7-8 week old squirrel, help

[Hannahamae05]

Hi, I have been taking care of a 7-8 week old baby squirrel for the past 4 days. I know absolutely nothing about squirrels other than what I have read on the Internet. I am wanting to eventually let the squirrel go out on his own when he is big enough. I take him outside every day so he can get used to his surroundings but all he does is sit there or fall asleep... he doesn't try to wander very much. I'm concerned that he is already getting attached to me and not wanting to leave. I also don't know exactly what to be feeding him. Right now he has been eating solid foods meant for other rodents. I did order squirel food and squirel calcium tablets but for now he has been eating other rodent food. When he goes outside I hope he would try to find food such as insects but he just sits there and when I bring him insects from outside he won't eat them . He does have two lower teeth.. his tail is curled, he has fur all over his body, he climbs and sits up - this is why I believe he is 7-8 weeks old. He pastille tiny and has to grow into his body... also do you have to stimulate them to go to the bathroom at this age? He seems to go by himself. Also , he makes a clicking sound every once in awhile but it's not constant. I read that If squirrels make a clicking noise they could have pneumonia... but I am wondering if the clicking noise could be from something else because he seems healthy and it's not all the time - it's mostly just when he sleeps. He also sleeps a lot and I was wondering if this is normal for
His age?? Sorry, so many questions...I just want him to survive until he can go out on his own.

[cava]

Hi there. That bun should be kept indoors and still on formula.

Where do you keep him inside?

About what to feed: puppy Esbilac powdered formula with pre-probiotics on the label or Fox Valley 20/50 squirrel formula available on Amazon or a mixture of both. He needs them to grow appropriately (and live) and cannot survive on solids yet. He needs to be fed 5-7% of his bodyweight so you will need to buy a small kitchen gram scale. You should be using syringes with nipples and not store bought bottles because they can aspirate the milk into their lungs that way.

http://www.henryspets.com/baby-squirrel-care/

There are 6 pages to read there. If you are feeling overwhelmed there are rehabbers all over who would take him. It would be best if he was with other squirrels. But if you learn a lot and work hard, you could do it.

He will need you to survive but once he is able to be released and you put him in his outdoor release cage (where he stays while he gets used to outside) you will minimize your contact with him and he will wild up.

He should not be around cats and dogs, should be in a quiet area of the house.

Get started there and come back with questions after.

[cava]

Hi there. That bun should be kept indoors and still on formula.



It's official. These bunnies have given me brain damage. I meant SQUIRREL!

[Hannahamae05]

Okay thank you , is it normal for him to sleep so much? Also, he's a ground squirrel.

[cava]

I'm sure once you get his diet and nutrition back on track he will perk up. Did you get formula and have you started feeding it?

Can you post a photo?

[Hannahamae05]

I was going to look at walmart for the esbilac, do you know what stores carry it? Also, to answer your other question. I have a little cage for him right now that I keep him in when he isn't running around outside or inside or laying on me. I do have a dog but the dog is not around the squirel as my dog is a terrier and would instantly kill the squirel if he got the chance. I bought some pedialyte today just to make sure he is at least staying hydrated even though he does drink water and he does eat some solid foods on his own. He also has been going to the bathroom by himself I noticed. I am looking to bring him to the Minnesota rehabilitation center for animals on Tuesday because I want him to have adequate care and I am not looking to keep him as a pet as I have no idea of how to take care of squirrels and I'm sure he would be happier in the wild.. I just want to keep him alive until I can get him to a professional . I can upload a picture tomorrow. He is still pretty small but does have full fur, open ears and eyes, bottom teeth and curves tail...

[Mr. Nutter's lovers]

Oh, I remember those days (:
It is very normal for babies to sleep this much, all our little guy did was sleep under a pillow on the couch and wake up to eat and pee. I also tried to take him outside to climb trees - he just sat on me and begged to go inside. At the age of about twelve weeks he livened up.

First, as mentioned above, he really needs to be on formula at this point. Similac or goat milk is the recomendation. I fed ours mostly yogurt (Fage, or any full fat greek yogurt) mixed with honey and fresh fruit (avocado, banana, berries, apples. He wouldn't eat the whole pieces until he was a bit older, so we mashed them in at first). He was fine then on this high-fat, high-sugar diet at 5-weeks old, but he has a bit of a sweet tooth now. Don't worry when he stops eating this - the squirel will wean himself of the dairy products when ready. From what we've read online, if you ever intend to feed them dry food (rat blocks, etc.), you need to start as early as possible. So you have the right idea here. Next introduce vegetables; last up fruit and nuts. Once they get a taste for fresh produce, it's over.

If you DONT want to own a squirrel for the next 20 years (yes, they live for 20 years in captivity), you might want to contact a rehabber. Just in case you were thinking of keeping him for a little while, he will soon become a mischief maker.
I just want you to know what you're getting into, we didn't. Not everyone can reorganize their entire lives for an adorable rat - we did.

