sleep. After some feedings he'll crawl around in his bed or on me for a couple minutes then pass out.

[Spanky]

Oh my, a red.. you are really blessed. And Michigan is blessed to have so many different varieties of squirrels! And reds and greys/foxers are all about the same.. except reds are, well completely different! Not in what they eat, but their speed, activity, personality! :laugh2

The deer antler is fine, but he is very young to use it just now... it may be a few weeks.

Can you share with us what you are providing him for a diet? At his age he will require formula, which should represent the largest part of his diet... and diet is the single most important thing in raising a squirrel!

:Welcome to TSB!

[Nancy in New York]

I'm raising my first squirrel :D

Is it ok leave a deer antler in his box? I offered him one today and he really liked to nibble on it. I think he's about 5 weeks old.

It would be nice to know if anyone has experience with a red/pine squirrel. Most of the information I've found is about fox/greys, Although,I figured they are pretty much the same.

His eyes opened about 5 days ago. A couple days ago he starting to do a little more that just eat and sleep. After some feedings he'll crawl around in his bed or on me for a couple minutes then pass out.

Do you have a weight on him?
What formula are you feeding and how much.

I currently have 3 little reds, probably ~ 7 days older than
your little one. :grin2

Can you post a picture?

[DaSquirrelMom]

Welcome Squarl! I've got a litter of reds right now.

Now that he's beginning to chew on things, get him some rodent blocks.
http://www.amazon.com/Mazuri-Rat-Mouse-Food-lbs/dp/B00JR8K8DA
http://www.amazon.com/Kaytee-Forti-Health-Mouse-5-Pound/dp/B001VJ56Z8
At this age, he will make a crumbly mess with them, but it's important to get him used to nibbling rodent blocks now. When he's older he will eat them even though there are more delicious foods because he has always been familiar with them. Rodent blocks provide all nutrients and will keep your squirrel from developing Metabolic Bone Disease from calcium deficiency when he stops drinking formula.

[Squarl]

He is currently eating about 3.5-4cc of ebsilac (spelling?) powdered formula with probiotics. I put a rat block and a monkey biscuit in his bed with him. I seen him nibble on them both a little, and there were crumbs in his bed.
I will be checking his weight today ( I don't own a gram scale yet, but I will use a friend's) so I'll let you guys know ;)

Last night he was very active and crawled around for like 40 mins. Currently he's sleeping on my boyfriends lap.

I was thinking about releasing him in my backyard. We had a female red who had litters in a large walnut tree. I seen her daily last year and a few times in the winter, but not once recently. Do you think she is hiding out nursing babies? I'm thinking she's dead or moved somewhere. She's really hard to miss and is very loud normally.

Well, the reason i mention the outside squirrle Is because I wondered if he willl be ok living without other squirrels? Apparently they are solitary anyways. I've never seen a fox/greys in my yard. I'll put food out for him daily and provide a nesting box. No Squirrles period this spring so far.

[Squarl]

Do you have a weight on him?
What formula are you feeding and how much.

I currently have 3 little reds, probably ~ 7 days older than
your little one. :grin2

Can you post a picture?

Awww are they bouncing around full of energy yet?

Yes I will probably post photos later tonight or tomorrow and he will be weighed today :D

I'm having a hard time telling if he's really a he. If I include a photo do you think you could tell?

[DaSquirrelMom]

Awww are they bouncing around full of energy yet?

Yes I will probably post photos later tonight or tomorrow and he will be weighed today :D

I'm having a hard time telling if he's really a he. If I include a photo do you think you could tell?
Yes. These flyer photos are useful.
http://www.nfsa.us/viewtopic.php?t=80
In a male, you'll find a significant space between its penis and its anus.

[Nancy in New York]

Awww are they bouncing around full of energy yet?

Yes I will probably post photos later tonight or tomorrow and he will be weighed today :D

I'm having a hard time telling if he's really a he. If I include a photo do you think you could tell?

Absolutely, I have 3 boys.
We can tell. :)

[Squarl]

Do you have a weight on him?
What formula are you feeding and how much.

I currently have 3 little reds, probably ~ 7 days older than
your little one. :grin2

Can you post a picture?


53 grams. How much does yours weigh? Photo coming soon.

[Nancy in New York]

53 grams. How much does yours weigh? Photo coming soon.


Earlier today I was only able to weigh my largest one and he's 107 grams.
I promise to get weights on all of them tomorrow, and post. :)

[Nancy in New York]

Here's the thread with the ones I'm raising.
I took over for island rehabber. :)
I start at post #43 :) with lots of photos.
I LOVE photos of ALL squirrels but little reds have a special place in my heart. :Love_Icon

http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?53629-NANCY-IN-NEW-YORK!!-Come-loooook!!!!-%28And-everybody-else-too!%29/page3

[Squarl]

Here's a link to a post I made with his pictures....

http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?53835-Meet-baby-Leafy-(Red-squirrel)