Baby squirrel all of a sudden making this noise after having her for 5 days.

[Squirrelbaby99]

My baby squirrel is all of a sudden making screeching noises (it sounds like she is calling for her mom). She hasn’t done this Since I brought her home but now she started doing it. She also did it when I left the room. I thought she had gotten stuck on the side of the cage when she first did it, but now she just keeps doing it. Anyone know why she is doing this or what I can do.

[Squirrelbaby99]

My baby squirrel is all of a sudden making screeching noises (it sounds like she is calling for her mom). She hasn’t done this Since I brought her home but now she started doing it. She also did it when I left the room. I thought she had gotten stuck on the side of the cage when she first did it, but now she just keeps doing it. Anyone know why she is doing this or what I can do.

She has done it about 6 times now. Does this mean she is in pain or something is wrong. I posted a video of her making the noise so people could know what im talking about.

https://youtu.be/13gqnNbMOE8

[Mel1959]

How old is she? She may be scared and calling for mom. Do you have lots of blankets in her enclosure that she can snuggle and hide in? Do you hold and cuddle her? Baby squirrels love to be stroked and cuddled. She has no siblings or mom, which she has lost and would be snuggling with. Have you provided a small stuffed animal (no plastic eyes or parts she can chew) so she can snuggle with it for comfort? These things are important for their mental adjustment.

[Squirrelbaby99]

How old is she? She may be scared and calling for mom. Do you have lots of blankets in her enclosure that she can snuggle and hide in? Do you hold and cuddle her? Baby squirrels love to be stroked and cuddled. She has no siblings or mom, which she has lost and would be snuggling with. Have you provided a small stuffed animal (no plastic eyes or parts she can chew) so she can snuggle with it for comfort? These things are important for their mental adjustment.

I am guessing she is about 6-7 weeks old. She has a little fleece cave that she sleeps in with an appropriately heated rice bag. I hold and cuddle her all the time and she especially loves it when I rub her chin. She is currently sleeping in my arm right now as I type this. I will try and get her a small stuffed animal.

[Mel1959]

Yes, lots of human contact will make up for her missing mom and siblings. There will be plenty of time for her to become more wild when she’s older. For now she seems scared and needs reassurance and love. It would be helpful to provide her with a hanging cube bed and you will definitely have to provide her a bigger cage. Hanging cube beds can be purchased online or at pet stores. Most squirrels LOVE them. https://www.chewy.com/frisco-small-pet-geometric-plush/dp/304522?utm_source=google-product&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=hg&utm_content=Frisco&utm_term=&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIsLWd0aWt9AIVBaGGCh00WA96EAQYBCAB EgJR3fD_BwE

[Mel1959]

Are you interested in finding someone to take your baby and put it with others of the same age for a release in the spring? If so, I can see if I can find someone close to you.

[Squirrelbaby99]

Are you interested in finding someone to take your baby and put it with others of the same age for a release in the spring? If so, I can see if I can find someone close to you.

I was planning on releasing her own my own but thank you for the offer.

[Mel1959]

Terrific, you won’t be releasing till spring, right? She would never survive this winter, as she’s much too young. Release in the spring when there’s tree cover and food is plentiful, and go through the soft release process.

[SamtheSquirrel2018]

My baby squirrel is all of a sudden making screeching noises (it sounds like she is calling for her mom). She hasn’t done this Since I brought her home but now she started doing it. She also did it when I left the room. I thought she had gotten stuck on the side of the cage when she first did it, but now she just keeps doing it. Anyone know why she is doing this or what I can do.