It can be very rewarding to own a squirrel, but no matter how tame and friendly he gets, he will still defend his nut-stash to the death. He's surprisingly cuddly, will even fall asleep on me from time to time; but he's also a psychotic wild beast.




Other notes:

If he is going to live inside, he will need constant supervision or some kind of cage for those times you just can't babysit anymore. Mostly because left unsupervised, he will destroy your house and all your stuf.

You CAN clip their nails. Just like a dog or cat. Easier with two people.

Definitely recommend getting him used to outside as he grows.

Baby squirrels can't even crack nuts! We started ours on pistachios. I have a video of the first time he spent five minutes trying and then used his teeth to eat it from the inside. Once you wean the squirrel and introduce it to healthy foods and veggies, you can give it someting easy like pistachios or almonds and soon hazelnuts will be no match.

Not too many nuts. He is way more of a dick (yup, they've got lots of personality) when he eats lots of nuts. He will attack my feet if he hides them on the floor. Only give a few on special occasions. It's tempting to give them more because of how happy it makes them, but I strongly suggest that you keep the nuts to a minimum.

Cuttlebone, yes the bone from those creepy colorful creatures, is a good source of calcium. You can find it in the bird section in pet stores. They will just eat it for some reason. If the squirrel is chewing on dry wall or caulk or anything else composed mostly of calcium carbonate (chalk), they need calcium! A squirrel's diet requires calcium to mediate the phosphate ions from the high phosphorous content in nuts.

Sticks, sticks, sticks! Squirrels can spend an hour a day working on their teeth. If not on sticks, furniture, wood trim, pens, or plastic objects will be shredded. It's messy work. Bring them inside for the babies and watch them go to work whittling.

There's tons of information on this forum. I'm sure I have repeated some of it, but I wanted to give you a quick picture of life with a growing squirrel. It sounds like you're in a place where you can release him or at least let him outside. There are plenty of forums on here that will address the dos and donts of preparing for a soft release, something I know little about.

Have fun and good luck! If you have more questions please ask. And we'd love to see a picture (:

- mister nutters' lovers

[Mr. Nutter's lovers]

Sorry, took me forever to get that to post without logging me out. Way off topic.

If it's old enough to eat solid foods, it's going to the bathroom on its own. Get formula in him and lots of water. Doesn't sound like he's a picky eater if he's eating rodent block (or just starving). If you don't get formula like this minute, I would try fresh vegetables and fruit or tree branches. This dude fed his squirrel esbilac straight out of the can: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=og9clp1ONRc

There are multi-vitamin drops made for rodents called vita-drops you can add to their water too.

I was so afraid my baby gray wasn't getting enough vitamins (he was eating yogurt which I've read since is not advised...), I would dissolve a tiny bit of an adult multivitamin in his water. I should have ordered the drops in hindsight. He has a more varied diet now but still devours cuttlebone. And I cover his favorite food (avocado) with calcium powder.

Also get him in the sun a bit while you have him. Not through windows. Vitamin D is necessary to absorb calcium. If he isn't getting vitamin D in his diet, he can get it from the UV rays.

[cava]

I was going to look at walmart for the esbilac, do you know what stores carry it? Also, to answer your other question. I have a little cage for him right now that I keep him in when he isn't running around outside or inside or laying on me. I do have a dog but the dog is not around the squirel as my dog is a terrier and would instantly kill the squirel if he got the chance. I bought some pedialyte today just to make sure he is at least staying hydrated even though he does drink water and he does eat some solid foods on his own. He also has been going to the bathroom by himself I noticed. I am looking to bring him to the Minnesota rehabilitation center for animals on Tuesday because I want him to have adequate care and I am not looking to keep him as a pet as I have no idea of how to take care of squirrels and I'm sure he would be happier in the wild.. I just want to keep him alive until I can get him to a professional . I can upload a picture tomorrow. He is still pretty small but does have full fur, open ears and eyes, bottom teeth and curves tail...

Hi! You can buy the Esbilac at pet stores and in the pet store section of walmart. Since you are taking him in on Tuesday you can make a temporary Goat's milk formula if that is easier.

https://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?29904-TEMPORARY-Goat-s-Milk-Formula***

Also, since he's leaving on Tues you could just post a photo an someone can help estimate how much to feed him, so you don't have to buy a scale. Even though he's leaving soon, he still really needs to be fed formula. Mine didn't even start to wean until 10 weeks, and even though they were nibbling food it wasn't enough to sustain them.

Does he drink water from a bowl? If he's hydrated you don't have to do Pedialyte..it has a too much salt. I forget, how long have you had him?

[Nancy in New York]

First, as mentioned above, he really needs to be on formula at this point. Similac or goat milk is the recomendation. I fed ours mostly yogurt (Fage, or any full fat greek yogurt) mixed with honey and fresh fruit (avocado, banana, berries, apples. He wouldn't eat the whole pieces until he was a bit older, so we mashed them in at first). He was fine then on this high-fat, high-sugar diet at 5-weeks old, but he has a bit of a sweet tooth now. Don't worry when he stops eating this - the squirel will wean himself of the dairy products when ready. From what we've read online, if you ever intend to feed them dry food (rat blocks, etc.), you need to start as early as possible. So you have the right idea here. Next introduce vegetables; last up fruit and nuts. Once they get a taste for fresh produce, it's over.


