Baby Douglas Squirrel

[SistersSquirrels]

I have a singleton Douglas Squirrel who is not quite 8 weeks old. We have frost due this week and winter is clearly around the corner. She's nearly weaned but not quite ready for an outdoor cage. Will she need to be over wintered or do you have suggestions for getting her ready for release before spring?

[UDoWhat]

I have a singleton Douglas Squirrel who is not quite 8 weeks old. We have frost due this week and winter is clearly around the corner. She's nearly weaned but not quite ready for an outdoor cage. Will she need to be over wintered or do you have suggestions for getting her ready for release before spring?

Hi and :WelcomeYou are the envy of us all! Especially those of us who will never even see a Douglas baby. Hint, hint we need pictures, please :poke

To answer your question. My opinion would be that this baby needs to be overwintered for sure. Waaaaay too young to release. Also, too young to be weaned.:Love_Icon Babies in the wild would still be nursing and would stay all winter with their mom. I am feeding my 8 week old greys 4 x a day. Mine will most certainly be overwintered. If you have frost now, this baby is not ready or acclimated to the outside and I believe there is not time to get her ready. A singleton this young should be overwintered inside. I know it is a long time until spring but to do otherwise could be a mistake. To keep a squirrel that long is an undertaking. There is so much you will need to know as she grows. Proper diet is key. Improper diet is the main cause of death in captive squirrels. Proper caging is needed too We will be glad to help you with this as you need help.

Thanks for for helping this little one. I can't wait to see pictures. :Love_Icon

[UDoWhat]

I was looking for info on Douglas squirrels and came across some good info about Douglas squirrels on TSB. Not sure all the info is perfect for diet because I didn't read the entire thread but other info on Douglas squirrels is informative. See the thread below.


https://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?10739-Questions-regarding-a-baby-Douglas-tree-squirrel

[skippy]

Hello U Do What.

I live in Douglas squirrel country and have rehabbed Douglas squirrels for several years. I have information I can share with you if you were interested. One thing to know about the Douglas squirrel is that they are 3 to 4 weeks ahead of western gray squirrels in their development.

At 6 to 7 weeks old they weigh 90 to 110 g and only have formula 2 to 3 times per day.

At 7 to 8 weeks old they weigh 110 to 125 g feedings are only 1 to 2 times a day and some are weaned by now.

At 8 to 9 weeks they are between 125 and 140 g, fully weaned or once a day if they're spoiled. ��

At 9 to 10 weeks old they are 150 g. and are ready to be moved into a release cage.

At 11 to 12 weeks they are ready for release into the wild and will be weighing 190 to 200 g

Adults weigh 250 - 300 gms.

This time of year is always a juggling act to determine whether the squirrel has time to prepare to be released. We use outdoor release cages to acclimate our squirrels to the weather prior to releasing them. They live in them for 3 to 4 weeks depending on their age and readiness for release. There is a small 3 inch door up high that we open for them to come and go as they please. This gives them the option to stay inside the release cage in their nest boxes or to venture out and find a hole in the tree to winter over.

Keeping them all winter indoors by themselves is a lot of work and can be stressful but may be necessary if there are no other options.

Do you have any rehab groups in your area that you can contact?

As rehabbers in a group, we consolidate our juveniles by age, together into a release cage as much as possible so that they form a family and are released all at the same time and always try to get a singleton into a group.

There maybe others out there that need your little one as much is your little one may need another.

[skippy]

The Douglas squirrels eat pretty much the same solid foods as gray squirrels but their diet includes more seeds. You can add in shelled pinenuts, pecans almonds hazelnuts and pumpkin seeds at this age. If you can go out and find native plants and seeds in your area including cones from your trees that would be very helpful in teaching your little one what to look for when it is released.

[Coralreefer]

Never seen a Douglass squirrel.
Any chance you've got some pics?

[SistersSquirrels]

Hi and :WelcomeYou are the envy of us all! Especially those of us who will never even see a Douglas baby. Hint, hint we need pictures, please :poke

To answer your question. My opinion would be that this baby needs to be overwintered for sure. Waaaaay too young to release. Also, too young to be weaned.:Love_Icon Babies in the wild would still be nursing and would stay all winter with their mom. I am feeding my 8 week old greys 4 x a day. Mine will most certainly be overwintered. If you have frost now, this baby is not ready or acclimated to the outside and I believe there is not time to get her ready. A singleton this young should be overwintered inside. I know it is a long time until spring but to do otherwise could be a mistake. To keep a squirrel that long is an undertaking. There is so much you will need to know as she grows. Proper diet is key. Improper diet is the main cause of death in captive squirrels. Proper caging is needed too We will be glad to help you with this as you need help.

Thanks for for helping this little one. I can't wait to see pictures. :Love_Icon

Thank you for your suggestions. I'm attempting to attach a photo (I'm new to this group)293095. Hope it works.

[SistersSquirrels]

Hello U Do What.

I live in Douglas squirrel country and have rehabbed Douglas squirrels for several years. I have information I can share with you if you were interested. One thing to know about the Douglas squirrel is that they are 3 to 4 weeks ahead of western gray squirrels in their development.

At 6 to 7 weeks old they weigh 90 to 110 g and only have formula 2 to 3 times per day.

At 7 to 8 weeks old they weigh 110 to 125 g feedings are only 1 to 2 times a day and some are weaned by now.

At 8 to 9 weeks they are between 125 and 140 g, fully weaned or once a day if they're spoiled. ��

At 9 to 10 weeks old they are 150 g. and are ready to be moved into a release cage.