Hi Squirrelbaby:
Is this the same Squirrel; that weighed in at 126g this morning and had loose stools recently but had a PR (poop report) of "formed stool" last night? If so, she may also be hungry. I really suspect the cause of her cries is what Mel has pointed out and that is that your Squirrel may simply be calling for a Squirrel-Mom-Stand-in (You!)! Snuggling and physical contact with your Squirrel is a very good and necessary interaction even if this is not the primary reason for your Little One to be making her crying sound. Another consideration based upon a couple of baby Squirrels that were in my care at one time as singletons and each made similar sounds to what I heard on your video. I found out with a little experimentation that they were hungry or at least thought they were hungry. The cries stopped with additional food but this was given only in a small amount and given as a test. I snuggled with them instead of giving any further extra formula because Squirrels, even baby Squirrels, can be pigs and if they will readily overeat. Also, I usually does my formula toward the 7% end rather than the 5% end so I don't have a whole lot of leeway to increase the volume of the formula. Overfeeding can lead to bloating and even regurgitating formula which can then be aspirated into the lungs. This can cause aspiration pneumonitis or aspiration pneumonia, both of which are extremely serious and must be avoided. That being said, a suggestion would be to ensure that your Squirrel is getting fed 4 times per day and is getting 6.3ml to 8.8ml with each feeding based upon the 126g weight you had this morning. The rational for the 5-7% guide is the assumed capacity of the stomach to hold food. If you are giving formula toward the 5% end, it may be worth trying a little more formula for each feeding and see how she does. Please don't ever exceed the 7% limit and staying around 6% is usually a safe option.
Regards,
SamtheSquirrel

[Squirrelbaby99]

Terrific, you won’t be releasing till spring, right? She would never survive this winter, as she’s much too young. Release in the spring when there’s tree cover and food is plentiful, and go through the soft release process.

Yes that was my plan.

[Squirrelbaby99]

Hi Squirrelbaby:
Is this the same Squirrel; that weighed in at 126g this morning and had loose stools recently but had a PR (poop report) of "formed stool" last night? If so, she may also be hungry. I really suspect the cause of her cries is what Mel has pointed out and that is that your Squirrel may simply be calling for a Squirrel-Mom-Stand-in (You!)! Snuggling and physical contact with your Squirrel is a very good and necessary interaction even if this is not the primary reason for your Little One to be making her crying sound. Another consideration based upon a couple of baby Squirrels that were in my care at one time as singletons and each made similar sounds to what I heard on your video. I found out with a little experimentation that they were hungry or at least thought they were hungry. The cries stopped with additional food but this was given only in a small amount and given as a test. I snuggled with them instead of giving any further extra formula because Squirrels, even baby Squirrels, can be pigs and if they will readily overeat. Also, I usually does my formula toward the 7% end rather than the 5% end so I don't have a whole lot of leeway to increase the volume of the formula. Overfeeding can lead to bloating and even regurgitating formula which can then be aspirated into the lungs. This can cause aspiration pneumonitis or aspiration pneumonia, both of which are extremely serious and must be avoided. That being said, a suggestion would be to ensure that your Squirrel is getting fed 4 times per day and is getting 6.3ml to 8.8ml with each feeding based upon the 126g weight you had this morning. The rational for the 5-7% guide is the assumed capacity of the stomach to hold food. If you are giving formula toward the 5% end, it may be worth trying a little more formula for each feeding and see how she does. Please don't ever exceed the 7% limit and staying around 6% is usually a safe option.
Regards,
SamtheSquirrel

Yes this is the same squirrel that weighed in at 126g this morning. I have been feeding her 8mls every 5 hours (she seems like she wants to eat more, but I am wary because of bloat).

[Squirrelbaby99]

Yes, lots of human contact will make up for her missing mom and siblings. There will be plenty of time for her to become more wild when she’s older. For now she seems scared and needs reassurance and love. It would be helpful to provide her with a hanging cube bed and you will definitely have to provide her a bigger cage. Hanging cube beds can be purchased online or at pet stores. Most squirrels LOVE them. https://www.chewy.com/frisco-small-pet-geometric-plush/dp/304522?utm_source=google-product&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=hg&utm_content=Frisco&utm_term=&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIsLWd0aWt9AIVBaGGCh00WA96EAQYBCAB EgJR3fD_BwE

I was definitely planning on getting her a bigger cage soon. Anyone have any cage recommendations. This is just the cage I had when I had a hamster so it is just temporary.

[Chirps]

From the video I would have said it looked like her finger was caught briefly, or maybe she thought it was, but if she's still making the noises when she's not in a position to be caught it must be what others have said.

That said, she can't catch a toe in it anywhere, yes? From what I can see it looks safe enough until you switch her over, but you'd want to be sure as she looks to be right at the age of developing her climbing skills.

What a cutie!

[Mel1959]

I was definitely planning on getting her a bigger cage soon. Anyone have any cage recommendations. This is just the cage I had when I had a hamster so it is just temporary.

Lots of folks buy Critter Nation cages as they can be disassembled and stored. You might check Craigslist or marketplace for a used cage. You don’t want bar spacing any wider than 1/2”.