Hi, what a surprise!

[Polak]

Hello, I'm new on this site. I live in NJ, but I am originally from Poland. I spent most of my growing up, and then also working, on my grandpa's farm. We raised a few naked squirrel new borns a few times. On our farm we grew primarily thick tall grass like plants,nettle bushes... Why? Because we have a goat farm 😆 how convenient. Though, I remember in my younger years, my grandpa used goat milk. Even the fermented version we leave out to eat with our potatoes.

I never thought much of it until after 10 years to now.

So weeks back, we had some very bad weather in NJ and the wind knocked down a tree. I heard the impact when I was sleeping for work. Of course, the next morning I go to work, but when I return @ 5PM I decided to check out the damage. I was just amazed how the tree was uprooted, you know? But what I didn't expect was to find a barely fuzzy squirrel. It was barely moving but skittered trying to climb on me.

It made my heart sink.

It was very dehydrated, but to my surprise it licked/tries to stuck on a clean rag I soaked in honey and water. I never really knew his age though. He had his eyes open and he needed help to poop for about a week or two.

Anyways, I'm surprised how big squirrels are online and the situation as a whole really feels nostalgic. It's a pleasure to meet you all. I'd show you a picture if I knew how

[Charley Chuckles]

Are you feeding him formula, there is an area that explains it all I'll have to find it unless someone can find it first.

To put up pics, go to the paperclip 📎 click on , click on add file, click on file it will take you to your files add pic, click upload them bottom right of page click insert and done.
I hope that makes sense.

[Charley Chuckles]

https://www.henryspets.com/henrys-bl...baby-squirrel/

[Polak]

Are you feeding him formula, there is an area that explains it all I'll have to find it unless someone can find it first.

To put up pics, go to the paperclip 📎 click on , click on add file, click on file it will take you to your files add pic, click upload them bottom right of page click insert and done.
I hope that makes sense.

Yeah, I'm feeding him formula. In the beginning I gave him honey and water with a pinch of salt. I have blocks, but before I was giving him aragula, spinach, and carrot.

I took the first picture of my about a week after I got him. He was very weak when I first found him but now he's super fast. I was wondering what age he is. I could take another photo. Had him for almost a month. I'm currently keeping him in a vacant room until I can build him a tall cage for the intent of releasing.

[SamtheSquirrel2018]

Yeah, I'm feeding him formula. In the beginning I gave him honey and water with a pinch of salt. I have blocks, but before I was giving him aragula, spinach, and carrot.

I took the first picture of my about a week after I got him. He was very weak when I first found him but now he's super fast. I was wondering what age he is. I could take another photo. Had him for almost a month. I'm currently keeping him in a vacant room until I can build him a tall cage for the intent of releasing.

Hi Polak and thank you for finding The Squirrel Board! What is your Squirrel's name?

How long ago did your Squirrel find you? What does he weigh? It sound as if he was a baby when you both first met. Did you give your Squirrel formula and if so, what did you use and are you still giving this. For solid food (food other than formula), a cpative Squirrel should have at least 80% of their diet made up of quality Blocks such as Henry's Healthy Blocks or Mazuri Rat and Mouse Diet! Here is a ling to Henry's Healthy Foods Guide. It is a pyramid with the healthiest foods (blocks) at the wide base of the pyramid and the least healthy and treats such as nuts and fruits at the tip (yes, for a captive Squirrel, nuts are treats)! What are you intentions with this little Squirrel/ Are you going to keep him as a pet or are you planning on a relaese. Please keep in mind that if you are intending upon releasing this Squirrel, it can't be accomplished just by "letting him go!" A Squirrel raised in captivity must have a period of acclimation outside where they are fed and protected in a specially designed cage outdoors for several weeks and often longer. This is called a Soft-Release doing this is essential for a successful release as the Squirrels natural instincts will come to the forefront! A Hard Release, which is simply letting the Squirrel go will invariably lead to fear, inability to function in the wild and death from predators or the environment! There is considerable information on TSB regarding the construction of a Release cage and the Soft-Release process itself!

Regards,
SamtheSquirrel

[Polak]

Hi Polak and thank you for finding The Squirrel Board! What is your Squirrel's name?

How long ago did your Squirrel find you? What does he weigh? It sound as if he was a baby when you both first met. Did you give your Squirrel formula and if so, what did you use and are you still giving this. For solid food (food other than formula), a cpative Squirrel should have at least 80% of their diet made up of quality Blocks such as Henry's Healthy Blocks or Mazuri Rat and Mouse Diet! Here is a ling to Henry's Healthy Foods Guide. It is a pyramid with the healthiest foods (blocks) at the wide base of the pyramid and the least healthy and treats such as nuts and fruits at the tip (yes, for a captive Squirrel, nuts are treats)! What are you intentions with this little Squirrel/ Are you going to keep him as a pet or are you planning on a relaese. Please keep in mind that if you are intending upon releasing this Squirrel, it can't be accomplished just by "letting him go!" A Squirrel raised in captivity must have a period of acclimation outside where they are fed and protected in a specially designed cage outdoors for several weeks and often longer. This is called a Soft-Release doing this is essential for a successful release as the Squirrels natural instincts will come to the forefront! A Hard Release, which is simply letting the Squirrel go will invariably lead to fear, inability to function in the wild and death from predators or the environment! There is considerable information on TSB regarding the construction of a Release cage and the Soft-Release process itself!

