New to this world

[Jablowski]

Hey everyone! I just recently started taking care of a juvenile squirrel! Ive always wanted to start rehabbing animals, fostering them etc. growing up i wanted to be a zoologist/zookeeper and take care of animals. Im now a mechanic and we found a baby squirrel in our building all alone. I now have a cage, food, and all the main necessities for this squirrel but just wanted to ask for tips! This is my first time rehabbing so there are some things i just wont know so please inform me anything i may not know. Also just wanted to hear different tips and ideas on how to raise this animal to the best of my ability.
Thank you
Tate

[CritterMom]

Can you give us a RECENT pic of him so we know exactly what you have - approx age, variety, etc.

[Jablowski]

I think an image of him is linked? If you shoot me your email i can email a picture in case this doesnt work. Overall he seems healthy just young

[Mel1959]

Definitely young. What formula are you feeding? How often? What are you using to feed? Are you familiar with rodent block and that it should be the first solid food you provide? Squirrels should be fed formula till approx 9-12 weeks old, but it’s best to let them wean themselves.

Our squirrels in Florida are smaller than northern gray squirrels. I’d estimate your little one to be about 5-6 weeks old. Eyes are typically open around 5 weeks.

How is he doing in general? Poop and peeing well? Here’s the link to baby squirrel care. https://www.henryspets.com/1-baby-squirrel-care-guide/

[Jablowski]

I dont remember the formula off the top of my head but it is a formula for squirrels, ive been doing my research and i am working on weaning him off formula to solid foods. Hes peed but i havent seen him poop just yet, only had him for bout 3 days now. Ive bought a bite block for him already, ive gotten a exotic nutrition squirrel complete bag for hard foods so he has variety, hes eaten strawberries, raspberries and formula so far. Ive been doing what i see online for the formula, not letting him suck it or he can drown, feeding him i think its 7ml of formula bout 3 times a day. He has strawberries, raspberries and sweet potato chews in his cage to so he can “hunt” for food.
He isnt lethargic and he seems very healthy wo far. I have a screened in patio so ive been letting him explore out there so hes not stuck in a cage. Overall i think hes doing very well, i found out he was cold, when i tried a heating pad he immediately ran to it and curled up so i brought him inside for the past couple days so he can stay warm. Weve been getting some colder weather lately. If theres anything you believe ive forgotten or havemt done research on please let me know. Ive been staying up late reading every article i can find so that i can do this the right way.

[Spanky]

I dont remember the formula off the top of my head but it is a formula for squirrels, ive been doing my research and i am working on weaning him off formula to solid foods. Hes peed but i havent seen him poop just yet, only had him for bout 3 days now. Ive bought a bite block for him already, ive gotten a exotic nutrition squirrel complete bag for hard foods so he has variety, hes eaten strawberries, raspberries and formula so far. Ive been doing what i see online for the formula, not letting him suck it or he can drown, feeding him i think its 7ml of formula bout 3 times a day. He has strawberries, raspberries and sweet potato chews in his cage to so he can “hunt” for food.
He isnt lethargic and he seems very healthy wo far. I have a screened in patio so ive been letting him explore out there so hes not stuck in a cage. Overall i think hes doing very well, i found out he was cold, when i tried a heating pad he immediately ran to it and curled up so i brought him inside for the past couple days so he can stay warm. Weve been getting some colder weather lately. If theres anything you believe ive forgotten or havemt done research on please let me know. Ive been staying up late reading every article i can find so that i can do this the right way.

As Mel indicated, squirrels should be given formula until they the refuse it... even then continue to offer it.

Not many are fans of Exotic Nutrition, I've yet to have a person experienced with raising squirrels endorse it.

Rodent block should be the first and only solid foods offer. Nothing else until and unless they are eating their block well. Eating it, not just shredding it which is typically the first few days after they are introduced to rodent block.

Fruits are a small portion of a squirrel's diet while veggies should be the majority of what they eat, depending on the type of rodent block they are provided (supplemental versus staple).

This little one appears spiky and dehydrated in the pictures to me and may need some additional hydration fluids (in addition to formula). We'll see if anyone else looking at the pics might agree?

Here is a link to the healthy food guide for squirrels:
https://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/...-Pet-Squirrels

[Jablowski]

I just went and ordered some unflavored pedialyte, ive seen thats good to help them rehydrate. And do you have a recommendation on what brands to stick with and stay away from? There isnt much out there for squirrels specifically that i can find so im substituting with anything good for “rodents”. Other then that is there anything else you guys would recommend? I seem to be on the right track and doing everything right so far.

[Spanky]

I just went and ordered some unflavored pedialyte, ive seen thats good to help them rehydrate. And do you have a recommendation on what brands to stick with and stay away from? There isnt much out there for squirrels specifically that i can find so im substituting with anything good for “rodents”. Other then that is there anything else you guys would recommend? I seem to be on the right track and doing everything right so far.

Homemade hydration is best:
3 teaspoons sugar
1 teaspoon salt
4 cups water

IF you do use the Pedialyte, since it is for humans many times larger than squirrels, I'd suggest diluting 1 part Pedialyte with 1 Part Water.

Fox Valley 20/50 formula would be the best choice for formula at this age IMO.

Henry's makes a supplement block, so they only need to eat 2 a day (1 at this size). I'd suggest the Hazelnut, Walnut, Picky and / or the Wild Bites. I'd avoid the healthy and the hi protein FWIW. Generally speaking squirrel readily eat these blocks (especially when this is their first and only solids:
https://henryspets.com/squirrel-blocks/

If you use Henry's, in addition to the 1 - 2 blocks a diet, they can have lots of veggies from the healthy veggies list, a bit of fruit. Seeds, nuts, etc. are occasional treats (think about it like you would giving toddlers gummi bears).


Hi quality staple rodent blocks include Teklad and Mazuri. If you go this route their diet should be about 75% these blocks, 20% veggies and 5% fruit, more or less.