Baby Fox Squirrel

[Atclc]

Hey everyone! I have been rehabbing Little Nutt for about 3 weeks. She was in the road trying to climb up a friends leg. We attempted to find Mom with no luck, we made the decision to bring her home a few blocks over. I immediately got on here and learned how to rehydrate her, we fed Espilac until we were able to get Fox Valley in the mail. She is now also eating Henry’s cubes and I recently introduced arugula. She is very motivated to try chewing and eating things. With supervision I have allowed a pecan branch in her cage.

She is currently living in a smaller cage and with supervision a larger one that the smaller one is located in. Over the weekend we are adding chicken wire to the outside of the larger one so she can’t get out (that’s why she can only be in with supervision as there are some larger gaps she could get out if she wanted) we keep her in our garage that has windows and a side door that opens to the yard. We have a pecan tree so a few resident squirrels who have shown interest in her, I’m hoping them seeing her and smelling her will help with the transition when we release. We do plan to build a large cage for outside and have a box made for her that once released fully we will attach to a tree.

I guess what I’m asking here is advice on enrichment to put in the cage either full time or with supervision. When should we get a box that we keep in her cage and let her start learning to nest? Also food advice, I know we will keep giving her the milk and blocks but what can we introduce to supplement? Since pecans will be her major source of food when she is out should we start putting whole ones in her cage at any point? The current squirrels have them buried all in the yard and we have another bucket of them.

Lastly any help with age would be appreciated, I’m having trouble figuring it out. I live in East Texas, our coldest months are January and February. My belief is she would be old enough to release in January but that holding off until March might be best since she is a singleton.

I do know a rehabber would have been best but I wasn’t able to find one locally with any proof they had experience or currently has a squirrel. Luckily she was old enough after the first few nights I have felt comfortable she is healthy and happy. Just looking to set her up for a successful release.

Thanks for any advice! I know all this info is in here and I have read a lot of it but I thought if I had one space I could refer to it would be nice.Attachment 328387Attachment 328387

[Mel1959]

She is VERY cute!

Here is a link for healthy foods and safe trees. https://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/...-Pet-Squirrels. You can also provide a water bottle for drinking. I would not give any nuts at this stage. You will want to wait till she’s in a release cage as they can become very aggressive if they have a nut hidden. Nuts are not good for squirrels. In the wild they can balance the harmful effects of eating nuts with calcium rich items they find and eat. A captive squirrel has to rely on what you provide them.

Enrichment toys can be stuffed animals, with no hard eyes or bean stuffing, undyed wooden parrot toys, undyed wooden children’s blocks, antler pieces, toilet and paper towel tubes.

As soon as she can navigate climbing well and is in a cage large enough to hold a box you can provide one for her. In the meantime fleece hanging cubes like what Henry’s sells are a favorite.

[Atclc]

Thank you for the info!

For a water bottle do you just use like a hamster one?

[Mel1959]

Yes, one for hamsters will work. Keep in mind, if it’s the type that is hung inside the cage it should be a glass bottle because of chewing.

[Atclc]

About how old do you think she is. Any tips on when I could start the release process?

She also is kinda itchy but no signs of bugs, hair and skin look completely normal. She has grown a ton so not sure if it’s itchy where she is growing new hair? Not crazy itching or anything just thought it was worth mentioning

[walkerwilson4]

She is VERY cute!

Here is a link for healthy foods and safe trees. https://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/...-Pet-Squirrels. You can also provide a water bottle for drinking. I would not give any nuts at this stage. You will want to wait till she’s in a release cage as they can become very aggressive if they have a nut hidden. Nuts are not good for squirrels. In the wild they can balance the harmful effects of eating nuts with calcium rich items they find and eat. A captive squirrel has to rely on what you provide them.

Enrichment toys can be stuffed animals, with no hard eyes or bean stuffing, undyed wooden parrot toys, undyed wooden children’s blocks, antler pieces, toilet and paper towel tubes.

As soon as she can navigate climbing well and is in a cage large enough to hold a box you can provide one for her. In the meantime fleece hanging cubes like what Henry’s sells are a favorite.

Thank you so much for sharing all this helpful information! The tips about safe foods, enrichment toys, and housing are really valuable — I didn’t realize how important calcium balance is for squirrels in captivity. I’ll definitely check out the link you shared. I’ve also been using small paper cup coasters as simple little play items, and she seems to enjoy tossing them around. I’ll look into those fleece cubes next — they sound perfect for her comfort. Really appreciate your guidance!

