Hi I am new to the forum although I have read many posts in my search for answers.
Someone in our town found 2 baby squirrels in their yard right before a tornadic storm hit out town. She did not want to touch them so I ran to the rescue before the storm hit. One baby was already dead so I took the other very weak baby home, stopping at the vet on the way to pick up puppy milk. Got home just as the tornado sirens went off but we were lucky.
Squirtle, as I named it, had one eye partially open and the other closed. I knew NOTHING about checking for dehydration etc but I have raises baby wild rabbits in the past and made calls to rehab places for more info as I went along. Fast forward a bit over 4 months and Squirtle is doing well from what I can tell.
I was told that since she (just figured that part out lol) was raised alone from such a young age, I would never be able to release her. So we built a HUGE cage in my house 8' wide 6' tall and 2.5 ' wide (I think) on wheels and it sits in my living room.
She has a big box at top and a large tree branch plus toys and an upright log with top and side holes that I sit on when I go in to hang with her or clean.
We let her out 2-4 times a day so she can run around the house and play. I didn't realize I couldn't let her go until she was 14 weeks old or so, and had stopped carrying her around and handling her alot so she would acclimate better when I let her go. So consequently she now doesn't like to be held and will bite anyone but me if they try to handle her. She will climb up my husband and let's him pet her but only on her terms. She has bitten him several times without provocation. She let's me play with her, pretend biting and acting like a kitten and she will let me scratch her back and head and love on her as long as I don't try to pick her up. She knows her name and the more we let her out the more comfortable she becomes just hanging out. But I have to say she is more wok than a toddler because she fixates on anything you try to stop her from doing lol. I have blocked off certain rooms and she is determined to go there. But as soon as I go in and tell her she is not supposed to be there, she will jump and climb up on my shoulder.
I have spent about $175 trying to find any kind of squirrel food she will eat. I buy the picky squirrel blocks from Henry's and she gets 2 a day. She will nit eat ANY of the suggested rat food blocks or kibbles, nor did she like any of the many foods and snacks I bought from exotic Nutrition. Not even the mix that has nuts in it. I give her berries from the yard or frozen ones, greens and carrots ( lettuce, snap peas, cabbage, etc) apples, pumpkin seeds, water melon, unsalted peanuts in a shell- 1 or 2 a day some days- and hazel nut, walnuts and pecans in the shell. I try to limit those to 1 or 2 of each. Sometimes these are the only way I can get her back into her cage. I bought powdered vitamins but she won't eat anything, even nuts, if I sprinkle it on there. I cannot get the huge cage in and out of the house so she isn't getting daily sunshine at the moment. When it was Spring I brought herb daily twigs leaves and flowers from Dogwood, apple maple and pine trees in my yard. I pick dandelion leaves and plantain leaves to put in her food bowl as well. I never planned on being a life time squirrel owner but here we are and we love her so much!!! I just want to be sure I am taking care of her correctly. My dogs tolerate her well and she seems happy but I know she will be coming in season at some time. Missouri does not have any squirrel rehab centers, nor have I been able to find one vet that will treat native wild animals. I know this was long but I wanted to see if there is anything we are not doing that we need to be doing. I would appreciate any input for all who are so much more experienced than I am. Thank you!