- mister nutters' lovers
I didn't read this whole post as I'm rushed at the moment.
I just need to get this out here now.

Similac is Human Infant Formula, and NEVER recommended,
and Goat's Milk (along with heavy cream, and yogurt)
is used just as a temporary formula until either POWDERED Puppy Esbilac OR Fox Valley 20/50
can be purchased.
The very first solid food they should have is a good quality rodent block. Most of us use Henry's.
Mine always
eat the one for picky eaters.
http://www.henryspets.com/squirrel-diet/
Fruits are to be kept at a minimum.

Here's a pyramid of the healthy diet.
Keep him on a good quality formula,
and follow THIS diet along with the rodent blocks
and your squirrel will thank you for it.



https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-WBwrFLT/0/98b5eed6/O/i-WBwrFLT.jpg

[Mel1959]

Just to cover all the bases.

You say you are taking him to the Minnesota Rehabilitation Center for Animals? Does anyone here know ANYTHING about this facility?

You also mentioned a clicking noise at times. Have you held him up to your ear, like a phone, and listened to his breathing to determine if the clicking is happening with each breath? If not, please do so, and let us know. Aspiration Pneumonia can kill quickly.

If your little guy is only 7 weeks old, he is very young, in the big scheme of things. This would mean that his eyes just opened a couple of weeks ago. He must have formula. Please either get the POWDERED Esbilac or mix up the goats milk formula and give it to him with a 1 cc syringe. You can get the syringe from a local pharmacy. Tell them you are feeding a baby kitten. Please go slowly with the feeding since you have no nipples for the syringe and hold back on the plunger so he doesn't suck too quickly and aspirated.

Please keep us posted and thank you for helping this little guy. :Love_Icon

[redwuff]

It's official. These bunnies have given me brain damage. I meant SQUIRREL!

Just read that and I said the same thing:laugh2:laugh2:hello:laugh2

[Hannahamae05]

I will try to answer everyone's questions. I'm doing this on my phone so bear with me...

The Minnesota rehab for wild animals takes in and cares for orphaned & sick animals. They take in and care for all kinds of animals.

The squirrel is not making consistent clicking noises, he only does it once in awhile and rarely. Right now he is sleeping again, he is not making the clicking noises.

My boyfriend is picking up esbilac puppy powder today as I have noticed this is what the majority of people are recommending as well as what other sites have recommended.

He drinks water out of a water bottle type thing for rodents.. I assist him most of the time so that he is able to get the water out . We have had him for about a week and I have been able to be with him most of the time as I don't go back to work until tomorrow.

I get worried about him when I'm not home and have anxiety about how he's doing this is why I believe it's best he goes to a rehab center for animals where he can have constant care and they can help him back out into the wild when it is the time for him to go, this way he can also be around other squirrels .

[Hannahamae05]

Here is a picture

[Hannahamae05]

Two more

[Hannahamae05]

I was also told he is a thirteen lined ground squirrel

[Nancy in New York]

Absolutely precious, just too adorable for words. :klunk:Love_Icon

[Hannahamae05]

Yes he was a sweetheart too.. I actually dropped him off at the MN rehab center for wildlife. They have a squirel nursery there and they had another kind just like him dropped off yesterday they said and about the same size. So now he can be with other squirrels and they eventually introduce him back into the wild too. I can check up on how he is doing which gives me relief. I miss him already , but I believe I did the right thing in giving him over to professionals .

[cava]

Thank you so much for helping him and coming here seeking advice. I am so happy he gets to be with a buddy while he rehabs and that he will be released.

:hug

[island rehabber]

Hanna you did a wonderful thing, getting him to people who know how to care for him and even finding him a sibling to grow up with! It doesn't get any better than that!

I also breathed a HUGE sigh of relief when, after reading that he was in professional hands now, I read that he is a 13-lined ground squirrel. They are a very particular species with very special needs, as I recall from an extensive squirrel seminar I took years ago. I don't remember the details, but I do remember thinking: jeez, glad they don't have those around here (NYC) because they sound really challenging to rehab! For one thing, their primary diet should be insects -- crickets and grasshoppers, not something we usually have in stock for feeding our baby squirrels!

Congratulations on a job well done. :bowdown

[stepnstone]

Yes he was a sweetheart too.. I actually dropped him off at the MN rehab center for wildlife. They have a squirel nursery there and they had another kind just like him dropped off yesterday they said and about the same size. So now he can be with other squirrels and they eventually introduce him back into the wild too. I can check up on how he is doing which gives me relief. I miss him already , but I believe I did the right thing in giving him over to professionals .
You absolutely did! :grouphug
Thank you for your efforts and compassion for this sweet little one. :bowdown