[Diggie's Friend]

Please no chicken wire; it can cut up the mouth and they can get their appendages even head, caught in it. Instead use cage wire fabric. This is available at Home centers and, "Green Thumb Nurseries".

[island rehabber]

Yes, and at Home Depot it is called hardware cloth and available by the foot.

[Dusty]

Using my A.I., I hope the following can be of help: Websites loaded at below for you:

Hi there!
You’re doing an amazing job with Little Nutt—sounds like you’ve been very thoughtful about her care and future release. Here are some suggestions based on what you shared:
Enrichment Ideas

Natural branches (pecan, oak, pine) with bark and leaves are great for chewing and climbing. Rotate them often so they stay fresh.
Nest-building materials: Start introducing shredded paper, dried leaves, and small twigs in her cage now. This helps her practice nesting before release.
Foraging opportunities: Hide small treats (like Henry’s cubes or bits of veggies) in paper cups or cardboard tubes to encourage problem-solving.

Nest Box

You can add a box to her cage soon—she’s at the perfect stage to learn nesting. A wooden box with a small entrance hole works well. Later, you can transition this same box to the outdoor enclosure so it feels familiar. I do have some information on Fox Squirrel nesting Boxes.

Diet Suggestions, by A.I. (website links above)

Keep up with formula and blocks as her main diet for now.
Gradually introduce:

Leafy greens (kale, arugula, dandelion greens)
Small pieces of fruit (apple, grape—sparingly)
Other nuts (walnuts, hazelnuts) in moderation


Whole pecans: Yes, start offering them soon so she learns to crack shells. Begin with one or two at a time.

Age Estimate

If she’s chewing well and eating solids, she’s likely around 10–12 weeks. At this age, she still needs formula but is moving toward independence.
For release timing: Waiting until March is a good idea since she’s a singleton and you want mild weather for her first weeks outside.

Outdoor Transition

Your plan for a large outdoor cage and a release box is excellent. Give her at least 3–4 weeks in the outdoor enclosure before full release so she acclimates to weather and local squirrels.

You’re clearly committed to giving her the best chance—kudos for that! If you’d like, I can share a sample enrichment schedule or a checklist for pre-release prep. Would that be helpful?

✅ Pre-Release Checklist & Release Protocols


Squirrel Release Protocols – NC Wildlife Rehab
Includes a detailed checklist: cage setup, physical fitness, diet readiness, and behavioral requirements before release. ncwildliferehab.org


Planning a Squirrel Release – Squirrel Refuge
Explains timing, weather considerations, and survival factors for orphaned squirrels. squirrelrefuge.org



✅ Soft Release & Gradual Acclimation


How to Soft-Release Wild Squirrels – The Squirrel Board
Forum discussion on best practices for soft release and acclimation periods. thesquirrelboard.com


Slow Release Guide – Institute for Environmental Research and Education
Comprehensive guide on gradual acclimation, conditioning, and monitoring. iere.org



✅ Enrichment Ideas


Enrichment Squirrel Style – NC Wildlife Rehab
Lists enrichment items like branches, soil pots with hidden treats, stuffed toys, and nesting materials. ncwildliferehab.org


Squirrel Toys & Enrichment – The Squirrel Board
Community suggestions for safe toys and creative enrichment activities. thesquirrelboard.com



✅ Diet Before Release


What Do Juvenile Squirrels Eat? – PetShun
Covers transition from formula to nuts, seeds, fruits, and greens. petshun.com


Weaning a Baby Squirrel – Henry’s Pets
Step-by-step guide for introducing blocks, veggies, and nuts safely. henryspets.com



✅ Nest Box Guidelines


Squirrel Box Plans – MO Wildlife Rescue
Downloadable plans for building a rehab-approved nest box. mowildlife.org


When Do Rehab Squirrels Start Using Nest Boxes? – PetShun
Explains timing, placement, and design for nest boxes.

[supersquirrelgirl]

Ahhh.......just a small note about this thread.....its dates Nov/2024 so this cute baby is hopefully much much older!

Therefore, its either released already or now a home pet squirrel.

Please remember to check Thread/post dates before jumping in.

Best Regards, Mr.SSG