Regards,
SamtheSquirrel

Hey thanks for the reply Sam. I'm keeping him over winter. His name is VskVsk, because I find it's a familiar sound for him to understand. I've fed him formula and now he's drinking formula out of a bowl & eating squirrel blocks. He also has broccoli and other greens, but I do give him an occasional grape or blueberry (as a treat). I have previous experience in Poland on my farm, but I appreciate the rundown of information! He was a baby and he was very dehydrated. Now he's about 2+ months? But he's still kind of immature. I currently have him in a catio

[SamtheSquirrel2018]

Hey thanks for the reply Sam. I'm keeping him over winter. His name is VskVsk, because I find it's a familiar sound for him to understand. I've fed him formula and now he's drinking formula out of a bowl & eating squirrel blocks. He also has broccoli and other greens, but I do give him an occasional grape or blueberry (as a treat). I have previous experience in Poland on my farm, but I appreciate the rundown of information! He was a baby and he was very dehydrated. Now he's about 2+ months? But he's still kind of immature. I currently have him in a catio

Hi Polak and thank you for your new post. Please say hello to VskVsk for me! I just noticed that I did not paste the link to Henry's Healthy Food Pyramid so here it is; https://henryspets.com/healthy-diet-for-pet-squirrels/

Why do you feel VskVsk is "kind of immature?" In reality, he is still a very young Squirrel! Is there something in particular that results in your concern about his "maturity" such as his rate of growth or issues?

Grapes are treats so giving one should be only as you say, "occasional!" Also, if you do give VskVsk a grape, use only seedless varieties and remove the skin! Squirrels and other small animals have died from getting a piece of skin lodged in throats and having it interfere with breathing or have actually aspirated the skin (which doesn't readily dissolve) into their breathing tubes or lungs! Also, a piece of grape skin can even be swallowed but lodge where the esophagus (the food tube to the stomach) meets the stomach a cause an obstruction. Again, simply remove the skin!

The catio sounds great! VskVsk is a fortunate little Squirrel to have you and I'm sure you feel fortunate to be sharing your life with him! When I start receiving my stock dividends from my recent investing in Boeing, I'm going to buy a catio for me to live in (just kidding, I didn't invest in Boeing but the catio does sound good)!

Please keep posting updates about VskVsk!
Regards,
SamtheSquirrel

[Polak]

Why do you feel VskVsk is "kind of immature?" In reality, he is still a very young Squirrel! Is there something in particular that results in your concern about his "maturity" such as his rate of growth or issues?
SamtheSquirrel

I appreciate your concern but he's eating pretty well. What I mean is he's clumsy and relies on his nose more than his eyes sorta. He always sorta been clumsy and he makes croaking sounds at the reflection of his face in the bird bath. I think he just has bad depth perception at times.
Edit: he gets lost in a trance of running up my leg and trying to fight my thumb. I guess you're right. He still a young squirrel

[SamtheSquirrel2018]

I appreciate your concern but he's eating pretty well. What I mean is he's clumsy and relies on his nose more than his eyes sorta. He always sorta been clumsy and he makes croaking sounds at the reflection of his face in the bird bath. I think he just has bad depth perception at times.
Edit: he gets lost in a trance of running up my leg and trying to fight my thumb. I guess you're right. He still a young squirrel

Thanks Polak! Please post further update about VskVsk!
Regards,
SamtheSquirrel

[Jenna]

Hi, Polak! VskVsk looks absolutely adorable. I'm a new squirrel keeper, too, without any previous experience like yours growing up (although we did raise and release several songbirds, and I've worked with critters as a trainer for almost 30 years). Squirrel raising has sure been an experience!

I live in an apartment and so we aren't able to have Rocky indoors/outdoors, so he's inside in the biggest habitat we could manage (which is really quite big), but he's gotten VERY tame around us and our dog and cats. Not the best survival strategies...

Rocky was 3 weeks old when we found him, and his eyes were still closed. I found a site with pictures and descriptions of what they'd look like at each stage of life, starting with weekly changes. Let me see if I can find it and post it, and it'll give you an idea of how old VskVsk is or was when you found him!

Here is 1-5 weeks old: https://henryspets.com/6-is-your-baby-squirrel-healthy/

And here's a description without photos through 12 weeks: https://www.squirrel-rescue.com/squirrel-age.htm (It says to release at 12 weeks, but I'd follow the advice found here. The advice I've found here has been backed up elsewhere, as well. I've seen a few places say 12 weeks, but they're usually places that don't give much more information than "release the squirrel."

Anyway, welcome to squirreldom once again!

Jenna
Photo just because