I'm new; any help appreciated

[Craig]

Hello! My family has recently found a baby squirrel on the ground near a tree during a heat wave. My dad wanted to nurse the squirrel to full health but insisted on giving it cow milk from our fridge. I did a quick google and determined that wasn't a good idea. Long story short, I decided to take it upon myself to care for this baby squirrel.

I've considered bringing it to a wildlife rehabilitation center but from the reviews I've read, the ones near me euthanize animals frequently or don't provide adequate care. My dad said they would likely do what I'm doing for the squirrel if not less, as they would have other animals to care for as well. I've also grown attached to the squirrel and would like to care for it, as I would be very upset if I sent it away and found out later it was killed.

He (I think it is a he) was brought into our house on August 27th around 8 pm. On August 28th, I researched what I could and from what I was able to determine, I believe it is about 5 weeks old as his eyes are open and there is fur on his belly, though his tail is not fluffy. it seems to weigh quite a bit less than it should for it's age, at 17-18 grams. I believe it is a southern flying squirrel, as they are found in the area and it matches many of the features, including its "wingsuit" stretching from its from legs to its hind legs, most noticable once it stretches.

On August 28th in the evening, I tried to reunite it with its mother at the place it was picked up, but after only 30 minutes, it was terribly hot out and I worried he would succumb to the heat in the black Tupperware I had placed him in so I took him back home. I also purchased Esbilac puppy milk replacement liquid, and have been feeding him about 5-7% of his body weight in mL, or roughly 1 mL per feeding session. I feed him about 4 times a day from the time I wake up until I go to bed. Yesterday on August 29th, he threw up shortly after his feeding session so I've been careful to not feed him much more than a mL if even that much.

I'm using a 10 mL syringe, which I understand is more dangerous than a 1-3 mL syringe, so I've been careful to be very slow with feeding. He's made clicking sounds one night which worried me, and sometimes he seems to hiccup after feeding. I've started taking extra care feeding him, giving only a drop at a time and allowing him time to swallow. I have Fox Valley 20/50 ordered but it will not arrive until Tuesday, and as it is Friday today, I will have to continue using the Esbilac puppy milk replacement liquid for the next 4 days until then. I understand it can spoil after 3 days of the can being opened, I've frozen some in an lolly pop tray maker and the rest is in a air tight glass container and lid with a cloth on top to keep it from light when the fridge is opened. I hope this I'd good enough for the time being.

The squirrel is currently in a plastic storage container with a thin cloth overtop. I've included an old shirt for him to to crawl into. Under the shirt and half of the container is a heating pad that I keep on low. It does automatically shut off but I assume his fur and the shirt help to insulate heat. He is slowly gaining weight, weighing 17.45 grams 2 days ago, the same weight yesterday, but today he was about 17.8 before his first feeding, and 18 grams at his second feeding.

I know I've written a lot, but I am invested in this little guy and I hope he makes it. I would be devastated if he perished in my care. I've researched quite a bit, and I understand they are very sensitive and can pass away rather easily. This site and community has proved to be helpful so I'm hoping I may be able to get some additional help. Can I do anything differently? What forums might prove beneficial to me? What is a healthy daily weight gain for a flying squirrel? Is he 5 weeks or have I misjudged. Hopefully I will have included photos that may help in determining this.

I should mention that I have not been stimulating him to use the bathroom, as he has pooped before in my hand though it was more of just a flat brown smear when I noticed and I belive he has peed on his own as well already. If there is anything else you'd like to know, let me know and I would be happy to tell you what I know.