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View Full Version : 3.5 month fox squirrel mom needs nutrition advice please and thanks!



Hotpoppies
05-21-2024, 12:53 PM
Hello!
So baby Earl is doing GREAT! He’s probably 3 1/2 months now?? We found him at about 4 weeks old and he’s thriving as an indoor outdoor squirrel. We wake up…he goes out to his huge magnolia tree and fig tree in the backyard, plays for about an hour, forages and runs and jumps…then at around 9:30am I go out and he jumps on me…ready for breakfast…I’ve been feeding him alternating Henry’s blocks…watermelon, snap peas, grapes, papaya, currently he’s obsessed with bananas, avocado…and then he gets his “treat bowl” of seeds, flower buds (safe for critter consumption only), walnuts, almonds, (shells and one or two shelled) and veggie sticks) all sprinkled with a tiny bit of Henry’s calcium for good measure…then it’s back outside until lunch…playtime and meal time inside…then back outside until around 5pm when he’s ready to come in for the night and have his snacks and a good cuddle and sleep…but he’s so fickle with his foods…one minute he’s obsessed…the next day he looks at me like I’m insane for suggesting he eats (insert whatever food). He nibbles tho…and cycles his favorites. I guess I’m just concerned and curious…if he’s also foraging outside…and getting a ton of exercise and sun…and feeding off the trees and grass findings…do I have to still force the blocks? I mean, I’ll always want to and will continue to do so but do you think it’s possible he’s getting what he needs to be as healthy and happy and thriving as he can? Am I just a worried mommy? Any advice on this topic would be so helpful! And the science behind their seeking their own nutrition as a full outside wild squirrel would supplemented with moms “home cooking”. Oh…I also have a Himalayan salt lick as I’m concerned about his getting plenty of minerals:)

Thanks!:serene

Charley Chuckles
05-21-2024, 01:37 PM
Awwww what a sweet face 😍
How old is Earl now?
Amazing how he goes outside and inside😁
That means he's getting plenty of sunshine which is part of the reason for inside guys using HHB. That said if he still likes them by all means continue.
Nice job👍

Hotpoppies
05-21-2024, 02:00 PM
Oh man…thanks so much for your response Charley chuckles! I really look to your expert wisdoms since I’m a new squirrel mom! I think we found him at about 4-5 weeks so I’m guessing he’s about 3 and a half months old! I’m bracing myself for the day he doesn’t come back inside but that just makes me cherish every second I have with him! I just want to make sure I’m providing him with all the things he needs to live his best life…hopefully with me in it too!

Spanky
05-21-2024, 02:28 PM
I's say it would be much better to limit the nuts and seeds than "forcing" the block. But limiting the treats will make the block more appealing...

Nuts and seeds are like cotton candy to a human toddler... treats, but nutritionally they do much more damage (calcium robbing) than good. And sprinkling calcium on the food is a good idea, but it will not compensate for how much lots of nuts and seeds will deplete the calcium.

These guidelines to limits calcium robbing foods are for "captive squirrels". Since Earl is an indoor / outdoor kind of guy, he gets way more exercise than captive squirrels (which I am convinced helps keep bones strong prevent MBD). Outdoors he also has access to all kinds of foods in the wild captives simply do not get (woodlouse, dirt, bark, blah blah blah...)...

Just my 2 cents!

Hotpoppies
05-21-2024, 02:47 PM
Thank you! I appreciate all the “cents”!!! Really helpful. I do try to limit the nuts and seeds based on all that I have learned here for sure! I need to be more stringent about it though. I was so curious since a lot of the advice is geared for the indoor guys…however I appreciate hearing from you that the same rules go for the inside outside cuddle nutters…just less dire since you think the running around and foraging will indeed help his bones and health in general!
Appreciate you!!!!

Hotpoppies
05-21-2024, 02:50 PM
Also…he sure does LOVE to eat everything about that dang tree outside! He comes home with a face full of dust from bark and twigs and cones.

I re read your comment and I guess I hadn’t realized the nuts were calcium robbers!!! Just thought they were junk food…that knowledge will help me stay a bit more disciplined with him…thanks again!