At 11 to 12 weeks they are ready for release into the wild and will be weighing 190 to 200 g

Adults weigh 250 - 300 gms.

This time of year is always a juggling act to determine whether the squirrel has time to prepare to be released. We use outdoor release cages to acclimate our squirrels to the weather prior to releasing them. They live in them for 3 to 4 weeks depending on their age and readiness for release. There is a small 3 inch door up high that we open for them to come and go as they please. This gives them the option to stay inside the release cage in their nest boxes or to venture out and find a hole in the tree to winter over.

Keeping them all winter indoors by themselves is a lot of work and can be stressful but may be necessary if there are no other options.

Do you have any rehab groups in your area that you can contact?

As rehabbers in a group, we consolidate our juveniles by age, together into a release cage as much as possible so that they form a family and are released all at the same time and always try to get a singleton into a group.

There maybe others out there that need your little one as much is your little one may need another.

Thanks for your information, it's very helpful. My little girl is 102 g so I guess right between 7-8 weeks. I've contacted other rehabbers and Fish and Wildlife in hopes of finding a room mate but so far no luck.
The baby is currently in a 4'w x 3'h x 3'd cage in my garage. She has a sleeping box as well as a hammock. When she's weaned I can put her in a large outdoor cage with a sleeping box that has loads of fleece.
I think keeping her in an indoor cage all winter would be very stressful, but hope the outdoor cage might be OK??

I've only live in Oregon since last Dec. so am still trying to get a handle on the seasonal conditions....last year we had record cold and snow.
I've been rehabbing (previously in CT and GA) so this is a whole set of circumstances for me. Any suggestions are very much appreciated293096.

[SistersSquirrels]

Never seen a Douglass squirrel.
Any chance you've got some pics?

Sure - here she is..........293097

[UDoWhat]

Sure - here she is..........293097


Aaak the cuteness is over the top. :Love_Icon :klunk

[SistersSquirrels]

I was looking for info on Douglas squirrels and came across some good info about Douglas squirrels on TSB. Not sure all the info is perfect for diet because I didn't read the entire thread but other info on Douglas squirrels is informative. See the thread below.


https://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?10739-Questions-regarding-a-baby-Douglas-tree-squirrel

Thank you

[cava]

OMGOSH! Those 80's feathered ears. That petite face. So cute!!:Love_Icon

[KarmaKay]

I've never seen one, but super cute!!!:blowkiss

[Shewhosweptforest]

She looks so young to put out :( I would definitely overwinter her...no offense to wildlife officials and their protocols...but I've found they are eager to push them out and move on..more of an assembly line. They don't nurture....it's "sink or swim"....I think a rehabilitator should look out for their charges and give them the chance for the greatest success :Love_Icon so please overwinter :please and since she's in your garage... if it's not heated...she will start acclimating and be ready for the outdoor cage :great she's lovely and thank you for saving her...she's one lucky lil wild girl :hug:Love_Icon

[Nancy in New York]

She looks so young to put out :( I would definitely overwinter her...no offense to wildlife officials and their protocols...but I've found they are eager to push them out and move on..more of an assembly line. They don't nurture....it's "sink or swim"....I think a rehabilitator should look out for their charges and give them the chance for the greatest success :Love_Icon so please overwinter :please and since she's in your garage... if it's not heated...she will start acclimating and be ready for the outdoor cage :great she's lovely and thank you for saving her...she's one lucky lil wild girl :hug:Love_Icon

I totally agree with you.
We have to remember when these little ones come to us,
they have no mom and sometimes no siblings to learn from.
I have overwintered many reds, though I've never seen a Douglas.:(
Keep them/him entertained, give
them room, and give them a stealth wheel.
This was a life saver for me. :w00t
http://www.atticworx.com/atticworxproducts.htm

[skippy]

She is definitely too young right now to put out.
I have never put my squirrels out if they weren't old enough and there wasnt enough time for to find a home, dry nesting materials and build a food cache.
I'm not a "hardcore" rehabber.
It would be nice if she could be paired up with another for company but this time of year, it's not always possible.
Feed her a healthy balanced diet of produce, including a squirrel block like the ones from Henry's along with berries, dark green leafy lettuces, seeds, shelled pine nuts and Doug fir cones if you can find them.
Fill a large cage with natural materials branches, cedar, pine, or Douglas fir boughs or whatever evergreen trees are in your area along with her hammock, nests box or whatever else she sleeps in.
They love fleece tunnels.
They also LOVE lichen and moss.
Perhaps she'll guide you to a local group of rehabbers in your new town as a bonus!
Enjoy! They are "zippy" fast and fun.
They generally are not cuddly like a gray and they make a vocal "zip" noise and a type of barking sound.
I had one that had an injured eye and needed treatment from an opthamoligist.
He was a very good patient and tolerated his eye drops pretty well once I could catch him. Lol

[SistersSquirrels]

She looks so young to put out :( I would definitely overwinter her...no offense to wildlife officials and their protocols...but I've found they are eager to push them out and move on..more of an assembly line. They don't nurture....it's "sink or swim"....I think a rehabilitator should look out for their charges and give them the chance for the greatest success :Love_Icon so please overwinter :please and since she's in your garage... if it's not heated...she will start acclimating and be ready for the outdoor cage :great she's lovely and thank you for saving her...she's one lucky lil wild girl :hug:Love_Icon

Thank you for your feed back