Short nose, no color behind ears, very skittish.

[Kdew]

Rescued a baby about 4 weeks ago. He is growing and doing great but his face is shaped funny, very short nose, no color behind ears, very skittish and won't climb. I have pictures but no idea how to post them 😭 his momma kicked him from the nest and wouldn't take him back. We watched him for several hours before bringing him inside.

[Kdew]

Here are some pictures I hope it works

[stepnstone]

Rescued a baby about 4 weeks ago. He is growing and doing great but his face is shaped funny, very short nose, no color behind ears, very skittish and won't climb. I have pictures but no idea how to post them 😭 his momma kicked him from the nest and wouldn't take him back. We watched him for several hours before bringing him inside.
I suspect he could be a variation of a dwarf. This could explain the "short nose," unable to climb and mom's rejection.
The white behind the ears is normal although his is very pronounced.
Would like to see more pictures, different angles, particularly frontal face and with him standing on all fours.

[McCarthy]

I have seen a male squirrel with a very short face / nose just recently. It looked very odd and he too was very skittish. Other than that he was running and climbing like all others.

[Kdew]

I suspect he could be a variation of a dwarf. This could explain the "short nose," unable to climb and mom's rejection.
The white behind the ears is normal although his is very pronounced.
Would like to see more pictures, different angles, particularly frontal face and with him standing on all fours.

I'm finishing up dinner and I'll take some for you!!

[Kdew]

I suspect he could be a variation of a dwarf. This could explain the "short nose," unable to climb and mom's rejection.
The white behind the ears is normal although his is very pronounced.
Would like to see more pictures, different angles, particularly frontal face and with him standing on all fours.

Ok here is 2 I got a video of him walking but it won't upload 🤦🏻*♀️ I can get more if you need more. He just won't hold still lol

[stepnstone]

He looks pretty normal to me, not seeing any characteristics of a dwarf.
What brought about his rescue, did he fall from dray?
I assume he was eyes closed when found?
If so do you remember when he opened them?

[Kdew]

He looks pretty normal to me, not seeing any characteristics of a dwarf.
What brought about his rescue, did he fall from dray?
I assume he was eyes closed when found?
If so do you remember when he opened them?

His momma kicked him out. We watched all day and she came back but wouldn't take him home. When it go dark I got him. His eyes opened 10 days ago.

[stepnstone]

His momma kicked him out. We watched all day and she came back but wouldn't take him home. When it go dark I got him. His eyes opened 10 days ago.
In nature it can be as cruel as it seems, it is survival of the fittest...
Sometimes it's an act of survival for a mother to reject, abandon, and even cull their own offspring.
Natural selection has meant that animal mothers reject the weaker offspring to save her resources
for the healthy babies and also to prevent predation by other species.

Eyes generally open at 5 weeks so that would put him around 6-1/2 weeks of age.
From what you describe he is behind in development which leaves him compromised in some way.
He could be compromised physically or mentally. This does not necessary mean he won't/can't develop
his skills down the line, only time will tell.

[Mel1959]

I have been blessed with caring for 2 Florida dwarfs that exhibited all the characteristics of dwarfism. Recently I was asked by a rehabber to take a third. When I went to get him he was close to 12 weeks old and weighed 177gr. He was a small compact little guy that had a blunt face and did bunny hops when put on the ground. He could do some limited climbing. It was these characteristics that made us assume he was a dwarf.

I cared for him for two weeks and then gave him to another rehabber that was going to provide him a forever home. That was over 4 weeks ago and the little guy has gained weight and can climb and zip around just like a normal squirrel. It’s too early to tell if he’s releasable, but after an evaluation later this summer, he may be. It appears he was developmentally delayed and originally I don’t think he was being fed enough.

Give your little guy some time and see how he does. You’ll know he’s a dwarf if his body just won’t grow in spite of proper nutrition. It’s not just the weight it’s the body development that you need to watch.

Here’s a picture of my first dwarf, Joey. At his heaviest he weighed 236gr. And my second dwarf, Joy, never topped 150gr.:shakehead. The third photo is the last little guy I got, he’s about 11 weeks old here, but is now about 350gr. A normal Florida squirrel will weigh between 350-450gr. when fully grown.

[McCarthy]

It appears he was developmentally delayed and originally I don’t think he was being fed enough.


A little off-topic, but here it goes.

That's literally what doctors and teachers told my parents when I was a kid. They all saw me in need of support throughout my entire life, while never being accepted by any college or being able to maintain a job with any defined requirements. I recall those cruel discussions between them, all while I was present.

Further down the road I spent 9.5 years at college, came out with 1 masters and 2 bachelor degrees, and my own business up and running. I hired a CEO and retried at age 40. There is a fine line between being limited, and being gifted. Many will confuse them.

[Kdew]

I don't think he was being under fed. I was using the formula for body weight on the squirrel board and he was steadily gaining weight. He eats great. He's just shaped funny. I did talk to a rehaber (I am also in the process of getting my lisense for my state) she said to keep doing what I'm doing and just wait and see then take him for a blood test.

[Diggie's Friend]

What's an adorable little dude; what's not to love!!

Was this baby perhaps found in the region of the southern tip of peninsular Florida (including the areas of Key Largo, Rock Harbor, and Miami)?

[Mel1959]

I don't think he was being under fed. I was using the formula for body weight on the squirrel board and he was steadily gaining weight. He eats great. He's just shaped funny. I did talk to a rehaber (I am also in the process of getting my lisense for my state) she said to keep doing what I'm doing and just wait and see then take him for a blood test.

I was referring to my last little guy not being fed enough.

When you say that you were told to have a blood test done, is that to determine achondroplasia?

[Kdew]

What's an adorable little dude; what's not to love!!

Was this baby perhaps found in the region of the southern tip of peninsular Florida (including the areas of Key Largo, Rock Harbor, and Miami)?

Panhandle of FL! Almost Alabama.

[Kdew]

I was referring to my last little guy not being fed enough.

When you say that you were told to have a blood test done, is that to determine achondroplasia?

Yes they said they also check their hormones to see if there is one missing or one over producing.

[Kdew]

I was referring to my last little guy not being fed enough.

When you say that you were told to have a blood test done, is that to determine achondroplasia?

Also your lillte babies are so stinking cute. So I don't know if it is dwarfism cause he's gaining weight every day. I weigh him every morning.

[CritterMom]

Please, if you have blood tested, make sure they check thyroid levels. There is a strong correlation between thyroid function and these guys, and correcting it with medication can have huge results.

[Kdew]

Please, if you have blood tested, make sure they check thyroid levels. There is a strong correlation between thyroid function and these guys, and correcting it with medication can have huge results.

I will write it down and have them check! Thanks for letting me know!